Posted on 01/01/2009 6:33:52 AM PST by rodguy911
The Miami Herald is reporting the fire started at the Cheeca Lodge, "at 9:45 pm with more than 20 fire fighting units from Islamorada, Key Largo and Layton responding to the blaze in the Middle Keys that witness es said started in a tiki hut in front of the main buidling."
There are so many errors here I will stop quoting them and relate what I have leared so far.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
Not that I have heard so far,my wife was escorted out by firemen who came from as far as Dade County to assist. We have very good fire rescue people down here.
Islamorada=Purple isles.
There is some lore on the naming. Most reliable is that it the area is named after a ship that went down in the area of a similar name. Most frequently repeated is that is stands for “purple island” bastardized in spanish. Probably just a construct from spanish and indian. And probably not named correctly. In those days there was no GPS and the land from sea is very confusing and hard to pick out (unless you look at buildings). And it did not make sense for seaman to approach. There are very few deep channels and lots of sand flats. Off shore winds are rare and early explores hated to downwind towards land unless they had a good reason.
A common Fox News geography mistake is to call areas and/or cities of the Keys islands. They do this all the time in Marathon. You can be in Marathon but no ON Marathon. The main Island that upon which Marathon sits is Vaca Key. Major secondary island is Boot Key.
The relatively new City of Islamorada was actually an area of the Keys with three major Islands. The City of Islamorada includes the Island and area of Plantation Key.
Chef Dawn is no longer at Caiyo a sushi restaurant in front of Cheeca. But they are still operating.
And we all miss the original Ziggy. He was a trip no one would ever forget. When he came to your table, sat down beside you and gave you a 15-20 minute recitation of the menu that he had planned, helped cook and supervise you knew that you were in the world of Conch royalty. When he left and the Coral Grill closed down it was never the same.
We now have "Ziggy Maddogs" a creation of former Miami Dolphin football player now turned sports talk radio jock in Miami, Jim Mandich. He's a good enough guy and has done a fine job at the restaurant from what I hear.( I can't eat there, don't have that kind of budget yet)but its just not the same.
The Isla portion is island; I haven’t looked up the morada part.
“I see you go back a ways.”
1968.
Thank you all for your answers! The name is starting to make more sense!
I moved down here in 70’ from Miami where I lived since 46.
“Purple isles”
Yup!
morada
morada
feminine noun
1. dwelling
Copyright © 2006 Chambers Harrap Publishers Limited
morada [mo-rah’-dah]
noun
1. Habitation, abode, residence, mansion, lodging, home, continuance (casa). (f)
La eterna morada -> the great beyond
Última morada -> resting place
article
1. Violet, mulberry-colored.
Ojo morado -> black eye
Ponerse morado -> to do oneself well, to eat a lot
My girl was born out west but she grew up in Islamorada. She used to spend hours staring at the junk in the “boat” at the Conch. You could sit at the bar and get chowder, oysters, and beer for a few bucks. Great chow. Great. One night Allen fired up the old piano for her.
I really miss the old Keys. I saw a stat somewhere that had the Keys population 6% hispanic. That is crazy. When I left half the houses on my street were owned by Cubans.
We probably know each other in “real life.” LOL
Probalby so,FR mail for you.
Great shot, it’s gone now. At least the main building.
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