when it rains, it pours

Yesterday we got caught in a HUGE random rainstorm. We had just bought some groceries when raindrops a little smaller than golf balls came pelting down. We started to head home in the pouring rain. Keep in mind we are on our little scooters, toilet paper between our feet, making our way home. I am so grateful for windshield wipers on cars! I had to make do with my sunglasses as we half blindedly scootered on one of the most busy roads in Key West, entertaining all of the cars that passed us. As soon as we made it to the apartment the rain conveniently stopped haha. We were SOAKED!



When it came time for us to go to work, we wanted to be prepared. We put on sweatshirts and got out the ponchos. We lauged so hard driving to work. Turns out the ponchos are not very aerodynamic so they would get filled with air and puff up. As we got closer into town we started to feel the hot bright sunshine and pass many people wearing bathing suits. Of course the weather turned out to be sunny and bright. Even though the ponchos did us no good, we had a hilarious time riding to work in them.

Some random girls on the pier...bathing suits and ponchos haha

In Memory of...

Happy Memorial Day! Every year I typically go with my family to the graves....but since I am about 2,000 miles away from home, that creates a problem. I have passed the Key West cemetary a couple times and thought it would only be appropriate to visit it for Memorial Day. Me and Jenessa picked some flowers on the way to put on some of the graves. It was so crazy how old and random the graves were! Some were stacked on top of each other or falling apart. You would see a recent 2010 next to a 1847 grave!

So this grave was somehow in the tree??? It was so "nutso" as Jenessa would say.

Zachary Taylor Beach

Tuesday was our first day at work. I pretty much get lost everyday here even though Key West is only about a 2x4 mile island. Pretty much all of the roads names and directions have no rhyme or reason.  The road's names are starting to become familiar but my sense of direction to North, East, South, and West is absent. I am now very GRATEFUL for the grid system in Utah.

My roomate Jenessa has a friend named Zachary Taylor so when she found out there was a Zachary Taylor Beach, we had to of course go. The beach is on the very western tip of the keys and has really cool landscape. It is crazy how it goes from what looks like a campground in Utah to a sandy beach. 

We decided to pack up the snorkel gear and check out the cool fish in the ocean.

After work we went to Amigo's right off of Duval Street :) Joanna, Jenessa , me, and Erika

Key West...Key Lime Everything

Today we decided to visit the Southernmost Point and explore the island.  We went to our stores, Del Sol and Cariloha, and to many more.



This is one of the main tourist sites here in Key West. It is about 90 miles north of Cuba.





Even though the island is really small, we are still a little confused on directions...luckily right after bringing up the fact of needing a compass we found this giant compass! Hooray!



I have a feeling that this is just the beginning of the many diverse people here on the island. 

Here in Key West, Key Lime anything is pretty infamous. We went to Kermit's-the best place to get key lime, and got the favorite key lime on a stick. This delicious treat is a key lime pie dipped in chocolate. yum :). The store also had key lime taffy, key lime cookies, key lime jelly beans, key lime fudge, key lime salsa, and many more!







Scooter Sunday

Today me, Janessa, and Joanna went to church. It's a branch down here in Key West with about 80 members. The branch has a great group of people who were very welcoming. They call us the "Del Sol Girls" because of all the interns that come and go. After church we went and got what would be transporting us for the summer...SCOOTERS! These bad boys can go up to 50 mph and will be perfect for our Key West cruising. We don't like look like tourists do we? haha

Our scooters :)



The Waters Family... Daniel and Rachelle and their adorable kids Mikayla and Conner. This is a family we met from our branch. They were so nice to have us over for Sunday Dinner. Daniel works for the air force and their family lives at the military base here in Key West.

After dinner we went to a private area on the base to watch the sunset. We then went back to their house to play an intense game of Phase 10- we played for 3 and a half hours..... Daniel had some  great impersonations of The Office characters, Smegul, and many more... we had a great time and many laughs. It was a great first full day at Key West. 

Welcome to Key West

This summer I am working for Del Sol/Cariloha as an intern in sunny Key West, Florida. We arrived to the 2x4 mile island on Saturday and were welcomed by 85 degree weather!

Waiting at the airport with the interns that went to St. Thomas

At the Atlanta airport for our 3 hour layover

Finally in Key West!

Key West Bucket List

-Sailing

-Karaoke

-Paddle Board

-Yoga on the beach

-Run AROUND the island

-Snorkel

-Get tanner than tan

-Zachary Taylor National Park

-Scoot everywhere. Literally everywhere.

-Skinny dip in the ocean

-First Saturday branch temple trip

-Key Lime Pie on a stick dipped in chocolate. Kermits.

-Kayak (rent at Lazy Dogs)

-Fish

-Glass bottom boats

-Conch Fritter

-City View Trolley Tour (ask for John)

-Southern most point

-Ernest Hemingway house

-Boat trip with Bro. Knowles

-Hang out with Lou

-Get passed being ID'ed

-Run on the beach

-Botanical garden on Stock Island

-Sunset Celebration on Malory Square

-Mattheesson's Ice Cream on White street. (share a sundae)

-Eat at Sloppy Joes

-Get an everything hot dog at the Butterfly Place

-Waffle House

-Miami

-Sandbar

-Adventure Day

-View from top of the La Conch hotel. One time during day. One time at sunset. One time at night.

-Sand volleyball

-Tandem bike

-Sleepover on the deck

-Nap in a hammock

-Camp on the base