Day of History: Obama & Hemingway...from K

P & I started the day by dingying into Paradise Cafe to watch the inauguration of Obama. We had the cafe to ourselves and basked in watching the grand proceedings on our private widescreen TV. We decided that Michelle looked quite regal in her gold apparel and Barack was cautiously optimistic in his speech. I was disappointed with Rick Warren's prayer - far too Christian, and failing to embrace the universality of our nation or our intentions. Do Jews, Hindus or Muslim pray "The Lord's Prayer"? As we ate our Cuban breakfast, the restaurant filled up and we were joined by our Va. sailing friends, Dave & Gayle. It felt very American celebrating this day in Key West - we are the visitors in this town, yet many of the "belongers" we've met are from Cuba, England and the midwest. What a unique country we are.

Our afternoon was spent at Hemingway's 1920's home: a palatial house with gorgeous tropical gardens and a huge swimming pool - which apparently cost him his second marriage. Most memorable are the 45+ six-toed cats meandering around that have no interest in the hoards of visitors. If you want to see the cats at play, the house has a live-cam outside the carriage house (Ernie's writing studio): http://www.hemingwayhome.com/ Behind the studio is a cat cemetary, the home to Marilyn Monroe, Zsa Zsa Gabor, etc.

This is 'Archibald MacLeish' taking his afternoon nap. Even our guide looked like the rakish Hemingway with his white beard, piercing eyes

and safari hat.

Here we are with Gayle & Dave, fellow sailors from VA -

Ernie's 2nd wife put in this pool (and took out his boxing ring) when she found out he was canoodling with the soon-to-be wife #3. Ernie wasn't happy...

A portrait of E's writing studio - in his writing studio

P standing next to the urinal that Hemingway took from Sloppy Joe's Bar and placed in his backyard for decoration. How convenient.