Key West Cha Cha Cha

On the back of this old snapshot I found the following: “The trailer camper’s pleasure islands. The Florida Keys, where you can park without charge on a sandy beach, and fish or loaf (sic) to your heart’s content.” From the Stetson Kennedy collection, photographer unknown. C 1940. I am sorry to report that there is little of anything in the Florida Keys that is free anymore. And that is especially true in Key West where parking is scarce and very expensive.

I took the above photo on Sunday morning. It shows the house at 904 Flagler Avenue in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. This home  is being renovated from a 1950s blah house into a 2014 Bauhaus or something like it. I intentionally drove to the house to check on the progress of this house which I previously lamented was just a box. Now I'm not so sure. The place is getting decidedly interesting.There are no windows nor anything particularly inviting about the place except the two palms that are dancing the Cha Cha Cha in front. 

It was the Airstream trailer parked in front that made me get out of my car to start taking pictures. The lines of this trailer are so different and unexpected that I had to walk around the thing. As I snapped away it dawned on me that the trailer must belong to the people who are building this new home. I mean a traditionalist would by an old school Airstream - right?  In my view a forward thinking type of person would buy a trailer so different. And that type of person would probably be the kind of owner to create a home so different different from all others. The house at 904 Flagler Avenue is certainly becoming that.

Old Town Key West is known the world over for its great old houses and their timeless architecture. The Casa Marina Area is a vibrant alternative where several new houses are being built and some older homes are being renovated. Keep reading my blog. You never know what might pop up for sale in Key West.

I did a Google search and learned Nissan Design America "in collaboration with specialist trailer manufacturer Airstream and called the BaseCamp. The Airstream BaseCamp is a micro-light tent-trailer hybrid that blends the convenience of RV travel with the versatility of car camping. The BaseCamp is the first of its kind offering a whole new level of versatility, durability and comfort for the adventurer." CLICK HERE to read more.