Animal friends and the Atocha Discovery

Many animal visitors this morning. A deer stopped by outside Gordon's latte stop. The kitty and game cock visited downtown after breakfast at Camilles. All the animals here are just like a personal pet. Amazingly unafraid, totally friendly and completely approachable. Pretty cool.

Strolled down to Mel Fisher's Museum to take the tour after a long walk. Our Cigar shop owner gave us some free passes. Essential to have some free passes here as everything no matter how small has an extravagant entrance fee.

Mel Fisher found after 16 years of searching the Nuestra Senora de Atocha and the Santa Margarita, the Spanish galleons that sank during a hurricane on September 6, 1622, near Key West, Florida. These vessels contained treasure valued at well over 800 million dollars. Fisher didn't get to celebrate his find for long however as the State of Florida immediately claimed ownership of the find.

Fisher fought for eight years to reverse this claim and ultimately a US Supreme court decision restored his claim to the whole treasure. Bet the lawyers got a huge share!

Excellent examples of the treasure items recovered are exhibited in Fisher's Key West museum.

Fisher continues his search today for more treasure from the fleet that sailed with the Atocha.