Leading up to our return trip to Key West (making it #39) we were experiencing very hot weather conditions in New Jersey. I kind of laughed to myself saying how it will make both my husband and I prepared to spend July 4th week in Key West. As usual, as our trip neared I kept checking the forecast. At first it looked like there was a chance of rain each day throughout the week. Unfortunately though, it is to be expected during the summer months in Key West and even Florida for that matter. However, as the days neared our arrival, the chance of rain diminished. With the weather being almost identical to NJ, packing was a breeze.

Of course I had my husband and I booked at our home away from home, the Gardens Hotel once again. All of the familiar faces were meeting up with us as usual, at the Gardens hotel for our (almost) week long stay. Our friends from Nashville (Brent and Julie) and Long Island (Lynn and Al) arrived a few days before us, making the angst of us getting back to Key West more prevalent. 

You can read my review of the Gardens Hotel here:

Gardens Hotel – 39 times and it never gets old https://www.gardenshotel.com

Sometimes they say you should try new things, but staying at the Gardens is one thing I won’t change. The Gardens Hotel feels like what Key West is. The surrounding lush gardens and the staff that always welcomes us back. Why would we want to stay somewhere else? I truly love when you wake up in the morning and walk out from your room and take in the views of the property. Everything is perfectly landscaped throughout. Even the pool is large enough so when you want to take a dip after a hot day in Key West, you are not trying to find a spot to swim around people. I particularly am a fan of the pool bar that is open daily. There is always a friendly bartender waiting to take your order. Whether it is longtime staffer, Phil or Annette, they will take care of you. There are different room categories you can choose from all with their unique furnishings. You don’t even need a vehicle when you stay at the Gardens. The location is perfectly located in the middle of the island with just steps away from Duval St. Look no further if you want to stay at a place that truly feels like Key West. 

Saturday, July 4th – Arrival Day – Argo Navis, the Chart Room

Similar to our April Trip, our direct flight from Newark Liberty Airport to Key West was later then the normal 9:30am time. This time our flight was scheduled to take off at 10:28am. I wasn’t sure how the traffic or even the airport was going to be as far as the amount of people since it was the Fourth of July holiday. To play it safe, I had arranged for our friend and car driver to pick us up at 7am. That way if there was traffic or a long TSA lines, I didn’t have to worry. 

The one positive having a later flight is that I can sleep in a little later, which was a good thing because I knew it was going to be a long day. Besides the travel day alone, our friend Julie booked us aboard the Argo Navis to watch the Fourth of July fireworks. We had the opportunity to go on the Argo Navis several years ago and it was so much fun. 

After taking a quick shower and saying goodbye to our kitty, Kobe, we grabbed our luggage and met up with our driver in front of our house. It felt odd for it to be daylight when we were leaving. Usually it is dark and I have a hard navigating our front steps out to the road. Soon we were on our way to Newark Airport. Traffic wasn’t too bad, and we arrived at Newark injust under an hour. Our flight was leaving from Terminal  A, making the way through TSA easier then Terminal C. 

We exited the vehicle and grabbed our luggage as we walked in to Newark. Looking around, it didn’t appear to be too bad as far as crowds. Then when we walked up to the Clear line, there was no one waiting. We easily made it through TSA pretty quickly besides myself being selected to show my driver’s license and my husband having to go through extra security due to the random selection. Why can’t we be that lucky when purchasing lottery tickets?

We had some time before going to our gate, so we took the elevator up to the United lounge. When we walked in, it wasn’t nearly as busy as it was back in April. Just as we were walking up to the bar area with no seats available, two people got up and left. It was perfect timing.

We sat down and we ordered our usual two screwdrivers to start our vacation. Finally starting to feel both relaxed and excited at the same time, I saw an alert on my iWatch. We were delayed 30 minutes. I thought to myself please don’t let this be the start of a longer delay. I told my husband and we both thought how 30 minutes wasn’t too bad. 

We had time to grab a bite to eat at the lounge while catching some Sportscenter playing on the TV screens. Thankfully the 30 minute delay stayed 30 minutes – instead of boarding at 9:50am, we were boarding at 10:30am. As it neared the new boarding time, we headed back down to Gate A19. 

When we arrived, no one was standing in line to board the plane and it was 10:18am. I thought to myself this isn’t good. Plus I noticed there wasn’t even a plane at our gate which is never a good sign. We were able to find a couple of empty seats directly across from the gate to wait. And wait. Eventually I saw a plane pull up to our gate. I huge sigh of relief went through me. Once everyone exited the plane the wonderful sound of “we will be boarding soon” was announced over the intercom. 

We finally boarded our flight and we were about to be on our way to Key West. Just when we thought we were about to take off, the captain announced that due to limited air space, we would be delayed taking off. I didn’t realize there was going to be limited air space, but since it was the 250th birthday celebration of our country it did make sense. I thought to myself we were never going to get to Key West.

I think I wound up falling asleep while we were waiting to take off. When the plane started to move, it woke me up and the captain announced for the flight crew to prepare for take off. Once we were in the air, the flight itself was around 2 and a half hours, give or take. I think we wound up making up some time in the air, because when we got closer to Key West, I noticed that we were only going to be about an hour and a half late. It wasn’t great, but it could have been a lot worse.

As we neared Key West, the captain announced that due to limited space at the airport, we had to wait to land. I swear it was torture – were we ever going to land? It wound up being sort of a false alarm, because within minutes we were given the green light to land. The way we came in to land was different then we usually do, because I didn’t really see Key West until it was practically underneath us. 

When we landed I was so ready to get off that plane. My husband and I gathered our carry on as we waited for the flight crew to open the door. Once the door opened, we beelined it into the airport. I saw all the sad faces waiting to board our flight back to Newark, but I knew we would be in that same situation soon enough.

We walked quickly through the airport down one level out to get a taxi. No one else was waiting, so we were able to get the first taxi in line. My husband told the drive to the Gardens Hotel and we were on our way. While we were in route to the Gardens, I texted Julie to let her know we were on our way. I really didn’t need to since she always tracks our flight from her phone.

When we turned on to Simonton, the anticipation was getting stronger. Soon I could see the wonderful yellow wall that surrounds the Gardens Hotel. We grabbed our luggage from the taxi and walked up the stairs to check-in. Unlike last time, since we were later then expected, our room was ready. Rhoda along with the other newer receptionist, I believe her name is Lisa, welcomed us. I asked for two keys and gave Lisa my credit card. Within minutes we were all set.

We walked back out to the pool area where we saw everyone waiting for us. It was such a great sight to see. After giving everyone hugs, including Phil, the bartender we sat down and enjoyed a refreshing cold beer. We explained how we were delayed due to the limited air space and what not. Regardless, it was wonderful to be back. The sun was shining and the heat didn’t feel too bad, since we just experienced an extreme heatwave back home.

