Key West

 Who is the guy in my photo?  Ugh, tourists. I made it to Key West and yep I'm in the southernmost point in the continental US. 

Off to see the cats at the Hemingway house.  Ernest Hemingway had a house in Key West because he fell in love with the island’s laid-back lifestyle and found it an inspiring place to write (and drink). The house became home to many cats, including one with extra toes given to him by a ship’s captain. Today, the cats—many with extra toes—are famous for being descendants of Hemingway’s original feline and are a unique feature of the property.

Hemingway didn't have much money but his wife (at the time) had a rich uncle who funded the restoration of the house (including adding a swimming pool).

This the room where he wrote some of his famous works including To Have and Have Not, Snows of Kilimanjaro and a little bit of For Whom the Bell Tolls. 

More cats, so awesome.  These cats are federally protected. The gate to the house is open and the cats are free to go but the guide said they never leave.

There are a ton of chickens in Key West and they are protected by the city. Why you ask? There are so many in Key West because they are descendants of birds brought over by early settlers for food and cockfighting. When cockfighting was outlawed and people no longer needed them for food, many chickens were released and began roaming freely. With the island’s warm climate and lack of natural predators, the chicken population continued to grow and is now a well-known part of Key West’s charm.

These chickens weren't too friendly to this fox. Must keep my distance.

Drinking is a big thing in Key West (Drunk Fox used to hang out here in the 70s and he could tell you stories).  I went to a few bars, this is the Green Parrot. Good drinks, loud music. 

The Key West butterfly convservatory was amazing.  Why are there no pictures of butterflies with me?  Well, have you tried to take a photo of a stuffy and a butterfly?  Very challenging.  Flamingos were much easier to take a photo with.

There's more to come in Key West but this little fox heard the sunsets are amazing at Mallory Square.  The universe wasn't cooperating for a sunset this time but got some nice pictures none-the-less