Today started early. Too flipping early, thanks to good old jet lag. It was 5am when I started looking at my phone.
I reflected on how my usual pre-travel anxieties had faded, despite the uncleaned apartment. Hopefully, for me, the holiday could now really begin.
At 7am I got up and sorted a few things in the kitchen/lounge area. I tried to get the TV to accept either AirPlay or Chromecast, but it was too old to cooperate.
For breakfast, we had the porridge pots I had brought with me for this first morning and a much-needed cuppa.
Pulling the curtains back, it looked dull, but at least the temperature seemed warm. The forecast said that, after a couple of light showers, things should improve for the afternoon, so we revised our plans instead to go for a walk and explore the complex. Karen was hoping to get a coffee from the café.
As we walked, we noticed a few changes in the ten years or so since we had last stayed here, and sadly the café was one of them. It was now a restaurant/bar and only opened at 4pm. The whole place had an out-of-season feeling, with nobody around and the car parks deserted.
So we went back and headed out in the car to a ‘new’ Starbucks in Islamorada. It was tiny and had no indoor seating, but it was dry and warm outside, so we sat outside enjoying our drinks.
We moved on, driving further south, recognising familiar sights as we went and pointing out new ones as well. The Keys really do have a unique look and feel all of their own. We talked about the TV series Bloodline, which was set in Islamorada and which we had watched since our last visit.
Our next stop was the World Wide Sportsman shop, part of the Bass Pro Shops chain. Primarily a shop for fishermen, it is always an interesting stop, with the sister ship of Hemingway’s Pilar plonked in the middle of it.
We had a pleasant walk around and rode the glass elevator. Then, for old times’ sake, we sat on the white rocking chairs out the back, remembering when there were more than twelve of us fighting for the chairs on previous visits.
After this, we headed to another tourist hotspot in the Keys: Robbie’s.
It started as a small marina for boats. Now it has a bustling market in front of it, but the main attraction are the absolutely enormous, ugly-looking tarpon that hang around under the marina waiting to be fed.
These foul-tasting fish are about five feet long and jump out of the water to take fish held out by tourists. Given half a chance, they would probably take your arm off as well, so there were plenty of screams and dropped fish.
Pelicans were hanging around to steal whatever they could.
To our delight, there was also a family of manatees among the tarpon. They were sticking their heads out of the water, hoping to be fed lettuce, as they are vegetarians, but instead were being offered fish by other, clearly uneducated, tourists.
The sun was now breaking through as we headed back, stopping at a ‘new’ Publix on the way. We were only popping in to get something for a late lunch but ended up spending over £120 stocking up for the next few days.
After a quick lunch on the balcony in the now red-hot sun, we changed and headed down to the pool area. There were more people around now, but it was by no means too busy.
I decided to try the large, very warm hot tub. After reading for a while, I was joined by a couple of different Americans who, in their usual manner, got conversations going. Hearing a British accent, I was soon the centre of attention and answering all sorts of questions.
This was interrupted by a phone call that Karen had answered and passed on to me from VRBO about the apartment.
After initially offering just one night’s refund, we eventually agreed that we should be given a refund for all four nights we had booked.
I think the fact that I had remained calm and courteous, and had taken photos as evidence, proved decisive.
The administration surrounding this meant the call lasted about 45 minutes, but it was worth it in the end. Karen had a beer from the pool bar to ‘celebrate’.
Now that we are settled in and the problem has been sorted, the hassles from our arrival were now fading.
We decided to go out for dinner early, as we weren’t sure how tired we would be later. We went back, changed and headed the five miles to Mrs Mac’s Kitchen, a favourite with the locals.
The menu was extensive, but we decided to push the boat out and have the special three-course deal, after agreeing that I would have my dessert as a takeaway.
I started with mini conch fritters, which by law you have to have at least once while in the Keys. I’m still not entirely sure how much I like them, as they are an acquired taste, but I did quite enjoy them.
We both had grilled mahi with Key Lime butter and angel hair pasta. The fish was delicious, although Karen was not fooled when I said it was just a marketing name for tarpon.
There was far too much angel hair pasta for either of us to finish, and it had a curious twang with the Key Lime butter on it.
We had both ordered the real Key Lime pie, which was served as it should be, with its natural yellow colouring. I had a few spoonfuls of Karen’s. It was proper homemade pie, sharp and really, really good.
Back in the apartment, Karen got herself up to date with The Traitors, during which I fell into a deep sleep on the sofa next to her.
That was partly a reflection of having been awake so early, but also of watching a programme I still just don’t get. It contains no logic or point whatsoever.
Eventually, I woke up and took myself off to bed, having seen an email saying we had won something on the lottery.
Sadly, even using a VPN, I couldn’t log in to see how much.
Karen said it would probably be less than £2, but, as I pointed out, someone has to win the big amount, so why not us?
If I do manage to log in while we’re here and we fly home on a private jet, you’ll know why!
