Key West Photoblog » Around Town

Another Key West Sunset

Caty — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:43:34 +0000

The view from Ocean Key Resort’s Hot Tin Roof restaurant is simply amazing. After all the windy weather we’ve had, and after the Bonnie storm scare that never actually happened but canceled boat trips anyway, a calm evening was serendipitous.

Birds in Key West

Caty — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:49:43 +0000

We spend so much time in Key West looking down, underwater that is, because the marine world is so fascinating here. But when we’re stuck on land, the birds remind us that nature exists everywhere, including upwards. This guy was in the yard pecking at blossoms on this tree. I can’t identify either: all I know is that it’s a black bird on a red tree.

The View from White Street Pier

Caty — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:16:36 +0000

White Street Pier is a great walk, any day. You can stroll out the edge and gaze south over the Atlantic Ocean, or you can look back on the beaches and condos that line water’s edge. You might see shrimpers heading out from Stock Island, or sport fishers doing the same. At night during summer you might see a line of lights during a hurricane warning. That’s big boats waiting out the rough weather on the inshore waters, where it’s safer than being banged around at a dock. You can check the visibility of the water if you are a diver or snorkeler. During windy weather you can watch kiteboarders jump the wind right in front of you. If you like sunsets but not crowds, White Street Pier is your spot at sundown.

A Key West Video

Caty — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:39:08 +0000

Scenes of Key West:

Fishing for Mahi Mahi
Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
Shark Fishing
Sunset Cruise
Snorkeling
Smathers Beach
Jet Skiing
Kiteboarding

Spring Break 2010

Caty — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:26:56 +0000

Spring Break 2010 – Smathers Beach is covered with bodies- from water’s edge to the cop-occupied dunes behind the sand, it’s mass people. So many bikinis- the kids not wearing bikinis or board shorts stick out like awkward guests wearing pajamas to a hip nightclub.

Boats pull up providing soundtrack and vibrating pods of bikini girls, moving and dancing as one organism.ï¿½ Almost everyone is on the sand, not in the water but some venture in, shoulders raised instinctively against the cold shock of in-shore frigid waters.

The Rooster in Key West

Caty — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:02:28 +0000

Roosters and chickens have a reputation they don’t deserve.ï¿½ For such a beautiful bird that actually rids the island of cockroaches and other pesty bugs, the rooster is criticized way too often and harassed for no reason, as well.ï¿½ Did you know that back in the days before Orkin, they had chickens and roosters to take care of pest problems around the home?

Key West chickens forage in the dirt and eat bugs, thereby preventing them from entering your home.ï¿½ They are not “unclean” – have you ever stepped in chicken poop in Key West?ï¿½ How about dog poop?ï¿½ I’ve stepped in the latter but never even seen a hint of the former.ï¿½ Maybe I don’t know what I’m looking for…?ï¿½ What does it look like.

The chickens and roosters in Key West are part of the island’s colorful history.ï¿½ These are not farm chickens let loose.ï¿½ They are descendants of actual fighting roosters!ï¿½ Cock fighting used to be a big deal here in Key West, before laws were passed against the sport.ï¿½ Sometime perhaps in the 1970s or 1980s, the fighters had to be released and now they are a pest-eating, picture-worthy part of the streets in Key West.

Key West Nature Trail

Caty — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:18:42 +0000

Key West isn’t known for hiking trails, but there is actually a nature trail in the mangroves that ends up on the beach. If you go to Atlantic, it’s on the south side of the road, right next to the 1800 Atlantic condos. You can park your bike at the entrance, then walk in through the thick mangrove vegetation. The boarded walkway takes you over swampy brackish water which supports lots of mangrove life and critters that dwell therein, like spiders and wading birds.

There are nature trail signs so you can read up on mangrove habitat while you’re there. As you get closer to the ocean, you’ll see a bench and platform for resting and viewing the scenery. Then the board trail ends up at the dune line of the beach, which like all Key West beaches, is narrow. It’s a nice diversion and a cool place to take pictures. Key West used to be covered in this type of vegetation and it’s nice someone has preserved a small patch of what it used to be like.

Key West Wildlife

Caty — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:02:54 +0000

Key West Wildlife

This is a tiny island, and resources are strained. It’s crowded, especially during winter. There aren’t a lot of wild animals on land, so when I see some, it’s exicting. For anyone who’s not from Florida, it’s pretty strange to walk outside and find yourself staring into the beady eyes of a giant neon green lizard. Where I’m from, the biggest lizards or salamandars are maybe a foot long and dark colored, and they scurry away when you get near.

So it’s not indigenous. Iit’s still wildlife!

This iguana is eating lettuce, and he’s accompanied by a larger one, who lurks in the background of these photos. These shots were captured with a Canon S3 IS, which has a great 12x optical zoom feature.

Surfing in Key West

Caty — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:05:23 +0000

Key West isn’t known for surfing because we don’t have big waves. However, what little wave action we do have is enough for some. Click on it to see the full size.

Dolphins in Key West

Caty — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:48:19 +0000

Your average Key West dolphin tour goes out several times a day following dolphins in the Gulf, near the reef, and through the Lakes Passage. Sometimes, they get lucky and the Dolphins are right in front of Key West, like today. We were on our way home after diving in really bad visibility (12 feet!), when we spotted a pod of dolhpins. Take a look, that’s Key West in the background:

Dolphins in front of Key West

They move fast so it’s hard to get a good picture. Every time we drove up to them they’d dive and disappear only to emerge later way far away. Here’s the closet we could get.

Dolphins Playing Just South of Key West