Yet another long(ish) trip report.

Just got back from two idyllic weeks in KW and if I may be indulged for a moment, thought I would share some of my thoughts with you?

Before I begin, let me apologise for not popping in to the Conch Republic SC to meet some of you guys. Week one, the Mrs and I were with my sister and her husband. He%26#39;s really not the socialising type. The second Friday I was too %26#39;tired and emotional%26#39; following an early start at Kelly%26#39;s, happy hour, (more about that later).

This was the first time my wife and I have been during power boat week and I have to say, I was mightily impressed. For my money, it has the over-hyped Formula One auto racing beat hands-down...and it%26#39;s FREE!

Speaking of free things, the Eco Center on the old Naval base site was also a nice place in which to spend an hour or two. The same goes for Nancy Forrester%26#39;s Secret Garden, which whilst not free, is well worth the price of a visit, for the parrots and cockatoos alone. I love the little green one that %26#39;laughs%26#39;.

The missus and I both enjoy eating out and whilst we couldn%26#39;t visit every restaurant, (obviously), we did visit the following. Please note that service has to particularly poor for us Brits to complain about it. We come from the land of the mandatory, (but %26#39;only%26#39; 12% to 15%), service charge. Meaning in practice, that a smile is a rarity, unless you are paying megabucks. Anyhow, here%26#39;s some thoughts.

Best restaurant – Has to be Cafe Marquesa. Wonderful food, pleasant décor, wonderful service. If it had a sea view, it would be absolutely perfect.

Runners-up? Excellent duck with Oaxacan mole sauce at 915 Duval, the usual quality meat items at Michael%26#39;s, as well as our favourite tapas bar on the island, Santiago%26#39;s Bodega. Then there%26#39;s Square One, always great food and Martin%26#39;s, where I had a superb Schnitzel, which brought back memories of my time in the military, serving in Germany.

Biggest disappointment? Louie%26#39;s Backyard where the lunchtime menu was uninspiring and the fish sandwich at B.O.%26#39;s was much tastier. Plus, when asking could we move to a dry table, (we were the only diners without cover), when it started to %26#39;spit%26#39; for rain, we were answered with a loud “tsk!” and a sigh. Accompanied by a “You do know this is Key West”? Yes dear, I did know and as well as there being a chance that it WOULDN%26#39;T rain harder, there%26#39;s was an equally strong chance that it WOULD. What was the big deal anyway? You weren%26#39;t even a quarter full? There%26#39;s one establishment that won%26#39;t be getting any more visits.

Best value – It is a toss-up between the Conch Republic Seafood Company and Salute on the Beach. I love Italian food, so I suppose Salute has it by a nose but the CRSC delivers good food at prices that won%26#39;t break the bank.

Best breakfast – We wandered past the queue at Pepe%26#39;s, (a fine establishment but the queue can be big), and took a seat at Harpoon Harry%26#39;s. Gimme one of Harry%26#39;s extra spicy, (and they ARE), Bloody Mary%26#39;s and a Harry%26#39;s Special breakfast and I%26#39;m in heaven. The bargain of the trip.

Special mention to Croissants de France on Duval also. My wife would never forgive me if I didn%26#39;t mention the superb fruit platter she had for breakfast one day.

Best happy-hour – Kelly%26#39;s Key Lime Maragarita%26#39;s ($3.50), plus a plate of SUPERB spicy wings ($4!) and you have the reason why I couldn%26#39;t make the Friday CR meet at 6! I fell into bed around 8 with my head spinning faster than the ceiling fan. Thank you Eric the bartender. I tried to get into Alonzo%26#39;s a few times but the word has got out and bar space was at a premium. I did make it to the CRSC and it was just fine, but those wings at Kelley%26#39;s were just terrific.

Best bar – It has to be the Schooner Wharf. Yes it is touristy and yes, McCloud%26#39;s droll, afternoon set can sound (cough) %26#39;familiar%26#39; but the staff, ambience and all round quirkiness of the place hits my spot every time. I rather liked my late night at the renovated Bottle Cap. A bit trendy, with the big screen Nintendo Wii and subdued lighting but great drinks from the Sicilian barman (sorry dude, forgot your name).

Worst bar – Virgilio%26#39;s. On our first visit, it wasn%26#39;t too bad as the place was virtually empty and the rookie barman had time to get his nervous queries answered by the more experienced bar lady across the room. The next two visits were marred by quite appalling service. I have never stood patiently for quarter of an hour, then waved, then begged, as much as I did those two nights in Virgilio%26#39;s and still not got a drink. It is testament to how good it used to be, that we gave it a second chance. Boy, those guys must have really got stung by some cheap UK tourists! Arrivederci Virgilio%26#39;s!

