AuthorVictoria

Key West Lighthouse

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Who doesn’t love playing tourist … it’s really easy when you live in one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Florida. The Key West Lighthouse is something that I have driven past for years but I never made the trek up to the top. This is where my fear of heights comes in … it’s taller than you think it is and man those steps are small and the spiral part doesn’t help. I did make it to the top … with my heart pounding, legs shaking and Scott laughing at me! He thought this whole thing was hilarious.

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“The current lighthouse opened in 1848 with a woman as its Keeper; nearly unheard of during the 19th century.  In the years following, the Key West Lighthouse underwent a number of upgrades including the installation of a Third Order Fresnel Lens, an extension to the tower which allowed the light to be seen from a greater distance, the addition of Keeper’s Quarters, and finally the electrification of the light.

In 1969, the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse since there was no longer a need for a full-time Keeper due to technological advancements.  Today, this sentinel of the sea stands as a museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage and to the men and women who bravely kept the light burning through the threats of war and weather.

Today, visitors can walk up the 88 steps to the top of the light as well as explore the belongings, photographs, and words of the lighthouse Keepers and their families who lived a now obsolete, yet never forgotten, way of life.”

– See more at: http://www.kwahs.org

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Here are also some of the photos that I took and edited in Photoshop. They came out a little abstract.

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Night Photography

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Last night I was sitting at Smathers Beach here in Key West waiting for the green sea turtle nest to hatch. I decided to play around with my camera and ended up with some pretty good photos.

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Now I can’t wait to practice again tonight! Maybe even get a photo of a baby turtle!

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The Key West Winery

The Key West Winery is a great place to stop into while you are visiting my small little island. They have 36 types of wine to date and I’m sure they will always be adding more to their collection. The wine is made from 100% fruit and from what I have tasted are delicious. The Shook family has been making wine for over 20 years from fruits and vegetables found in Florida. Best of all … did you know they ship? You don’t even have to worry about getting your wine home. I think I know what I am getting my Mom for Christmas this year.

06 Key West Winery Florida Wine Wines FL Keys TORsAdventuresTheir story:

Armed with determination and a dream reminiscent of many Florida pioneers, the Shook family started development of our unique wines in 1991. Realizing the importance of striving for exceptional quality, our Florida winery opened its doors in September of 1997 – only after the secrets of making exceptional wine from fruit other than grapes had been discovered. Producing Florida’s only ultra-premium tropical, citrus and berry wines, this FL wine distributor and authentic Florida Farm Winery is proud to say that our tropical, berry and citrus wines are the only Florida wines allowed to display the Florida Department of Citrus’ official mark of superior quality – the Florida Sunshine Tree. They are also the only Florida wine ever allowed at Disney’s Epcot International Food and Wine Festival held each year beginning in October.

05 Wine Bottle Net Key West Winery Florida Wine Wines FL Keys TORsAdventuresThey are licensed as wine manufacturers, wine distributors, and as retailers of unique, culturally significant Florida fine wine and premium wine products. We currently produce 43 different varieties of wine. All of our premium specialty tropical, berry and citrus wines are made 100% from the juice indicated on the label. These are not fusion or blended grape wines, but 100% pure tropical fruit wines. It can take upwards of nine pounds of fruit to give us enough juice for just one bottle of our Mango Mamma, mango wine, Orange Sunshine wine, Grapefruit wine or Tangerine wine. Using a special process of fermentation, aging and bottling we produce Florida’s only true to the flavor wines. Each individual variety of our wine tastes like the juice that it is made from. So, if you like mangoes, you will love our mango wine! If you like red raspberries, you will love our Eleganta (red raspberry) wine. If you…well, you get the idea.

Check out their website here www.thekeywestwinery.com

03 Signs Key West Winery Florida Wine Wines FL Keys TORsAdventuresI also have to add something about the amazing decor. The shop was recently redone and the artist Jason Hulfish did a great job. He seemed to capture the spirit of Key West in the small store. Complete with a shark! Check his other designs out here. www.jfishart.com02 Shark Head Key West Winery Florida Wine Wines FL Keys TORsAdventures