Kyle wanted to experience RV'ing, so we left Grammama to resume the care of all her neighbors and headed to the Southernmost point in the United States of America on a Mini-Roadtrip.
Day 1 - Key West
Using all of Nicole's incredibly helpful apps on her incredibly smart phone, we located the RV park closest to party central, on neighboring Stock Island, just over the bridge, and on a major bus route. It was nearing sunset/happy hour time when we parked up and plugged in, so we decided to not even bother with the buses and just call a cab. Got dropped in Mallory Square to watch the grand finales of all the numerous street performers, see all the ridiculously opulent yaughts docked in the harbor, and watch the sun set over the sunset cruise sail boats.
Then, we bellied up to the bar at The Bull and Whistle. Had some very disgusting, but two for the price of one margaritas, and moved on. Walked directly across the street to check out a place called The Porch. The Porch was awesome; we ended up spending the rest of the night, and our dinner budget, there. Fantastic and delicious beer selection: Rogue's Chocolate Stout, Southern Tier's Unearthly, Monk in a Trunk, Wake and Bake, and our favorite of the evening, Lefthand and Terrapin's Oxymoron. We made friends with some absolutely lovely local ladies, Vanessa and Shauna and they in turn introduced to us the owner of The Porch, who was also bartending and suggesting many of our pints.
We like the name. Chilled at The Porch. Had so much fun on The Porch, that Nicole and Kyle have no recollection of touring the aboveground cemetery on the return trip home, compliments of the cab driver. Nicole threw up a little in her mouth.
Day 2 - Key West
The next morning, we woke up hardly bright eyed and bushy tailed, but packed our bags for the beach. Even though Nicole's Droid was able to supply us with detailed routes for and real-time-tracking of the public buses, our human instincts led us to stand at an abandoned bus shelter, half a block from the route, with a wart riddled giant black duck and a vagabond, missing probably 4 cycles of buses. Finally sorted that out and caught a ride to Rigg's Beach. Watched the naked males (photo in the album) play in the sand and soaked up some much needed sunshine. Wandered through the Key West Horticulture Club's Tropical Garden Center, where Nicole recognized much of the flora as native to Goa, as well. The fact that the temperature in Key West never drops below 41 degrees helps make that possible.
Cleaned ourselves up, took the bus to the middle of Duvall Street. We definitely couldn't drink beer, so ordered vodka or gin and tonics, first at Green Parrot, then at Baba Louie's with a nice live band. Walked through the streets, window-shopping, perusing the pretty cool Alan S Maltz Gallery (www.AlanMaltz.com), crossed all the bawdy drag queens starting the party on the sidewalk, and settled in to 9-15 for a perfect dinner of beet root salad, vietnamese chicken lettuce wraps, some tapas and mimosas. Cabbed it back to the park to crash out.
Day 3 - South Beach, Miami
Pulled anchor from Key West and headed back North, via Miami. Kyle navigated the RV, with Nicole at the helm, straight through the heart of Miami proper, over the bridge and into the art deco district. Took one hour of circling around to find a suitable parking spot and then Kyle spent an hour wandering around trying to locate enough quarters for us to pay both the meters for our 5 hour sojourn into South Beach. We started with a light dinner and drinks in trendy Lincoln Promenade. We walked up and down and all around through the streets, checking out the scene, architecture, plastic surgeries, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Porsches. We walked through the gorgeous art deco Raleigh Hotel, got turned away from the Delano because Kyle was wearing short pants, got some gelattos, sat in front of the country's largest Menorah, embedded with over 450,000 found seashells, and people watched for over an hour. Time was up in the parking meters, so drove off to the closest Walmart and slept.
Day 4 - Atlantic Avenue, Palm Beach
Back with Grammama for some home cooked meals and New Years Eve, 2010. Kyle and Nicole got all dressed up and Gram and Mary Lou dropped them to Atlantic Avenue for the festivities. Took almost an hour to even get a first drink, but 'the kids' listened to a good live band until they brought in the New Year with a big hug, happy to have the time together after many years of being half a world apart. Nicole tried to wish Happy New Years to the gathered people all around, but the closest family reacted like she was trying to hijack their baby, and she stopped.
Kyle left on Jan 2nd, happy to get back to work (finally with a new assistant); less happy to get back to winter. He called two days later to say that in June, during his summer break, we could pick him up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and he would not only accompany us, but plan, our Yellowstone Park leg of the trip. Fantastic!
Soundtrack...
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet
White Rabbit - live covers
One Hundred Bottles of Beer on the Wall
Click here for photos!
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