Wanting to unpack our things, my husband and I headed to our room. It was also the perfect time to freshen up for the Argo Navis. We had to be at the catamaran 30 minutes before departure. So once we were ready for the evening festivities, we all reconvened at the pool bar. The Argo Navis was now docked near Sunset Pier so we decided to take an Uber there and have a drink while we waited to check-in.

We were able to get a large enough Uber for all six of us to fit.

It was a nice cool ride down to the Ocean Key Resort. Once we got out and headed to Sunset Pier, I thought to myself how we had not been there for quite some time. Back in the day it was our go to place to have a drink and take in the view of the water, but now we prefer going to the Sunset Tiki Bar at the Galleon. 

The place was quite busy, but we were able to find an open table to grab a drink before going on the Argo Navis. The table was at the perfect location to view when it was time to check-in since the Argo Navis was literally sitting in the water right across from us. With that being said, as soon as we grabbed our drinks, people started to line up to check-in.

By the time we got to the line we were towards the end. When it was our turn to board the catamaran, we headed inside and there it was.

That beautiful table from last time and it had six seats. It was perfect for all of us to sit at. The air conditioning felt wonderful and soon after the safety speech, the staff came around to take our drink order.

The Argo Navis has a selection of their very own crafted cocktails. I opted for some sort of spicy margarita of some sort. Everyone else ordered a drink and soon we were off to catch the sunset and then the fireworks. I was a bit tired from the travel day thus far, but once we got out on the water, my energy kicked back in. 

Then it was time for the hors d’oeuvres. Since we were located inside, we had the privilege of sampling them before anyone else. The first skewers consisted of fresh watermelon with a sprinkle of feta cheese and mint. I was amazed by how refreshing and tasty they were. The feta and watermelon paired perfectly. I never would have thought of that. 

Then throughout the evening more and more hors d’oeuvres were being presented to us. I think my favorite was the watermelon. Ironically, when the staff was down passing out all the food outside, they left the rest of the food on the table for us to have. 

When the sun started to set, we all walked outside to take in the view. I thought it was funny that someone came up to me and recognized me from my blog, asking if I was “susannj”? I felt so honored in a way. She was so nice. 

After a few pictures it was nearing the time for the fireworks to go off. The staff handed all of us towels to sit on as we made our way to the front of the Argo Navis.

It was the perfect view to catch the fireworks. I don’t know if they were extra special for the 250th or not, but I thought they were spectacular. 

I also took a video of the fireworks: https://youtu.be/YkK8odqKHjw?si=GSf7kRQCr3D_MlAB

After the fireworks, the crew served us a little dessert. I passed on it, but it did look good.
The evening seemed to breeze right on by and before I knew it we were back at the Sunset Pier. 

You can read my full review of the Argo Navis here :

Argo Navis – the best way to watch the fireworks https://sailargonavis.com

This was our second time aboard the Argo Navis to catch the fireworks on the Fourth of July. The Argo Navis is a large catamaran making it very stable during the sail with ample seating around the vessel. Specialty cocktails are offered throughout the sail along with a fully stocked bar. The staff comes around with passed appetizers such as watermelon with feta cheese, sliders, mozzarella and cherry tomatoes with a balsamic glaze, grilled smoked sausage and chicken to name a few. Most of the appetizers are serve kabob style making easier to eat while you watch the sunset. Towels are provided to make sitting on the catamaran more comfortable. The staff is warm and welcoming and will check on you throughout the sail. If you are able to be in Key Wests during the 4th, I highly recommend booking the Argo Navis to watch the fireworks. The vantage point from the boat cannot be beat and you aren’t surrounded by crowds. Sailing on the Argo Navis is the best way to watch the fireworks.

Once we all exited the catamaran, I remembered that we were right near the Pier House. The Chart Room! I had always wanted to check it out, but it never seemed to work out because we are usually on the other side of the island when it opens up (at 5pm). So I suggested to everyone we should go to the Chart Room. Everyone was ready to head back to the Garden, including my husband. I somehow convinced him, and the rest of our crew to go check it out.  We walked into the Pier House grounds and followed the signs to the Chart Room. However when we got there, they decided to turn around and take an Uber back to the Gardens.

When my husband and I walked in there were a handful of people at the bar. The place was extremely small and filled with memorabilia. I looked around and saw that there was a table open in the corner. I sat down and started to take pictures while I waited for my husband to grab us a couple of beers at the bar. 

As soon as I took that sip, I realized how tired I was. We managed to quickly finish our beers before heading out. 

Well at least now I can say we finally went to the Chart Room. We wound up walking down Duval towards the Gardens Hotel. Due to the fact it was both the Fourth of July and a Saturday night, the street were packed with people.

Somehow we managed to maneuver ourselves down Duval and back onto Angela. By the time we got back, Brent and Julie were hanging out at the Gazebo. We told them about the Chart Room and it was a bit underwhelming – just a small hole in the wall. I didn’t stay up much longer before turning in for the night.

Sunday, July 5th – La De Ta, Sunset Tiki Bar, the Bali Bar, Louie’s Backyard

After a much needed good night sleep, we woke up to a beautiful and yes a bit of a hot and sunny day, but it was hot everywhere else too. When I opened our door, I could smell a faint wiff of the sargassum. I remember noticing it when we flew in the day before and as we drove along A1A from the airport. I couldn’t believe I could smell it all the way from the Gardens Hotel. However, after a few minutes I guess I got used to it and I didn’t really smell it anymore.

Our first stop before meeting up with Brent and Julie at La De Ta for breakfast was Cuban Coffee Queen. We walked through the Gardens property and saw Lynn and Al enjoying breakfast at the Gardens. We talked for a little bit as they were getting ready to head to the beach for the day after they were done.

We crossed the street and down to Cuban Coffee Queen. There wasn’t much of a line so we didn’t have to wait too long. Sometimes we get there and people are lined up all the way to practically the entrance. Once we got our cuban americans in hand I was ready to start our first full day back in my happy place.

The walk down Duval was an easy stroll as the crowds seemed to be dissipating. I assumed that many people were heading out after celebrating the July 4th holiday weekend. When we walked into La Te Da, Brent and Julie were already seated at their little table. We sat at the other small table next to them, like we usually do. I looked around and the place was practically empty. I had never seen the bar at La Te Da with so many open seats.

Our server came over and took our drink order. For breakfast we all ordered our go-to meals at La Te Da. Scrambled eggs for myself and Julie, omelet of the day for Brent, and eggs blackstone for my husband. 

While we waited for our breakfast, a few more people walked in but it was definitely quiet, which I prefer. Our orders arrived and everything was hot and tasty. Once we were done, we paid our bill and decided to go to the Sunset Tiki Bar. 

Julie was still nursing her bad knee, so they were going to take an uber over, while we did the walk to the Galleon. Along the way we saw the Smokin’ Tuna banner hanging outside the old Hard Rock Cafe building. Hopefully it will be back better than ever. We all truly miss that place.

When we neared the Galleon, we saw the parking lot attendant who is always standing there monitoring who is coming and going out of the Galleon. 

