Of course this is Ernest Hemingway. He was only 62 when he went to join his cats from the cemetery at the Rainbow Bridge.
Mom wanted to stay longer at Hemingway’s House. The house and grounds were fascinating and Walt Disney enjoyed showing mom around. The cats have a cat house that is a replica of Hemingway’s House.
She had to say goodbye to Walt. Dad was tapping his watch and saying they had other places to go on Key West before nightfall.
Notice Walt’s front paws…a true Hemingway cat. Look real hard at Walt….think he has a stand in.
Off mom and dad went in their flame coloured Fiat. Heading for the southernmost tip of the USA. This is the best picture they could get of the buoy. See all the tourists…mom says the tourists just kept coming. The southernmost point was originally just marked with a sign, which was often stolen. In response to this, the city of Key West erected the now famous concrete buoy in 1983. The concrete buoy is actually an old sewer junction that was dug up in the area and found too heavy and large to move, so it was painted up to look like a buoy. It is 81 nautical miles straight south to Cuba. The buoy says 90 but its inaccurate.
The Southernmost house in the USA. Mom said all you can really see are lots of palms around the house.
They drove through the Truman Annex. How the American government acquired this land from the people is in much debate….even today. It is worth googling the Truman Annex my friends. Much of the Truman Annex today is privately owned.
The houses are beautiful and most of them are Townhouses. For mom the main attraction was the Little White House.
Truman’s White House in Key West was the winter White House for President Harry Truman for 175 days during 11 visits. The house is located in the Truman Annex neighborhood of Old Town.
The Little White House was the end of their visit to Key West and it was time to take the Fiat and vacate this Key.
For the next three hours, which were uneventful….dad drove and mom sipped on her free Cokes from Coca Cola Headquarters and stared at the same scenery going back up the Keys. You can imagine the bathroom breaks! There were no pictures. I think mom fell asleep but she denies it. Finally they stopped on Marathon Key. There are no pictures as it was as black as…mom’s…um…can’t say that….black as her camera!
Finally they piled out at the Yellowtail Inn. This Inn was fantastic….individual cabins that had a view that looked out on the Atlantic, except it was dark and they couldn’t see anything but what was directly in front of them. The inside looked like this:
They quickly grabbed some food and had a slice of Key Lime Pie….seeing as they were here on a Key. They quickly went off to bed at 10pm to get up at 3:30am. I can just see mom settling down for the night. All of a sudden there was a kkkkkfupclack, kkkkkfupckack….on went the light and they soon discovered it was the fridge talking to them. They figured they could sleep through that so turned off the lights. The lights came back on…by themselves….went off and then stayed on for a few minutes. Hmmm….they fell asleep but mom says she was restless as was dad because between the lights coming on and off and the fridge making ghastly noises….it was most unsettling to say the least. So they got up at 3am and left….both very tired but they had to get to Miami Airport by 7am. The room looked nice but it was haunted and not by happy tourists.
Finally, they made it to the airport. In to the rental company went the Fiat. Mom and dad sat like statues at their gate for hours. Dad always likes to be real early. There’s their plane. Delta’s headquarters is in Atlanta and that’s where mom and dad were headed, change planes and off to Seattle, change planes again and off to Vancouver, Canada.
This is my favourite part cause they visited with Nellie while in Vancouver…my mentor. Then it was a prop plane to Prince George and home!
Would you say these two have had enough of travelling for the year? MOL…what a sight!
MOL These are actually mom and dad’s passport photos but they looked like this when they walked in the front door after their trip. I tell you it isn’t fair. They looked way better when they left for vacation. Now, mom looks like she wants to beat up dad. MOL
I don’t know why they go away, we’re all that matter and we’re so handy. This is the loudest comforter I’ve seen in our house and mom loves it…..turn it over to the grey side mom.
Oh I would stay in Mr. Hemingways house for hours… it’s such a great place! and I love the little house too :o) Maybe there was a ghost in that fridge? That can happen… we have one too. It ate all my mommas yogurts and threw the empty cups next to my daddy’s bed, what a mean ghost huh?
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These ghosties can be mean or so I’ve heard. Imagine what the one in their fridge was like….saying all those things during the night…..he must’ve been a doozy.
