Comments on: Dreaming of Paradise?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:44:30 +0000

I’d live in Key West as it was when I first visited, and I sound like an old coot, but it doesn’t seem that long ago. There was still a Cuban restaurant on Duvall, Cafe Exile was there, and tea dances were advertised more towards the south end. Is the Environmental Circus still there? Fastbuck Freddies? Had a friend visit recently and she had my emerald ring refurbished at the shop on Duvall; she said she wouldn’t return there, nothing appealing except for Louie’s Backyard.

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:03:55 +0000

Living in my dream place on the Olympic Peninsula in the Great Northwest state of Washington BUT I always thought it would be cool to drive that long highway on the water and have little umbrella drinks on the white sandy beaches. Then go out for dinner and drinks at this little place I’ve read so much about Happy New Year RG ! xoxox

By: Spaz

Spaz — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:38:34 +0000

I live in lakeland, a cozy medium town smack-dab in the middle of Tampa and Orlando. Been here for over 15 years and I love it. I enjoy the FL weather without the touristy stuff in town but I can venture to Disney World, Daytona or even Key West on a whim if I’m in the mood.

By: Kim Ayres

Kim Ayres — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:21:13 +0000

Never been to Key West, so have no idea. However, I love sunshine and warmth, but loathe tourist traps

By: Kutz

Kutz — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:04:10 +0000

I once stumbled across a line, I believe by Ralph Ellison, that always got me:

Unfortunately, it was Paradise.

There’s just so many ways to interpret it- with melancholia, as in Yeah, in paradise, and yet in paradise lies so many potential caveats- yes indeed, unfortunately, it was Paradise. Or, for me, who got stuck in a queen-bi-t-ch of a city, Paris, I’d go more tongue in cheek; Yes… Unfortunately, it was Paradise. Or the Paradise I was meant for, for the time being, maybe because in living ‘in paradise’ we are forced into questioning it’s very physical existence, the concept as a whole, as well as (and the most important, I believe) what exactly one does in, with, and about “Paradise.”

By: TTFK

TTFK — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:05:45 +0000

The entire line of thought can be summed up in one line:

People want to be “There” because it is not “Here”.

By: Pepe

Pepe — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:59:15 +0000

We like Islamorada, but Key West has gone too far from what it was. I won’t ever be back.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:23:11 +0000

Hi RG,
I lived in Pensacola for years before moving to Singapore and the idea of moving somewhere else with this much humidity does not seem like a move to Paradise–I think somewhere more temperate would be cooler.

By: DodgerGirl

DodgerGirl — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:41:16 +0000

I’d love to move back home to California one day (grew up in Los Angeles), but while hubby’s job is in DC, that’s where we’ll be.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:18:42 +0000

As a visitor from England, I stayed in the keys for a week. I visited Key West but was so disappointed with its commercialism that I didn’t even stop the car. I drove round it and headed back up the highway.

I stayed at Conch Key but my favourite was Marathon Key. My second week in Florida was spent touring the mainland part of the state. I like Florida but I LOVE California. Europe is prettey good too but cold right now….