During our last trip, Brent and my husband started to talk to him. Turned out his name is Prince. We walked up to Prince and he shook our hands welcoming us back and we were able to walk in to the parking lot right into the Galleon rather than walking all the way around along the boardwalk. I don’t mind the walk, but with the sun beating down on us, going the shorter way was fine by me.

Brent and Julie beat us again, so they had already secured us our preferred seats on the corner. Todd was behind the bar and took our drink order. We all had our regular Deep Eddy sweet tea vodka with water and lemon. I also asked for a cup of water, which seemed to be the theme during our stay. You had to stay hydrate otherwise the heat would get to you.

While we were enjoying our drinks I had Todd take a picture of all of us. 

Then I went onto Facebook to post the photo and then saw some terrible news. The wife of Caffeine Carl, Erin, posted how Carol had taken a turn and he was currently in the hospital due to low calcium levels. Then after they have him stabilized, they would bring him back home and re-access their options. And also his family was on there way to see him. After reading that, I asked for another round. I knew he wasn’t doing well, but I didn’t realize it was that bad. 

When we finished up our drinks, Brent and Julie went ahead and got an Uber to take them back to the Gardens. I knew we had dinner plans later that evening at Louie’s Backyard that Julie made the reservation per my request, but there was still a lot of day left.

My husband and I walked back down Duval and thought about our options. We were planning on hitting the pool at the Gardens when we got back, but wanted one more stop before we did that. 

Another one of our go to places we like to stop at now is the Bali Bar. So when we saw the entrance to the Bali Bar we walked down the alley way filled with palm plants that kept hitting my face as we walked further down. Probably once they get taller that won’t be an issue.

When we got to the bar there was no one there besides the bartender Martina. She welcomed us back and served me my usual Surfside that I tend to order there. My husband ordered a Modelo. The highlights from one of the World Cup games were broadcasting on one of the TVs. We talked about the World Cup and Martina was rooting for Argentina. The USA didn’t play yet so we were still somewhat hopefully they could pull out another victory.

While we were chatting, we noticed a musician was setting up to play. I knew this trip we weren’t going to see a lot of live music, due to the fact, most of the musicians head out of town in the Summer months. So when I saw him getting ready to play I figured we should stay and see what he sounds like. As we waited a few more people came in. Thank goodness, I always feel self conscience if we leave while someone is playing.

The musician came over and introduced himself, Justin Angelo. He was quite friendly and turned out he was from Pennsylvania. We talked for a few minutes before it was time for him to play. When Justin took the stage we listened for a couple of songs. So instead of stopping in for one at the Bali Bar, we stayed for a couple more.

By the time we got back to the Gardens, I didn’t really feel like going in the pool. We had dinner at Louie’s and I wanted to make sure I had time to get ready and not rush. I was so excited to be returning to Louie’s Backyard. The last time we were there for dinner was during our very first time in Key West back in March 2006. We did go back several years ago for Easter Brunch but that was it. 

We had time for a pre-dinner beverage before heading to Louie’s. Since it was a bit of a walk over and not wanting to get all sweaty after just freshening up, we took an Uber over. When we arrived at Louie’s, you could smell the sargassum. I thought to myself that it could be a problem if we were seated outside. 

When the hostess took us to our table outside the smell was quite strong. I didn’t want to go inside because it was so beautiful. Luckily as we settled in, the smell seemed to dissipate and we really didn’t notice it too much. 

As everyone perused the menu, our server came over to take our drink over. Julie and I both ordered a glass of wine, while Brent and my husband ordered a couple of old fashions. 

To start I went with the foie gras, followed by the bacon wrapped salmon. Our server did indicate how their signature dish is the shrimp and grits, but I make it at home so I wanted to order something I normally do not make. My husband opted for the filet mignon, while Brent went with the swordfish. I can’t remember what Julie ordered. Our first course arrived and it was delicious. 

My husband enjoyed his beef carpaccio and Brent and Julie both had the conch chowder. The main courses soon followed and they were equally delicious. My salmon was cooked perfectly. 

Then again anything wrapped in bacon is a winner. I wasn’t extremely excited however about the succotash. My husband loved his filet mignon.

Regardless it was still a wonderful evening going back to a place where we had our first dinner at in Key West over 20 years ago.

You can read my full review of Louie’s Backyard here:

Louie’s Backyard – A Key West Mainstay https://www.louiesbackyard.com

It has been many years since my  husband and I first dined at Louie’s. I wanted to go back and check it out again. Friends of ours booked a table for all of us outside overlooking the beautiful view of the water. Louie’s is known for their shrimp and grits, but I decided to go with the bacon wrapped salmon. To start, I ordered the foie gras and my husband ordered the beef carpaccio for his first course followed by the filet mignon. The service was spot on and our food was presented to us in a timely manner. The foie gras was quite rich with the blueberry brandy sauce but very delicious. Our friends ordered the conch chowder and they both enjoyed it. As far as our main course, my husband’s filet mignon looked spectacular. He mentioned how tender it was and cooked perfectly. My salmon was prepared medium which I prefer. The salmon was full of flavor especially being wrapped in bacon. It was accompanied with a succotash medley which I wasn’t a huge fan but not bad. Overall I can see why Louie’s is still a mainstay in Key West.

After dinner, we took an Uber back to the Gardens. When we returned to the Gardens, we all enjoyed a night cap in the gazebo. Then it was time to get some sleep.

Monday, July 6th – Latitude’s, Sunset Tiki Bar, Tree Bar, Pool Time, Square Grouper

I was the first to get up in the morning so I quickly hopped in the shower. Then it was my husband’s turn to get ready. While I was waiting for my husband, I checked my phone to see if there were any updates about Caffeine Carl. I wound up doing it, each morning holding my breath to any news. 

When I opened our door to outside, I could smell the sargassum. It wasn’t that strong, but I don’t think I had ever smelled it all the way at the Gardens Hotel. I couldn’t imagine what it was like near the Southernmost Point. I thought about going to the Seaside Cafe at the Southernmost because I recently learned that they opened up for breakfast. However, with the thought of the sargassum washed up along the shoreline, that was out of the question.

Julie had made reservations for us to have breakfast at Latitudes. During our last trip, we had dinner at Latitude’s and I thought it would be nice to change it up and do breakfast. I actually prefer breakfast in a way. The only thing is you don’t get to see the sun set.

So once we were ready to start our day in Key West, my husband and I walked over to Cuban Coffee Queen. When we walked in, there was no line. There were only a couple of people sitting down enjoying their breakfast. I don’t think I had ever seen Cuban Coffee Queen so quiet. Within a few minutes our coffee was served. 

We made the short walk back to meet up with Brent and Julie. The reservation wasn’t until 9:45am so we had some time to finish our coffee before taking an Uber over to the Opal Resort. I do enjoy walking down to catch the water taxi to Latitudes, but it was already quite hot out and I didn’t want to get all sweaty for breakfast.

