In July 2005 Chip, Jake, and I went to Key West for the annual Hemingway Days Event. This was the 25th anniversary of this fun event honoring the great American writer, Ernest Hemingway. (It has a serious side too, as all money raised goes to scholarships for local high school and community college students who are aspiring writers.)

In addition to attending numerous Hemingway Days events, we walked all over the island, snorkeled, flew to the Dry Tortugas, and took full advantage of the relaxed island life. What a fun, historic, and quirky place Key West is.  Below are a few photos we took on our trip.  I hope you enjoy them!

Welcome to the Conch Republic!

Chip and Jake walking through the streets of Key West

Heading out on the Caribbean Spirit to snorkel over the third-largest coral reef in the world

My handsome husband on the Caribbean Spirit

Jake getting nailed with a wave as we headed back to Key West after snorkeling

We managed to find a wine bar in Key West -- the Grand Vin!

The End of the Road -- Mile Marker 0

Enjoying dinner at the Schooner Wharf Bar

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square

Sitting on the beach wall at the Southernmost Point

Approaching the Dry Tortugas, as seen from the air in our seaplane

The Dry Tortugas -- the most remote and least-visited national park in the nation

Chip and Jake swimming at the Dry Tortugas

Here I am snorkeling at the Dry Tortugas

Chip watching our crazy bicycle tour guide, Lloyd Mager

The famous Sloppy Joe's Bar, where we went to celebrate Hemingway's 106th Birthday (July 21, 2005)

Hemingway memorabilia lines the walls of Sloppy Joe's

And Hemingway look-alikes fill the bar -- they're all here for the Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, the highlight of Hemingway Days

With their friends and families cheering them on!

And here come the judges!

Papas on Parade, in a Conch Train of course!

Look at them all!

Hemingway Look-Alike winners from previous years

Lorian Hemingway, Ernest's granddaughter, next to the newly unveiled bronze statue of her grandfather

Could Jake be the next Ernest?

The authors Tom Corcoran (left) and Randy Wayne White (right) with a Hemingway Look-Alike winner

A Hemingway Look-Alike in the Papas' Fishing Competition

Only in Key West!

Land's End

And one last trip to the Grand Vin before heading home!

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Last Updated:  Thursday, January 03, 2008 08:01:39 PM

Copyright © 2008 Carolyn M. Seefer, Diablo Valley College