Did you know? The Key West Margaritaville opened in 1984 and was a gift & T-Shirt store at Lands End Village near the Half Shell Raw Bar.

Our first visit to Key West was in 2002 for our 16th Anniversary. A 10 day vacation to somewhere we had always wanted to go but just never got around to it. My wife Terri planned the whole thing and was able to keep it a secret until the last minute. Yes I was surprised!

We imagined Key West a lush tropical island surrounded by sandy beaches and coconut palm trees. We imagined Margaritaville on one of those beaches.

My friend Chris Franklin advised me when he heard we were going. "Going to Key West is more like visiting a foreign country".

We had no idea how right he was when we got there.

We were very excited to visit Key West's Duval Street, especially Margaritaville which was a short walk from our room at the La Concha Hotel on Duval Street.

We had a great time in Key West and Margaritaville - pictured at the left. The only thing that seemed "off" was the location of the rest rooms. We ended many an evening at Margaritaville with shots of 1800 then stumbled to our 5th floor room that overlooked Duval Street.

We have no complaints and visit Margaritaville every time we are in town. There is no other Margaritaville like it. If you have ever been to any you already know that each has their own unique vibe. We also enjoyed many of the bars on and off Duval Street and in the Historic Seaport. At the right we are at Captain Tony's Saloon.

We have visited other Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville in Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, maybe others that I don't remember.

"Back in 1974, I sailed into Roadtown, Tortola, after a few days of hard weather. We were tired and hungry, but in those days, gourmet restaurants were few and far between in the British Virgin Islands. So it was with a great deal of excitement when we read in the cruising guide of the new Village Cay marina and restaurant in Roadtown. We tied up our boat and dashed for the patio, where we feasted on burgers and the available accoutrements. Regardless of what other stories you have heard, that is the story of the real birth of the cheeseburger in paradise that was put to song. I know. I was there."

Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt
© Jimmy Buffett

Salt! Salt! Salt!

I made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast
© Jimmy Buffett

While in Key West, we were told the real meaning of the Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville lyric Searchin' for my lost shaker of salt.

I always thought the shaker of salt was needed for drinking shots of Tequila. No shaker of salt, no Tequila shots.

Well, in the 70's, most of those that used cocaine kept theirs in salt shakers! With lids because of the tropical humidity. Ingenious! Until you misplace it.

Getting back to the Tequila. Well, some folks use salt before and bite limes after the shot. Not us, my wife and I drink our shots with nothing else needed. No lime, no salt. Some find a shot much better that way. But it was not always that way. My first shot had salt and lime.

The typical way to do a shot of Tequila. Recommended if this is your first time. Some people chill the liquer in a shaker of ice, called "Up" or "Straight Up". If you are a first timer, chill it first. Others don't and do it "Neat" poured directly from the bottle into the glass.

• If you are right handed, rub and gently squeeze the lime wedge on the area of the back of your left hand between the thumb and index finger.
• Pour table or other finely ground salt on that area, it will stick to the lime juice.
• Pick up lime wedge with your left hand.
• Pick up shot glass with your right hand.
• Lick salt from left hand, drink shot, bite lime.
• Relax.
• Repeat as needed.

Did you know? Salt reduces the bitterness in food and drink. I have put it in strong coffee, beer that is too bitter (high IBU International Bitterness Unit), and used it on my left hand for Tequila shots when I first tried it. It really does work.

Margaritaville, a timeless, fun, clever song known the world over. In addition to Margaritaville I would bet there are all kinds of hidden meanings in Jimmy Buffett's vast catalog of songs.

If you are aware of any please share the real meaning with us so it can be listed on our page specifically created for Hidden Meanings in Jimmy Buffett Songs.

To share Hidden Meanings of Jimmy Buffett songs or anything else Buffett or Margaritaville related please send it to burt120@gmail.com.

Thank you. Cheers!

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