Dick MacKenzie
  • home
  • webcam
  • Writings
  • Video
  • Potpourri
  • message board
  • Contact me

Key West

7/13/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
When Mary and I were in Key West we rented a charming, tiny villa - a pretentious name for one-room cottage - half a block off Duval Street.
Once we had scattered the roaming roosters and ducked in beneath a living archway, vine and flower covered, we emerged in a lush oasis, surrounded by trees, vines, flowers, birds, and an occasional cute little Florida lizard, hosting our villa and a swimming pool.
The wine was rich and the ambiance exquisite.
Mornings I'd wake early, slip quietly outside, and walk a few blocks down Duval Street to Captain Mario's where I could enjoy a long, leisurely breakfast on the sidewalk while watching the awakening of the city - or sometimes the late revelers sneaking noisily home for some shut eye.
A few days in January were truly astonishing, and delightful as hell. As a short term tourist I can't claim anything more than an overview, but I saw enough to know I liked the place a lot and will have to - just have to - return.
From the skateboarder coasting down a side street, upside down, head on the board, feet in the sky to the old black guy pedaling a three wheeler down Duvall at dusk, flags flying, spokes lit up, boom box blaring the blues to the men in drag riding the Cadillac convertibles blowing kisses to cheering sidewalk bystanders, it was clear that this crazy key isn't typical middle America or mainstream Canada. My impression is that it's as cool as New Orleans or Fairbanks, Alaska, two of my favorite places, both exploding with loveable crackpots and marvelous eccentrics (second only to Sioux Lookout which I love the most, but which has no crackpots or eccentrics).
Now the good news! Last week I discovered a writer I had never heard of. Jon Breakfield has written two very funny, very clever novels tickling and massaging the ongoing story of his life, with wife Gabrielle, dancing among the Key West characters and adventures. They are glorious reads.
I will probably read them both again as I wait for Jon's next novel to become available in about a month. I hear it's a detective crime/thriller set in Key West.
It's always nice to discover a new writer (well, Breakfield has been around - he's not really a new writer, but he's new to me, and he's good -well his writing is good). I'm excited...
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    December 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

SIOUX LOOKOUT WEATHER
P.O. Box 1464
Sioux Lookout, Ontario  P8T 1B9
807-738-BOAT (2628)
dick@dickmackenzie.com
Picture