Day 3: Key West on the Carnival Freedom

After another fun-filled night at the piano bar, I'm glad we could sleep in again. So far, we are two for two in closing down the piano bar, and today is only day 3 of our cruise. Yep, I'm definitely gonna need a vacation after this just to rest from our vacation. I'm glad we've already had a ton of fun, and haven't even hit our first port yet.

Our scheduled port times for Key West are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. ship's time. This is important to remember, especially for new cruisers (well, for experienced cruisers, too). My experience with Carnival Cruise Line is that we always stay on ship's time, which is typically the local time at the home port. In our case, leaving from Galveston, we stayed on central daylight time. Carnival does a good job letting everyone know to stay on ship's time, and NOT local time. You can see where I'm going with this, right? Yep! We were set to arrive in Key West at 10 a.m. ship's time, which was actually 11 a.m. local time. 

Key West

taken from our balcony

I mentioned in the first blog of this series how Key West was the one port we really wanted to go diving in. With us arriving so late, though, we missed all the morning dive boats and would leave too close to when the afternoon dive boats got back. Oh, well, that'll give us an excuse to return to Key West.

We ordered our standard "first breakfast" from room service and watched our arrival into Key West from the balcony as we sipped our coffee and munched on some pastries. At the piano bar last night, we talked to Keith and Barbara about plans for Key West. None of us had anything specific to do, so we'd meet at the Red Frog Pub on deck 5 at 10:30 and just play it by ear. That would allow the first wave of people to get off the ship and head for their excursions. We could avoid standing in long lines by just waiting a little. Second breakfast? No, not this time. We have reservations at the steakhouse tonight, and I want to be hungry!

A US Coast Guard boat met the ship just inside the sea buoy and escorted us almost all the way to the pier. Obviously, I wasn't worried about pirates in the area but was still glad to see our "Coasties" hanging out with us and ensuring our safe passage. Then again, I'm not sure if the Coast Guard was protecting us, or keeping the smaller vessels out of harm's way. A small sailboat happened to pass us going in the opposite direction, and as it got closer, the Coast Guard boat moved between us and them until we passed.

Keeping clear of the ship

I had fun watching the Coast Guard boat as it kept pace with us, then would swoop out away from the ship, turn in a tight loop and come back around. I'm betting they had a little fun, too. That looks like a fun boat to just cut loose with and open the throttles.

Thanks for your service, y'all!

Once we got close to the pier, Cindy and I went inside and got ready to have a fun day ashore. Sunscreen....check! Cell phone....check! Debit card....check! OK, let's go! Down two flights of stairs to deck 5 and meet Keith and Barbara. They were right on time, too, so all of us made our way forward to deck 0 where we disembarked in our first port.

Whew! After leaving from a cool and cloudy Galveston, the hot, sunny weather of Key West reminded us even a few degrees south in latitude definitely makes a difference. For not having a specific plan for today, Keith had come up with a few ideas that Cindy and I would enjoy. Keith and Barbara had been to Key West a few months ago on a road trip and wanted to explore a couple of places a little more in depth than they did last time. Works for me!

Our first stop today would be the Harry S. Truman Little White House. While the house itself predates Mr. Truman's presidency, he used it as his headquarters while on working vacations away from Washington DC. There is a small area, adjacent to the gift shop, that offers a free viewing, but the house itself is a paid tour. 

No photos inside? Darn!

OK, fine, I'll resort to taking some outside photos to share with everyone. Our tour would start soon, so we took a little time to look through the gift shop, then took our seats outside in the waiting area. Sitting in the shade, sipping our complimentary water and smelling the wonderful scents of the surrounding plants made our wait quite pleasant.

Keith and Barbara

The tour itself was informative and our docent seemed quite knowledgeable about the history of the house. Most of the furniture and decorations appear exactly as they were in Truman's time. I could see why he preferred spending time here instead of in DC. I really wish I could've taken photos of the inside, but I understand why I couldn't. I guess...

Informative sign

Go ahead and click on that photo. You'll see a larger format version of it, and it sums up the history of this house quite nicely. Yeah, I know, I did post a link to the official website, but if you're anything like me, a quick read of a sign usually works best.

Little White House

From here, we set off for another house tour. I'm sure most of y'all know exactly what I'm referring to, without me even identifying it yet. I didn't know about the "Little White House" before touring it, but I think everyone knows of another famous house in Key West. For the few that still haven't figured it out, here's a clue: Meow!

I think I heard someone shout it from the back. Yes, you were correct! I'm referring to Ernest Hemingway's House. The writer in me was most curious about the home of one of the masters, and the cat lover in Cindy wanted to check out the multi-toed cats. I made her promise she wouldn't try to smuggle one back with us. Yes, I'm kidding.....for the most part. Let's just leave it at that.

Front door

Lush vegetation around the house

Unlike the previous tour, we were allowed to take photos inside the house. The cats, by the way, apparently have the run of the house, and we came across several stretched out on a bed, curled up in a chair or sunning itself by a window. Those that wished to could pet the cats, but all were asked to not pick them up.

