June 20, 2015

Day #17
Key West

     One of the strange things in Key West (and believe me, there are many) is the chicken population.  They are everywhere.  The beautiful, colorful, strutting roosters grabbed my attention right away.  I have a kitchen and dining room full of everything roostery.

Famous Key West Rooster

     The roosters, hens, and baby chicks are seen everywhere, even crossing the streets of Key West whenever and wherever they chose.  It is said that the population began growing when killing a chicken for Sunday dinner no longer happened in the average household.  Most of the backyard chicken eventually flew the coop into the streets.  Also, when cock fighting became illegal, many were turned out to take care of themselves. 

Beautiful rooster

Mama and baby chicks.  So cute.

     At one point, the city hired a chicken catcher.  That didn’t seem to work out.  So, the chickens are now protected by the city, and it is illegal to pick them up.  Dang it.

     My brother-in-law, Ronnie, is retired military.  He got us onto the base, and we stayed in the base campground.  It was right on the Gulf of Mexico.  Right outside our door was a seagrape tree.  I didn’t know until we had left there that the grapes were edible.  I would have tried one.  Someone told us they are really good.  Right next to that tree was a tall coconut palm tree.  At several places along the streets they sold coconuts with holes drilled in them and a straw stuck in to drink the coconut water.  Heavens to Betsy, they were everywhere.  I really wanted to try one, but had too much going on to get around to it.

Seagrape Tree

Coconuts right outside my window

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     I’ve always considered myself a country gal.  I don’t want a snake or an alligator for a pet, but I don’t come close to having a heart attack should I come across one.  We have plenty of wildlife in our neck of the woods.  Deer, armadillos, raccoons, box turtles, snakes of all varieties.  I haven’t packed up and moved out yet, but please do not make me come into contact with, or even look at a lizard.

     Okay, I’ll admit that over the past 12 years, I’ve had plenty of confrontations with geckos.  I’ve even, since the GEICO gecko came along, grown a little less freaked out by them.  I’ve been pretty proud of that fact.

     While we were in the Florida Keys, I came face-to-face with more iguanas than I even realized existed.  They are not indigenous to Florida.  No, they came here just like the Burmese pythons.  By people who had them for pets, but no longer wanted them.  Evidently, they are fertile creatures.  THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!!  Everywhere, I tell you, everywhere.

 

This little beautiful is about 18 inches long.
 

     If I sit at the picnic table outside the bus, they sneak under there and sit there looking at me until I feel their evil stare.  If I recline of the chaise loungers on the sandy area at the front of the bus, they go under my chair and touch my butt, which apparently sticks through the plastic slats.

My special place when the iguanas
are elsewhere.

     Evidently, they don’t speak my language.  Get the H%&* out of here or scram bud, doesn’t compute in their brains.  I can tell that by the way they look at me.  Their eyes move in a strange way.  “Don’t roll your eyes at me,” also goes over their head, which, btw, is pointy.

     Finally, I hid out in the bus so they couldn’t find me.  I was looking out the window when I saw a gigantic iguana run up my coconut tree.  I swear I think it had a saddle on.  Yikes.  Still gives me chills.  I stayed inside mostly because I had a headache.  It went away after we left the Keys.

Brody took my picture while I was
suffering with a headache.

Until next time,
Dolores