Key West and Ernest Hemingway have a symbiotic relationship. Despite the fact that Hemingway, one of America’s greatest writers, died in 1961, the city of Key West cashes in on his legacy to keep the town hoppin’ and in turn Hemingway’s life lives on. The writer’s picture can be seen hanging in many of the local restaurants and bars and there is even an annual Ernest Hemingway lookalike contest.
Hemingway lived in Key West from 1931 to 1938 which turned out to be one of his most prolific periods. Tourists were so curious about his residence after his death that the home was turned into a museum.
The 160 year old home was built from quarried coral on the lot and still stands stands strong despite numerous hurricanes. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and enjoyed by it’s current residents, 44 cats descended from Hemingway’s cat, Snowball.
I didn’t think the Dudes would be to interested in touring an old house so I told them about the cats to boost their interest in the tour. It worked. The Hippygeek was interested in seeing the environment the master lived in (which extended to the bars in town where he gathered stories to fuel his writing) and I really wanted to see his writing studio.
left: The Dudes listen to the tour guide talk about Hemingway’s medals of honor.
Hemingway was given Snowball, a six toed cat, by a ships captain. Owner and pet appeared to both be men about town and soon there were more six toed cats on the premises.
above: Notice the 6th toe.
From the beginning of the tour to the very end, we saw cats. Cats on the kitchen counter, cats on the couch, cats on the bed, cats under the bushes etc. The Lil’ Dude thought it was the best tour, ever!
Meanwhile, the Big Dude (the fisherman) started noticing photographs on the wall of Hemingway with huge fish he caught from his boat, “Pilar.” He now started to show some interest in this guy, Hemingway.
left: A rest in the garden. right: An outdoor urinal turned into a “cat fountain”.
above: Notice one of the cat houses tucked into the garden.
When we got to his writing studio (complete with cat in the window), I lingered a little longer than most not just to take pictures but also to study his writing environment and try to imagine what it was like to write there.
above: Notice the cat in the window of the writing studio.
The last part of the tour was through the gardens and cat cemetery where Snowball’s descendants have been buried. There was a time when locals pushed to have the cats removed as they were a nuisance to the neighborhood. A fence was then built to keep the cats on the grounds and now everyone is happy, including the cats.
above: The Lil’ Dude stands in front of the cat enclosure below Hemingway’s writing studio.
above and below: Snowball’s descendants were named after famous people.
It was an interesting tour and history of a colorful character and turned out to hold interest for the whole family. Although, the Hippygeek was reserving his final opinion until after he could formulate a whole picture of the guy by visiting Capt. Tony’s Saloon and Sloppy Joe’s Bar, Hemingway’s favorite hangouts. The symbiosis continues.
above: Hemingway’s writing studio.
All my life I’ve looked at words as though I were seeing them for the first time.
Ernest Hemingway