I went ahead and sent the Uber request when we walked to the front of the Gardens Hotel. We only had to wait a minute literally before our Uber showed up. We piled in and the air conditioning felt wonderful in the car. Once we arrived at the Opal Resort we walked down to wait for the water taxi. There was no cruise ship in town that morning so there were no obstructed views of the water. I looked around and it appeared to be less people around. Most likely everyone was gone from the July 4th weekend by then.

When we saw the water taxi approach the dock, we walked on over to wait for our turn to board. Somehow we always wind up sitting in the same seats. I laughed about it as I took a picture of all of  us.

It was a nice short ride over to Sunset Key. The breeze felt glorious as we got closer to the pier. We were the first ones off so we headed up to the restaurant.

We were worried that it might be too hot sitting outside in the sun, but the hostess seated us outside under the porch covered area. It was perfect. We had a wonderful view, but we were out of the sun making it a very pleasant experience.

Our server came over to take our drink orders followed by our breakfast choices. I wasn’t feeling too brave, so I played it safe and ordered two eggs over medium with the grilled ham and wheat toast. I did notice that Latitudes did change up their breakfast menu. The dinner menu on the other hand is still the same. I don’t think it has ever changed since we started going to Latitude’s for dinner. 

We had to wait a little bit for our breakfast, but I didn’t mind. It was a nice morning to enjoy the beautiful weather with our friends. I was thinking about what to do that day. Usually on Mondays we would catch Zack Seemiller at Hogsbreath, but like many of the musicians he was not in Key West, but in Indiana. So that let our options open. Also that evening and the following evening we had no dinner reservations. I kept the two nights open on purpose. Sometimes I don’t like to have a plan and just see how it goes.

When our breakfast arrived I was ready to dig in. The eggs were tasty but the ham I ordered wasn’t exactly a game changer. I probably should have stuck with a side of bacon but I was trying to be a little bit healthier. Everyone else enjoyed their breakfast.

As we were nearly the end of our meal we looked on over and saw that the water taxi was on its way. If we didn’t catch it then we would have to wait another half hour. So Julie went ahead and asked our server for our check.

We timed it just right so when we walked down, the water taxi was approaching the pier. It was a fuller ride, so we had to sit on the other side and not in our normal seats. It wasn’t a big deal, but then they brought on the luggage carts and put them right in front of us, so there wasn’t much of a view on the return trip back. 

At least it was a quick trip back and soon we were back on Key West ground. It was about that time to head down to the Sunset Tiki Bar.  

The walk wasn’t very far, but the sun was beating down on us. 

By the time we got to the Tiki Bar, the first order of business was to ask for a cold glass of ice water. Once we were all cooled down, we all had a drink. Danielle was behind the bar for that day.

We hung out for a little while and then Brent and Julie took an Uber back to the Gardens. 

As usual, my husband and I headed back down onto Duval. Our next stop wound up being the Tree Bar to see Terri. She welcomed us back and we talked for a few regarding Caffeine Carl. We were both very concerned with his prognosis. We only stayed for one before walking back onto Duval. 

Of course our next stop was the Bali Bar. When we walked in, again it was quiet. 

We sat down and ordered a couple of drinks and of course a glass of water. The heat of the day was catching up with us and I really wanted to jump in the pool at the Gardens. So again, we only stayed for one and made it back to the Gardens.

When we got back, Brent and Lynn were already in the pool. Julie was poolside enjoying a beverage at the pool bar. I quickly went to our room to change into my swimsuit. It didn’t take me very long to get into the pool. 

The temperature was perfect. It felt so refreshing to take a few laps around the pool. It was a nice afternoon to take it easy. Once I tried off I talked to Julie about where we should eat tonight. 

The idea of Kaya came to mind, but after that bad experience we were still a bit hesitant to return. So after throwing around some options, we decided to go back to the Square Grouper. We only had been there a couple of times, but each time when we went, it is an enjoyable dining experience.

We freshened up (showering twice a day in Key West during July is a must) and took an Uber over to the Square Grouper. When we walked in, there were a few people waiting to be seated. I wasn’t sure how long we would have to wait, but when Julie told the hostess a table for 4, we were escorted to a huge booth. It was towards the back, but we were able to see the staff work as they picked up orders, making it quite entertaining. I felt like I was watching an episode of the Bear. 

To start, we shared an order of the fried calamari and the fish dip, which I love. Julie also ordered the roasted cauliflower that was served with a green curry dipping sauce. Wow that green curry dipping sauce was amazing. I could have brought a bottle of it back with me. Then for our main courses, I ordered a caesar salad with blackened grouper. My husband went with his old reliable – the house burger. Brent and Julie ordered one of the fish special options. 

Everything was delicious. I did though find my portion of fish with the caesar salad quite small. I think in two bites it was gone. It was probably for the best because after sharing all those appetizers in the beginning, I was already quite full. When we were done with our meal, Brent and Julie took an Uber back.

My husband and I opted to walk back. Plus I wanted to walk off some of our dinner. I noticed in the sky above, that there werer big thunderhead clouds. It made me a little nervous that we were going to get dumped on with a rain storm. However, when we made it back to the Gardens, it never did rain. Brent and Julie were already at the gazebo with Lynn and Al. We joined them and had a night cap. It was Lynn’s birthday the next day so they were going to go to Latitude’s for breakfast.

It was a nice evening to wind down and hang out together before retiring for the night.

Tuesday, July 7th – Bagatelle,Sunset Tiki Bar, First Flight, Bali Bar, Fishwife, Bobby’s Monkey Bar

We woke up to another beautiful sunny morning. I checked my phone quickly before hoping in the shower and still nothing was posted on Facebook. After freshening up, I opened the door and I could smell the sargassum, but maybe it was a little less this time? We walked on over to Cuban Coffee Queen. Like the day before, there was no line so we were able to get our coffee quickly.

With our coffee in hand, we walked back to the Gardens to meet up with Brent and Julie and decide where to go for breakfast. 

One of our other favorite places for breakfast is Bagatelle. So without any objection, we all decided to go to Bagatelle. I went on my phone and requested an Uber driver. Within a couple of minutes our Uber showed up. 

We got in and made it to Bagatelle in no time. When we all walked up to the entrance, the hostess grabbed our menus and sat us at a table on the first level in the corner outside. It was a nice table for us to watch the action along Duval.

I usually order a glass of their sangria to start, but I remembered last time it was too sweet. So this time I opted for a screwdriver. My husband also ordered one, while Brent and Julie ordered cappuccinos. For breakfast I ordered a simple dish, scrambled eggs with sausage and wheat toast.  My husband ordered the biscuits and gravy, while Brent and Julie had omelets. 

While we were waiting for our order to be served, we talked about how it was Lynn’s birthday. We had no dinner plans that evening so we thought that we should all go to dinner together to celebrate. Soon our meals arrived and as always everything tasted delicious. 

We did have to battle the hungry rooster from time to time, but we were able to finish our breakfast unscathed. Since we were practically on Front St., when we were done,  we walked back to the Sunset Tiki Bar. 

Prince was manning the parking lot once again and gave his high energy greeting. 

