It seems like just yesterday I was writing my trip report for January. This winter in New Jersey was not like it usually is. Yes we had a couple of snow storms but nothing like it used to be several years ago. By the time April rolled around for this trip I wasn’t even ready. I couldn’t believe how quickly the months passed by. Oh darn. It was time to go away again to my other happy place. This marked our 32nd time and I don’t say it with it being taken for granted. I always thank my lucky stars that we are so fortunate enough to frequent Key West as much as we do. 

However, several weeks before our scheduled return, my husband whom he shares a car repair garage with his brother, somehow had a part of a wheel bearing land on my husband’s foot. He called me in so much pain but luckily his sister-in-law works at a foot doctor. His brother called the doctor’s office and got him right in that same day avoiding an expensive trip to the emergency room.

I waited for the call and meanwhile I was thinking what are we supposed to do about Key West? All we do is walk around. How are we going to do this??? I watched the clock as I worked from home and finally got the call that afternoon. HUGE relief. He somehow just damaged his little pinky toe. It shattered like a cracked hardboiled egg shell, but somehow it stayed in tack. No surgery was needed. Oh my what a relief. All he had to do was take it easy and the doctor wrapped his little toe and said that he should be okay in a couple of weeks. 

Then the second thing that had me on edge was also around the same time, I noticed a red mark on my chest that was not going away. I have my 6 month follow up with my dermatologist in a couple of months, but I didn’t want to wait that long. I was able to get in to see my dermatologist right before our trip. The dermatologist said that it could be squamous cell skin cancer. I have had basal cell before on my forehead (that is why I try to always keep it covered while walking around in Key West) but this was new to me. While I waited for my biopsy results, I made sure to pack tops and dresses that provided coverage on my chest. After about a week or so I hadn’t heard anything back, so I gave them a call. Thankfully it came back benign and I was definitely relieved and ready to get back to Key West. 

Saturday, April 13th – Arrival Day – Gardens Hotel, Reunion of Friends, Blue Heaven

April is my favorite time to visit Key West. I find the weather for the most part rather mostly sunny and not too hot. And usually from our past experiences not much rain either. I checked the forecast several days before we were leaving and could not believe how perfect it looked and that made me smile. 

Our flight was scheduled to depart around the same time as our flight back in January which was around 9:30 that Saturday morning. I had scheduled our car service to pick us up at 6:00am. I was hoping that we would be leaving out of Terminal A at Newark Airport, but the United app said that our plane would be leaving from Terminal C. When we arrived at Terminal C, it was very busy to say the least. I was a bit surprised due to the fact it wasn’t a holiday weekend or anything since Easter fell earlier in the year, but then again Newark Airport is always busy. 

Since my husband and I have Clear we chose to get in that line instead of the TSA Pre line. The line wasn’t too long but once we were in line, we looked over and the TSA Pre line was nearly empty. We were half way to the kiosks at that point, so it wasn’t an option to leave the line. When we got to the kiosks, the TSA agent walked through the steps after my photo was taken. I was also asked to show my ID which luckily brought my drivers license with the REAL ID in addition to my passport card. I usually don’t bring my driver’s license to Key West since I am not driving anywhere, but prefer to carry it along during the day, instead of my passport card in case I need to show ID. I asked the agent about all the extra steps and he explained that they were updating everyone’s information thus the long wait on line. 

My husband on the other hand does not have his REAL ID driver’s license yet since we have our passport cards and passports. However, the passport card wasn’t enough. So the next time we go to the airport, we are going to have to go through the entire process again but this time he will have to bring is passport. 

Eventually we made it through TSA and walked down towards our gate. Our gate was located further away from where the familiar Terminal C lounge we usually go to that was recently renovated. As we walked down towards Gate 120, we saw signs for another United Club Lounge. I was hesitant to go thinking it was one of those pop-up lounges that aren’t very comfortable. 

As we got closer to the lounge we saw that it was up one level and looked brand new. We walked in and it was beautiful. United must have recently renovated this lounge as well. As we walked in we could see all the windows, similar to the other two new United club lounges. There were two open seats at the bar so we sit down. We ordered a couple of breakfast beverages as we waited for our boarding time.

Once again, our friends Brent and Julie were meeting us in Key West. They were lucky enough to already be down there so while we were waiting in the lounge, we reached out to let them know we were on schedule to arrive around 1pm. I also heard from another couple we met a couple of years ago back in October of 2022, Lynn and Al from Long Island. They were flying out of Laguardia around the same time as us. We all wound up planning on meeting back in Key West that week in April.

It was nearing our boarding time, so we grabbed our things and walked to our gate. I think the last time we left from this gate was years ago when we were traveling to Grand Cayman or Nassau. I couldn’t remember which one it was, but it was a long time ago.

Eventually we heard the announcement that they were beginning to board our flight. Once everyone was settled we were on our way back to Key West. The flight was uneventful which is always a good thing. Soon I could see all the hues below of blues and greens, which without fail, always makes me happy and excited. 

Not only we were returning to Key West, but we were joining a bunch of friends as well. 

We landed in to Key West about 25 minutes early – no complaints there. Once we disembarked from the plane, we had to wait until the majority of passengers were off the plane before we could advance down the tarmac. The sun was shining and the sky was a brilliant blue. Life was good that day. I was starting to get a little hot, but thankfully we were given the go ahead to walk towards the airport. Still under construction, we had to walk around all the work they are doing. It does look like progress has been made, but I can’t see how it is going to be completed anytime soon. 

Another flight landed around the same time as us, but luckily no one was waiting for a taxi when we walked out to the taxi stand. We jumped in the first available taxi and told our driver those magical words “to the Gardens Hotel” and we were on our way. I never get tired of that first view of Smathers Beach as we drive down towards Old Town. Seeing all the familiar landmarks and restaurants along the way always makes me feel a sense of familiarity. I get extremely excited when I see the yellow brick wall that surrounds the Gardens. Soon I could see it appear and we were back “home”. I say home, since that is what it feels like when my husband and I return to the Gardens. We have become quite friendly with the staff. I guess that’s what happens when you stay at the same place time after time again and I wouldn’t want to stay anywhere else. 

Once the taxi dropped us off, we walked in to check in. It was Rhoda at the front desk and she recognized us right away. With a couple swipes of the credit card we were all set. Our room wasn’t ready just yet, so we left our luggage inside while we walked back outside to meet up with Brent and Julie who were waiting for us. It was so nice to see them again. I sometimes tell the story that how we have been to Key West so many times, it feels like one continuous trip, but a couple months of work tend to get in the way from time to time.

Another bonus was our friend Peggy was working behind the bar. She gave us both big hugs and welcomed us back. After our hellos, we ordered a couple of cold beverages. It was so nice to be back again. 

