Back from Disney World

Sorry for MIA, but I was visiting one of my favorite places in the world -- Disney! I shot a ton of Tout videos at all of the parks. You can check the 15-second shorts here. I've included one from each park below for a quick glimpse.

Disney World Electrical Light Parade
Hollywood Studios
International Flower and Garden Show at EPCOT
Animal Kingdom

Bermuda: Sir David Gibbons home

The taxi driver we hired for a few hours took us to the home of Sir David Gibbons. Gibbons, a member of the Gibbons family of the department store fame, was a former premier. He opens his home Monday through Thursday. 

You can't see it well, but the pond contains a grassy relief in the shape of Bermuda. You can get out and walk around it. It's absolutely beautiful. Here's a view of the garden from above, which gives you a better picture. 

Bermuda: Colorful cottages

Bermuda is chock-full of colorful houses. The square pastel cottages with their white stepped roofs add a certain charm to the island. Besides rain, there is no fresh water supply so the limestone roofs are designed to catch rain water. The limestone purifies the rain as it drains into underground cisterns. Bermudians use this water to drink, cook and bathe.

Here are some photos of the beautiful quaint cottages that dot the hilly island.

Bermuda: Fort St. Catherine in the historic town of St. George

Fort St. Catherine is located on the northern tip of St. George's. 

On my recent trip to St. George's in Bermuda, I toured Fort St. Catherine. The fort is located at the northeast tip of Bermuda and overlooks the ocean. It was built on the spot where Sir George Somers and the original settlers wrecked in 1609.

Hubs and I enjoyed touring the fort, winding our way through its many tunnels and recesses and exploring its towers, redoubts and ramparts. I was amazed at the condition of the fort, which has changed little from the late Victorian Period. Visitors can tour the Powder Magazine, Keep, Cook House and Soldier's Room.  It contains an extensive 19th century gun collection and an incredible view from the roof. 

Here are some more photos of the fort:

This is a view of the fort from the ferry.

Travel journal slideshow of Key West

Here is a travel journal slideshow from my recent Key West visit. If you'd prefer to see this in a Storify, here's the link. Also, don't miss my Key West Pinterest board.

A visit to Hemingway's house

I just returned from a fabulous trip to Key West. I couldn't wait to share these photos of Hemingway's home with my fantastic writerly friends.

1. This is Hemingway's studio. He had it built on the second floor of the carriage house. Originally, there was a catwalk that ran from his studio, over the cookhouse to the veranda outside his bedroom. Hemingway could get up in the morning and walk right to his studio to work. In 1948, a storm destroyed the cookhouse and catwalk.
  

Notice the Royal typewriter (above) and Cuban cigar-maker's chair. The studio is filled with mementoes Hemingway collected. It was here where Hemingway worked on many of his classics, including "Green Hills of Africa," "To Have And Have Not," and "For Whom The Bell Tolls." He also penned some of his most-famous short stories, such as "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" and "The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber."

 

 2. The house (below) was built in 1851 by Asa Tift, a marine architect and salvage wrecker.  Hemingway moved into the home in 1931. The house contains the furniture that the Hemingways used.

3.  There are tons of cats around the home and grounds. They are descendants of the cats Hemingway  kept while he lived in the house, including many polydactyls, or extra-toed, like the one Hemingway loved.

 
The cat above lounges on a tiled area outside and the one below at the foot of Hemingway's bed.
 

 
I will post more about my trip to Key West in the coming days. Have you ever been to Key West? If so, what was your favorite thing to do or see?