Key West (not East!)

 

I try to be informing and amusing when writing these posts in the hope that some people might enjoy reading them.

I am going to start this one by sharing something informative. It may be that your knowledge of geography is better than mine in which case grant yourself the right to raise your eyebrows and consider me a fool. But here goes… Key West, where we have been for the last few days, is the furthest point south in the United States and, being in Florida, on the East Coast. We flew here from Guayaquil in Ecuador, which is on the west coast of South America. When we took that flight, I knew we were flying from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere, but I also thought we were travelling Eastward. You know, towards Ol’ Blighty, our next destination, over there to the right on the map. Wrong! Guayaquil: 79.9 degrees W, Key West 81.8 degrees W. South America is south of North America but it is also, in the most part, to the east. No wonder I was so easily fooled, they should be called North West America and South East America.

There are a couple of reasons we decided to stop in Florida. Firstly, I figure that if we are flying from one part of the world to another and have to stop to change flights then it is worth breaking the journey and staying for a few days. In effect the flights are free (or at least, were going to be paid for anyway). For only the cost of the accommodation, we get to explore somewhere new. In this case we always intended to go to Europe for the summer to see family and friends, not to mention to attend the Olympics in Paris (excited, moi?!) I looked at where we would have to change flights enroute from Ecuador to the UK and one of only two options was Miami. This reminded me of a conversation I had late one evening in a bar in Newcastle (Oz version) with one of my OzSpurs mates Gary Clarke about Florida Keys. Anyone who has spent time with said individual in a bar after about 9pm might question the sense of taking the conversation too seriously but nevertheless that is the genesis of our time here.

The other reason we thought this would be a good choice is that when we get to the homeland we are heading for Scotland, not renowned for its warm climes. We thought we would relax and catch a few rays before our arrival.

One of the things about visiting the United States is that, unsurprisingly, it’s full of Americans. As established in my last post we generally find them to be likeable people. We did experience one that fitted the ‘volume switch disabled’ stereotype at the pool bar (just to prove they do exist). But who are we to go to a country and criticise the people there? Even if the presidential debate between an inveterate lying criminal and a senile puppet did occur whilst we have been here. How is it that’s the choice for selecting the ‘leader of the free world’? I suspect most Americans are equally bemused by that question. We are generally, I think wisely, still abiding by the ‘no politics’ rule. Although we did share disapproving comments between us as we passed the shop selling Trump 2024 caps (just in case there is any doubt about where we stand!)

Talking about elections we are going to be in the UK (or Scotland, I think that’s still in the Union?) for the general election. Which, if nothing else, looks like being a historic event. Even as expats we can register to vote but we haven’t bothered. I don’t actually feel that we have a right to have a say given where we live, and I doubt our votes would make a difference given the political annihilation that is predicted.

What of Key West? It’s been quiet since we have been here, partly because we arrived on a Monday and also because it’s the low season. It’s a holiday town that people come to for the weekend or migrate to in the winter for some warmth. Think Noosa with a touch of Gold Coast. (Or Newquay with a touch of Brighton for the Poms). We haven’t really seen it in full flow, which I suspect might not be such a bad thing. The Old Town is nice enough, lots of ‘historic’ buildings – or what passes as historic in this part of the world. The beaches are unremarkable (we’re Australian!) and we took a guided kayak tour in the mangroves, which was fun but somewhat bereft of wildlife. There are however lots of shops selling ‘resort wear’ and t-shirts with amusing logos – or what passes as amusing in this part of the world! I’m not really selling it all that well but its ok, we’ve had nice weather and enjoyed some down time.

I’ve never done drugs (other than alcohol), but I’m beginning to think that travel destinations are a bit like drugs. Once you’ve experienced the hit of one great place you look for something that gives you a bigger high. Using this analogy Galapagos would be injecting heroin directly into a vein whereas Key West would be smoking a bit of weed. Which is appropriate as it’s readily available here. Scotland, I guess, will be like a bottle of whisky – which at least would keep us warm – and I’m hoping that France will be champagne all round. Maybe elevated to cocaine if we see our countries win a few medals. (We will of course be supporting both the British and the Australians, but more of that in due course). Before then we’re off to Scotland with Tracy’s mum for her birthday, then for a reunion with a few of Tracy’s old work colleagues and up to the Highlands to do the NC500. Slàinte Mhath, as I believe they say up there.