Today marks our final day on the island. While a part of me wishes we could stay a bit longer, the thought of heading back to Nashville is also quite appealing. Our plan? To hit the aquarium in Key West before wandering around Mallory Square. Despite some lingering muscle aches, we’re determined to make the most of our last day in the Keys.
The aquarium here is smaller than the one in Marathon, but it’s still home to some remarkable sea turtles. Take Lola, for example, a turtle who’s had her share of adventures. She lost a flipper due to a predator attack and, after being released back into the wild, returned with her other flipper tangled in a fishing line. Now, she swims gracefully with a prosthetic flipper, a true survivor’s tale.
Then there’s Rocky, a green sea turtle with a quirky addition to his shell—a device that helps him float, mistaken by some (myself included) for a stuck brick! After a boat accident damaged his shell and flipper, living in the wild became impossible, so he now calls this aquarium home.
Hector, the hawksbill sea turtle, also caught our eye with his stunning shell. Luckily, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 prevented him from becoming a decorative item.
Visiting this aquarium brought back memories of my childhood in Japan, where we, too, protected sea turtles known as “Ao Umigame.” I grew up learning about their plight and the importance of conservation, a lesson that clearly resonates here as well.
Lunch was at Sloppy Joe’s Restaurant, a place steeped in local lore and famously linked to Hemingway. The atmosphere was buzzing with live music from Kaira Jayden, a 16-year-old ukulele virtuoso whose talent was nothing short of inspiring. It’s moments like these that make travel so enriching.
Afterward, we strolled through Mallory Square, eventually finding a shaded spot near where a majestic cruise ship was docked. The cool breeze and diverse crowd made it a perfect place to reflect on our visit.
As the clock neared two, it was time to leave the Keys. We drove towards the airport, planning to stop at a few beaches along the way and hoping to grab a meal at Ms. Mac’s Kitchen, where our journey began.
The beaches were breathtaking, with strong winds that almost threatened to send my phone flying—a small price to pay for such stunning scenery. We lingered longer than planned, soaking in as much as we could.
By the time we reached our inn near the airport, it was past 8 p.m. We still needed to shower and pack for our early morning flight, and the day ended in a flurry of activity.
I didn’t manage to read much tonight, but with the day’s adventures behind me, I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep, filled with dreams of returning to this enchanting place.