The cruise ship Majesty of the Seas - Nassau, visiting Key West.

THE CONCH REPUBLIC, aka

Key West, Florida

One of my favorite cities in the US, Key West has been quirky since its founding.  The first European to visit the island of the same name was Ponce de Leon in 1521—better known for his search for a Fountain of Youth, itself cleverly hijacked as a tourist attraction by the folks in what is now St. Augustine, FL.

The island of Key West and its tiny town changed sovereignty many times during its early history.  Today, most residents of the town refer to themselves as Conchs although the true definition of a “Conch” applies only to someone of European ancestry who emigrated there from the Bahamas.

In 1982 the city briefly declared its “independence” as the Conch Republic in protest over a US Border Patrol blockade of US 1 in response to the Mariel Boat Lift which was thought to be bringing Cubans illegally to the US.  That blockade caused a traffic jam of 17 miles and paralyzed the Florida Keys which rely heavily on tourism.

There is a Conch Republic Independence celebration every April 23^rd to this day.

 

Another celebration has happened nightly as long as most residents can remember.  That is for sunset on the wharf near Mallory Square.  Thousands of folks will crowd the waterfront to enjoy nature’s daily spectacle while also enjoying countless vendors and entertainers like jugglers, musicians, and an escape artist, just samples of the night’s playbill on our visit.

A must see on any visit to Key West is the monument describing the southernmost point in the Continental US.  It proclaims itself just that and is located only 90 miles from Cuba.  The problem is, it is not the southernmost point.  That point is located on numerous parcels of nearby land not readily accessible to the public.  So, this very popular monument is a fairly innocent corruption of the truth.

Another neat signpost is the southern end of US Highway 1 and mile post zero on that heavily traveled road that stretches from FL to Maine.


One of the best known dignitaries in the island's history was the author Ernest Hemingway whose home remains a popular attraction.  Cats descended from the author's brood continue to roam freely on the grounds, much to the delight of visitors.


So do relatives of his brood of chickens which wander freely all around the town, and they are protected from harm under severe penalties of local ordinance.

No visit to Key West would be complete without a refreshing stop at Sloppy Joe's Cafe on Duval St.  Food and beverages and music abounds and a ship's bell is rung energetically with each generous tip for the crew (above) while yet another cheering crowd celebrates another days' end on the wharf at Key West, USA.