Adam is jealous of the coat. 100% silk. Thousands of spiders worked their web-spewing keisters off for months in a Korean sweat shop just so he could look good. He also bought a new shirt, sandals (they go well with the coat), short pants, and long pants. Oh - he even bought a walking cane!
I think our favorite place to shop in Key West is Fast Buck Freddies. Sort of a Tony Bahama meets Spencer Gifts meets Banana Republic meets the Johnson Smith Company. After everyone had had their fill of shopping it was off to El Siboney - the best Cuban restaurant on the island - for lunch.
We decided to walk down to "the Southernmost point in the continental United States." More about that in a minute. Along the way we see this:
Not very inventive, but I would imagine those walking back to one of the hotels on that side of the island after hoisting a few may welcome the information lest they confuse it with a statue of a really tall, thin person. Adam wants to put a chain with a lock around it and write "This is a pole lock." Get it? Yeah, I knew you would.
So here is the thing about the Southernmost point: As Key West is an island in the middle of an ocean, it is not actually part of the continental United States. In order to call it the southernmost point in the continental United States, you have to allow that bridges connecting islands embraces those islands as part of the mainland. Sort of like the Enterprise extending her shields around another ship in Star Trek.
All this reminds me of my favorite bar bet: Name the most southern, northern, eastern, and western states. This is not a trick question. We are talking about all 50 states, not just the continental ones. I'll bet you a beer you don't get this one right. (Unless I have already shared this with you, of course.) I'll reveal the answer at the end of today's blog.
We walked back to the hotel and rested it bit before enjoying yet another spectacular sunset. This time, we watched it from the rooftop terrace of the Crowne Plaza hotel, cleverly named "The Top." It is the tallest building in Key West, so the view was spectacular. (You can see it in the web gallery.) Want to know how much fun we are having on this trip: look at these smiling faces:
After the sunset we stopped downstairs for some appetizers, then we headed out to find a patio bar where we could enjoy the tropical climate, watch the Hornets game, and play Mexican Train Dominoes.
As with all New Orleans professional sports teams, it seems we are always a bride's maid but never the bride. The hornets lost their first home game in the playoffs. Unfortunately, it was Game 7 so it will be the Spurs - not the Hornets - heading to the left coast to play the Lakers.
We accomplished all this at The Green Parrot, Key West's oldest bar. This is really our kind of place. Cary loved the sign that says "The Management is not responsible" and wants to get one for Coop's Place. Most astonishing, however, is that they have the exact same poster in their men's room that I have in our bathroom in New Orleans:
It's called "Proverbidioms" and is a poster where you see how many proverbs or cliches you can match with their picture.
After a couple rounds of dominoes, it became apparent that a couple of the lighter weights in our party needed more food. So we headed next door to the Meteor Smokehouse. The bartender asked Adam where he was from. During the conversation he mentioned he worked at a bar in the French Quarter. The bartender abruptly cuts him off and asks "which one." Adam says "Coop's Place, across from Margarita…" The bartender cuts him off again and says "That's why your face is familiar. I was in there with a friend of mine that lives in New Orleans."
Turns out he knows a couple of regulars at Coop's. So I guess we'll be going back there tonight. Just goes to show ya: ts a small world, (but I wouldn't want to paint it).
So another day in paradise, and the miracle is I not only lived to tell about it, but didn't hurt myself too bad in the process.
Oh - the bar bet. Here you go:
Southernmost: Hawaii
Northernmost: Alaska
Westernmost: Alaska
Easternmost: Alaska
I know what you are thinking: "you said it wasn't a trick question." It's not. The Aleutian Islands cross the International Date Line, making Alaska both the westernmost and easternmost states. Look it up. Those of you who didn't get it can buy me a beer next time you are in New Orleans. Those of you who DID get it will have to come to New Orleans to collect.
.jpg)
Posts