One of the furry residents

photo by Cindy Newman

Of all the areas in the house, the one that I especially liked, no surprise, was the detached writer's room. This second-floor room was accessed by a walkway from the main house. I could easily see myself in such a room, writing away on my next blog or other projects, listening to some Jimmy Buffett and sipping on a glass of iced tea. Here are some views of his writer's room, taken from the door. No entry was allowed into the room itself. Not visible in the photo below, to the right, is a small bathroom.

View to the right of the door

Center of room showing writing desk

Left side of the room

We finished touring the house and grounds, and Cindy got to pet some of the cats. It was definitely odd seeing the extra toes some of the cats had. I'm glad I had the chance to tour Mr. Hemingway's house. Not only was it a nice house in an interesting location, the history of it added an extra bonus.

Directly across the street from the house is the Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum. What the heck, let's go check it out, and then we'll be ready for a light snack. Careful crossing the street, now, and watch for traffic. 

Right this way...

Looks like a canvas painting

After paying our entrance fee, we proceeded to the base of the lighthouse. We looked up...and up...and up. Keith decided to sit this one out, so Barbara, Cindy and I stepped into the base of the lighthouse and approached the spiral staircase.

Original acetylene gas line fitting

Gas line to the base of the lamp

88 Steps to the top!

I'm not gonna lie about it. It was an effort to get to the top without breathing heavily. At least our legs got a great workout climbing all those steps. Was the climb worth it? Absolutely! The view from the top of the lighthouse was fantastic, as you'll see from the following photos. There was a landing near the top that had a small window next to it. This landing provided a convenient spot for those climbing the stairs and those descending to pass without having to squeeze by.

View through the window

A little closer to the window

Another few turns up the stairs and we were at the base of the lamp. We stepped onto the catwalk around the outside to take in the sights. Yep, totally worth the climb!

Our ship

Hemingway's house

Looking SE, toward Cuba

With gravity's help, the descent was much easier (and quicker) than the ascent. Now if they'd just add a zip line feature to the top of the lighthouse, that would be really cool! Just sayin'...

I do believe it's time for some refreshments. How about we swing by the Blue Macaw Island Eats and Bar? A cold, refreshing drink and a light snack would be perfect right now. Hhhmmm, some jerk wings and a Landshark Lager would fit the bill nicely. Keith and Barbara decided on some conch fritters and pina coladas.

Fins up!

Jerk wings

These wings were delicious, and I was so tempted to order another plate of them. The jerk seasoning was just spicy enough to be interesting and combined with the crispy skin I was happy I found them on the menu. Keith regaled us with stories from his time here in the Navy many years ago while we enjoyed our lunch. After a second round of drinks, Keith and Barbara wanted to return to the ship. Cindy and I had another place we wanted to drop by so we would meet them at the steakhouse later that evening on the ship.

The last time we were in Key West was way back in 2010. At that time I hadn't heard of author Michael Reisig, nor had his first "Road to Key West" been published yet. He has a series of novels starting with The Road to Key West. I've read the first few, and have enjoyed them. With so many books in my "to be read" list, I have to place them in rotation with the others. The point here is that I find it most interesting to walk around the same area a story is set in. I'm sure the next book of Mr. Reisig's I read will be that much more entertaining now that we've been close to where his characters have been. Looking for something new to read? Give his Key West series a try.

Cindy and I also completed a series of geocaches paying homage to Jimmy Buffett. If you've been paying attention to any of my blogs, you'll see I'm a longtime fan of his music. So much so that I even wrote a blog about my favorite Buffett songs. This would be a good time to give it a read, as it will give you some background on our next stop. Go ahead and click right here. It will open in a new window so you won't lose your place here. I'll wait for you.

Did you read it? What did you think? Just a short walk from the Blue Macaw is Capt. Tony's Saloon. We needed somewhere to get out of the heat, so why not here? OK, be honest, you probably didn't click that link, did you? If not, please do me a favor and actually go back and read it. If not the whole thing, at least check out #7 on the list and you'll see all the connections clicking into place. 

Capt. Tony's Saloon

As much as I'd have liked to shoot the breeze for hours there, we had to be back on the ship soon. We did take the time to sip on a Capt. Tony's Amber, which I found most tasty. The interior is quite dark, so it was hard to get a good photo. A google search will show you all you want to see, though, if you feel so inclined.

We left Capt. Tony's and stopped by one more place, another tradition of sorts for us when we cruise. Whenever we visit a new port, we'll look for a Del Sol store. We've purchased shirts from all over the Caribbean at their stores, and have even bought one in Durango, Colorado when we made a road trip up there. Since it's been so long between visits to Key West, we decided to drop by and see if anything caught our eye. We both found a suitable shirt and added that to our inventory of "been there, done that" apparel. 

Once we were back on the ship, we relaxed on our balcony and talked about how much fun we had today. For not having any specific plans, we sure ended up doing a lot. Much more than I anticipated, really. If we couldn't go diving, this definitely made up for it. Our reservations at the steakhouse were for 7 p.m. and with sailaway coming up shortly, we still had plenty to look forward to. 

The lighthouse viewed from our balcony

My shower felt wonderfully refreshing and by the time I was dressed the sun was setting. Oh, cool! I totally need to get a photo of this!

