MOTM 2011
Key West, FL
Page 2
Saturday 5th
Bi-Plane ride!
Pick up at 11:30 at Mel Fisher Museum, 11:45 15min flight
Not a cheap activity at $159, but worth it to do once. How many other people have flown in a open cockpit? Think about it.
I thought this would be a very Buffett thing to do, since Jimmy sometimes shows footage of him in a bi-plane, plus in the video for "Trip Around the Sun" he flies one too. I was going to do it in Marathon on my way down to Bahia Honda over Thanksgiving, but it would be even better to do it in Key West. I had wanted the friend to go with me, turned out it was the same price for two as well, but of course even after calling and knocking on her door she wouldn't get up.
Taking off.
You can see Casa de Campo, where the main MOTM events were held.
The Pier House below.
You can see Duval Street.
Smathers Beach
Back on the ground in one piece!
Me being me I of course wasn't feeling very good after the flight, but that would pass soon enough. So I had pushed back my walking tour until the next day to have more flexibility to meet up with my friend, but instead of us going to lunch she decided to go to lunch on her own and spend the whole day shopping...
Blowing a beautiful afternoon, I watched the Gator game from my room, which thankfully we actually won.
So I walked down the street to the same place I had dinner the night before. Sat outside to enjoy the weather and people watching. In this photo, we learn open container is NOT legal in Key West. Holy non-enforced Batman! Ever the glutton for punishment I was in my room to give my friend the most flexibility to meet up, so of course she went off to dinner without mentioning anythng to me until she was already there, then went to the event at Casa. Since I was pretty sure Jimmy wouldn't be there I didn't care about trying to sneak in anymore, but it would have been nice to hang out with the group, I'm sure I would have had my game on. Painful...that should just about be the beginning of the end (duh!). So I watched #1 LSU vs #2 Alabama (SEC!), thankfully a good game.
Sunday 6th
I meant to walk to one of the beaches to chill, but instead it was another wasted beautiful half a day of frustration. Not going to get that 6hrs of my life back, but at least I have plenty of beach time in my near future. 1-3pm Trails & Tales of Key West"Experience a look into the remarkable lives of Jimmy Buffett, Capt. Tony, Ernest Hemingway, and Mel Fisher (the world's most famous treasure hunter) on this fun-filled, guided walking tour through Old Town Key West. As you take this two hour stroll off Duval into the heart of our Island Paradise, our experienced guides will entertain you with the true (we couldn't possibly make these up), fascinating stories and adventures of these Legends and the Conch Republic. You will see the places where these Legends left their mark, visit some very interesting pubs, and explore the Historic Harbor filled with beautiful tall ships. Some of the highlights will include: Jimmy Buffett's first house on the Island and his world famous Recording Studio still in use today, Capt. Tony's amazing Saloon, the Key West hanging tree, the oldest bar in Florida, the original Sloppy Joe's, the place where Hemingway wrote" Farewell to Arms", a tiny hidden bar with many secrets, and the place that Charles Kuralt called the 'Center of the Universe'. As you travel around our residential lanes, you'll see our famous free roaming roosters and cats, million dollar houses with gingerbread architecture, plus so much more. The final stop of your "Walking Party" will take you to the Margaritaville Cafe and Store. Our local guides will answer all your questions and give you insider tips to make your time in Key West the best possible.
On Saturday, 11/5, our Tour leaves from Capt. Tony's at 1pm. Capt. Tony's is just off Duval, on Greene Street. The cost is $20.00 per person."
Capt. Tony's saloon is where Jimmy got his first job after arriving in Key West.
Got some of their famous punch for the walk.
This building used to be "Howie's Lounge" where Jimmy would also play.
Our guide Tim pointing to the Chart Room Bar, where all the Key West personalities used to hang out in the 70s. The city made the town's first resort build around it.
It is also where Jimmy met his wife Jane, and where "Tin Cup Chalice" was written and one of the subjects of "Nautical Wheelers".
Word is after the street show on Friday Jimmy stopped by.
Jimmy's first house in Key West. Funny, as we were there one of the performers from Jimmy's tour walked out.
Old City Hall- this bell tower is supposed to be mentioned in "Nautical Wheelers" I believe.
Jimmy's recording studio- Shrimp Boat Studios, right by the dock.
The house where "The woman goin' crazy on Caroline Street" lived. Word is it wasn't a woman.
And we end the tour.
Kenny Chesney briefly owned this house right off Duval Street.
Mural inside The Bull showing Fantasy Fest 1989 with Jimmy on a float.
After a stop at the Pier House, I run by the speed boat parade on the way back to my hotel.
Faustos- This is the mini-mart Jimmy talks about and it was right by my hotel, but I didn't spot it until the taxi to the airport drove right by it. DELTA 2036 KEY WEST 552P to ATLANTA 800P
Jim Mayer, Buffett's bassist, was on my flight so I got to shake his hand.
And Brent and Tammy were on too! So we ate dinner at Chili's together before they headed home.
They had to find a new plane for our flight, but it turned out to not be too bad a delay. DELTA 1837 ATLANTA 1015P to AUSTIN 1155P
So this trip...bucket list material that I got to see Jimmy do an impromptu show (my first one, although it was a good probability) AND
see him in Key West,
something I thought might never happen.I was also reflecting recently on how I had no woman in my life and was doing nothing about it, but that life still felt pretty good. So I hate it when, even in far from perfect circumstances (which you just accept and deal with as you get older), there is someone you might care about and they just really let you down. Oh well, damn good (wasted) effort on my part.