We chatted for a bit and not before long, Lynn and Al from Long Island arrived. We all exchanged hugs and made room for them to join us. While we were catching up, we were notified that our room was ready. I wasn’t exactly motivated to leave my post and go to our room, so my husband took the liberty and went to our room where he unpacked our things. I thought that was so nice of him to do that. Lynn and Al also went to unpack their things. When my husband returned, he noticed there was another couple sitting at the bar. He asked me if they were the couple we met several years ago at the Gardens that are from our favorite Jersey Shore town, Lavallette. I didn’t really pay any attention because I was talking to Peggy. Then I looked over and mentioned that they did look familiar. As we were discussing Lavallette, both of their ears perked up.

We remembered the husband’s name, Vincent but couldn’t remember his wife’s. We mentioned to them how we met a few years ago while staying at the Gardens. Also when we visited Lavallette shortly after that trip for Labor Day weekend, we ran into them. I think they remembered us, but regardless it was kind of comical. Apparently they now live in Florida and moved out of New Jersey. Maybe we should follow their lead.

Everyone returned to the bar and we continued the conversation for a while. It felt like one joyous reunion. So much so, I had everyone get up so I could get Peggy to take a picture of all of us.

On side note, I had every intention to unpack our things and walk around Key West once we settled in. However, we were having such a good time, and with such a beautiful backdrop of the Gardens, I couldn’t peel myself away to leave.

That afternoon went by quickly and it was nearing the time to freshen up and get ready for dinner. A couple months ago I made dinner reservations at Blue Heaven. We used to go to Blue Heaven all the time for breakfast years ago, but now it is nearly impossible to go without having to wait for a long time to be seated. I actually find going to dinner far more enjoyable.

Brent and Julie joined us as walked down Petronia to Blue Heaven.

I made the reservations for 6:30 so the sun was still shining when we arrived. I gave the hostess my name and we were immediately seated at a nice table. 

Our server went over the special that evening which was red grouper. 

I knew exactly what I was going to order to start, the grilled miso eggplant salad. When I first tried it several visits ago, I fell immediately in love with the dish. So when our server came back over to take our order, I ordered the grilled miso eggplant salad to start and the portobello mushroom entree. My husband and Julie ordered the filet mignon and Brent ordered the special.

As we waited for our food to arrive, the sun began to set. This is the point where Blue Heaven becomes magical when all the lights begin to turn on. 

They also had a band playing in the background, but I wasn’t familiar with who they were. I noticed still since COVID, they keep the amount of dining tables to a minimum – which probably adds to the longer wait times during breakfast.

Our first course came out and I was ready to dig in. The miso eggplant was just as tasty as I remembered. It was delicious and tender. I just love the combination of the miso flavor on the eggplant. Julie ordered the sea scallop appetizer and she shared it with Brent. I think my husband ordered the caesar salad but I can’t be a hundred percent sure.

Then it was time for our main course. I honestly didn’t expect much from ordering a portobello mushroom for dinner, but when I looked down at my plate, it looked amazing. It almost looked like a piece of filet mignon, which my husband had. I would not hesitate to order it again. It was that delicious and full of flavor. After a day of travel, it was the perfect thing to order for me. 

You can read my full review of Blue Heaven here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34345-d447631-r948506775-Blue_Heaven-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

After our meals, neither of us could indulge in their famous key lime pie. We agreed our best course of action would be to walk back to the Gardens and relax for the rest of the evening. We made tentative plans to meet up for our usual first day breakfast at La De Ta the following morning and retired to our rooms.

Sunday, April 14th – La De Ta, Sunset Tiki Bar, General Horseplay, Jazz at the Gardens, Bob’s on Margaret

Surprisingly I slept pretty good for the first night. Unfortunately my husband snores and it makes for a difficult night sleep. I think we were both exhausted from the travel day that we slept through the night. We freshened up and made the quick walk down to Cuban Coffee Queen. It was an absolutely incredible day with the weather. The humidity was low, but the air felt warm and comfortable. And the sky – that sky was again, a brilliant blue color.

When we walked up to Cuban Coffee Queen, there wasn’t much of a line, but we saw a large group standing near the menu they have on display outside of the place. Luckily they were still deciding so we walked by and waited our turn.

Once we had our two cuban americans in hand, we strolled back to the Gardens to meet up with Brent and Julie.

We walked out back onto Simonton and made the not too far walk to La De Ta. Again the weather was simply perfect.  

We walked in and our two favorite tables were available. We sat down and ordered a couple of “Welcome to Key West” breakfast beverages. All of us know the menu by now so we didn’t need to contemplate too long what we wanted to order.

My husband ordered the usual Eggs Benedict Blackstone and I went with the regular two eggs over medium with their signature caramelized pepper bacon. Brent and Julie ordered scrambled eggs with sides of bacon. While we waited for our breakfast, we discussed what we had planned for the day and watched the people walk by along with the occasional conch train. 

It was such a nice way to start our first full day in Key West. Our breakfast was served and it was tasty like it normally is. 

When we were done with breakfast we took the Duval St. route back to the Gardens. Brent and Julie went to relax at the hotel while we headed out for the day.

Once my husband and I regrouped, we took the right hand turn down Duval. 

The streets were still quiet and not too busy. We walked along the bight and then made it down to our favorite place to have a drink and look at the water, the Sunset Tiki Bar located at the Galleon, even though it isn’t technically part of the Galleon.

We walked in and there were a bunch of people sitting down, most likely since it was a Sunday. The Galleon tends to be busier on Sundays when locals stop in for a drink. We found a couple of open seats along the side. As we were settling in we said hello to Ramsey who was working the bar. She welcomed us back and didn’t even have to ask what we were having. We always have the Deep Eddy Sweet Tea and water with a squeeze of lemon over ice. They taste so good, but you have to be careful because they can hit you. 

While we were chatting with Ramsey we saw another familiar face, Phil who owns the Sunset Tiki Bar. He always jokes with us asking when we are going to move down to Key West. If it wasn’t so expensive and money was no object we would do it. However, being realistic it is just something that we can only dream about. 

When we finished our drinks, we thanked Ramsey and headed back out onto Duval. 

Where to next we both thought? Then we remembered that General Horseplay is open earlier on the weekends verses during the week. Plus there is a bartender that works there from the same town as my husband’s automotive repair garage. 

We walked around for a bit before turning onto Caroline St.

As we were about to enter the place, a large group of people were exciting. We walked in as the bartender was cleaning up. We couldn’t have timed it any better. The air conditioning they had on felt refreshing as we sat down.

I went ahead and ordered the Murricane. It is the only beverage that contains bourbon that I can drink. The way the watermelon mixes in, it hides the bourbon in a way that makes it taste. My husband was more adventurous and ordered a manhatten. I took one sip and wow it was strong. Obviously we only stayed for one drink a piece. Anymore we wouldn’t make it to jazz later on at the Gardens.

