Last reminder you are leaving the adults only Banana Bay Resort.
Alabama Jack's was my last stop in the Keys.
I made back to Miami and checked back into the Runway Inn.
Some of the many rums available.
2017/03/22 23:00 I spent my last day in the Keys today. I went to the History of Diving Museum, the Rain Barrel art colony, and Robbie's Marina. I had dinner at Alabama Jack's and then checked back into the Runway Inn in Miami. I fly out tomorrow morning headed to Chicago.
The gift shop at the FIeld Museum in Chicago is selling some Syracuse NY bar-b-que sauce. Dinosaur Bar-b-que.
The Field Museum has over 8,000 pieces in their Polynesian collection.
Hello Chicago!
My first stay at the Runway Inn I was in a room right off the lobby. For this return visit I was on the second floor. I asked where the elevator was and the clerk laughed. I dragged my bags up the stairs to my room.
I spent the last part of the evening at the Rum Barrel Bar and Grill. I had dinner at the bar. The bartender was very nice and she was very interested in my attendance at Rum Renaissance.
The Sunset Pier is where Duval Street meets the Gulf of Mexico.
Moai found out in the wild at the Rain Barrel.
At Robbie's Marina you can hand feed massive tarpon.
You can take a cruise at sunset and watch the sunset from the water.
A 21 year old Guyanese rum. EL Dorado 21. After this I headed back to my room. Slept like a little bitty baby.
2015/04/23 23:00 After I landed in Chicago and checked into the hotel I got an Uber and headed to the Field Museum.
The Rain Barrel is a roadside attraction where artists sell what they have made.
I was told that sometimes you can see gators or manatees. I didn't see either.
Out front of the Rain Barrel is a giant lobster that is designed to stop traffic. It worked in my case. I stopped to check it out.
I had a few caipirihnas at the bar. The traditional ones were awesome. I tried a fruit flavored variation. Best to stick with the traditional.
A comedic juggler. Claimed he was putting himself through college. Asked the crowd not to put his picture on Facebook or YouTube because he didn't want Mom and Dad to see it.
This latest iteration of my rants and rambles will be much like past versions. The key components will be unchanged. I still share too much information and I am still very weird. I am probably still boring.
The History of Diving Museum hosts the world’s largest collection of diving helmets, hand-operated air pumps, armored suits, lights and other accessory gear, plus memorabilia, prints, photographs, books, film and video.
Lobby of the Field Museum.
After my visit to the Field Museum I met my Chicago Ohana at Salpicon for a wonderful dinner. A big Mahalo for the hospitality shown. — Karen's brother John, his wife Lynn, and their son Mike.
Alabama Jack's is a waterfront bar. Not a beach bar but more like a swamp bar. The bar is built on a couple of barges.
They are massive tarpon.
Alabama Jack's is located on Card Sound Road. It is about the only thing on Card Sound Road.
2015/04/22 09:00 I was awakened very early this morning by a rooster crowing. It sounded like it was right next to my bed. It was right outside my bedroom window so he might as well have been right next to my bed. Awesome night last night. I did go to the Sunset Pier and then to dinner at the Rum Barrel.
The Rum Barrel has more than 150 rums available for purchase. The rums available are listed in the 'rum bible'.
Lots of different street performers. These guys looked like they were from Jamaica but they weren't playing Reggae. They were doing James Taylor covers. Too funny!
There were all kinds of street vendors offering all manner of food and drink. This guy had fresh coconut water.
The food was really good and the beers were ice cold.
And the Maori meeting house.
The rants, rambles, and ravings roll on and on.
2015/04/23 12:00 I got an enhanced pat down by the TSA in Miami. After I went through the scanner they pulled me out of line. Did you remove all items from your pockets as requested they asked. I said yes. Well, they said, our equipment detected something in your pants.
Checked in at the hotel in Chicago. I left Miami in shorts. 33 degrees here when we landed. Yikes!!
At the Rum Barrel with the rum bible. First up a Ron Botran Solera.
The Field Museum has an absolutely amazing Polynesian collection; PNG artifacts, slit drums from Vanuatu, all kinds of South Seas and Polynesian treasures. And a complete Maori meeting house.
2017/03/22 11:00 Checking out and leaving the Banana Bay Resort.
A diving helmet used for rum running during prohibition. Contraband was dropped by Canadians into the Detroit river and then divers using this gear located the whiskey underwater and it was recovered.
The view from Sunset Pier.
The bar at Sunset Pier had more than one sign for Imperial; the Costa Rican beer.