I see dead people

One of my little hikes around Key West was to explore the cemetary.  I'm not creepy, but old old cemeteries fascinate me, a lot of history can be told through the tombstones.

Key West Cemetary is one of the most fascinating I've been to, and that includes the ones I have visited in Europe.    I can't believe it's taken me 16 years to finally walk through it.

Even the description of its location is iconic Key West.  "Located in the dead center of Key West".  Really, I did not make that up.

It's like New Orleans, with the graves above the ground.  As you walk through you see the founding fathers of Key West, a couple of wreckers, a couple of pirates, a couple of Cuban revolutionaries, Joe 'Sloppy Joe' Russell and much, much more.

At the entrance you can pick up a map with the more notable graves listed and described.

I think the one area that grabbed me was the area dedicated to the soldiers that lost their lives in the USS Maine explosion in Havana -- and that would be the USS Maine from 1898.  I think there are a few remains buried there, but most are ceremonial markers.  On the pedestal describing the plat, many soldiers have put the medals of honor.  I saw medals from Iraq, Afghanistan, Viet Nam.  It amazed me that nobody has tried to steal them.

But however fascinating it is, be prepared to have some boo-creepies and try not to wet yourself when you find yourself looking at one of the resident 4 foot iguanas.

USS Maine memorial.
(and I just realized I was there during Veteran's day...duh!)

 

 

I'm not sure I want mini-Godzilla as my grave marker..

I wanted to spend more time, but I had since ran out of my water and Key West was delivering a A+ tropical day with high temps/high humidity/no wind.  And oh, this cemetary isn't a big rolling park either, it's very condensed and little to no shade.

After telling Tim about it, he wants to explore now.
But-and I quote-not on one of those stupid ghost tours.