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290--Florida: The Conch Republic, One Human Family @ CherieSpotting     Apr 27 2005 - 19:49 PST cherie writes: In Key West you can wear pastel slacks (even if you aren’t gay) and paint your house any shade of orange that you choose: peach, poppy or tangerine. The local waitresses wear fishing tackle as earrings and bring you wine in a plastic cup. The bar flies either have a bad leg, a missing tooth or a lazy eye and everyone eats their dinner out of a basket. You find characters at the local pubs who know how to make bonefishing sound exciting. “An 8-lb bonefish ripped 200 yards off my reel and gave me a fight I’ll never forget,” and old coot said to me. Then he dropped into a whisper and I found myself wide-eyed and mesmerized by his fishing stories that were accompanied by tattered pictures—the proof was in his wallet. The old fishing guy may have been charming, but I know his last hook-up was with a fish. Local bands play at almost every Key West bar and after a few beers you find yourself buying a CD and wondering why a song like, “Stockbroker Took My Girl” wasn’t ever a top 10 hit. But there’s something peaceful in the eyes of every Conch Republic resident, all the people that never belonged anywhere, finally found a place they could call home: Key West, or as locals call it—the Conch Republic. Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (0) | write comment| views: 4314    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   Cherie by a Wyland wall in the historic seaport district of Key West. Even at breakfast, the folks in Key West have a sense of humor. Greg walks the laundry back to the boat like a local. Lunch for two cost us $60 at this local joint. (Could it have been the bar tab?) Turtle Kraals, where you can watch turtles race twice a week. Amy and Kurt with "Scirocco" in the background. The beach in Key West has plenty of "flex" appeal. Key West's beaches are surprisingly bare--it's the bars in the Conch Republic that are packed. Why is it always: Free Beer Tomorrow? Loose 400 pounds in 48 hours? Can it be true? Key West is the birthplace of Pan Am. Typical Key West architecture. Who is the dingy in this relationship? Greg make a wish! Getting down with the local musicians. The Florida Keys are full of colorful characters. A tallship getting fuel, what next? In Key West the locals: Eat it Raw. Cherie with the "catch of the day." Dinghies tied up in front of Turtle Kraals. Charming mailboxes. Electric cars weren't around when Hemmingway drank his beers at Sloppy Joe's. I think she had too much to drink. A local pirate. In Key West you can relax, eat beans, and be yourself. The Conch Republic is dog friendly. You can bring your pooch practically anywhere. Greg, Patrick and Kurt at a bar. Amy and Kurt at the Hog's Breath Saloon. He seems to be at the right saloon. Pelicans and tarpon just off the dock. Don't get on a sailor's bad side. You just might find a tarpon head in your bed. Amy chillin' to the groove. Women: No Shirts, Free Beer. Greg and Kurt on Scirocco. Amy on the main sheet. Theo leans into the turn. Amy and Kurt with a tallship behind them. Cherie goes for the windblown look. *Photo by Cor. Greg and Theo. *Photo by Cor. Sail away, sail away, sail away. Does the sea get any more blue? Don't tell Cor the auto-pilot is on. America sails towards us. Theo loves to be out on the water. Sailing between the tallships. The Dutch brothers. America makes the boat next to her look like a toy. Key West's motorcycle of choice--the Harley Davidson. Spooky. Duval St. Amy and Kurt. Greg, Kurt and Patrick. Men: No Shirts, No Service. Birds of every color flock to Key West.