November 29, 2012 - 1

Key West, Florida

 

The Florida Keys resemble a broken necklace, each island a charm on a 125 mile chain. There are 1700 islands linked together by more than 40 bridges, the longest bridge being the 7-mile bridge which connects Marathon to Big Pine Keys. Key West is the most well known and the most popular choice for vacationers. Key West measures only 2 miles wide and 4 miles long, but it is just brimming with things to do.

We arrived in Key West this morning, too early to check into our hotel, and while we were driving around we happened by the home of (author) Ernest Hemmingway. So we decided it was a good time to take the tour.

 

Hemmingway purchased the 1851 Spanish colonial-style mansion in 1931. The house, set it a lush tropical garden planted by the author, is home to more than 50 cats, all descendants of Hemmingways' felines. He loved cats and has a memorial outside in his garden for all the cats who've passed away.....



He named his cats after celebrities!!