Shoko
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I don’t know why parents go anywhere without us. They KNOW it won’t be fun if we’re not there!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
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You got that right Cupcake. I think we should have a vacation from our pawents. We can move down the street and get goodies and treats, fun play toys and comfy beds without someone nattering at us to eat our food, move over cause I’m hogging the bed and the famous…”well, do you want in or out…I’m not letting you in and out all day.” MOL
Shoko
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Shame they didn’t take you but wow what a trip! Our girl-woman did the Florida Keys when she was a teen and loved seeing all those photos! 😊
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They did have fun but have had enough travel for the year. Let’s see what next year brings…maybe they’ll visit you in The Hague.
Shoko
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Hemmingway house is one of Mom’s favorite places in Key West! We’re so jealous that your Mom and Dad got to meet Nellie!!!
The Florida Furkids
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Nellie would have been the high point of the trip if I was there. What a slender, tiny and friendly gal she is…that’s what mom says. Nellie is very social and loves company.
Shoko
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squeals! Awesome pics of Key West – such a beautiful place but so busy! It just doesn’t matter what time of the year it is. And you know what the best part was of coming back through Atlanta? Mom says it was because she got to see ya’ll again before going home! Love you guys. XOXO – Bacon
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Mom left that part out of the tale…..she probably looked like cwap when you saw her again….they were kitty tired! This was a trip they will never forget and mom says mostly because of the fun they had with you and Jimmy. She still rattles on about the drive to Savannah.
Loves,
Shoko
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OMP! That drive was hilarious. For a good time my sweet friend, ask her to pick a letter. I’m sure she will laugh and smile at that. XOXO – Bacon
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I’ll do that Bacon….it’ll keep her quiet, thinking of words.
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kali & shoko…..walt looks like me….boomer !! ~~~~~~ waves two ewe dood ☺☺ itz awesum that mom & dad getted ta chillax with nellie….& when we iz done CRACKIN UP 🙂 🙂
bout mom wantin ta beet up dad ~~~~~~~~~~we will commint bout their trip…thanx for sharin !!!♥♥♥
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What an adventure…………..your Mom and Dad really are game for anything…..!! Love all the photos and I too am jealous that they got to meet beautiful Nellie. The haunted refrigerator and room was NO FUN for their last night but I think by then they were really ready to just get on a plane and come back to you girls!!!!!
Love and Hugs, Sammy
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They did have a great time but it took them more than a week to recover. Mom had a miserable cold that was threatening to put her in the hospital so she stayed in bed for a wee while and we loved her and when she fell asleep I poked her…I wanted her to feel loved. I think she did feel loved…..don’t you?
Shoko
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What a great trip ! Thank you for sharing beautiful photos ! It’s a pity you couldn’t go with your pawrents, Purrs
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Holy cwap! I don’t want to have to get up at 3am just to ride for hours…no thanks. I would have liked to see Hemingway’s cats though, that would be cool.
Shoko
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How cool that your peep’s got to visit with some of my fellow many-toed brethren. ~Ernie
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I think mom could have stayed there for days. She loved everything about HH except the tourists.
Shoko
PS I must congratulate Wally for having the winning patrol at the quest.
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OMC They did alll dat in less than 2 days? No wunner they was so tired. We’s glad they made it back home to you girls and we’s know ya’ll are glad they be home. Luvved da fotos. And da cabin looked luvvly. Too bad it wasn’t hospitable.
Luv ya’
Dezi
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I’m sure glad they’re home and rested.
Shoko
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Meow Shoko, they sure rested up quick. Mommy sez she never really took a vacation, but seems everypawdy always talks ’bout how ifin da vacation was a week they needed 2 to recover. MOL Not sure why da peeps wuld keep takin’ those things. MOL
Luv ya’
Dezi
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Sure she did…she vacationed at the BlogPaws conference. Mom and dad don’t believe in taking things easy and love to investigate everything they have time for. Many peeps like laying on the beach and are happy to relax doing this. That is a different type of a vacation than mom and dad but mom and dad are just as happy investigate everything.
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Yeah BlogPaws was a sorta vacation. And mommy needed months to recuperate. MOL Glad yous pawrents had a good time. At da end of da day dat’s all dat matters. Now we wanna know when they’re gonna come and see us? MOL
Luv ya’
Dezi
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They don’t feel up to planning next years vacation….not yet anyway….around the end of the year maybe they’ll start planning.
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Did your folks see any chickens in Key West? One time I saw a news segment about all the chickens there, but that was quite a few years ago so the alligators may have gotten them. It looks like your folks had a great time.