Speaking of the Gardens, after our drinks at General Horseplay we walked back down on to Duval to the Gardens. The staff was already setting up for jazz that evening which starts at 5pm. Brent and Julie were relaxing by the pool when we arrived. Julie reminded us that she made reservations at Bob’s on Margaret later on that evening for 6:30pm, which gave us about an hour to listen to jazz before walking to the restaurant.

My husband and I took turns freshening up before jazz. While we were waiting for Brent and Julie, we grabbed a couple of seats available near the bar. Jim the General Manager came by to talk to us and George who also works at the Garens.

Peggy came by to show us her new adorable puppy.

Soon the music started and more and more people continued to walk in. My husband and I noticed that Kate, the owner of the Gardens sat down with her friends. We gave her a couple of minutes to settle in before we walked on over to say hello. She is always so warm and welcoming to us every time we see her during our stay. 

Time was moving along and it was getting to be about that time to walk to Bob’s. Once Brent and Julie were ready, we walked on to Simonton St. as we passed a banner I recently did for the Gardens promoting their Kentucky Derby that was being held in a couple of weeks.

Soon we turned onto to Southard St. It was such a pretty walk down Southard. I love walking down the less traveled roads in Key West. 

They are so peaceful and you really get the sense of what it would be like to live in Key West, vs. all the commotion along Duval St.

We made the turn to Margaret, which is where Bob’s is located – hence the name Bob’s on Margaret. We were seated this time outside which was a lovely table. During our last visit, we made a last minute reservation and also with the threat of rain, we had to sit inside.

Our server came over and read us the specials. Similar to last time, the special catch of the day was swordfish. The last time we were at Bob’s I splurged and ordered the rack of lamb. This time I felt like seafood since I had a vegetarian meal the prior evening. To start, I decided to go with the beet and radicchio salad, followed by merken glazed salmon. My husband started off with their beef carpaccio and ordered again, the filet mignon. Brent and Julie ordered peach burrato salad and the strawberries and spinach salad. For their main meals I think they both ordered the swordfish special again. 

By the time our first courses came out, I was quite hungry. We had not eaten anything since breakfast, which is the norm for me. I tend to eat only 2 meals a day. Anyway, when I took the first bite of my salad, I thought it was interesting. The beets were tasty, but there were only a few on the plate. Most of the plate was covered in radicchio. The radicchio, I know can be kind of tart, but there was so much of it and it was very tough to eat. Even the salads that Brent and Julie had were a bit of a disappointment as well. The only thing that was enjoyable was my husband’s beef carpaccio. 

Needless to say I didn’t finish my salad. On the other hand, when our main course came out, they looked wonderful. My husband’s filet looked excellent and so did my salmon. Thankfully they tasted as good as they looked. 

So good, that I finished my entire plate. 

Brent and Julie also enjoyed their meals as well. Bob’s wasn’t as good as it was the first time we went there, but at least our main meals saved the night. Next time I would shy away from ordering a salad, unless it is a caeser salad. It is pretty hard to mess up a caesar salad. 

When we were done with dinner we took a leisurely stroll back to the Gardens. It was a perfect evening for all us to relax in the gazebo and have a night cap before getting some sleep. 

Monday, April 15th – Breakfast Club Too, Sunset Tiki Bar (again of course), Milagro

We woke up to again, another picture perfect day. The humidity was still low and the temperature wasn’t too hot. The night before, we made plans with Brent and Julie to have breakfast at Breakfast Club Too. My husband and I had not been there for quite some time, and thought it would be a nice change to return. Plus Brent and Julie had never been there before. 

So after a couple of quick showers, we met Brent and Julie down by the coffee station that the Gardens has set up on the back porch area. I wanted to go to Cuban Coffee Queen, but everyone was set to walk to breakfast. 

Again, we took Simonton down all the way to Greene St. We were a little later then our typical time to have breakfast, so I was prepared to either have to wait or not be able to sit outside. 

When we walked up to be seated, just as I expected, it was packed. I was almost certain that we were going to have to wait. Surprisingly, the hostess grabbed four menus and seated us right away. We were seated all the way in the back, which was fine. It actually made for a great photo opportunity to get the entire space of Breakfast Club too in one shot. 

Despite being so busy, we didn’t wait long for our server to come over and ask us if we wanted one of their bloody mary concoctions that they are known for. None of us took the offer, so we all just ordered coffee. The bloody marys do look fabulous that they serve, but I can never do it. I love tomatoes, tomato sauce, but in a drink I can’t do it. I have tried but can’t get into them. 

Brent, Julie and I all ordered our custom omelets while my husband opted for something different – the croque de madame. As we waited for our breakfasts to arrive, we mentioned to Brent and Julie that we were probably going to walk on over to the Sunset Tiki Bar. Again we slept in a bit, so it wouldn’t be too early to have a cocktail by the time we were done with breakfast.

When our breakfasts were served, I couldn’t believe the size of my husband’s order. I wish I took a picture, but I was too focused on capturing my omelet with a side of cheesy grits. Without any surprise, everything was delicious and served hot. I was quite certain we would have to wait for a while with all the people that were dining there, but it wasn’t long at all. 

Everyone enjoyed their meals. I think their portions tend to be on the larger scale than most places. So much that I don’t think anyone was able to finish their meals. Even the omelets were enormous. Once we settled the bill, we headed out to walk towards the Bite.

You can read my full review of the Breakfast Club Too here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34345-d13526247-r948510259-The_Breakfast_Club_Too-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

We walked to the Bight and I noticed that more and more stickers were put on Jimmy Buffett’s old recording studio, Shrimpboat Sound Studio. 

I remember so many times back in the day, we would visit Key West and had no idea that big old white box was his recording studio. Now it is common knowledge by both locals and visitors that come to the island. I am still so sad how he left this world too soon.

We walked past the Conch Farm and by the empty area that was previously occupied by Wahlburgers. I wonder if some other establishment will buy that spot. I personally miss the old White Tarpon there. It was great to go inside and grab a key lime martini and walk back outside and sit at one of the tables and listen to live music. Ironically I don’t hear much about the White Tarpon, but appears to always be busy during lunch hours and especially happy hour. 

We walked past Alonso’s and made it all the way down to the Sunset Tiki Bar. 

This time Candace was working behind the bar. She recognized all of us and welcomed us back. She made us a couple of drinks while we all talked about what we were up to since the last time we were in Key West. I mentioned to Candace how I was headed to Minnesota in a couple of weeks for work where ironically she used to live. 

Brent and Julie decided to get back to the Gardens while my husband and I convinced ourselves to stay for one more drink before walking back as well.