When we walked into the Tiki Bar Candace was working. She gave us all hugs welcoming us back.

We settled in and ordered a few drinks. After chatting for a bit, Brent and Julie as usual, headed back to the Gardens. I wanted to walk around for a few so we told them we would let them know when we were back at the Gardens.

Our next stop let us to First Flight. We did first walk into Hanks, but there was no entertainment out in the back. 

First Flight was very quiet so we didn’t have to wait long for our drink order. I decided to have one of their key lime margaritas, while my husband did a flight of their homemade brews. 

My margarita was tasty but it still isn’t the same as when it used to be Kelly’s back in the day.

We grabbed a couple of stools by the edge and sat back to watch the occasional conch train and trolley drive by. I still always love the atmosphere at First Flight. It is so pretty with all the lush foliage. 

When we were done with our drinks, we (no surprise) made it back to the Bali Bar. This time, the bartender Ty was working. We talked to him a few times during our recent travels. Ironically he too is from New Jersey. He was giving us updates on his new movie he is in. 

It was filmed in Key West and it is being released in October. The name of it is Key of Bones: Curse of the Ghost Pirate. We told him we would definitely check it out when it becomes available. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39124092/?ref_=fn_t_1

When we were done talking to Ty we headed back to the Gardens.

Again the sun was beating down on us as we walked down Duval. When we got back to the Gardens, Brent, Lynn and Al were all cooling off in the pool. I headed back to our room to quickly change. There was no way I wasn’t going to jump in. 

I wished Lynn a happy birthday and she told us how she and Al loved their breakfast at Latitudes. They had only gone there for dinner in the past so I was glad they enjoyed it. When we got out of the pool to dry off, we sat down at the pool bar. Annette was behind the bar and was being her funny self. We talked about where to go for dinner and that we all wanted to go out for Lynn’s birthday. Lynn didn’t have any reservations planned that night either. 

She said how her and Al went to the new restaurant Fishwife (the old Firefly location) and really enjoyed it. Plus they have vegan options for Al which he appreciates. I wanted to check it out too being it was a new place. So we all agreed that we would go to Fishwife.

My husband and I headed back to the room to freshen up for dinner.

We all reconvened at the pool bar before making the short walk down to Fishwife. 

It was a beautiful evening as we walked down the side roads.

When we arrived, we were brought upstairs where they sat us at a large table for the six of us. 

We sat down and our server came over to take our drink orders.

I went ahead and ordered a glass of white wine and so did Lynn. My husband ordered an old fashion and everyone else I think had wine. As I looked over the menu, the ceviche caught my eye. When our server returned with our drinks he mentioned that the ceviche of the day was snapper and the fish special was black grouper. 

I knew right away I was going to order the ceviche and then I saw the fish and chips. It had been a long time since I had fish and chips and it was calling my name. We placed our order with the server and I couldn’t wait for our first course. I looked around and the place was redone very nicely. Crisp white walls and funky artwork on the walls. They did a really good job refurbishing the place. We only went to Firefly once, so I don’t remember exactly what it looked like, but I think it was darker inside.

When our first course was brought out I couldn’t wait to dig in. The ceviche looked amazing. I took my first bite and it was delicious and so fresh. My husband ordered the conch salad, which he enjoyed. I wanted to try it, but unfortunately bad things happen to me after eating conch. I played it safe and didn’t try it. 

Then our main courses arrived. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his burger – especially the fries. Both Lynn and Julie ordered the seafood pot pie. I couldn’t believe how big they were.

The size of the pie took up an entire large dinner plate. My fish and chips looked delicious and it was as good as it looked.

Everyone must have enjoyed what they ordered because we all became very quiet while we were eating.

The fish and chips were crispy and not oily whatsoever. And the fries were equally delicious. I never had grouper deep fried like that, and I would order the same dish again in a heartbeat.

After we were done with our meals, it was time to sing happy birthday to Lynn. Lynn ordered some sort of cake from the menu and when the server came out there was a candle lit for her. We all joined in and sang happy birthday. It was fun to be able to share her birthday with all of us together.

You can read my full review of Fishwife here:

Fishwife – Fresh New Dining Experience https://fishwifekeywest.com

I recently read how the old Firefly location had reopened as a new restaurant called Fishwife. It’s sister restaurant is Docks up on Stock Island. So when our friends decided to celebrate a birthday dinner there, I was all in. Our party was seated upstairs at a large table. The decor was simple yet elegant. Our server came over and told us that the ceviche of the day was snapper. I went ahead and ordered the ceviche and my husband opted for the conch salad. For our main course, I selected the fish and chips and my husband played it safe and ordered the smashburger. A couple of our friends ordered the seafood pot pie and the fishwife curry with tofu. Everything that was served was delicious. I found the snapper ceviche was refreshing with just the right amount of acid. My husband also enjoyed his conch salad. When my fish and chips arrived, it looked picture perfect. The fish was fried to a crisp golden brown without being too oily. Then when I saw the seafood pot pies, I couldn’t believe the size of them. It was the size of a dinner plate and our friends loved the dish. All and all the food was fresh and if that’s an indication of what they are about, I have a feeling Fishwife will do fine. Next time I will get the seafood pot pie.

We were all pretty full, but Lynn wanted to go to Bobby’s Monkey Bar to sing karaoke. I am NOT a fan of karaoke, but Bobby’s Monkey Bar was another place I always wanted to check out. Plus it is about a block or so from the Gardens. I didn’t know what to expect when we walked in, but it was definitely a local dive bar. 

We found a couple of seats at the bar and my husband ordered us both vodka and soda with a splash of lime. I took a sip and I could barely get it down. It was so strong. I thought maybe if some of the ice melts, I would be able to get it down.

Soon the karaoke night was about to start. An older gentleman got on the stage and went over the house rules. They had a large book on the side where you can choose your song. Then you would give him your song request. First up I assume was a regular named Larry. He was so animated when he sang that it made for good entertainment.

My husband, Brent and Al went to play a round of pool while Lynn and Julie looked over the playbook. First Lynn went up by herself and sang a tune. Then somehow she did get Julie to join her. It was so much fun. Then I couldn’t believe it but Brent when up on stage to sing. He was really good! Then Brent and Lynn did a number.

I was getting tired and I wanted to head back to the Gardens, but then when someone else got on stage, I just had to watch and listen. I wound up ordering a Miller Lite because that vodka drink never got easier to drink.

What started as “we’ll just stop by for one”, changed to “we’ll stay for a few more songs”.

I think we didn’t leave until after midnight, which is late for us. It was so much fun though. I would definitely go back again if the opportunity arises. 

We did all make it back to the Gardens. 

Wednesday, July 8th – Breakfast Club Too, Sunset Tiki Bar, Tree Bar, Bali Bar, Prime

We wound up sleeping in that morning after being up late the night before. I didn’t sleep very well, but managed to get myself in the shower. The shower did make me feel better. I grabbed my phone of the charger to check Facebook and still no updates regarding Carl. I thought maybe that’s a good thing.