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Dang….mom has 1 picture with the chickens walking on the sidewalk and she forgot to put it in the post! Yes, chickens are still in Key West. In Oahu there are chickens too, mom said. They are not in downtown Honolulu but in the areas like tourists spots….mom and dad went to a Macadamia Nut Farm and there were chickens all over. My folks seem to always have a great time wherever they go….at least so far. MOL
Shoko
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I’m going to go ythrough the pictures and send you the one with the chickies.
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Did you get any prezzies besides the ones Nellie sent you? Any souvenirs? A haunted room sounds like fun prolly more fun than that last place TW stayed where they were selling drugs outside and all her stuff was outside in the car.
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Oh yea, we got lots of prezzies. We got a temptation mouse…that Kali and I can’t work and it makes us feel stupid! Feline Greenies that weren’t available in Canada at the time…Bacon’s mom gave us more Greenies and feathers….no Peacock feathers, which we specifically asked for but mom said she couldn’t find any. We got even more stuff but mom stuck it away saying we have too many toys.
Shoko
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You can never have too many toys.
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Ya got that right CK. Now, mom is buggin’ us to clean up and put away our toys. They look best all over the house so when the spirit moves me, I can attack. MOL
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Oh My Catness. What a wonderfur trip. I came to thank you for my very own Mariachi Band. You cats are the Best!
Dad saw me on your blog and made me show him all the photos. He did that very same trip and saw Hemingway house, The polydactyl kitties and the buoy too. He sat in the bar that is there and watched the people wander out to watch the sunset. He finished his coke and rode out on his motorcycle. I think his ride home was some 1400 miles but he took it easy and did it in 2 days. Your pawrents are super to be enjoying life and we love reading their travels
Dad cannot wait till Re Tire. But will he bee Too Tired? MOL
Anymeow
Thank You SOOOOOOOO Much
You are all the best friends
Rumpy Bump Stumpnots, Dad, and Family
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You guys are terrific! Mom and dad do get about once a year and have a memorable time. What an experience your dad had going down to Key West on a motorcycle. I think mom would probably fall off a motorcycle. Dad used to have one when mom and him got married.
Rumpy I had to do something for your birthday. I think you are a relative of Kali’s…you are so white. Kali says your fur is gorgeous and I agree….even if you are a boycat….you are a looker like the rest of the family. Do tell your dad that when he is re-tired, he always has an invite up here.
Shoko
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Yur Pawentss fotoss are seereuss because thee Hu’manss are NOT aloud to smile fur dock-umintss! Sorta weerd isn’t it??
Mistur Earnest’ss house iss luvley an thee katss’ house iss purrfect!!!
An Kali yur lookin gorgeeuss as are you Shoko….
****paw kissesss**** Cuss-in Dharth Henry xxxx
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I guess the passport photos want peeps that look like they’ve planted bombs or killed someone. Mom’s picture sure DOES look like she wants to kill someone and she probably belongs to a gang…”Cat Blogger Killers”. That’s my mom. MOL
Shoko
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Mew mew mew mee LadyMum says shee wants to ‘join thee group’ Shoko!!!
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Excellent! Mom says we can’t have too many killing moms as cat bloggers…MOL
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LadyMum iss SO-O there Shoko 😉
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Ladymum would love it at HH. Mom did.
Shoko
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What a lovely trip. That cathouse is amazing, I have to ask for something like that in the garden, to fill it up 😀 Your peeps are very Lucky to meet Nellie and, what we think, Hemingway’s ghost. I mean, who else could have switch the light on and off… 😉 Walt wears mittens, that’s so cute. What a sweet cat, but not as sweet as you two 🙂 Pawkisses 🙂 ❤
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The pawents did have fun….mom said it broke winter up and when they returned home, there was no snow. Bonus!! Nellie is unbelievable….my mentor as the Queen of “The Cat From Hell.” Mom took Nellie some of our favourite treats and Nellie actually acted like a young kit again. She got into the treat cupboard and was ripping the bag open. Now, that’s my mentor!!
Shoko
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That’s so sweet, Shoko! I wish I had a mentor like her 😀 Pawkisses 🙂 ❤
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Beautiful place! I wouldn’t want to leave the Hemingway cats either!
I came here from Blog The Change. I tried looking for your animal advocacy post you meant to link up but couldn’t find it so I’m commenting here. Thanks for joining in Blog The Change For Animals!
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HH was so awesome….mom so wanted to stay but we would have missed her.
I joined animal advocacy but really do not join much as I tend to get a ton of e-mails from groups.
Jean Neilson
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