When I think of Key West I think of tin roofs. I think of pink and green pastels dotting white sandy beaches. I see palm trees and blue water. I think of restaurants with white-washed wood paneling and creaky floors. Big fish that once majestically patrolled local waters are now preserved indefinitely on the wall or over the front door. The food will be fresh and hearty and have no hint of pretentiousness. Cornbread and conch mix harmoniously while shrimp and coconut fill taste buds with sweet sea perfection. One corner of the room will have a loud party gathered laughing, eating and imbibing, while in another corner young lovers see no one but each other. Drawing in a deep breath, I smell the ocean. That’s what I think of when I think of Key West.
A little Google mapping tells me that Palm Harbor is 435 miles (or 7 hrs, 43 minutes) from this paradise but I think we can feel a lot closer by dropping by The Thirsty Marlin in Palm Harbor.
This article appears in Feb 4-10, 2009.