Since we had a bit of a later start, when we walked to Cuban Coffee Queen, there were a few people waiting to place their order. Even though there were only a few people ahead of us, each order that was placed, was painstakingly slow. Finally it was our turn and my husband placed our order.

We eventually met up with Brent and Julie near the pool bar. They were moving slow too. Lynn and Al were already up and heading back to the beach. How do they have that energy?

Then it was that time for us to decide where to have breakfast. My husband brought up Azur, but after my bad sausage last time, I wanted to pass. So the next option was Breakfast Club Too. It was settled then, that’s where we were going to go. 

Julie wound up getting us all an Uber for the quick ride over. I didn’t mind, because again I was moving slow. The driver showed up within minutes and dropped us off right in front of Breakfast Club Too. It looked like there were only a handful of people waiting outside so that was a promising sign. 

Brent and Julie walked in and put our name down for us to sit inside. It was too hot to sit outside even though they do have a nice seating area outside. The wait was only about 5 minutes or so before our name was called. We walked inside and we were seated at a table centrally located. I joked how we are usually seated in the back next to this blue light that makes for awful photos if you take pictures. 

When our server came over, my husband and I ordered cups of their coffee which I find very good, while Brent and Julie ordered their usual cappuccinos. Everyone was feeling the late night before, so caffeine was definitely a must.

For breakfast I ordered a couple of eggs over medium and my husband ordered scrambled eggs. At Breakfast Club Too, the portions tend to be quite large, so Brent and Julie wound up sharing an omelet. The place was pretty busy considering the streets of Key West didn’t appear to be too crowded.

Our orders soon arrived and I couldn’t wait to try one if the hot sauces with my eggs. I never saw the brand before but it was called Bear & Burton’s. I read the label closely and they were local. When I opened up the bottle and poured some next to my eggs, it was delicious. I took a picture so that I would remember to order some when I got back home (and yes I did on Amazon). On a side note, I usually bring my favorite hot sauce with me when I travel. I find the flavor of Truff’s Hot Sauce goes so well with almost everything. Everyone always makes fun of me for bringing it, but it does give a little extra kick to your morning breakfast.

As usual everything was very good. I particularly enjoyed the grits that I ordered in place of the breakfast potatoes. When we were done, it was time to walk off some of our breakfast. We were right near the Bight, so we walked down the boardwalk.

It was a beautiful sunny day. I couldn’t believe that it still didn’t rain. I think that usually at least once while we have been to Key West during the 4th of July week, we have had it rain on us. So far that wasn’t the case.

Of course we wound up back at the Sunset Tiki Bar at the Galleon. 

Candace was back behind the bar so she didn’t even have to ask us for our drink order and also ice water was a must. Pretty much like the day before, after we shared a couple laughs and stories, we headed out while Brent and Julie went back to the Gardens.

We were walking along Duval once again and saw there were a few empty seats at the Tree Bar. Unfortunately Terri wasn’t working, but we felt rude if we just got up and left. So we ordered our drinks and stayed for one.

Keeping with the same theme as the rest of the previous days, we walked back in to the Bali Bar.

I was craving something different and refreshing at that point so I looked over the menu. The drink prices at the Bali Bar tend to be a bit high in my opinion but heck I was on vacation and I was only going to have one. The “eleanor sunshine” caught my eye. It was made with Kettle One Vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, and then a splash of pomegranate juice. I watched as the bartender mixed up my concoction. When she served it, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. Even though it was $18, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

After enjoying my overpriced drink, we made our way back out onto Duval.

It was another hot day, so we decided to get back to the Gardens. 

When we walked in near the pool bar, Phil was back behind the bar. The rest of our gang were hanging out around the pool.

I was going to change into my swimsuit, but instead I ordered a High Noon. We all talked for a bit and the afternoon seemed to fly on by. The entertainment of the night then showed up, Kenny. We see him every time we stay at the Gardens. He is such a nice guy from Pittsburgh.

I had made reservations for us at Prime that night, so I wanted to make sure I had time to make myself look respectable. It is such a nice place mind you. So when I looked at my iWatch, I noticed that I should get myself to the room and freshen up.

Then it was my husband’s turn. While I waited for him, I sat back at the pool bar to talk to Phil for a few. When everyone was ready to go to Prime, I went ahead and got us an Uber. Prime is located up near Dante’s and on a hot summer day, it can be a long walk.

Within a few minutes, our Uber arrived in front of the Gardens on Angela St. We hopped on in and welcomed the air conditioning that was on full blast. It didn’t take us long for our driver to drop us off. I wasn’t exactly sure how to get into Prime.

In the past my husband and I would go through Dante’s and up the stairs. Since we were on the other side, it took us a moment to realize we had to also walk up another set of stairs. 

We made it to the entrance and walked in. I had requested the bar seating which I always prefer at Prime. The hostess gave us an option of what 4 seats together we would like. I opted for the seats on the end so it would be easier for all of us to talk.

The bartender came over to take our drink order. Both my husband and I each ordered a glass of Malbec red wine. Brent also ordered a glass of red wine and Julie ordered a pomegranate martini. While we were looking over the menu, the bartender served us our drinks and told us that the pasta of the day was shrimp scampi, followed by the catch of the day, which was black grouper. 

Then I noticed 4 older gentlemen walked in and sat at the bar. The bartender apparently knew them and started to give them his full attention. Luckily I was able to flag him over and even take a picture of us. 

After that, I told him we were ready to order. I was afraid he was going to forget about us and focus on the other party of 4. I am not a steak person, so I went ahead and ordered the black grouper special, with a dozen oysters to start. My husband and Brent both went with the she crab soup. Each them also went with one of their meat preparations. Julie decided on the double pork chop. The bartender recommended to ask for the sauce on the side since they tend to drown the pork chop in the sauce. 

I watched as the bartender went back to the group of gentlemen and served them shrimp cocktail for each. Then he returned to our side of the bar with fresh baked bread and butter. I normally don’t have bread before dinner, but I was quite hungry. 

Then I noticed after the gentlemen were done with their shrimp cocktail, their main courses arrived. They were all the same – shrimp scampi. I don’t think they ever looked at a menu. It did smell wonderful though and I was thinking I should have ordered it. I still thought it was interesting how the bartender catered to them so. Sometimes it makes you wonder who they were?

Next it was our turn for our first course to arrive. The oysters looked wonderful. My husband and Brent raved about their she crab soup. I always remember the first time I tried she crab soup which was years ago during our visit to Charleston, SC.

Since the restaurant wasn’t very busy, we didn’t have to wait long for our main courses to arrive. I couldn’t believe the size of the black grouper entree, topped with crab meat and a decadent cream sauce. My husband’s NY Strip looked wonderful and so did Brent’s Delmonico steak. I looked over to see Julie’s double pork chop and I knew there was no way she was going to finish it. I didn’t realize there was going to be so much food. I didn’t need the side of sauteed spinach with mushrooms that I ordered. 

