Then we land in Key West for the main event: the legendary Conch Republic Independence Celebration — Key West’s annual tongue-in-cheek party honouring its “secession” from the U.S.
Expect the kind of only-in-Key-West energy that may include parades, costumes, bar crawls, conch-shell patriotism, a “drag” race, waterfront chaos, and the famous mock sea battle — a delightfully unhinged display involving boats in the harbour, water cannons, stale Cuban bread ammunition, and a whole lot of highly committed fake rebellion.
It is weird, loud, salty, unserious, and absolutely a pics-or-it-didn’t-happen kind of moment.