Souvenirs?

I've been to Florida so many times that the cheesy souvenirs don't even register with me when I'm walking through shops. But I will admit that it's always cool to see mounds of shells, starfish, and coral at the shell shops, and every once in a while I'll stumble across some crazy t-shirt, magnet, or shot glass that I haven't seen before. Mallory Square and Duval Street have their share of kiosks and shops, of course, and since I was looking for post cards, I thought, what the hell.

Ocean-salvaged Coke bottles

Coral

Off Duval Street

As 5th Avenue South is to Naples, so Duval Street is to Key West. Because I spent the afternoon snorkeling, I barely made it to Key West in time to watch the sunset. I drove through some persistent road construction, behind rented golf carts, and parked farther away from Mallory Square than I thought I was. So, I had skip the plan to cruise Duval Street before the show. I did, however, manage to see some interesting sites on my way to the Square, none of which I would have seen without my inadvertent hike.

Destination wedding, anyone?

Coconuts on the go

Somewhere just off Mallory Square

Near the Old Town Parking Lot

A mosaic depicting Key West motifs: Sea Turtle, 6-toed cat, and gypsy chickens. 

This is one weird place indeed.

The Southernmost Sunset in the United States

Ships with sunset cruisers off the coast of Key West, as seen from Mallory Square. The schooner Western Union, Key West's flagship, sits left of the sun.

To the point: The sunset in Key West, the United State's southernmost viewing site, is indeed beautiful. You will, however, have to withstand crowds of people mindlessly stepping in front of one another to take photos and sunset cruise boats thoughtlessly sailing right in front of the sun during the last moments of the sunset. But if you are lucky, polite folks will take turns with the photo ops and boats will part just long enough for you to snap a spectacular photo that is more unique than just the sun, the sky, and the ocean. 

Tourists and locals alike start securing their spots for the sunset show

Many western-facing tourist destinations have developed their own sunset rituals and traditions, even if they are as simple as hosting a mass gathering of diverse travelers who line up with bated breath to witness the sun set in this particular place. In Key West the sunset is the main event, observed in silence and followed by cheering applause, and it is preceded and followed by the spectacle that is Mallory Square. The Mallory Square Sunset Celebration is a daily gathering of local food vendors, souvenir vendors, caricature artists, psychics, musicians and street performers all vying for attention and pocket change from the sunset spectators. And a pig. It wouldn't be a street festival without a pig.

A brave audience member hands the juggling machetes to the performer. In the background, Snorkel the Pig looks on.

I love watching street performers because, to me, they're still a pleasant surprise every time I encounter one. It amazes me that these performers come out every day to do their 15-20 minute or so act several times a day with enthusiasm and good spirits. And that they make a living doing it. My PSA for this post: Tip your street performers, and tip them well. Street performance is becoming harder to find, and while I do appreciate the musicians you can find regularly on sidewalks of most cities, I am particularly grateful for the jugglers, escape artists, magicians, and pig trainers who bring their exciting and often unique talents to the streets.