WINTER SUNSETS

The frigid air on the east coast has also brought along some spectacularly beautiful sunsets unlike any others I have seen down the road from my home, in a long time.  Just a few I have taken in the past couple of weeks, all looking across the same sod farm in my neighborhood ………………..

BASS PRO STORE, ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA KEYS

A trip to Islamorada, one of the many Florida Keys, brought us to visit their local Bass Pro stores.  Islamorada is about an hour and a half south of Miami and a 2 hr drive northeast of Key West.  This is one of America's incredible outdoor camping, hunting, fishing, sport stores that sell related gear, great clothing and with the best store decor I have seen.  Each store is decorated with paraphernalia  representing the immediate area, like the huge fish tanks with fish caught in surrounding waters. 

You can see the fish tank in the far left corner, people standing in front admiring these spectacular fish.

One of my favorite parts of the store, the sister-boat belonging to Ernest Hemingway, he played a large part in the history of the Florida Keys, his magnificent wooden fishing boat PILAR sits proudly in the middle of the store and is so interesting to board and walk around.

Another treasure in this particular store is an antique elevator which works, taking you from the first to the upper level where you can look down over the entire store, and admire the many bits and pieces used to decorate this store.  And of course shop.

Look at the detail in the old woodwork used upstairs.  More bits and pieces used to decorate, related to the island living and the fishing and boating which this area is so famous for.  

KEY WEST - TYPICALLY TROPICAL

KEY WEST - THE BRIGHT, THE BEAUTIFUL, THE GAUDY AND THE OH SO GORGEOUS

WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE TO RELAX, UNWIND, WALK AND SOAK UP THE SUN AND THE FUN.  KEY WEST, FL

FLYING IN TO KEY WEST ONE SUNNY DAY

ONE OF MANY IGUANAS THAT APPEAR TO SOAK UP THE SUN - THESE ARE NOT NATIVE TO KEY WEST AND AT ONE TIME WERE SO PROLIFIC THAT THEY HAD TO "ERADICATE" DUE TO HAVING NO NATURAL PREDATORS.  APPARENTLY SOME OF THE LOCALS CALL THEM "CHICKEN OF THE TREES" - DOES EVERYTHING TASTE LIKE CHICKEN, I WONDER???

YUM, OUR SPINY LOBSTER (CRAYFISH) ON THE GRILL

A GORGEOUS BOUGAINVILLEA TOPIARY OUT IN FRONT OF THE WESTIN HOTEL, DISNEY CRUISE SHIP IN THE BACKGROUND

JUST PRETTY BROLLIES

SUNSET PIER - TALK ABOUT COLORFUL, LOVE IT

THE BAR AT SUNSET PIER BEFORE THE SUNSET CROWD ARRIVES EACH EVENING TO - WATCH THE SUNSET AND SIP COCKTAILS

BASKET, HAT AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU FANCY, WEAVING FROM PALM FRONTS

COCONUTS ANYONE??

A COLORFUL LOCAL CHARACTER

EVEN THE SEAGULLS ARE BEAUTIFUL IN KEY WEST

THE DISNEY CRUISE SHIP LEAVING THE DOCK

THE BEACH AT FORT ZACHARY STATE PARK

90 MILES TO CUBA 

I CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH OF THESE GORGEOUS PELICANS

OH SO SPECTACULAR AFRICAN FLAME TREES, SO LOVELY TO SEE THEM SO FAR FROM HOME

Clerodendrum vine creeping and blooming all over the island

A BEAUTIFUL SILVER PALM, WITH IT'S BUNCHES OF "BERRIES" AND BEDECKED WITH BLUE CHRISTMAS BALLS - A TROPICAL CHRISTMAS

AND ONE LAST CHRISTMAS TREAT STANDING GUARD.  ALL THE BEST FOR THE SEASON AND THE NEW YEAR.