We've seen our share of authors' sites, homes, flats, studios, bars, and restos, etc., including, not least, Hemingway's Idaho home (thanks, Rick and the Idaho Humanities Council). For us, the Hemingway house was one of Key West's major attractions. The house was built in the mid-19th century and is associated mostly with Pauline, the second wife, who stole him from her friend, Hadley, the Paris wife. More on this anon. Hemingway lived in Key West with Pauline roughly 1931-1939, with time off for business in Spain, Africa, and with the third wife-to-be. It's not complicated, really: he was a jerk. Be that as it may, our tour of the house was one of our best authorial visits, not least because of so much original contents, memorabilia, furnishings and the rest. Great vintage Old Florida. We walked around, initially, then got on the hourly guided tour, then walked around a bit more. Apologies for the disorganized nature of this and the following post. You'll figure it out.
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| Thanks, Wikipedia |
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| Guard station |
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Beautifully landscaped, more Rhapis palms than anywhere
I've been, except Disney; and SE Asia |
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| Of the origin of the polydactyl (six-toed) cats |
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| Among the cat houses |
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| There are some 60 "Hemingway cats" on the premises |
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When Pauline (#2) heard of Papa's affair with soon-to-be #3,
Martha Gellhorn, she had Hemingway's boxing ring torn
down and replaced by what is still the largest private pool
in the Keys; not huge Ming Aralias |
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| Pretty productive eight years |
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| Cat Sematary |
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Among the many displays in the house, this on Hemingway's fishing
boat, the Pilar (his nickname for Pauline; also a major character in
For Whom the Bell Tolls) |
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| View of the house from the lighthouse |
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| Official glam shot; after his ears were amputated |
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| No bare walls in this house/museum |
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| Main bedroom; note polydactyl cat guarding bed |
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| Running of the bulls display |
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| Among the many beautifully-carved older pieces |
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