When we were done with our beverages we thanked Candace and walked back down Simonton. 

Again the weather was just picture perfect. We got back to the Gardens and relaxed for a bit before getting ready for dinner. Dinner that evening was at Milagro. Brent and Julie have been there several times, but we had never dined there before. I was excited to try something new, especially after reading all the great reviews on Tripadvisor. Julie went ahead and made reservations for all of us a couple of months ago. So I was already looking forward to it before we even got back. 

It was time to freshen up for dinner and once we were all ready, we all set off down Simonton to the Santa Clara Suites. 

I had no idea that Milagro was located in the hotel. I don’t think I have ever seen the hotel before. Maybe once or twice when we had one of those taxis that pick you up from the airport and included as many passengers as they can and drop them off along the way. Never again. Honestly I don’t think they can do that anymore? Every time we grab a taxi when we exit the airport the driver takes only us. 

The entrance to Milagro was beautiful. It had all glass and water falls flowing. We walked in and the hostess seated us at a nice table, however the sun was setting right in my eye. So the hostess immediately moved us over to another table. 

While we were perusing the menu, we noticed a little circular card in the center of our table. It listed the specials of the day. There was a special black berry margarita, along with the catch of the day. It was hogfish and grilled shrimp. My husband immediately jumped on the idea of the hogfish, but then I mentioned how they are known for their prime rib. I really don’t cook red meat at home since I rarely eat it myself so I knew it was something he should order. I know how much he used to enjoy prime rib when we would go to this one restaurant near our house

With not too much convincing my husband did go ahead and order the prime rib. I myself opted for the special. To start, we both shared the fried calamari. Both Brent and my husband also ordered a couple of manhattens. I decided to try one of their margaritas since that is what they are known for.

When the calamari arrived I was ready to dig in. It was light and crispy – a perfect starter. Then it came time for our main meals to be served. I could not believe the prime rib. It looked amazing, like on a cover of a high end magazine or cookbook. I had to try a little piece and was glad I did. The prime rib was outstanding. Then I stared at my meal and while it was good, it just didn’t have the same pizazz as the prime rib. Both Brent and Julie enjoyed their meals, but again I can’t remember what they ordered. Maybe the swordfish?

After our meals, we were all too stuffed to order any dessert. A walk back to the Gardens was in order. I was looking forward to the walk so that I can walk off some of the dinner.

You can read my full review of Milagro Restaurant and Bar here.https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34345-d23440556-r948507569-Milagro_Restaurant_and_Bar-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

While we were walking back I was thinking that maybe we could go out somewhere and listen to music or something. However when we got back to the Gardens it was a nightcap and sleep. 

Tuesday, April 16th – Latitudes, Smokin Tuna (x2), Green Parrot

We woke up to another wonderful day with the sun shining and the sky a brilliant blue once again. Julie made reservations for us to have breakfast at Latitudes, which is always a favorite of mine. I almost prefer eating breakfast there instead of dinner, but you don’t get the sunset obviously.

We didn’t have to be at the dock to catch the water taxi until 9:45am, so after my husband and I freshened up, we walked on over to Cuban Coffee Queen. Again, there was no line. We quickly got our two cuban americans and walked back to the Gardens to meet up with Brent and Julie.

Everyone was so excited to go to Latitudes especially with the weather we were experiencing. When we were all set, we took a leisurely stroll down Duval. The streets were still quiet so I figured that there weren’t any cruise ships in town that morning.

Last time we went to Latitudes, we wound up leaving through Truman Annex to get back towards the Gardens and it was such a pretty walk. So we decided to do the same thing again to get to the Opal Resort to catch the water taxi.

It is such a beautiful manicured section of Key West. I remember one time, we almost were going to rent a place in the Truman Annex, but disappointingly the owner didn’t realize he already had the week reserved when I gave him the go ahead. And then we wound up returning to the Gardens and haven’t thought about staying at the Truman Annex ever since.

We walked through the grounds which led us to the Opal Resort. There wasn’t a cruise ship in port, so there weren’t a lot of people walking around. We found a bench to sit down and wait for the water taxi. It was so pretty to look out on to the water. I was trying to take in the perfect weather while we waited.

The water taxi eventually showed up and we filed on to the boat. I didn’t realize there were so many people waiting since they were all spread out. We somehow managed to find our usual seats in the outside section of the boat. 

Once everyone was on the boat we took the quick 8-10 minute ride over to Sunset Key. There was a slight cool breeze along the way that I wasn’t expecting. However when we arrived at Sunset Key, it began to warm up nicely.

When we arrived at the dock, we were one of the first group of people off. We followed the hostess up to the restaurant. She then seated us at a lovely table outside near the water. It was a perfect backdrop while we looked over the menu. I noticed there were several new additions to their breakfast menu, but I decided to go ahead with the smoked salmon lox and a bagel. Usually throughout our time in Key West, there is a point where I have had enough eggs. I call it “egged out”. Today was the day. 

To start, we all ordered a breakfast cocktail. Julie ordered a mimosa, while my husband and I ordered Tito’s and fresh squeezed orange juice. Brent wound up going with a cappuccino. It took some time before our server came back with our drinks and take our order, but once he did, all was good in the world.

Our breakfast, like our drinks, took some time to arrive but we were in no rush. I did have a lot of things planned that day that I wanted to do, but it wasn’t until later on. When our breakfast arrived, we were all ready to eat. I love how they present the plates on a tiered display they carry out. My smoked salmon was delicious and exactly what I was in the mood for. I also loved the avocado accompaniment. 

They also had salt and pepper grinders on the table. I may be late to the party, but I have never seen any sort of grinders like they had. They were automatic. As soon as you placed grinder above your food, it would grind out the pepper and also the salt one as well.

When we were finished with our breakfast it was nearing the time to catch the next water taxi. So we quickly paid our bill and walked back down to the dock as the water taxi was approaching. If we missed it, we would have had to wait another half hour until the next one.

After the quick return trip back to Key West, we made plans to meet back up with Julie at the Smokin Tuna to catch Caffeine Carl and Zack Seemiller. Brent was going to go back and practice, since he was going to be playing at the Smokin Tuna that evening with Nick Brownell.

My husband and I wanted to do a little walking around and of course made it back to the Sunset Tiki Bar. Candace was working again so she didn’t even ask us what we wanted to drink. We both agreed that we would only stay for one. Well that one became two, but then we realized it was nearing the time that we were supposed to meet Julie at the Smokin Tuna. My husband sent her quick text letting her know we were on our way. We thanked Candace and headed out towards Duval.

We wound up walking around in to the back way to the Smokin Tuna on Telegraph Lane. Meanwhile I was thinking about all the buzz that I was hearing how the Smokin Tuna was closing down. I couldn’t believe it. I remember when it first opened and we were so excited to see all the live music that has come through its doors. It became our favorite place to listen to live music.

We walked in and saw Julie sitting at one of the tables near the stage. We waved at Carl and Zack as we walked on over to join Julie. Phil the bartender was working and he came on over to give us hugs and welcome us back. It is always fun to see Phil at the Tuna. 

Phil brought us over a couple Miller Lites and we talked for a bit. We asked him about what was going on with the Tuna. And pretty much it came down to the owner of the space for the Tuna. He didn’t want to renew with the owner who owns the Smokin Tuna Business. There was some disagreement between the two so May 4th was going to be their last day being open. The newer section behind the main stage and bar area, is where the Tuna is supposed to move to. And to the side of the area is the old Keyviche building that is also owned by the same woman who owns the Tuna Business.  So apparently they are going to blow out those walls and use it for rest rooms, etc. It sounds very odd and I don’t see how it is going to work, but I hope it does.

While we were enjoying Carl and Zack play, my husband went on a little mission to look for our name plates. We figured we better find them before the place closes down. Who knows if they will move them or just simply throw them away? Sure enough, it took my husband a quick walk around and found our names on the back wall. I couldn’t believe he found them so quickly. Then again, when I was looking, I kept focusing on the posts. 

You can see a video of Carl and Zack here: https://youtu.be/tPcE-kTO-EQ

Once Carl and Zack took a break, they came over to say hello. It was great to see them as usual. I wanted to stay longer, but my husband suggested we should head back to the Gardens to relax for a bit since we had a long day still.

We said our goodbyes and walked back down Duval to the Gardens.

It was a good plan, since several weeks ago I was checking out the Green Parrot music schedule and saw that Tony Baltimore was playing there doing a Pearl Jam Tribute. Pearl Jam is my favorite band and I couldn’t believe the timing. I know he has played there before with the Pearl Jam Tribute band, but we always missed it.

Since Brent was playing at the Tuna with Nick at 8:30, I thought that we could head on over to the Parrot right before sound check at 5:30. Then we could meet Brent and Julie at the Tuna and have something to eat there. 

We got back to the Gardens and ran into Lynn and Al. We mentioned to them that Brent was playing at the Tuna that night so they said that they would stop by and check it out. After we regrouped at the Gardens, my husband and I made the short walk to the Parrot. We walked in and it was already filled with both locals and visitors alike. We made it to the back bar where I was able to find a small bench that overlooked the direction of the stage. I thought it was a perfect spot to watch the band perform. While they were setting up, I noticed one of the band members was Vincent Bergamo, whom we know from Lavallette, NJ. I walked on over to say hello before returning to my little spot to watch the band play.

Within a few minutes the band started to play. I couldn’t believe how good they sounded. I know, no one can replicate Eddie Vedder’s voice, but wow just to experience hearing the music of my favorite band in Key West made me so happy. 

You can see a video of them performing here: https://youtu.be/hAdC6LqhZys

We stayed for a while but we knew we had to get on over to the Tuna. When we were leaving we ran into Phil the bartender from the Tuna. 

When we made it back to the Tuna and found Julie again sitting at one of the tables near the stage. She was joined by another couple, Matt and Teri. They didn’t know one another, but Julie asked if we could join them at the table and they welcomed us to sit with them. Turned out they were very nice people and we wound up talking for a bit as the band was playing. That’s how Key West goes. You meet people all the time.

The band sounded great as always. It was fun time and even Lynn and Al showed up. 

 It felt like a party in you will. 

You can watch the a video of Brent playing with the Nick Brownell Band here: https://youtu.be/ntBpR8MQoys

As we were enjoying the music I realized we hadn’t eaten anything yet. I wasn’t exactly hungry at that time, plus with all the drinks on the table, I couldn’t see how I could eat anything. There wasn’t any room. I should have had something though. I wanted to stay until the end but the long day was catching up to me. I wound up headed out and made it to the Gardens by myself. I was even proud of myself for remembering the code to open the gate to get back in.

Shortly after I made it back my husband came back as well. It was time for some much needed sleep. 

Wednesday, April 17th – Pepe’s, Gardens Pool, Kaya Island Eats, Smokin Tuna

We wound up sleeping in that morning. Brent and Julie were going to eat at the Gardens. Meanwhile, I felt like walking around and I was very hungry since I didn’t eat the night before. Once my husband and I were ready, we started walking down Duval towards Front St. We thought about maybe going to Azur, which I do enjoy, but they tend to take a while to bring out your food after you order. 

I was thinking about maybe Harpoon Harry’s so we turned on to Caroline St. As we were nearing Pepe’s, my husband suggested to go in. 

We both looked inside and saw the little bar in the back. So we walked on in and sat at the two empty seats. The bartender immediately came over and asked us if we would like menus. We told her yes while we ordered a couple of drinks.

Again, I didn’t feel like eggs, plus it was later on in the morning so I decided to go with a BLT. My husband ordered the biscuits and gray. After we placed our order, we looked around and it was charming. We only went to Pepe’s once throughout our stays a long time ago and all I can remember it was so busy and we were seated in the other room in the back. We were kind of packed in there and I wasn’t crazy of the omelet I had due to some sort of garlic sauce that was way too powerful. My husband felt the experience wasn’t one to remember either so we never went back.

I am so glad we did however. You get that feeling of what Key West used to be like. While we were waiting we saw a few locals come and go having breakfast. There was even a couple that sat behind us that brought their dogs, who were very well behaved. The owners told us to be careful when we were leaving since they were right behind our chairs. They were so cute just lying there.

Our breakfast came out and it wasn’t anything fancy, but it did the job. My BLT was tasty and my husband had no complaints with his biscuits and gravy. 

You can read my full review of Pepe’s here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34345-d447770-r948507863-Pepe_s_Cafe-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

We finished our breakfast and then we walked around the Bite before making our way back to the Gardens. 

It was another beautiful day, maybe a little bit more humid. When we got back to the Gardens, we saw Brent relaxing by the pool. What a good idea we both thought. So my husband went back to our room to throw on a pair of swim trunks. I was already wearing my bathing suit so I was ready to jump in to the pool. 

The pool felt so refreshing. Back in January, it was too cold to go in the pool but not this time. It was a nice afternoon spending it at the Gardens. 

We didn’t have any plans that evening for dinner. I did however, wanted to go back to the Smokin Tuna to see Caffeine Carl and Zack Seemiller play with the band since it probably would be the last time seeing them on that stage. So we decided to go to Kaya that evening since it is on the way to the Smokin Tuna. Plus we had Lola’s the following night, so a reasonable priced dinner was definitely preferred. Sometimes you don’t realize how much money you go through until you check your wallet. 

We both freshened up and grabbed a couple of seats at the Gardens bar. While we were enjoying a cocktail, Lynn and Al showed up. They were on their way to Blue Heaven for dinner. I showed Al the photo of the portobello mushroom entree I had our first night and he wanted to try it, being a vegetarian himself. We also talked about going back to Kaya Island Eats. They enjoy that place as well. I am particularly very fond of the rasta pasta. I tend to shy away from pasta while on vacation, but that night was going to be an exception.

Once Brent and Julie were ready they joined us at the bar. We all enjoyed a cocktail, a glass of wine for me, while listening to the live music on the porch. 

Then it was time to make the short walk down Angela St. to Duval. Kaya is located just a block down Duval. You can also access the other entrance from Angel St. once you cross Duval. We walked in the entrance off of Duval which has a nice large and spacious bar to dine at. 

We were one of the first ones there, so we had no issue securing four seats at the bar. I went ahead and ordered a mai tai while we looked over the menu. They had a special of buffalo cauliflower that sounded interesting. I wound ordering them as a starter and then the rasta pasta with portobello mushrooms.  My husband ordered their tuna poke nachos, which I love as well, along with the rasta pasta – but with chicken.

We didn’t wait long for our first course to come out. The cauliflower did in a way look like chicken. I am not sure if they actually made them and/or were perhaps frozen? Nevertheless they were surprisingly very good. I didn’t miss the chicken what so ever. My husband tried one and thought the same thing. They were just as good as buffalo chicken. I did have to try one of my husband’s tuna nachos. And as always they were tasty.

Then when our rasta pasta meals came out, both of them were chicken. I mentioned it to our bartender and he thought I said chicken as well. I told him not to worry about it. The chicken was delicious and I had no complaints about it. On a side note, that always seems to happen. Whenever my husband and I order the same thing, one of us gets our meal the correct way, the other not so much. That’s why I usually don’t order the same thing as my husband or someone else at our dinner party for that reason. As we were enjoying our rasta pasta, the bartender came back out with a plate loaded with sautéed portobello mushrooms. I thought that was so nice. There was so much of it that I was offering to my husband, Julie and Brent. Overall everyone enjoyed their meals. After we paid the bill we made our way back down Duval to the Smokin  Tuna.

You can read my full review of Kaya Island Eats here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34345-d23162562-r948510550-Kaya_island_Eats-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

As we were walking, we still had some time before Caffeine Carl and the Buzz came on stage. My husband told Brent about how good his manhatten drink was at General Horseplay that he wanted to try it. 

So before we went to the Tuna, we continued down Duval to General Horseplay. When we walked in, there was a guy playing in the back stage that sounded pretty good. As we were going to go inside, the place was packed. My husband suggested that he would go in and order us a couple of drinks while we sat in one of the booths outside. Julie didn’t want anything so it was 3 drinks he would have to carry. Probably not a good idea. 

When Brent and Julie sat down, I ran inside and grabbed my drink, the Murricane of course, from my husband. Then he joined us with two manahattens in tow. One for him and one for Brent. As we were sipping our drinks, we saw another band come in to set up. It was The Marshall Morlock Band. I was kind of curious to hear them play and so were other people. I noticed more and more people coming through and going in the back area to claim a seat.

But I kept thinking about the Smokin Tuna closing and also Julie made tentative plans of having Myles Mancuso join us there who just got back in to town. So we all rallied and walked down to the Tuna. We wound up walking through the back area where the new Tuna is supposedly supposed to be. It will definitely be smaller I thought to myself and how will they compete if the old Tuna has entertainment on their stage? Will it be dueling bands back and forth? 

When we got to near the bar, all the tables near the stage were occupied. We thought that we would have to stand for a while. Then I spotted two familiar faces at the end table. It was the couple Teri and Matt who we met the other night. Perfect! I walked on over and they welcomed us back to their table. Talk about luck. The band was already playing since we got a little caught up at General Horseplay. 

They sounded great of course.

You can see a video of them playing here:
https://youtu.be/OdgGREmZyec

Still kept thinking to myself this is it at “this” Tuna. While we were enjoying the music Myles showed up. We talked to him for a bit and he was telling us a little more about the owner of the Smokin Tuna property. Apparently he is some big wig from California that is the owner of Viagra or something to that nature. He owns several properties in Key West and also had something to do with how Hank’s had to move the music to the back and Garbo’s food truck to the front. Noise complaints, etc. Overall he sounds like a great answer to Key West (obviously being sarcastic). 

It was a fun night enjoying the music and hanging out with everyone. We wound up staying to the end. While Carl was breaking down his equipment I went over to get a photo with him. Again thinking the last time I will see him on the stage. I also wanted to get a picture with Zack but he had already left.

We were contemplating an Uber, but decided to make the walk back to the Gardens. When we got back I was ready to turn in.

Thursday, April 18th – Bagatelle, Smokin Tuna (yes again), Lola’s

After sleeping in again, we woke up to another gorgeous day. We both quickly took showers and compiled our laundry in to a couple of bags. While I was finishing up, my husband dropped off our laundry to the front desk. I find the cost to have our laundry done towards the end of our trip very reasonable. Plus knowing I have a lot less laundry to do when I get back home is a big win for me.

We made plans with Brent and Julie while walking back from the Tuna last night to all go to Bagatelle for a late breakfast / brunch. After my husband dropped off the laundry, we all headed back out down Duval. There were definitely more people walking around and the conch trains were loaded with people. A cruise ship must be in town we all thought. And sure enough as we neared the end of Duval, you could see the top of a cruise ship docked outside the Opal Resort.

When we reached Bagatelle, it looked very busy. Brent and Julie prefer to sit upstairs on the outside porch. We asked the hostess if we could be seated upstairs. She walked us up the stairs and sat us at a table on the side. There was a nice large table empty in the front corner. I asked if we could sit there, but unfortunately someone had reserved that table. I made a note to myself. Maybe next time I should make a reservation for that table. I do know they take reservations for any time of the day at Bagatelle.

Since it was later on in the morning, both my husband and I were craving lunch not breakfast. I decided to go with a caesar salad with blackened mahi, while my husband ordered a burger topped with a fried egg. There was no holding back there. Brent and Julie went ahead and ordered the garden omelete, which I somehow missed on the menu.

When our food arrived, it looked wonderful. The caesar salad was delicious. My husband’s burger looked delightful as well. I thought how that will keep him satisfied until dinner. Julie had made dinner reservations that evening at Lola’s for the 6:00pm seating. Lynn and Al were also going to Lola’s that evening. 

I was pretty full when we were all done with our meals. The garden omelet that both Julie and Brent ordered looked really good by the way. It was served with an arugula salad. Next time I would order that.

We paid our tab and walked back on to Duval. Brent and Julie wanted to head back to the Gardens to do some work while my husband and I opted to walk back to the Sunset Tiki Bar. Candace one again was behind the bar. I told my husband we are just going to have one this time and try not to grow roots there. We chatted with Candace for a bit before making our way back out to our next destination. 

Our next destination wound up being the Smokin Tuna again. We were thinking about going to First Flight, but the idea of it may be our last time at the Tuna made our decision for us. Plus I got a message from Phil, the bartender, about how the guy playing at the Tuna at the afternoon slot is entertaining. So with that in mind, we walked in to the Tuna. The place was empty, but there was entertainment. It turned out the guy playing, named Fried Newt was the husband of one of the girls that works at the Tuna, Corley who we have gotten to know as well. He sang one of his originals dedicated to Jimmy Buffett that I thought was quite good. 

You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/O8iFFZAW3jQ

Then Phil told us how that evening Caffeine Carl and Nick Norman were playing at Hank’s. I was so disappointed because I would have loved to have seen them together again. It had been years since I have seen them perform. Unfortunately with the dinner reservations, that kind of nixed that idea. Don’t get me wrong, I love going out to dinner and what not, but sometimes I like it better in a way when we don’t have any plans. Let the day just play itself out and do whatever comes your way.

It was getting later in the evening and we had to get back to the Gardens. We said our goodbyes and made a quick stop at a wine shop located on Simonton near the Gardens since Lola’s is a BYO. Let’s just say it was an interesting conversation with the owner of the shop. He was a nice gentleman, but had some strong feelings political wise. To me, the last thing I want to discuss with anyone mind you, are politics. We did make it back just in time to freshen up before dinner. We met up with everyone and all had a “pre” dinner beverage. 

Thankfully Lola’s is located practically right behind the Gardens, because when we got there, they just started calling out people’s names on the reservation list. They called Julie’s name and we walked in.

We were seated right in front of the chef’s station. I thought how fun. We can watch him do his magic while we wait on our meals. Lynn and Al were seated towards the front along the wall. We waved at each other as we had our wine bottles opened by the server. 

I thought it was kind of interesting, usually the server will go to each table to tell you what the menu is for that particular evening. This time however, he stood in the middle of the small dining room and told everyone at once what the first courses were, along with the main courses. For some reason the scene from that movie The Menu came to mind. 

One of the items that struck me was the pompano filet served with a garlic and lemon sauce. I was definitely going to get that and so I did. I also ordered the braised artichoke hearts to start like I usually do. Brent and Julie ordered the red grouper, along with the seared scallops to start. My husband followed suite with the scallops, but again ordered meat, the filet mignon. 

It was really entertaining to see the chef cook all these meals for everyone. He would grab one skillet, then a pan, etc. I don’t know how he does it, but he does it extremely well. Yes it is a little bit of time between courses but that is to be expected. All the food that was served was delicious. I don’t think there wasn’t anything that was remotely unsatisfactory. The only negative I have is not knowing the prices. And oh my the prices. When we got the bill, let’s just say it was a lot.

Once we were done, I was feeling very full and wanted to go for a walk. However, I was ruled out and we just walked back to the Gardens. We all wound up at the Gardens Gazebo while our food settled and finish the wine we brought to Lola’s. It was a beautiful evening that I didn’t even think about walking around anymore.

After all that food, it didn’t take me long wanting to get some sleep. So I told everyone I was going back to the room and call it a night. 

Friday, April 19th – Moondog Café, Ricks, Tree Bar, Smokin Tuna (one last time), Kaya

It was another sunny morning, but it was definitely hotter then it had been all week. Brent and Julie were going to eat at the Gardens again, so we were off on our own. Where to eat today? We both thought. Then I suggested Moondog Café. It had been a while since we have eaten there, because every time we have tried, it was too crowded and there was a wait. We figured lets try and give it a shot, if not we’ll go somewhere else.

We walked down to Whitehead St. and saw some people standing around outside of Moondog. Oh no there’s a wait I thought. However, when we arrived at the entrance, the hostess said she had one seat available outside (but in the sun) or we could be seated inside. We both said in unison inside. When we walked in, we saw a couple of open seats at the bar. We asked her if we could sit there and she said it was fine. We both tend to prefer sitting at the bar if available vs. a table anyway. 

One thing I do like about Moondog, is how they serve Cuban Coffee Queen coffee. I wish more places do. We both ordered a cup of coffee. While we were looking over the menu we heard a “hey guys” behind us. At first we weren’t sure who it was, but then she told us it was Janice. We were both like Janice! We hadn’t seen her in a while. When we used to watch Zack Seemiller play at Willie T’s a few years back Janice would show up with her husband Matt and we would all hang out together. It was a lot of fun. Turns out that she now manages the Moondog. Good to know if we ever have an issue getting a table. 

We chatted for a couple minutes before she had to get back to work. When the bartender came back over, we both ordered the exact same thing. Oh no it is going to get messed up I thought. We both ordered two eggs over medium, side of sausage and wheat toast. Nope not this time. Both our orders arrived pretty quickly and it was perfect and hot. Now I remember why I liked this place. You even get a slice of refreshing watermelon accompanying your breakfast.

You can read my full review of Moondog Café here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34345-d15196938-r948508148-Moondog_Cafe_Bakery-Key_West_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

When we were done, we walked past the Hemingway House debating whether or not to check it out. It had been a while since we went in, but when we walked by, it was packed with people waiting outside of the entrance to get inside. Maybe another time. 

Then we made the daunting decision to go back to our room and pack up some of our things. Our laundry was dropped off the night before, so we knew at some point we should get ahead of it. Not wanting to, we walked back to the Gardens and packed up all the clothes that we weren’t going to be wearing for the rest of our trip and what we had in the bag of clean laundry. It wasn’t as bad as I thought and in a way felt relieved to get it done instead of waiting until later in the day or even Saturday morning.

We went back down by the pool and saw Lynn and Al. They were heading home a day before we were. It seemed like we all just got there and now we are talking about leaving. Brent and Julie also came back from their breakfast. They wound up going to the Hyatt for a bite. We all decided to hang out until it Lynn and Al had to leave for the airport. Soon it was time for them to leave and we all said our good byes. We’ll see each other soon we said and wished them well.

I was getting a little antsy since it was our last full day in Key West and didn’t want to spend the entire day at the Gardens. So with a little convincing my husband and I walked back down Duval. We really didn’t have any agenda, but thought about seeing Teri at the Tree Bar. We walked by and there weren’t any seats open so we kept walking and saw that the perch seats at Rick’s were open. (We used to frequent Rick’s a lot when Miguel used to bartender there. Poor Miguel – we miss that guy.)  