Finally, some of you may recall my small criticisms of the real estate company, that deals with most of the rentals on the Truman Anex. I booked with them again this year and guess what? Yes, they made a potentially serious gaff. Having rented on Truman Anex a few times before, I was aware of the Anex layout and procedure. When picking up my keys from the rental office lock-up Saturday afternoon, I discovered that they had given me directions to a unit in the Shipyard condo complex and not on Southard as I had booked. Just to be sure, I drove around to the Shipyard unit, only to find it permanently occupied by a couple. As I knew where my property was and how to decode the %26#39;secret%26#39; code on the keys, I was able to enter my actual rental accommodation. If I had not known this and simply rang the rental office number, I would have got the answerphone; so what would I have done then? I still say, Truman Anex properties are first class, the rental company are frankly, not.

I won%26#39;t end on a sour note, our vacation was, as expected, utterly marvellous. I can%26#39;t tell you how depressed I get when I return from KW. As I gaze out of my window at those cold, grey English skies, I console myself with the thought of arranging next year%26#39;s break in paradise. It%26#39;s the only thing that keeps me sane.

Yet another long(ish) trip report.

Great report : ) Two weeks!!! Lucky you. I can only manage one week at a time away from work. Company policy not mine. lol Thanks for sharing.

Debb

Yet another long(ish) trip report.

Nice report glad you enjoyed your vacation.

';Best happy-hour – Kelly%26#39;s Key Lime Maragarita%26#39;s ($3.50), plus a plate of SUPERB spicy wings ($4!) and you have the reason why I couldn%26#39;t make the Friday CR meet at 6!';

Hope you don%26#39;t get as much crap as we have for liking Kelly%26#39;s. lol Sorry you missed all of the good people at CR for CTH.

PJ

Enjoyed reading you report. I just got back myself, so it was fun to read another recent report.

I too love Schooner Wharf.

It%26#39;s my understanding that vacation entitlement in European countries is on average, better than the U.S. I haven%26#39;t a clue about vacation policy in Canada? I consider myself lucky, in that I get twenty five paid vacation days a year and my wife gets even more, due to her exceptionally long service with the company, (not THE Company, naturally).

Every year, at least ten days are allocated to the Key West trip. It just has to be!

We had dinner at Kelly%26#39;s one night and whilst it wasn%26#39;t in the same class as say Michael%26#39;s, it was still good value for money, (IMHO) and gave no cause for complaint. I believe Bob the waiter has been name checked in the past? He%26#39;s certainly an asset, being friendly, professional and very helpful in making our choices. In fact, gazing at my notes, (how SAD is that!), my only criticism was “Key Lime Martini%26#39;s were too sweet and creamy for my palate”. Try the KL Martini%26#39;s at Marquesa, they are top notch!

During the event filled happy hour, we got in with a %26#39;bad%26#39; crowd from Texas and Maine. The wife of a particularly large specimen of Texan manhood decided that Eric the bartender was to be known as “Pretty Boy”, which didn%26#39;t seem to displease Eric at the time. It was only after many micro-brews and Martini%26#39;s, when her husband kept referring to him by the same, did things start to look shaky. But in typical Key West fashion, common sense prevailed and Eric was henceforth referred to by his correct title by everyone.

My wife and I did manage to down three helpings of the wings, one mild, one sweet chilli and one hot. In our defence, we were there for some time and we did need something to soak up all that micro-brew and Martini.

Oh my god...I wish I was back.

I shouldn%26#39;t really complain. I am lucky enough to get 4 weeks paid vacation a year. Unfortunately the company I work for only allows us to take one week at a time. One week is just not long enough in Key West! lol I guess it just means I have to come down 4 times!

Loved your report. I, too, think Cafe Marquesa is the best restaurant, that Harpoon Harry serves the best breakfast, and that Schooner Wharf is the best bar.

Thanks, that%26#39;s praise indeed coming from someone whose reports whetted my appetite, on the build up to our vacation.

I planned to make a visit to the A%26amp;B Lobster House, based on your report but both times we tried to get in, they were full. I did actually consider making a reservation but by this time I was in full KW mode. Both my wife and I get kinda laid back and like to take things as they come. So if we%26#39;re enjoying the company and libations at happy hour, we%26#39;re not really happy making our apologies and leaving to get %26#39;cleaned up%26#39; for a restaurant reservation.

There%26#39;s always next year. ;-)

Great report! Enjoyed it much!

I enjoyed your report as well, although it distressed me to read the bad report about Virgilio%26#39;s. Our favorite late (well, late for us) night stop.

I guess we%26#39;ll just have to stop in Thursday night and see for ourselves.

Yippee!! Two more days, actually we fly to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow......