Kinos, Conch, and Key Lime Pie

While Mom Santos came to visit we took a trip down to the Keys. We snorkeled John Penycamp in Key Largo, saw key deer (they have cute little antlers this time of year) on Big Pine Key, then spent a few days exploring KeyWest. The first time I went to Key West I was a little surprised because I was expecting to spend most the day on the beach. While, there are beaches on Key West, we found that is was more of an old town, go enjoy all the shops kind of city. Some of the shops were once things like a bank, post office or house. It was cool walking into an old bulletproof safe looking at T-shirts. The first night we ate at the Roof Top Cafe, the atmosphere was soothing with bamboo fans and hanging greenery surrounding us as we watched the sun set behind the shops. The next day we rented bikes and explored the island for as long as the heat permitted. Eventually we took a little siesta at the pool. We toured the Ernest Hemingway home in all its' six-toed cat glory, then enjoyed good food and live music at Hemingway's go to restaurant on the island (Sloppy Joe's). Other then that Duval Street is where it's at if you are looking for yummy places to eat and spend money, but the three Key West musts are Kinos, Chonch and Key Lime Pie. Kinos is a Key West sandal factory which make handmade sandals, chonch is a large mollusk you eat, and key lime pie because it's the classic Florida Keys dessert. We also went to the Sunset Celebration on Mallory Square Dock, there we watched the sunset along with art, music, and performers. Other than that we enjoyed eating half pound cookies, the changing of life size statues in front of the big red brick custom house (the old post office/gov. building), and having Mom Santos all to our selves.