Key West Lou / KEY WEST UPDATE

The Ukraine war has taken over the news. Everything else forgotten. Even here.

I feel guilty.

Today, a Key West update.

Rallies world wide. Huge. Impressive.

Key West had a rally thursday night in front of City Hall. Impressive also. About 200 people.

The group consisted of locals and people who left the Ukraine and settled in Key West.

Many flags flown at the rally evidencing support for the Ukraine: The Ukraine, U.S., Florida, and Gay Pride among those being flown.

The Ukrainian flag was blue and yellow. It has been given a permanent place of honor in front of City Hall. It henceforth will fly there together with flags already flown.

I mention again the rallies worldwide. Never have I seen such a gigantic reaction to anything.

The Russian rallies out of sight. I keep hoping the Russian people will revolt, rush into the Kremlin and drag Putin out to the nearest pole to be hung.

Putin must have a comic strain in his body. He stated this week he wants the world to protest in support of Russia. No question. The man is demented.

I was out and about thursday. The most I have been in almost 3 years. A haircut, manicure and lunch at Hogfish.

I had not been to Hogfish in three years. It was like old home week.

The place is larger. Bobby has added at least 50 more tables with a minimal amount of actual enlargement.

The place was packed. Primarily tourists.

The food the best it has ever been. I have always loved Hogfish’s lobster bisque. To die for! A thick soup filled with a ton of little pieces of lobster.

A meal in itself.

I should have stopped with the lobster bisque. My eyes were bigger than my stomach, however. Ordered also hogfish fish and chips. The hogfish outstanding. Huge deep fried pieces.

My waitress said, “Hi, Louis! Where you been?” Nice to be remembered.

Recall Camille’s? Thirty years ago when I first came to Key West, Camille’s was a small restaurant on Duval next to Aqua. Breakfast and lunch. Always packed. Customers sat close to each other like sardines in a can.

A good 15 years ago it moved to a much larger building on Simonton. Same menu. However added a few items for its new dinner offerings.

Now closed. I assume Camille’s a victim of COVID as many other Key West businesses.

One thing tourists are quick to order is Key Lime Pie. Key West has always been known as the home of Key Lime pie.

This past week the City Commission voted Key Lime pie the official dessert of the City of Key West.

I always thought it was.

Harry Truman loved Key West and Key West loves Harry Truman. The President spent 175 days here covering 11 trips. Even after leaving the Presidency, he visited.

On this day in 1948, Truman left on a flight to Washington after a 10 day visit: “I’ll be back here if I can make it.”

Bum Farto back in the news. On a day this past week in 1976, he disappeared. His disappearance gave rise to a new item in the T shirt business. Tens of thousands of T shirts labeled: Bum Farto Where Are You? have been sold over the years.

It’s nice to have written a Key West blog again!

Enjoy your day!

Key West Lou / THE CARNAGE CONTINUES

What Putin is doing to the Ukraine is pure unadulterated carnage. Brutality at its worst.

The free nations must come up with a solution. Soon!

Putin has difficulty keeping his word about anything and everything. The most recent “human corridors” so Ukrainians wishing to leave can move on to a county where there is no war.

Yesterday, Putin agreed to two corridors. Roadways in effect from one city to the borders of other countries. In this instance, Poland. Each corridor had a several hour life. Neither could even make it through the first hour.

The Russians bombarded the corridors, effectively closing them. No notice to those trying to leave. Those moving on to Poland primarily women and children.

This morning, another corridor was agreed to. Certain conditions imposed by Putin and agreed to by the Ukraines did not last one hour either. Putin claiming the “rules” were not being followed.

Yesterday, a humanitarian group attempting to aid Ukraines advised 500,000 Ukraines were without food. Primarily women and children. Starving.

I have not in my lifetime seen a group of people as brave as Ukranians. Yesterday, an unarmed group were walking in mass down a city street. Confronting them were armed Russian soldiers.

The soldiers told them to stop and disperse. They continued on. The soldiers shot into the crowd. The Ukrainians continued. Not one turned and ran.

Initially Putin was attacking Ukrainian military. His attention has been redirected. He is now attacking communities. Bombarding them hopefully into submission. He assumes this will cause them to give up their noble fight.

The man has no mercy. In death, he will sit at the right hand of Hitler.

Movie star Sean Penn was in the Ukraine for a few days this week shooting a documentary.

It was time to leave. He and his group rented a car to drive to the Polish border. He describes the event as a “startling experience.” He said afterwards, “Our soul as America is lost” if we let Ukraine fight alone.

There were miles to travel. Cars and people inching forward. Finally the car line was not moving because of so many people.

Penn and his team abandoned their car on the side of the road and walked miles shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians to the Polish border. The walk was many miles and took hours.

Those on foot were primarily women and children. He observed they had no luggage. Appeared as if they intended to return. Actually there probably was no luggage because the Ukrainians had to move swiftly to save their lives.

Penn made it. He was in the U.S. yesterday.

I suspect Penn will be an advocate for the Ukraine big time from this point forward.

A growing number of Americans are in the process of going to the Ukraine to help in the fight. Presently 16,000 strong and growing.

None have to go. They want to go. Must go.

Reminds me of the Americans before the U.S. entry into World War I who joined the forces of the British and French. And the Americans who joined British forces to fight Hitler before the U.S. got into World War II.

Great Britain forgets the assistance the U.S. provided in the early days of World War II. At a time before the U.S.’ entry into the war.

In addition to Americans joining British forces, there was lend lease.

Boris Johnson fails to recall how people help one another.

When sanctions by the U.S. and certain countries were announced, he came on like Donald Trump with a bravado indicating Britain was going to do its share big time. Turned out the sanctions Britain intended to impose were a step short of nothing.

Now comes who is going to take Ukrainians into their countries. Those escaping Putin’s tyranny. Johnson announced insignificant numbers would be permitted. Based on already existing laws re Ukrainian immigration.

These are unusual times. Existing rules get thrown out the window. Open hearts and generosity become the order of the day.

Discrimination is popping up everywhere. Many seeking to leave the Ukraine are persons of color. Primarily Africans studying in the Ukraine.

They are being harassed on the buses transporting people to the Polish border. They are required to stand and not sit. The seats are for Ukrainian citizens.

When the Polish border is reached, Polish authorities are giving them a hard time as they seek asylum. Paperwork, etc.

A lot of major corporations world wide are socking it to Putin. I do not see how the Russian people can handle the deprivations and hurt such will bring upon them.

The ruble is shot. Worth next to nothing.

Now Visa and Mastercard have announced they are suspending services going in and out of Russia. Imagine, the ruble is no good and now your credit card is no good. Panic has to follow.

Sufficient to bring Putin down?

Enjoy your Sunday!

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