We took a bus for about 4-5hours to Key West from Miami.
I slept most of the way but woke up for the bridges. There’s 70miles of them and it’s the only place in the world where you have the Atlantic Ocean on your left and the Gulf Ocean on your right. You literally drive across bridges from ocean to ocean, it’s gorgeous.
In Key West we had planned to snorkel but with all the trips out being 3 hours and we only had 5 to explore we decided to hang about and go parasailing instead.
First we went to try one of the specialties of the island, conch fritters. Conch are the snails from the gorgeous shells you find on the beaches that sound like the ocean. They didn’t taste like anytging really. just batter and deep fried fritters. I’d like to have tried them fried simply go get the actual taste. We also had tuna tataki.
Parasailing was awesome! $35 each, plus tips, for a tandem. The guys on the boat were funny and we saw dolphins playing in the bay before we got to the open ocean.
We went got dunked in the ocean then were up in the air the next 15mins. It was stunning, views right over the island at the southernmost tip of the USA, only 90miles from Cuba. The sun was bright and shining and it was gorgeous up there.
On arrival we found a place with .50c oysters! I was in love! We also got a key lime colada. Yum! Lovely staff and great live music.
After that we walked Duval Street, I’ve heard it called the Duval Crawl coz you’re crawling by the time you get to the end of it from having drinks at the pubs that litter the sidewalks.
Down the very end is the southernmost point of the USA. Here you are only 90miles from Cuba and closer to Cuba than to Miami.
Being in Key West we had to try Key Lime pie! Unfortunately being lactose intolerant I could only have a bite but that one bite was delicious!
We had a few cocktails before the bus back, I finished my book. It was fantastic, about a guy with asperges and his struggle to find a wife when the women he was after was under his nose the whole time. It’s called ‘The Rosie Project’ and is written by a Melbourne author who plays on the social awkwardness of the main character.
It was then a rush after we were dropped off to get pretty and ready for the limo to pick us up and transport is to Story.
I was a bit pissed, we’d paid for the limo transfer and entrance with a promo guy (who later asked me out on a date) who had organised a VIP table and drinks. We had to wait for ages for the bottles of Grey to arrive so impatient me went and ordered two shots for $25.
The promo guy showed up and started giving us preferential treatment. I still wanted to leave so eventually he gave up and we grabbed a cab to Ocean Drive and went to line up for Clevelander but we were intercepted and taken to a rooftop party.
We met a lovely guy called Jerry who bought us drinks and I got him hooked on my current fave, Ciroc coconut with fresh lime and soda.
I got called to dance in VIP and met some nice guys. They told me this amazing story which was reinforced by other tales I had heard recently.
In a nutshell, the local girls in Miami will dance and play with the guy then as they go to leave the club together she will ask for money! Mind blown! Evidently a regular occurrence.
So after that one if the funniest events happened. I decided to walk home (read stumble) but of course, I wanted pizza! So I stopped for my pizza, had a great chat with the other customers then BAM!!! I fell. I fell so damn hard. BUT I saved my pizza! Very important. There was a collective gasp as I smashed my knees into the concrete at 4am, but a round of applause as I quickly stood up and proclaimed my pizza safe.
After that I waved down a cab to take me back to the hostel, seemed like a safer option!