Day Eleven: To The Southernmost City

The drive to Kew WestIt's 6am and grandma Maggie comes into the room and asks me to help her find the phone.  "Ok grandma, just give me a minute," I say.  It takes me some time to open my eyes.  My throat is sore and I’m congested.  I look in the mirror and my eyes are blood shot.  I pull it together and help my grandma.

I am driving straight to Key West today.  The drive is beautiful.  I get into town  settle at the Westin, which is a block from Duvall Street.  It has been described as the Bourbon Street of Key West.  Ellie at the front desk gives me a great walk-in rate and an upgrade.  Also, Lyla can stay for free.  Most places charge a $50-100 pet fee. I take the room for two nights.

The hotel is perfect.  I have a comfortable room with a balcony where Lyla sits and observes what’s going on outside while I unpack.  I take Lyla for a walk up and down Duvall St, which is about a mile long from end to end.  It is similar to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but there are more art galleries than bars. There are also a lot of hat shops, key lime pie stands and shops selling random chachkeys and silly t-shirts that say things like, "I don’t have ADD. Oh look! A chicken!" I wonder who writes this stuff.

Almost everyone here is in a couple.  They are in their fifties and sixties and here without their kids.  I think they must be empty nesters, of the demographic that keeps Carnival Cruises in business.  They love Lyla and say things like, “Oh what I sweet puppy dog!  I miss my Fido.  He’s waiting for us at home.”   They also ask me for directions.  Perhaps having a dog and walking by myself makes me more likely to be a local.

Every restaurant has live music. The couples sit with their drinks and sing along to old favorites.  There are also a few gentlemen’s clubs and a drag karaoke bar on the street.  Key West has a large gay and transgender community.

I think I am the only one here who didn’t come here with another person.  I have Lyla and I will meet people, but I can’t help but wonder if I will get bored here.

Last week I had planned to be in Key West for two days, but because Kate wants to meet me in Miami I thought i would just spend an extra day or two here, depending on how I feel.  I need to come up with something to do.  Maybe I can scuba dive or sail.  I’ll ask the concierge.  But tomorrow I plan to relax and take Lyla to the dog beach. I also need a back massage.  I am excited about settling here and not driving tomorrow.

I am exhausted and I still feel a little sick so I take Lyla back up to the room where I can write and sleep.  I open the door to the balcony.  I notice dolphin noises.  My room is above the Key West aquarium.  Lyla comes in from the balcony and falls asleep on the dog bed that the hotel provided.  It is a little too small, but she knows it’s for her.   I look at her and wonder what she thinks of all of this.  I took her from her life of routine to a life on the road, staying in different places each night and driving all day.  She’s so happy and easy going, she isn't hard to please.  A belly rub will make her day.

“You can settle here,” I tell her.

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