KEY WEST, Florida – A series of isles lead you to this nestled port hailing itself as the Southernmost point of America. Teal water shimmers just along the coastline. The character of the place seemed to hail from black-and-white movies, so it was quite a stark contrast to see it in all its color.
Cuban food abound in the steady humidity of coastal Florida. Whilst the winds blew from down South, so too did the mouth-watering influences of fried plaintains and cubanos and black beans and pies.
Writers nestle throughout the Key West locale, from Tennessee Williams to Ernest Hemingway. His six-toed feline friends roam his estate with agency long after he has passed.
Many tourists visiting the island make this stop — hoping to catch the writer’s inspirations. Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Indeed, there is a writer’s studio where Hemingway’s mark is clear — books overlooked by an inanimate stag. Yet it is a house, in many ways, like many others.
Going around the island, there are remnants of the past throughout. A Sears mall lies dormant, across from a waterfront with aimless boats floating nearby.
The real magic of Key West lies in its existence — so close to the edge of the nation that its presence may be ephemeral, yet so paramount in our cultural memory. Even if you have not been there, you can feel its presence in books and movies. Going there just brings it all into sharp focus.
Key West Book Recommendations:
A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway, 1929.
A young Italian soldier recuperating thinks he is falling in love with his older nurse.
Sweet Bird of Youth, by Tennessee Williams, 1959.
A play written in Key West of a relationship between a conniving man and an aging actress.
Guava Moon Revenge, by Tom Corcoran, 2018.
This book dives into a mystery of proportions, giving you a snapshot of a recent Key West local.
postcardsfromanne.com 