My husband also ordered a side of fries that didn’t make it to the bar. When the bartender came over my husband mentioned it to him and he quickly brought the fries out.

After all that I think he only had a few fries and I sampled several. I tried to finish my meal, but I couldn’t. It was delicious but so rich. When we couldn’t eat anymore, we asked the bartender for to-go containers. Dessert was out of the question so we asked for the check.  

You can read my full review of Prime here:

Prime Steakhouse – Indulgence at its Finest https://primekeywest.com

If you are craving steak after having seafood for a stretch while visiting Key West, I highly recommend Prime Steakhouse. I myself do not it red meat, but I will sample a taste here and there. When booking a reservation, I suggest booking a seat at the bar. The bar is large and spacious with very comfortable seats. Overall the ambiance at Prime feels more old school if you will with the dark wood interior. To start, I ordered the dozen gulf oysters, while my husband ordered their signature soup, the She Crab Soup. The bartender told us that the catch of the day was black grouper served with an Oscar like sauce topped with crab meat. It sounded indulgent but I went ahead and selected the catch of the day for my main course. My husband ordered the NY Strip Sirloin, while our friends ordered the Delmonico steak and the double pork chop. When our first course was served, my husband raved about the she crab soup. I myself enjoyed the dozen oysters. They were on the smaller side so I could have probably ordered another dozen. It was just as well because when my catch of the day was served to me, the portion was not lacking. I also ordered a side of the sauteed spinach with wild mushrooms. Everyone enjoyed what they ordered. My husband couldn’t even finish the side of hand cut fries that he ordered. We wound up taking the leftovers with us back to our room. If you want to have an indulgent dinner, make sure you book a reservation at Prime.

Julie took the leftovers with her, since they were going to take an Uber back. We were going to give them to Phil the bartender at the Gardens the next day.

I had to walk off our dinner so no Uber for my husband and I. It was such a beautiful night.

We slowly made our way back to the Gardens and met back with Brent and Julie at the gazebo for a night cap. 

Thursday, July 9th – Losing a Key West Icon

My husband did get up before me, so when I was getting ready, he walked on over to Cuban Coffee Queen to get us some coffee. When I opened our door, my husband was out on the porch talking to Julie. She immediately asked my if I checked my email. I told her I didn’t and then I went ahead and did right then and there. Then I saw the email from GoFundMe. Since we donated for Carl’s cancer battle, we were on the email list. When I read the email, my heart just sank. Without going in to complete detail, it basically stated that they brought hospice in for Carl and that his family was with him. I knew right then and there it was only a matter of time. We all just felt devastated.

After pulling ourselves together, we managed to take an Uber to Harpoon Harry’s for breakfast. We figured if it was too busy, we have the option of going to Pepe’s that is just a few steps down the road. When we got out of the Uber and walked into the entrance of Harpoon Harry’s, I could see several people waiting – actually it was a lot of people. It didn’t look good. Julie and Brent went to put their name down, while my husband and I walked down to Pepe’s. 

When we walked in, the place was pretty empty. So my husband texted Julie and Brent to let them know there wasn’t a wait. The hostess asked us if we wanted to eat inside or outside. I said outside, hoping for the bar seats, but there weren’t enough seats available, so she sat us at a table. In hindsight I probably should have said inside. It was a bit warm in the outside dining area. They did have a fan on, but it only helped so much.

Our server came over to take our drink order. I was feeling a bit parched so I just stuck with water. I remember that I like how they have the smoked sausage as an option for a side. So when he returned with our drinks, I ordered a couple of eggs over medium with the smoked sausage. I also do enjoy their own hot sauce that they have on each table.

All and all the breakfast was good. Nothing over the top special, but decent. When we were done, we walked around along the Bight. I was taking as many pictures as I could on my phone since it was our last full day.

It is hard however to try and take something different. I was joking to my husband saying how I think I take the same pictures every single time we visit Key West.

Without any big surprise, we wound up at the Sunset Tiki Bar at the Galleon. Prince was standing in front of the parking lot as usual, so this time I asked him for a photo with my husband. He obliged without any hesitation.

We walked in to the back to the bar. 

Candace was working again so that was an added plus. While we were talking, I realized I needed to check-in our for flight the next day. For some reason the cell service on that side of the island is always hit or miss. Luckily I was able to successfully check my husband and I in for our 2:30pm flight. We talked for a bit with Candace, before saying our goodbyes since we wouldn’t see her again.

Brent and Julie grabbed an Uber back to the Gardens as usual and we headed down towards Duval. I saw Terri was working the Tree Bar again and there were a lot of seats available. 

We wound up actually getting the seats along the edge of Duval which I prefer. So does everyone else, because they are never vacant. 

We did talk about the news regarding Carl and how terrible it was. We tried not to get too upset and hope somehow something good would come out of it. My husband and I were planning on only having one, but after talking about everything, we wound up ordering another round. 

When we were done with our 2nd round, we pulled ourselves away and said our goodbyes to Terri.

Our next stop, like everyday, was of course the Bali Bar. When we walked in Martina was back behind the bar. She was standing there with a big smile. It was most likely because her team Argentina just won. Also our friend Jacin Waple was playing. We hadn’t seen him during our entire visit, so it was good to run into him again.

We hung out for a few before heading out. It seemed like to be the theme of the day, to say goodbye to everyone. So when we were done with our drinks, we said our goodbyes to Martina and made it back on Duval.

We were on our way back to the Gardens, but then as we neared Willie T’s I could see the banner that I did years ago hanging for Zack Seemiller. I didn’t realize he was back in town. 

So we wound up stopping in to hear a few songs. I was glad we got to catch him before we left. This trip was pretty much live music free unfortunately. After we enjoyed a few of his songs and laughs, we said hello and goodbye at the same time.

We made it back to the Gardens without any other stops. Everyone was either in the pool or sitting at the pool bar. I would have changed into my swimsuit and get in the pool, but then I would have had a wet bathing suit that I had to pack in my luggage since we were leaving the next day.

After I ordered a High Noon from Phil, I saw an alert on my iWatch that I got a message in Facebook Messenger. I checked my phone and it was from Terri. She told me that Carl just passed. The tears started falling down my face. I couldn’t believe it he was gone. Just a year ago I took a picture with him at the Tree Bar.

I managed to tell everyone the news. No one could believe it and how fast it happened. We all felt so sad for his wife Erin and his family and friends. 

At that point I knew we had our laundry waiting in our room that we had the Gardens send out for us, needed to be packed into our luggage. I thought it was a good time to go back to the room and take care of it. My husband offered, but I wanted to be alone for a few. 

As I began to put our clothes away, I gave my sister a call to tell her the news. She couldn’t believe it either. Of course when I told her I got upset again. 

When I was done packing up everything that we weren’t going to be wearing, I wound up freshening up for dinner. I had made reservations about a month or so ago for all six of us at Conchiglia. We had such a wonderful dinner there last year that I wanted to go back. Plus it is so convenient to the Gardens. 

