Rob and Ashlee say VOTE REPUBLICAN....CONCH REPUBLICAN that is

Another great trip to the Conch Republic (i.e. Key West) is in the books for us. This was our 8th visit to Margaritaville by our count and it was a dandy. Great food, perfect weather and good times had by all. MAY 4 - After arriving a day early and spending the night in Ft. Lauderdale (see previous post) we met Ashlee's sister, Paige, and her husband, Andy, the next morning as they flew in from Chattanooga and we headed south in a nice Chrysler Pacifica (pretty good gas mileage for a big vehicle). The 3-hour-plus drive thru the Keys was as good as promised in terms of scenery to Andy who had not made the drive before. Andy has been to Key West three times, but always arriving either by plane or cruise ship. With only a quick stop in Islamorada at the wonderful Worldwide Sportsman Store, we arrived in Key West and our usual place of tropical domicile, The Eden House, just in time for a few cocktails and a stroll to the north end of Duval Street for dinner at "Alice's." The food was superb as usual and Paige claimed the "Best in Show" prize for the dessert she ordered, The Tropical Fruit Short Cake With Passion Fruit and Chantilly Cream. MAY 5 - "Cinqo de Tortuga" - We were up at the crack of dawn today to take the Sunny Days "Fast Cat" Catamaran Ferry to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson. What a cool place. (photo above)

This day-trip was also for the benefit of Andy who had not been before, but everyone enjoyed a great day of sun, history, beach and snorkeling. We got some good advice for our dinner destination, a small Italian restaurant a few blocks from our hotel called "Mangia, Mangia." Yes, we looked it up and it means what else..."Eat, Eat!" and boy, did we ever. Excellent fresh pasta, Cuban garlic bread and an interesting Slovenian pino grigio called Movia. We followed that up with a late-evening cab ride to Louie's Backyard on the south end of the island for champagne and dessert. We never knew butterscotch pudding could be so good! MAY 6 - Lay around the pool day - relaxing and fun - what Key West is all about. Dinner was at our favorite place, Blue Heaven, and it was incredible as always. Ask for the secret grouper dish...it's not on the menu. MAY 7 - Almost back to reality - after lunch at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville - yeah, it's a little corny but the cheeseburgers in paradise are pretty good and it's become kind of a tradition for us on our last day of a Key West trip - we turned the big Chrysler beast north and headed back to Ft. Lauderdale for an evening flight home...."changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes"....you got that right, Jimmy.