We sat down and ordered a couple of beers. It felt odd to be back since it had been a long time. There was duo playing in the back and they sounded pretty good. I didn’t recognize who they were though. I kept checking what time it was because it was nearing the time for me to check us in to our flight the next day, which was at 2pm. A few more minutes passed and I went ahead and successfully went through the check in process with the United App. I remember how years ago you would have to do it on a computer. 

No dinner plans were on the horizon, so we thought about where to eat for our last night. Then we joked about how we never made it to Old Town Mexican. As I have mentioned before, it isn’t the best mexican food, but it is good enough, if you are craving mexican. I texted Julie to see what she thought about it and both her and Brent were in. Dinner plans were made. 

Once our beers were done, I peeked over to see if the Tree Bar had any open seats and they did. We made the quick hop over and sat down. We said hello to Teri and chatted with her for a bit. She told us about how the old Lazy Gecko location, which became unfortunately a Sandal Factory, was going to be the Tiki House Bar. They were moving from their old spot on Greene St. I hope it does well. 

We thanked Teri and began walking again. Then the thought of “one last time to the Smokin Tuna” hit me. So we walked down Charles St. to the Tuna. Phil was back behind the bar but it was nearing the end of his shift. Fried Newt was finishing up his set and Cliff Cody was next. 

After Phil served us a few beers he joined us at the bar. More people started to come in to the Tuna while we were talking to him. Then the next shift of bartenders came in, including Big Ed. It was good to see him again.

Before we new it, Cliff Cody came on stage. Time was flying by and we were having such a good time. In a way I wish we didn’t make plans because I could have stayed longer. Maybe it was better to take a break and get back to the Gardens. We said our goodbyes and made the not to long of walk to the Gardens. Duval was definitely more crowded then it had been all week. Then again it was a Friday when usually everyone comes in for a long weekend. 

Watch Cliff Cody here sing Purple Rain: https://youtu.be/zvFDUwlJ7v0

We quickly freshened up for dinner and met back up with Brent and Julie. When we walked down to Old Town Mexican, which isn’t far at all from the Gardens, there were no seats available at the bar. Plan B we all thought. And Plan B was…. yup Kaya Island Eats! Why not? We had such a wonderful meal there a few days ago and their prices aren’t through the roof. 

So we made the short stroll across Duval to Kaya. We walked in and there were a few people sitting at the bar, but there was enough room available to accommodate the four of us. Like last time I ordered the buffalo cauliflower and the rasta pasta with portobello mushrooms. My husband ordered the tuna poke nachos and for his main dish the pan fried mahi mahi bites with a thai chili sauce and toasted sesame seeds.

When my rasta pasta came out, it was loaded with portobello mushrooms. I knew it would be right since my husband didn’t order the same thing like last time. Everything again was delicious. It wound up being the perfect call for our last dinner in Key West.

After we were done, I wanted to go out and walk around but no one else did, so we walked back to the Gardens. All of us were leaving the next day, so it was probably for the best. We wound up going back to the Gazebo for one last night call before settling in for the last night.

Saturday, April 20th – Going Home

Ever since our debacle last July, I tend to get a bit on edge with our flight going back to Newark. We woke up to another beautiful morning. I checked my phone and our 2pm flight was still on schedule. I even looked at the weather back home and it was a cool but a nice day back in New Jersey. We should be good to go I thought to myself.

Since it was our last morning, we all agreed to have breakfast at the Gardens. I forgot how nice their breakfasts are. The server brought out first a glass of orange juice and a cup filled with yogurt and fresh fruit. Then the breakfast that morning was a hot slice of quiche served with potatoes. 

After breakfast we went back to our room to finish packing our things. We weren’t leaving until 12:30pm, so I asked the Gardens for a late check out. They said it wouldn’t be a problem, but we wound up leaving are room at 11am anyway. We brought our luggage by the pool and talked to Brent and Julie for a few. They were leaving a little before us since they had a rental car to fuel up and drop off. Then it was time for us to say our good byes but would most likely see them again in the airport since it is so small.

Next came our turn to leave. Usually we have the Gardens call a taxi for us, but this time I wanted to try Uber. I have the Uber app on my phone, but only have used it once in a long time. I am headed to Minnesota for work soon and will need to use the app to get from the airport to the hotel. So I clicked on the app and hit pick us up to go to the airport. Within 4 minutes the driver was there. I think now I am converted to use Uber to bring us back to the airport from now on.

Once we were dropped off, we went to the TSA line. Wow is all I could say. Everyone was leaving the same time. Thankfully we have TSA Pre so the line was not nearly as bad. Note to self, if you don’t have TSA Pre, give yourself extra time to get through security before your flight, especially if you are leaving on a weekend. 

We got through security easily and took the escalator down one level. I always hold my breath to see how many people are in the waiting area. And yes it was packed. We walked on over to the Delta Gate through masses of people and found Brent and Julie. We wanted to wish them safe travels and say goodbye again.

We had about an hour before we boarded so we walked over near the food area. Luckily one of the standing only tables were free, so we made refuge there. My husband ordered us a couple of cocktails. I figured why not, we’re still technically on vacation, even though it didn’t feel like it. I checked my phone again, and our flight was still on time. And it was. Soon we heard the announcement that they were going to start to preboard. We always laugh how every other airline, whether it is Delta, American, etc. all the passengers wait to go on line until their boarding class is called. Not United. As soon as they mention the start of preboard, everyone swarms by the Gate area even if they are boarding Group 5. Since I have the United Card we are always in Group 1. 

Somehow we were able to get near the gate and got on line when they called Group 1. We all walked out and were guided around all of the construction. At one point they had us all stop under a covering for a bit. I thought something’s wrong, but I think there was another plane that just arrived and the people were leaving the same way we were supposed to go to our plane. While we were waiting we saw Brent and Julie walking to board their plane. It was pretty funny shouting their names and waving goodbye.

Then we got the go ahead to continue our journey to the plane. I say journey, because the United plane is always the furthest plane away from the airport. I don’t know why, but it has never changed. Eventually when the airport expansion is finally complete, that won’t matter, but until then, it is a long walk.

Soon we were back on our way to Newark, NJ. The flight was mostly uneventful until we neared the airport. While we were descending, there was a lot of turbulence. Not what you want to feel as the plane lowers in the air. Luckily it dissipated by the time we landed.

Once we got off the plane, we got in contact with our car driver and soon we were on our way. I noticed that so much had bloomed on the trees since only a week ago. I was already missing Key West, but at least it is the start to the warmer months in New Jersey. About little under an hour we were back home.

Again we had a wonderful time in Key West. We did a little bit of everything. I don’t think any trip is exactly the same as the last which makes each and every one so special, like the great people we meet and the special friends we see. And that’s why Key West is my happy place. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog, always greatly appreciated…. until next time!