Sunset, Key West style

With only first breakfast and a single plate of wings for lunch, I was absolutely ready for a good dinner at the steakhouse. Ready to join us for dinner? I hope you are hungry.

First up: bread plate

Those that know me know just how much I love bread. The selection above disappeared within minutes of being served. That round bread roll was especially tasty with a sprinkling of coarse sea salt.

Appetizer: Heritage Berkshire Pork Belly

Apple & Walnut Preserves, Carrot Paper

My appetizer, "uncovered"

Pork belly is just one of those cuts that no matter how it's prepared, it's gonna be good. This was no exception and I had to force myself to eat it slowly and not gobble it down. When I think about it, on our last cruise, one of the shared appetizers at the JiJi Asian Kitchen was a pork belly dish. You can read all about it, and the rest of the meal, here.

Cindy and I make it a point to eat at the steakhouse at least once per cruise. For the past few meals there, I've always selected the same steak: the USDA  Prime Cowboy Steak. It's an 18 oz. rib chop, cooked medium, with a side of Yukon Gold mash with wasabi horseradish. Why do I even bother looking at the menu? 

18 oz Cowboy Steak

Yukon Gold mash

Carnival offers several different sauces for your steaks, but I found I've never needed nor desired a sauce. The steak stands perfectly on its own. As the server brought out our food, the smell of grilled meat was tantalizing. My steak was cooked perfectly, and almost fork tender. My mashed potatoes were silky smooth, and the amount of wasabi was spot on. If I could replicate this dish at home, it would be the standard potato dish for the house. Calling this a mere "meat and potatoes" dish would be an injustice. Judging by the silence at our table, everyone was enjoying their meal as well. 

Such a sumptuous meal called for an equally sumptuous dessert. I selected the cheesecake, while Cindy chose the "chocolate sphere." From past experience, I knew I wouldn't be able to finish all of my dessert. I'd give it a good try, though.

Dessert: Cheesecake with Hazelnut Biscuit

When this colossal slab of cheesecake arrived, I knew I'd be able to eat, at best, half of it. Each bite of this creamy wonder, accompanied by the hazelnut crust ("biscuit" on the menu) encouraged me to take another bite and another. By now I was so full I couldn't even think of finishing it, even though it tasted so good. 

Cindy's dessert tasted as good as it looked, and it looked fantastic. The description comes directly from Carnival's menu.

Cindy's dessert: Chocolate Sphere

Warm cocoa cream custard deconstructs this treat before your eyes.

Served with Pear Confit & Delicate Praline Pate

Cocoa cream custard added

Notice how the sphere has opened up after the cocoa cream was poured over the top? Inside the sphere was the praline pate. The next time we eat at one of Carnival's steakhouses, I'm totally ordering this for dessert! All of that rich, decadent chocolate made the perfect finale to a perfect meal.

All of us agreed that the $35 per person upcharge was well worth it, and would happily do it again. In fact, I know we will. 

Cindy and I decided to check out the formal photos we took the previous night. We headed to deck 4 and found several prints that looked great. As much as we'd like to buy every print from every pose, we just can't. We debated over a couple of them and selected two of the best. There's still one more formal night in a few days, so we'll have another chance to take some more. 

We were greeted by Senor Frog when we went to the cabin to change into our "comfy clothes." Keith and Barbara wanted to go to the hot tub, but we didn't want to have to take another shower. 

Senor Frog says "hi."

Decision time. Tomorrow we'll be in Freeport, and will need to get off the ship as soon as we can. We need to meet our dive operator right outside the main gate. That means we'll need to get up around 7. It's still a bit early to go to bed, yet we don't want to stay up too late, either. Piano bar it is!

Hey, cool, there are a couple of empty seats at the bar! I sat down and happened to see who was sitting next to me...Paul! Dude! Two days in a row! Cool! As soon as Ben finished his current song, he glanced over at us with a "Where have y'all been?" look. I just shrugged and mouthed "steakhouse." Yes, I was still full from a wonderful dinner. Did I order a drink, though? Do you even need to ask? I even bought Ben a shot. As the waiter placed it on the piano, and let him know who bought it, Ben said: "I'm still trying to down the second one." 

"That's what she said," was my answer, much to the bar's delight. I had actually started this last night, zinging Ben when I could. This would definitely become my catchphrase at the piano bar for the rest of the cruise. No, I'm not above using a cheap, throwdown line to get a laugh.

The time crept closer and closer to 11 p.m. so we went back to the cabin to get our dive gear prepped. We transferred it from a suitcase to a dive bag, ensuring everything was ready to go. I turned on my GoPro to ensure the battery was fully charged. It should've been, as I charged all of them before we left. Yep, the battery indicator looked fine.

We called it a day just after midnight. And a fun day it was.

Have you ever been to Key West? What did you do there? I'd love to read all about it in the comments section below.

Coming up next, our day in Freeport, including a bunch of dive photos. You can find it here.

For your convenience, here are the links to the other blogs in this series:

Back to the Bahamas on the Carnival Freedom

Day 2: Our First Fun Day at Sea on the Carnival Freedom

Until next time....

carpe cerevisi