Tropical rest

Friday, November 24, 2017, Key West, Florida--We have enjoyed a lazy few days lying by the side of the pool, although the water is too cold to swim, reading and talking, and venturing out for coffee and lunch or dinner.   We even cooked at home one night--fresh Key West shrimp with fennel over campanelle and a Mondavi Fumé Blanc (the same wine we had for our first dinner together at John's house in 1982) and an old vines Zinfandel.  Lovely evening in the gazebo.

Wednesday we had lunch at Salute at the beach then dinner with friends Jane and Eleanor at Azur, just up the street from where we are staying.  Very good yellow tail snapper for Ben and me, and very good, though still whole branzino for Jane and Eleanor.  We enjoyed appetizers of octopus and ahi carpaccio.   A good albariño followed by an acceptable, though grassy, NZ sauvignon blanc.

Yesterday a huge feast at Jane's house with old friends and family, most of whom we had seen on Tuesday.  Very nicely done turkey, excellent avocado salad, and an out
 standing raspberry cobbler.  An interesting Scribe pinot noir nouveau rosé from Carneros Creek (Napa), California--only bottled in October, much like a beaujolais nouveau. 

Today we are enjoying our coffees--John's a cubano and Ben's a cappuccino.   Ben has been getting his bone dry capps with art from Old Town Bakery.  Yesterday's art was spectacular and seasonal; it's a Santa Claus. 

Soon off to the airport and home.   Good times in the Conch Republic.

Key West for a 75th!

Key West, Florida--We flew down yesterday from chilly Washington to the tropical rains of Key West to celebrate our friend Jane's 75th birthday as a big surprise on a nearby key.  Wonderful evening with friends and family.   We are sitting on our friend Roy's deck enjoying the warmth (it's about 80F, 28C) after a huge rainstorm last night.  


Key West is putting up their version of Christmas trees--lobster pots--and decorating all the palms near the harbor with lights.  Huge cruise liners are in port and the place is quite festive.  Little evidence of the huge hurricane, apparently it got the keys further north very badly but the Conch Republic survived.

Doing nothing but laze by the pool today and tomorrow.  We'll eat too much with John's old college chum and his god-children and families on Thursday and then home Friday.

Yesterday we had lunch at Turtle Kraal on the harbor and then dinner at an island resort on Sunset Key to celebrate the birthday.  Huge success.  Cobia, a local fish.