Apparently Sloppy Joe’s got its name from the original Sloppy Joe’s bar in Old Havana that sold liquor and iced seafood. It is said that Hemingway had a bit of influence when it came to naming this place. Hemingway loved his mojitos, so my next logical stop was his local watering hole, Sloppy Joe’s Bar, which was owned by his good friend and fishing companion Joe Russell. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.” “Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. When you visit the lighthouse, you also get access to the Keeper’s Quarters Museums where they have regular exhibitions.Īddress: 938 Whitehead Street Sloppy Joe’s Bar We could even see a cruise ship off in the distance on the day I visited. It’s 88 steps to the top and you get some pretty cool panoramic views of Key West. The lighthouse may not be as easy to spot from across town nowadays, but you have to think that when Hemingway lived here the palm trees would have been quite a bit shorter. It is said that after a late night at the bar, Hemingway would stumble out onto the street and use the lighthouse as a marker to find his way home. Most of them are a friendly bunch used to visitors streaming through, so they’ll give you a pose or two and allow a bit of a scratch.įrom Hemingway’s Home I walked across the street to the Key West Lighthouse. The six-toed cats are the descendants of Hemingway’s pet cat Snow White. Of course we can’t speak of Hemingway’s home without mentioning the 50+ polydactyl cats that call this place home. So he took a penny out of his pocket and angrily tossed it on the ground telling her, “You’ve spent all but my last penny, so you might as well have that!” Seeing as the concrete was still fresh, Pauline took the penny and imbedded it into the cement where you can still see it today. When Hemingway returned and learned that the pool had cost a whopping $20,000, he was furious. It turns out that while Hemingway went off to cover the Spanish Civil War (in the company of another woman!), his second wife Pauline decided she would build a massive swimming pool over his beloved boxing ring. The best story of the day was learning how the house got its swimming pool. I decided to take the guided tour and I ended up with the most passionate guide who was basically a walking encyclopaedia on anything related to Hemingway. My favourite part about this visit was hearing the stories behind Hemingway’s home. Suffice it say, the food at Blue Heaven is incredible!Īfter brunch at Blue Heaven, I walked over to Hemingway’s House. And if that wasn’t a big enough brunch, I also ordered a slice of Key Lime Pie, a fruit smoothie, and I may have sneaked a bite from someone else’s Banana Bread. Picture toasted English Muffins with avocado, lobster, bacon strips, tomatoes, and poached eggs covered in a hollandaise sauce, with a side of tropical fruits that include honeydew melon, pineapple, and cantaloupe. They have blue-shuttered windows, a shaded courtyard surrounded by lush palms, oh, and the food is amazing! They know how to do brunch galore, so you’ll want to bring your appetite. If there’s one item that you absolutely need to order off the menu it’s the Lobster Eggs Benedict. I couldn’t explore Hemingway’s Key West without dropping by this iconic venue, so on my first morning there I ventured for brunch.īlue Heaven is a really cool spot with a super laid-back feel. Over the course of its existence it has been a dance hall, a bordello, and it also hosted cock fights, gambling and Friday night boxing matches refereed by the one and only Ernest Hemingway. I only had a couple of days in town on my recent trip across the Florida Keys, but I wanted to discover Hemingway’s Key West, so even with limited time, I made it my mission to hit up as many spots as I could connected with this famed writer.įor any other Hemingway fans out there, here’s a look at some places you’ll want to track down on your next visit:īlue Heaven is an establishment steeped in history. Key West has seen its fair share of famed literary figures pass through, but if there’s one person who really left a mark on this place it’s Ernest Hemingway.
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