The walkway is the outer wall of a moat surrounding Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas several miles west and slightly north of Key West. These walls are one of the only reasons the fort still stands after Florida was pounded in '04 by four consecutive hurricanes. The tour guide explained that a moat around an island may seem silly, but it was built for good reason. Constructed late into the Civil War, it was built to withstand arms of the day. Men would have to cross the moat had they chosen to invade. In doing so, the powder would be soaked rendering their muskets useless.

It was Union occupied as Florida, interestingly enough, didn't side with the rest of the Confederate South. However, most of the supplies came from New England. The fort was never completed. Nor did it see any combat.

Today, the moat makes for an unusual and pleasant stroll. We felt like we were walking in the middle of the ocean.

Hope you enjoy this little slice of history in the Caribbean.