One last look at Key West

Posted on June 25, 2015 by dinajohnston

A scene not a lot of people see here in Key West. What the streets look like early in the morning. Empty. This was right before 9am. We walked across Duval street to go the butterfly house. I wanted to get there early since it was going to be too hot to be in there after lunch. It’s not air-conditioned.

I’m assuming that’s an unwelcome hand drawn red fish on his door.

At lunchtime, more people out on the streets.

Walking around after dinner.

Scenes at Mallory Square in the heart of Key West. People come every night to watch the sun set. It’s a little outdoor party.

Even though it was sunny all day, we missed the sun going down every night we were there. The clouds and late day quick showers would come in.

Birds in south Florida

Posted on June 22, 2015 by dinajohnston

Pelicans in the mangroves.

Green herons were everywhere.

My first Wurdemann’s Heron (parents are a great blue heron and a white morph great blue heron). They are fairly rare and mostly seen in south Florida. Our sailboat captain pointed him out while we were kayaking around some mangroves about an hour south of Key West. He looks almost like the great blue heron but his head and neck are more white.

It looks like he has something stuck on his eye.

Red bellied woodpeckers were everywhere.

A grackle in the fountain at our hotel.

Our hotel resident green heron.

After looking all week for the white crowned pigeons, I found them in our hotel parking lot the day we were leaving.

Random birds I found in Key West in April.

Beauty flying all around.

Posted on June 14, 2015 by dinajohnston

More butterflies from the Key West Butterfly Conservatory. There were so many beautiful butterflies I took a ton of pictures. They were landing on people. Most people were in awe when they landed on them but some were oblivious to the beauty around them.

Hanging out at the marina

Posted on June 11, 2015 by dinajohnston

During our vacation trip to Key West, we spent a lot of time at the marina. It was a 10 minute walk from our hotel. The first morning we walked over to catch the ferry to the Dry Tortugas. The first 3 pictures were taken from the top deck of the ferry before we left, around 8am. The next morning we walked back over to catch a catamaran to go out sailing for the morning. We also walked over for dinner several nights. It was very quiet in the morning but crowded later at night.

Key West sights

Posted on June 10, 2015 by dinajohnston

More scenes from my vacation in Key West.

Critters roaming the streets

Posted on June 6, 2015 by dinajohnston

Chickens and roosters were everywhere. Roaming the streets and making noise. We happened to be there during baby chick season. I counted 6 different baby chick families along the streets. They were in empty lots, parking lots, walking down Duval Street. I’ve read several different stories about why they are running amuck around Key West. I was expecting to see more cats. We only saw a few. The dogs in the above were hanging out in a hat store. A lot of stores had pets.I guess that’s part of the charm of this little town.

Fun stuff at our Key West hotel

Posted on May 31, 2015 by dinajohnston

Our hotel in Key West was right in the heart of all the action. Blocks from Mallory Square, feet from Duval street and the marina a few blocks over. You would not think there was a little oasis in the middle of the hotel grounds. I spent an hour walking around taking pictures of the stuff near the pool. It was fun seeing iguanas walking around but I know they are a nuisance. The gardens were blooming, the turtle and fish pond were calming but that green heron catching the lizard next to the pool was perfect. We stayed at the Pier House Resort.