Key West

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Clubbing

Clubbing here is so sexually charged with foreigners, locals who enjoy foreigners, and the ease of bar hopping in which you can walk from bar to bar with your drinks in your hand (predominantly in Key West), that it's almost impossible for someone looking for some action to not get some. And most of the people who come to the clubs here are looking for some version of “gaiety”. So if you're into slow talking, chain smoking, ditsy alcoholics, free lays all around.

I spent most of my engaged clubbing time in Key West with two mature island chaps, one from St. Thomas the other from Grenada. It was a bit of a challenge not to mention the partial Grenadian I know. Anyway, they were a couple of my fans because I was something of a social butterfly to them. I was going from bar to bar chatting up everyone. They were convinced that this one Mormon guy wanted to share one of his three very striking wives with me. But I drew the line at them dancing naked with me :p. I guess I disenchanted my island friends a smidgen so they educated me on their "tag and release" policy with women.

Best bar conversation I had was with a Russian grad student - no surprise that it took someone who originates far far away from America to provide stimulating dialogue. Everything was perfect right down to her currently being angry with her "bloke". But most of you would be disappointed that I made a conscious effort to return to my hotel alone to read a few chapters of this book that I've been at for some three weeks now.

Beaching

Everyone I talked to suggested snorkelling in Key West. So I did. We went some seven miles (11 km) out to the world’s third largest coral reef. Actually I was a little disappointed at the quantity and variety of fishes I saw in comparison to snorkelling in the South China Sea. But it was an excellent experience as the ocean was rougher so I got trapped on the corals that were not supposed to be touch, and was the only one snorkelling with a pool noodle. Dr. Jodhi

While on the catamaran as we were headed out to sea to snorkel a young girl was seasick. Remembering the properties of the inner ear as described to me by my high school physics teacher, I explained to her mom why she was seasick and the best available solution (a hammock was not available). Later on a guy decided to feed the fishes with his recent lunch, so I imparted onto him similar knowledge. On our return to shore, I am pleased to say that though those two folks were still woozy, the little girl didn’t cry and the guy didn’t need to run to the railing. Shopping

I saw “5 t-shirts for $7” in New York. But I didn’t want to buy anything I’d have to carry around my whole trip. But while in the Natural History Museum I saw some outstanding games, one being a 3D version of the Tangoes (tanagrams) game I have. Others were some fun children activities like crystal growing. Problem is, these gift shops exist to dupe unsuspecting folks. For instance, I almost bought this excellent glow in the dark t-shirt that helps one identify the constellations, except they were $16 each!

However when I got to Key West, I lost my miserly composure and indulged in trivialities I’m 100% sure I could have got elsewhere for cheaper. Well I think I got it out of my system of now.