Blog Archives

Key West - our most southern point in the USA

4/25/2018

History: The town and island was originally called Cayo Hueso by the Spanish, a term that means "bone key". Many Key West businesses still use the name. When Great Britain took control of Florida in 1763, the Spanish and Native American population of Key West were largely removed to Havana. When Spain took control back about 20 years later, there was no attempt to resettle the mostly deserted island. It began to be used by Cuban fishermen and loyalist settlers from the Bahamas who had fled the United States after the Revolutionary War. These early white Bahamian settlers were known as Conchs, pronounced conk, like conk in the head). They began to really populate the Keys in the years after 1830. (id #1)

- - - - - - - - - personal notes & photos - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ginger and I have visited Key West more than once and have enjoyed the drive seeing sights along the way. In Key West, we look back and recall watching the sunset from Mallory Square, sipping beer on Duvall street, chasing roosters (their national bird - ha), and just photographing people, buildings and night-time festivities. I would like to definitely plan to revisit Key West (and the Keys) in the fall (hopefully plan to stay in a great B&B the Old Town Manor (or similar) we stayed in previously.

(April 2018) Deciding to capture Key West, my photo partner Eddie and I decided we could capture the night life and pulse of Key West with an overnight trip (via Tamiami Trail through the Everglades). It began with a non-stop journey to the most southern point in the continental US in 8 hours. Then, grabbing SD cards, extra batteries, cameras and tripods we were off to digitally capture the history and pulse of the town. At 11:00 pm, tired and ... a bit exhausted, we packed up and travelled 2 hours north on US 1 to the Key Largo Bayside Inn. Next day we returned home - with approximately 600 photos between us. Below are some of my captures.

Photo Ops (may be too many to highlight)

the southernmost point (atoll)
Key West cemetery
Key West national bird - roosters!
Hemingway's home (from exterior or interior - tour fee)
Strand and Tropic - night time photos
Duvall Street activity
Key West lighthouse

Resources:
Wikipedia ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West
Key West Lighthouse ... www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=366

Additional Photos on Google Photos ... Key West and the Keys

0 Comments

The Florida Keys

4/25/2018

0 Comments

History: The Keys were originally inhabited by the Calusa and Tequesta tribes, and were charted by Juan Ponce de León in 1513. De León named the islands Los Martires ("The Martyrs"), as they looked like suffering men from a distance.[2] "Key" is derived from the Spanish word cayo, meaning small island. For many years, Key West was the largest town in Florida, and it grew prosperous on wrecking revenues. The isolated outpost was well located for trade with Cuba and the Bahamas and was on the main trade route from New Orleans. Improved navigation led to fewer shipwrecks, and Key West went into a decline in the late nineteenth century.

Overseas Railway: The Keys were long accessible only by water. This changed with the completion of Henry Flagler's Overseas Railway in the early 1910s. Flagler, a major developer of Florida's Atlantic coast, extended his Florida East Coast Railway down to Key West with an ambitious series of oversea railroad trestles. Three hurricanes disrupted the project in 1906, 1909, and 1910.

- - - - - - - - - - personal notes & photos - - - - - - - - - - - -
Our Key West travels (several with Ginger, one with Eddie) have us always travel US 1 the "highway that goes to the sea". Although each journey had a destination in mind - Key West, the excitement and emotion of traveling this 1-2 lane highway with 'water to the left and water to the right' in many stretches always leaves me wondering "why would anyone live in and area that is so vulnerable storm and flood disaster?" Scary but exciting, I guess that 'most' of the time the Keys are abound with activity and sun.

I enjoyed learning a little more about the history of the Keys (when preparing this post). Would I visit again - absolutely! I would consider doing it again in the fall of 2022 and targeting specific sites - especially taking the day trip to Dry Tortugas (see link below).

Photo Ops:

Shops and sites in each Florida Key community - Key Largo, and more
Day long Dry Tortugas photo shoot
Shops in route

Wiki ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Keys
Florida Keys & Key West US1 https://fla-keys.com/the-highway-that-goes-to-sea/
Towns and Villages ... www.hotels.com/go/usa/us-towns-villages-florida-keys
Dry Tortugas https://keywest.floridaweekly.com/articles/explore-the-dry-tortugas-and-fort-jefferson/

Additional Photos on Google Photos ... Key West and the Keys

0 Comments

Savannah, Georgia - Southern Hospitality

4/12/2018

0 Comments

Personal Note
We visited Savannah and Tybee Island Sept 2010 with friends from St Martins - Don & Dianne Murphy (see the first gallery).

Then we went with our good friends and photo journeyers - Eddie and Linda Alcorne. We ventured in Savannah for a 2 day visit. It's great to have experienced tour guides (them) and even though the weather at times was cloudy with unexpected sprinkles, the city and companionship were grand. Our accommodations at the Stay Alfred - Savannah were absolutely superb, and we were a walking distance to Forsyth Park. A two bedroom/two bath suite with a full kitchen and living room, we had a place to relax and plan our two days. Besides touring the cathedrals, walking the parks (disappointed that political correctness fever forced all the confederate statues off the public squares to some secret location) the southern charm was only slightly affected.

We had a seasoned dining scout (Linda) who not only found great places to dine (like the Driftaway Cafe and the Crystal Beer Palace for great seafood), but was our Google Maps interpreter - providing turn by turn directions. Eddie and I did night photography which included waterfront walks, the fountain and no light - low lit park walks (always looking over our shoulder). We visited the oak-lined, moss covered trees in the estate Wormsloe Plantation. (poor Eddie left his phone that we recovered later in the day)

Early the next morning, 5:30 am we headed to Tybee Island to photograph the Tybee Lighthouse. The one lesson from the trip - bring warm clothes and prepare for any weather! See more photos.

0 Comments

Tybee Island

4/12/2018

0 Comments

Tybee Island’s Lighthouse is the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Georgia. In fact, it’s one of the most intact historic lighthouses remaining in America to this day.

In 1732, General James Oglethorpe ordered the construction of the lighthouse tower. The building’s development was completed in 1736, but was felled by a storm in 1741. The tower was rebuilt the following year by a man named Thomas Sumner. This time around, though, workers used stone and wood. The lighthouse tower was not illuminated either time — rather, the structure sported a very tall flag pole instead.

0 Comments