January 10 – A Cemetery and a Lighthouse

More photos from our wanderings around Key West.

During our ride on the Hop-On bus we found out why there are so many chickens wandering around town.  Chickens were brought with the Cubans when they fled communism in Cuba.  They were used in cockfighting, a popular pastime in Cuba.  Cockfighting was eventually banned in the Keys so the Cubans just set them free since they could no longer be used in the sport.  And they cocks multiplied.  They, and their eggs, are now protected by law and they wander the town freely. 

Phyllis had read about the Key West Cemetery and some of the interesting tombstones.  So that was a destination for today.   The cemetery was generally interesting to wander through. 

Lots of angels...

and we did find the tombstones with the pithy quotes.

“I told you I was sick”

“I’m just resting my eyes.”

And we found the grave of Joseph S. Russell, aka Sloppy Joe.

There was an iguana hanging out in the cemetery.

There was also a section dedicated to those who died when the battleship Maine was blown up in the Havana Cuba harbor.

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More Key West Cemetery
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We walked over to a restaurant called Blue Heaven.  It had made the lists of “best Key Lime Pie.”  The food was very good.  

And the key lime pie was the only one that meringue instead of whipped cream.  It was a skyscraper of a meringue.  This was Phyllis’ favorite of all we have tried so far.  This one is probably the most visually impressive Mary and Paul still like Matteessen’s best.

Then it was a wander through the nearby lighthouse and museum. 

After a last dinner at Pepe's we headed back to Matteessen's for more Key Lime Pie.  But Mary decided she had had enough and opted for some of their delicious ice cream.

This is our last full day in Key West.  We have all thoroughly enjoyed Key West.  Such a fun and vibrant town.  And the weather was lovely here.  Sunny every day and only a little cool.