Unexpected Key West Inspiration
Purposeful learning on vacation is one of my favorite things to do! Travel in of itself is an awesome teacher because of the new and different experiences that you encounter, but choosing to seek out activities that are geared towards learning creates an opportunity for meaningful growth. With that, I’m sharing my most recent visit to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum from my one-day stop in Key West, FL.
It goes without saying that the people who make history were EXTRAordinary. Naturally, what they are known for is either good, bad, or a bit of both. However, their display and level of relentlessly living their own life makes them stand out from the rest and Ernest Hemmingway is among them.
In full disclosure, I didn’t know anything about Key West or this museum prior to stepping aboard our cruise ship back in October. My husband and I were just happy to celebrate a good friend’s milestone birthday on her extraordinarily planned week-long cruise to Key West and the Bahamas. However, since I maintain an open mind I always know that there will be something EXTRAordinary to do or see wherever I visit and I wait in anticipation for it to be revealed. Travel tip: If you don’t book excursions in advance, watch the local travel channel on the TV in your room/cabin because they usually provide great information on what to do at your destination. This is how I learned of the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. The minute we learned about the museum tour, I knew that spending the few hours we had in Key West learning more about an American author was going to be our primary focus while on land.
Key West is a quaint city on the water with a very historic vibe. Hubby and I bought tickets to both the trolley tour and a visit to the E. Hemmingway home from a booth near the dock. The tour itself was extremely informative and because I’m NOT a history buff, I was enlightened the entire time. I am however, a certified English teacher with a deep appreciation for literature, so the excitement leading up to our stop on the trolley was brewing as we drew nearer. The house turned museum is in impeccable shape with its antique finishes and Spanish Colonial charm.
Immediately, the staircase, chandeliers, and furniture had me reaching for my camera. I’ve always found preserved old homes that maintain their original architecture and decor to be extremely captivating. So much so, that I think my soul is a culmination of royalty and extreme wealth from many past time periods. Hey, you never know!
Everything from the light fixtures to the furniture and finishes communicates that Mr. Hemmingway was wealthy and lived a charmed life. However, a charmed life doesn’t come without problems, vices, and heartache. During the tour, I learned more about his struggles with alcoholism and mental health issues. As our tour guide rattled off facts and details, my mind began to visualize his life during that time and with every turn he became more intriguing to me. I began to become inspired by his ability to create literature through extreme struggles and the kind of life you seem to only learn about after its been lived. Learning that he had four wives who were extraordinary in their own right highlights his quest for internal fulfillment that he was never able to actualize for himself. Nonetheless, his talent could not be stifled and through both the tumultuous and pleasant times he created art in the form of writing that is a part of American History and culture.
The absolute weirdest part of the tour were the cats! According to the tour guide there are over 50 cats living at the home and many of them are polydactyl (six-toed). No, I didn’t see half that number of cats there, but the ones I did see really freaked me out. It was however impressive to learn that they care for and treat the cats, who share a common genetic make-up, with dignity and name them after famous people or characters from books and film. I did enjoy meeting Daisy the cat named after the character in The Great Gatsby and my husband’s favorite, Billie Holliday.
Knowing that Hemmingway lived much of his life in Cuba and started his early career living and writing in Paris really cemented that life experiences are the true power for influencing a level of creativity that is lasting. Hemingway died from a self inflicted gunshot wound and lived a life of both talent and turmoil proving to be two sides of the same Coin.
“It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end. ”
