Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Write a Travelogue (11/06/14)
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TITLE: Keyzee | Previous Challenge Entry
By Bea Edwards
11/12/14 -
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Leaving the mainland and its hours of notorious five lane southern Florida toll roads behind, we crossed the loveliest of causeways into Key Largo, the first of the upper keys. Yay we are here! I couldn’t wait to see lush, tropical, laid back, Jimmy Buffett Margaretville. At mm 106, (Mile Marker-the native’s GPS way point) Key Largo is the gateway into the coral islands known affectionately by the locals as the Conch Republic. An hour later, still on the deceptive one way to nowhere road, we crossed a bridge around mm 85, and finally the expansive, azure blue waters appeared delighting away my grumbling fatigue.
That was my first experience driving into the Keys, which I now call home. Each of those mm’s represent an island, memory, or location identifier for a business. John Pennecamp State Park at mm 104 holds the potential for an amazing day of scuba diving, and underwater viewing of Christ of the Abyss, a 4000 pound, 8 foot high, bronze sculpture of Jesus Christ that stands with arms outstretched, in 25 feet of deep blue sea.
Right around mm 102, still in Key Largo, if you take a left at the Holiday Inn and follow the residential streets for a couple more lefts, and you will arrive at Sharkey’s Pub, where the dive boats come ashore, and where you will be treated to the best fish tacos’ in existence.
Islamorada, a sport fishing mecca, is also the place where I experienced the first of many, ‘café coladas’-Cuban expressos- served up by the smiling senora’s at Sunrise Cuban Café mm 92, across the street from one of the cleanest, most well equipped gyms in the keys- Froggies.
Seafood restaurants and dive shops dot the entire length of the 106 miles which make up the upper, mid, and lower keys. Whale Harbor at mm 85 could be the spot you first spy some of the areas extreme sport aficionados, kite-boarders, coasting along the sea, then soaring effortlessly skyward under their colorful sails.
A few miles down that same-did I mention ONLY road-you can enjoy a remarkable show, dinner, and tropical drink, delighted by the consummate magician Michael Trix, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Wednesday and Friday evenings at the Lorelei bayside.
The mid key city Marathon at mm 50, boasts one of the 2 airports in the keys, and is where we finally found Coco Plum and Sombrero- sand beaches. It also boasts a favorite ocean front eatery -Cabana breeze, where you are serenaded by tropical breezes and island music.
At the base of the famous Seven Mile Bridge, you may choose to linger at Sunset Grill, complete with ocean side pool, and watch a magnificent sunset while taking a plunge after dinner. At the other end of the bridge you’ll enter the lower keys at mm 38 and discover award winning Bahia Honda State Park, which claims the most beautiful stretch of beach in the keys, along with the wreckage of Flagler Railway Bridge.
Traveling through Big Pine at mm 30 you won’t have to look hard for the endangered Key deer as they wander about like docile pets.
Passing Torch Key, home of Little Palm Island, renowned hangout of the rich and famous, you will consistently see more ocean on both sides of the roadway until finally crossing into the epicenter of the CR (remember Conch Republic), Key West.
Key West, too colorful to describe, must be smelt, tasted and experienced through an individual perspective. Quaint; charming; unique; dirty; loud; or crass, is in the eye of the beholder. One thing not to miss is Mallory Square at sunset, where the full experience culminates.
A comedian balancing precariously on his 12 foot unicycle, heckling onlookers, while juggling flaming darts in an attempt to draw onlookers away from the guy endeavoring to escape from a straightjacket, or the golden retriever in britches collecting dollars from the delighted crowd, next to a fortune teller, or a scantily clad hula girl, not to mention the street preacher -um hum- one of those too, all vying for your attention, to the backdrop of sunset grandeur.
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Well done.
God bless~