conversations with cabbies

i recently went to key west with the bf for a few days and was thoroughly impressed by the cab drivers there.  every single cab ride we took (and there were quite a few since we didn't rent a car) came with a driver willing to chat about the weather, local hangouts, and general information about key west.  living in chicago and being used to cabbies who spend their time talking on their cell phones or pretending to know where they're going when they really don't, it was a refreshing change from the norm.  some interesting things we learned/discussed:

- hurricanes don't often actually hit the island due to the shallow ocean water that surrounds it
- big pine is the home of the key deer - a species of deer that only lives and breeds in this one area.  because key deer are endangered, if you hit one with your car (even, as our cabbie said, if it is trying to commit suicide) you get a hefty fine.  key deer love to eat flowers so big pine is the only area of the keys where you will find no flowers.
- one of the preferred modes of transport on key west is the scooter.  tourists come to key west, rent scooters and assume they can drive them properly.  on a given day, there are at least 5 scooter-related accidents that come through the emergency room at the local hospital that require the driver to be hospitalized.
- daddy bones is the best bbq in key west and happened to be located right next door to our hotel.  it came recommended by a cab driver and it did not disappoint.
- locals tend to avoid the crazy, tourist infested duval street but will make an exception to frequent the green parrot, a bar a block or so off the main drag.  the green parrot has live music and no cover but still attracts well-known bands.  we enjoyed the al castiglia band on the recommendation of a cab driver during our visit to the parrot.
- there are four naval bases on key west, one of which is a training facility where you may be shot on sight if you step foot on the property.  yikes.
- natives of key west are referred to as "conchs", being that key west is known as the conch republic.  we never met a single person who was actually from key west.
- even though key west technically has a policy of no boozing on the streets, as long as you take your drink in a plastic cup, no one is going to say anything or make you pour it out.  bars will give you plastic cups to pour your drink in if you want to take it to-go.  amazing.
- hit up happy hour.  tons of places do happy hour specials that are great deals on food and drinks.
- police seemed to be a rare sight, something we thought odd when we were on duval, given the mardi gras-like atmosphere.  when we asked a cabbie about this he said not to be fooled - many cops in key west walk around in plain clothes.  good to know.

i'm sure there were other facts and lessons but i can't recall everything now.  i just thought it was a nice touch that the cab drivers were so friendly and willing to give local recommendations, random information and insight about key west.  next time i go i'll be sure to learn more.  :)