#key-west

I was down in The Florida Keys with family visiting my brother for a few days.  I was on my way to Colombia, South America and planned the adventure accordingly to include family time before I had to sharpen my Spanish and limber up the dance legs.

Canal Residential Marathon Key, Florida Keys copyright rj lerich

Well, the above photo sold the other day as a license which, in stock photo industry terms, means it can be used for an item for resale and that often means on a book (you remember those paper things) cover or magazine cover or could even be on an album cover or poster. Nothing too special, just one of my composed scenes to capture a time and place, but what sells every day for me always amazes me.  This particular photo, which I hope to find on a Lonely Planet or Conde Naste or Travel and Leisure cover soon, was the back yard view from my brother’s place in one of the keys, Marathon Key,  a bit prior to the famed Seven Mile Bridge.

Florida Keys, backyard canal view, Marathon Key copyright rj lerich

Much of the keys’ residential areas seem to be made of man made canals with docks and the homes are quite similar in max of 2 story architecture which smacks of 50s architectural style.  Very nice actually and different from let’s say Cape Cod or The Hamptons or Greek/Dalmatian/Caribbean/Central American Islands, all of which, of course, I have spent much time in.  Unique. Different. Interesting with highway restaurants and strip shopping malls. Nice for a coupla’ days but, obvio, the world calls me and, although this is fine for me brother whose other house is on Canadian Border, the frigid Canadian border, I have the need to be out of country (USA for me, that is) and soaking up Colombian salsa music on the beaches of San Andres Island, and almost anyplace many gringo brothers have not heard of.

Typical Key West hotel architecture Florida copyright rj lerich

Wander through Hemingway’s house, take our pictures at the landmark buoy that says something to effect of “only 90 miles to Cuba”.  Feel the breezes of Jimmy Buffett’s soul strumming away at “Come Monday” or “Floridays” or “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and more.  Typico tourist sites can be fun for a day for me but the architecture is what always interests me and Key West architecture, like everywhere different in the world, is unique: lavender and pink buildings, front porches covered with bougainvillea, small plots of land bordered by fences around each individual house.  You get the picture.  And so did I.

rj lerich bedford, ny, usa march 4th, 2016

writing and photographs copyright rj lerich

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