Feeling somewhat presentable, I made it back to the pool bar. It was my husband’s turn to get ready for dinner.

Once everyone was ready, we made the walk down to Conchiglia. It was a beautiful evening once again. Then I realized it never rained, not even once while we were in Key West for the week. That never happens when we visit Key West this time of the year. It is almost a guarantee it will rain or a shower will pop up at some point.

We walked up to Conchiglia and I gave the hostess my name. I did request outside so they sat us at a nice table towards the back. Actually I think it was a similar location as last time as I looked to see the restrooms were near us. All well, at least you didn’t have to walk very far if you needed to use the facilities.

Our server came over to take our drink order. Brent, Julie and my husband all ordered espresso martinis, while Al, Lynn and myself ordered glasses of wine. Last time I ordered the calamari and shrimp appetizer so I wanted to order something different. I saw the portobello mushroom appetizer and decided to give it a try. Debating about whether or not to have one of their pizzas, I played it safe and went with the salmon. I didn’t want something so filling the night before we were flying.

My husband ordered the sausage pizza. Al is vegan, but they were able to accommodate his diet with a special pasta dish. After everyone placed their order, our server came out with some sort of flat bread with extra virgin olive oil. For some reason I don’t remember getting the bread the last time, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. I didn’t want to fill up so I just watched everyone try it.

Then our first courses came out. The portobello mushroom appetizer looked like a meal in itself. It was delicious. If I knew it was going to be such a large portion, I may had ordered two appetizers instead of an entree. Luckily though, salmon isn’t that filling.

Next our main courses arrived. My husband’s pizza looked amazing. 

Like last time, I regretted not ordering the pizza. This time though, I did try a sample and it was delicious. I can’t remember what everyone got, but I do remember everyone enjoying their meal. My salmon was very good like last time. I just love the sauce that accompanies it.

When we were done, no one had room for dessert.

After we paid the check, Brent, Julie, my husband and I headed back to the Gardens. Al and Lynn wound up going to La Te Da. Since it was our last night when we got back to the Gardens, we all grabbed a seat in the Gazebo. We all talked about the week we spent together and course the loss of Caffeine Carl. There was a bit of sadness in the air. Then it was time for us to get some sleep since tomorrow we were headed back home.

Friday, July 10th – Departure Day

Since we had to be out of our room by 11:00am, we made plans to have breakfast at 9:15am. This way we wouldn’t have to rush. My husband got ready first so while I was getting freshened up, he walked on over to Cuban Coffee Queen to get us coffee. I went ahead and threw out any toiletry items that wouldn’t make the trip back home since we only do carry on. I wound up giving our shampoo and conditioner and a few other things to Julie. They were still staying for a few more days and I figured it was better then wasting what was left. I opened the door and there was my coffee waiting for me. I thanked my husband and gave Julie the bag of our leftover items. 

Surprisingly, one of our newer favorite places for breakfast is at the Cafe Marquesa. Yes it is a bit pricey, but we find the food very well prepared. So with that, we made the short walk down Simonton to Cafe Marquesa.

When we walked in, there was only one other table occupied. You can make reservations if you wish, but usually they aren’t very busy for breakfast unless it is high season. Our server sat us at a table in the center of the room. After placing our drink order, a few more people walked in. 

Our server returned with our drinks and coffee. I was sticking with water to stay hydrated before flying. Since it was our last day I decided to splurge and order the egg benedict. The service at Cafe Marquesa tends to be on the slower side, similar to Azur, but again we made sure to arrive early so we didn’t have to rush.

Eventually our breakfast was served. The eggs benedict were cooked perfectly. The ham on the other hand was a bit chewy, so I just put that to the side. Overall however, it was delicious. Everyone enjoyed their meal. We asked for the check and made the walk back to the Gardens.

With about a half hour to spare, my husband and I went back to our room to pack the rest of our things. We rolled our luggage down to near the bar area and left it there on the side while we waited to leave. Usually we sit in the chairs near the pool bar, but Julie suggested we should sit in the gazebo.

It was a great idea. Plus we would be out of the sun. Lynn and Al were also leaving the same day as us. Their flight was earlier then ours, but before we walked over to the gazebo, we were able to run into them. They were headed out to the airport. We wished them safe travels and then they were on their way.

We all sat down in the gazebo and waited until it was our turn to leave. The time seemed to crawl by. I am not a fan of departure days – especially when your flight is later in the day. 2:30pm isn’t terribly late but it is at an awkward time where you can’t really do anything. 

Eventually it was about an hour and a half before our flight. I thought that it would be a good time to head to the airport. We hugged Brent and Julie goodbye and they wished us safe travels. We made the walk of woe to the front of the Gardens. I plugged in the coordinates for an Uber driver. Within a couple minutes our Uber arrived.

As we were heading to the airport, I noticed that there were some clouds that were starting to cover the blue skies. Ironically after we left, I saw that Key West had storms later on that evening. 

We made it to the airport and TSA was nearly empty. Going through security was a breeze and soon we were back at the Conch Flyer waiting for our flight. My husband ordered some chips and salsa to snack on but I wasn’t hungry.

I was on watch to see our United flight arrive. I started to get a little antsy when I didn’t see it. Finally I saw it land and a sense of relief came over me. I am still a bit scorned from when they canceled our July flight several years ago. 

That’s one good thing now where the United Gate is. You can have a seat at the Conch Flyer and still watch the status of your flight. Once all the passengers on the United flight from Newark departed the plane, my husband and I walked over to wait on line to board. It took a bit of time since our flight had several passengers that needed extra assistance. It seems to always happen on the way back to Newark. Finally we were given the go ahead to board.

All and all our flight back to Newark was uneventful and we landed around the time we were scheduled to arrive which is always a good thing. The one thing about traveling during the summer months, at least when you get back home it is still daylight out.

Once we were at the gate, we were given the go ahead to depart the plane. We gathered our carry on luggage and made our way through Terminal A and out the doors to meet up with our car driver and friend. We did hit some traffic since it was a Friday evening during rush hour, but eventually we did make it home.

After calling our kitty, Kobe a few times, he eventually appeared. He as usual, was a bit hesitant at first, but after a few minutes he was back to his old self. It was good to be back home.

This trip is one I’ll always remember. It was filled with beautiful weather, unforgettable moments, and time spent with great friends, yet it was also marked by the sadness of losing one of Key West’s most beloved musicians, Caffeine Carl.

He was truly an icon whose music, kindness, and presence touched so many people. He leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten, and he will be deeply missed.

Every time I visit Key West, I’m reminded why it holds such a special place in my heart. It’s not just the breathtaking sunsets or the island’s beauty—it’s the people who welcome us back year after year, the friendships we’ve built over countless trips, and the new friends we’ve made along the way. There’s something truly special about the bond shared by those who love this island.

Key West will always be my happy place. This time, though, I left with a heavier heart. Even so, I know that every future visit will carry a little piece of Carl with it, and his music and memory will forever be part of what makes Key West feel like home.

Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog, as always I truly appreciate it…. Until next time!