Key West: Ghosts and Gravestones Tour

Posted on by Thor

At the end of Duval Street in Key West there is this Ghost and Gravestones Bus Tour that we all decided to take. Bartender Joe was our guide for the evening.

Though not on the bus, Robert the Doll was  another star of the tour. Robert is a creepy German made doll in a sailors suit who is on display in a museum. Robert is rumored to move things in the family home he resided in. If something was out of place, “Robert did it.”

We saw Robert on display in a pristine glass museum case. A flashlight was placed on top of the case to illuminate the doll. As the docent spoke the flashlight flickered and went out. Was this a paranormal occurrence or a faulty battery?

Of particular interest were the graves of babies that line Passover and Windsor streets. 167 babies are buried there. Many of the graves are over 100 years old with the families long gone. In the past couples would have many babies in the hope that some might survive and live into adulthood to help the family thrive. Many children died in their first year due to disease. A former Key West mom was returning to the island and wanted to visit her child’s grave. When she saw the sad run down state of the cemetery, she decided to restore not just her babies grave but all 167 the graves at the site.

We also stopped by the African Cemetery at Higgs Beach. Three illegal slave ships were intercepted in 1860 and diverted to Key West. Residents worked to feed and shelter the 1500 Africans. Despite the efforts hundreds died and were buried in a mass grave at Higgs Beach. Many of the bodies were moved when construction began on Fort Martello. There is paranormal activity reported in the area regularly.

Key West: The Strand

Posted on by Thor

My friend wanted to entertain her niece so we took a trip down to Key West. Ironically I spent much of the time teaching virtual classes from the Air B&B we rented while they explored the island. I have been to key West before so I know many of the typical sites. I did get out in the evenings and they wanted to hit up a posh restaurant on Duval Street which thankfully had outdoor seating.

The main drag of shops were constantly crowded. It was like navigating busy Manhattan sidewalks. My friend and her niece have both had COVID and they are over it. They dropped all basic mitigations. At first I tried regulating my breathing but then I put on my N-95 mask and forgot about it. I might be the only person on the island in a mask, but that is fine with me.

The Strand Theater is gorgeous, but unfortunately it has been turned into a Walgreens. Entertainment venues might come and go, but people always need drugs.

Next to the Strand is a bar with tons of dollar bills hanging from the ceiling. Stickers covered every other surface. I didn’t try and sketch all that detail.

We ate at La Tratoria, a posh Italian Restaurant. They have flavored martinis, zuppa, antipasti, insalate, and of course lotsa pasta.

After diner, we walked to the west site of the island to watch the sunset with the rest of the crowd. Once the sun set, a bell was rung.