"Funky Key West, redolent of the sea, spilled beer and night blooming jasmine, is one of the most eclectic places in the United States. While spending the winter of 1985 in the Conch Republic (nicknamed thus in 1982 when the mayor declared that the town was seceding from the Union), we met an interesting mix of salty old fishermen, drifting pleasure seekers and old Conch families. Between the quiet, backstreet, family-run Cuban restaurant where we had our cafe con leche each morning and the all night bars on Duval Street, we discovered that Key West had many faces. There is no place like this island at the end of the road where folks from every walk of life are welcomed as if they've come home."