Ernest Hemingway based To Have and Have Not in Key West. The novel is full of eccentric characters and that's because the town is full of them too. I had the most hilarious encounters in Key West because everyone I met was so friendly and keen for conversation.

But nobody topped our encounter with the 'pistachio man' who rented us some shiny orange bicycles and told us about everything but his kitchen sink.

My god, there seemed to be nothing he wouldn't share with us, especially when I put on my nosy journalist hat and started asking loads of questions.

He was incredibly eccentric and confident and a great window into life in Key West. He told us he'd woken up in his North Florida home one day and felt a little chilly, sparking a complete move to the hotter climes of Key West.

He spoke a million miles an hour, saying things like "Now, what's the time, oh right I'm still drinking my coffee, it must be morning."

And after a quick rundown of his girlfriend and the rent they paid for their house, he sent us on our merry way.

As we pedalled off towards the beachfront he yelled out: "You come back now y'hear, I'll be right here eating my pistachio nuts."

Cycling around Key West is the greatest way to spend an afternoon. It was so sunny and there was a colourful tourist map full of cool things to see and do. We rode around the marina, visited a Civil War fort and went for a dip in a quiet beach spot.

For hours more fun, Key West also has a few really interesting attractions including the Museum of Art and History, the Butterfly House and the Maritime Heritage Museum.

And only in Key West will you find Pirate Soul, a museum with a very saucy wench immortalised in stone at its entrance.

Next stop: Key lime pies, key lime milkshakes, key lime candy... we discover Florida loves its key limes like Bubba loves his shrimp.

Check out more photos from my trip in my Flickr album.

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