Hello again Friends, I hope this finds you well. You’ll be pleased to know I haven’t starved, as it has been quite some time since my last restaurant review. I’ve eaten very well indeed. I think though, moving forward, you all have listened to me chew — so to speak — for long enough.

Someone suggested I write about my recent trip to the States, what it was like traveling during COVID,  where I went, and see if anyone is interested. OK, so let’s give that a shot. I’ve no idea what this will look like … a story … a series of food reviews … a travel guide? Perhaps all of those.

It will certainly be a chronicle of some of my time spent in a place I dearly love. It will absolutely be a love letter to a place I’ve just returned from, but find myself yearning to go back to:

Key West Florida, USA, baby.

I know. It surprised me too, but before we get into that let’s talk about the actual travel part of my trip, as that seems as good a place to start as any. To that end, I think I will use the self-interview format and ask myself the questions I think you’d want answered.

Let’s begin.

You Guys (Y.G.)
So how was traveling during COVID?

Me (M.)
Annoying. Like it always is, but just that little bit more so. I love being places, not getting places. You could say that I’m not the best traveller. Not because I’m nervous or afraid, simply because of the sheer discomfort of it all.

I’d like to pause here to acknowledge that many people have not been able to travel for a really long time, and I am very lucky to have had the opportunity … so although it sounds like complaining I’m merely relaying my experience.

The fact is, the cost of being somewhere else is discomfort. It is a literal means to an end … and let’s be honest here, it’s an annoying one at that. I also despise lugging stuff, period. Rolling a bouncing and twisting, wrenchingly heavy suitcase along behind me. My bag, always unbalanced, frequently falling over, repeatedly on my foot.

This past journey was the final one for my bag. The zippers had taken to splitting due to constant over-stuffing. It literally could have blown apart at any second of our journey. Fortunately it held the line.

RIP bag, you owe me nothing.

Steve has a very strict policy of not carrying any of my stuff, so typically this means I have to resort to layering on the clothes that don’t fit in my suitcase … not gonna lie, this can get quite warm. Additionally, breathing my own breath all day behind a mask and the occasional hot flash thrown in for good measure, all combine to create a less than cheerful me. (I have respect for those of you who wear a mask every day to make a living.)

However, as I said it’s the price you pay for getting anywhere cool.

Y.G.

Any other differences with travel besides wearing a mask?

M.
We had to show a  negative COVID test taken within 72 before being permitted entry into the States. We spent $100 for our two tests, and we were on our way. What’s another hundred bucks, eh? Everything else was basically the same. Same length of time to get through security, same overpriced food.

Y.G.
OK, enough about travel. Let’s get to the good part. Key West Florida, eh? No offence, but aren’t you a bit pale for Florida? Don’t you fear the sun?

M.
Yes. However I do take precautions. In fact I’m currently accumulating quite the collection of cumbersome hats at my friend Dave’s place in Key West.

Thanks Dave, you’re the best.

Y.G.
How did you discover Key West?

M. 
It was about 10 years ago. Steve suggested we take a trip to the Florida Keys. I had never been to Florida, but Steve had visited a few times as a kid, and loved it. We ended up staying further up the Keys and driving down to Key West for a day, just to check it out. What we found when we got there, was energy and life … and quite unexpectedly, we fell in love with the place.

We drove back to where we were staying, then turned around and drove directly back to Key West. And basically we never left. Spiritually, that is. I am firmly convinced that in a parallel universe, Steve and I are whipping around the Island on our scooter, even as we speak. Once we discovered Key West, we never went anywhere else.

Y.G.
You mean you’ve gone only to Key West and no place else for 10 years?

M.
Yes, basically. We’ve been to Boston, to visit people we met in Key West and now love. Other than that, it’s been Key West only. To say we were smitten was an understatement. We contracted what the locals called “Keys Disease,” which simply put is never wanting to leave. It is the returning over and over again until you can stay.

A tale, if not as old as time, certainly as old as the Island itself. A tale, I have heard from many people on the Island. You simply don’t want to leave. And we became those people, and we will return again and again until we stay.

Y.G.

Wow, you must really love it.  Don’t you ever get bored of just going there, even a little ?

M.
No. Not at all.  Key West changes all the time. Places close and new ones open. The town empties of people and fills up again, depending on what’s going on. And there is always something going on. One parade or another. It’s a very festive place.

Each trip, too, is different with its own memorable experiences. That thing that made us laugh so hard, those people we met at the sea wall, the couple we met at the bar, the delicious shrimp, the amazing music, the night energy, and the late night rides on the scooter, the wind whipping my hair into a frenzied delight.

What’s not to love?

Y.G.
So what do you do there exactly?

M. Nothing.

Y.G.

Nothing?

M.
Yes and it’s amazing. I thoroughly enjoy it. Key West is an ideal place to have nothing to do. But if you are inclined, there is plenty to do in Key West.

The whole ocean is there, so you can do all of the water activities you like. I, on the other hand, do not like, but my relationship with the ocean is another subject entirely. Here is a list, certainly not exhaustive … more exhausting … of things to do on the water.

Fishing, boating, jet skiing, paddle-boarding, diving, parasailing or just plain swimming. There are plane tours, boat tours, historical tours, ghost tours, trolley tours, museums, galleries, forts, memorials, theatre, shopping, drag shows, karaoke, and literally countless amazing places to eat, drink and listen to live music. Local art and artisans, every place you go.

There is too, a quieter side to Key West. One of beauty and nature and time to think … and I love this side just as much. It really is an amazing place.

I could go on and on about a place I love, but I think I should stop here for now, and leave us both (hopefully) wanting more. Perhaps in my next instalment I will talk a bit more about the town itself, before sharing some of the places I like to go … if you’re interested.

If so, welcome to Key West Chronicles.

Photos by Jolene Carley