If you have been to Anguilla and relaxed on one of its many peaceful beaches, it is difficult to imagine the thought of a large-scale military operation invading the island, yet that is what happened on March 19, 1969. Yesterday marked the 47th anniversary of the British invasion of the island, “Operation Sheepskin,” intended to put down the rebellion that had brewed over the previous two years. But this invasion was not met with physical violence or bloodshed. The invaders’ failure to understand the Anguillans, and their dispute with St. Kitts, led to what has been known as a public relations disaster, dubbed “The Bay of Piglets.” As described by…
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When you get a new underwater camera, excitement takes over. You want to get it out of the box as soon as possible and put it to work. With the excitement, many of us overlook, and later forget, the care needed to giving your camera a long life. Here are a few reminders to keep in mind when caring for your underwater camera. Read the Manual! Although this is what I recommend for every camera, it is particularly true with underwater cameras which require more care. Carefully read the instructions provided with your camera with respect to cleaning and long-term maintenance. Every camera is different, so don’t presume that what…
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In preparation for each trip, I like to do some research on the history of the area, and sprinkle in some other books related to island life. This year’s trip is to Andros Island, Bahamas, so I picked up a copy of Samuel Charters’ book, “The Day is So Long and the Wages So Small.” Samuel Charters was a highly-regarded music historian, known for capturing some of the great performers of blues and jazz when the music was still unknown to many Americans. He began making recordings for Folkways Records in the 1950’s, including some of legendary performers like Lightnin’ Hopkins, and wrote the influential history of blues music, “The…
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Over the years, I have posted “What’s in My Bag?” about various trips. On the last two trips, I have traveled with both digital and film cameras, and I wanted to do a separate post on traveling for hybrid shooters. As you might expect, it’s easier to travel with digital. Memory cards are small, and you don’t have to worry about the effect of x-ray machines at security checkpoints. I also feel more comfortable experimenting with digital. You can try new techniques, and the only loss is your time. However, I find that there are times when I prefer film over digital, and it’s worth the extra effort. There are…
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It’s been a great year here at My Irie Time. 2015 saw our Instagram account getting going, and here are our top 10 Instagram photos of the year! Happy New Year to all! #10 Fins up! A view of Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla. For more on our trips to Anguilla, read our reports here, including our most recent visit in November of 2014. #9 The “Special” rum punch at Smokey’s at the Cove, Anguilla. #8 Our June 2015 trip to Antigua & Barbuda! Read all about our stays at Jumby Bay, Antigua, and Lighthouse Bay, Barbuda. #7 Our visit to Garvey’s Sunshine Shack on Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla! #6 Our 2016 Antigua & Barbuda Calendar! #5…
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It’s the fourth week in November and I’m not wearing a bikini. Or donning flip flops, or slathering on the sunscreen. In Wisconsin, that would be expected for this time of year, but for us, it’s a bit unusual. It has been ten years since we haven’t traveled to the Caribbean at Thanksgiving. With our oldest now in college, her free time around Thanksgiving is limited to Thanksgiving Day and the few days following. When the calendar ticked over to November, and the temperatures started dropping here in Wisconsin, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. It was as if our family’s holiday tradition was ending. We would not, at…
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It’s that time of year for a ghost story, so come along with us as we visit the Haunted House of Harbour Island, Bahamas, also known as the Glen Stewart Mansion. The Haunted House is not much of a mystery as far as its location, as it appears on pretty much every map I’ve seen of the island. They even had, at one time, a gift shop. Follow the pink signs! The mystery surrounds the strange circumstances under which the the original owners left. The story goes that the home was built in 1945 by a wealthy family. The owner left one day for medical tests and never returned. Presumably,…
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There’s nothing like a great beach bar – a place to kick back with a tropical beverage and listen to the sounds of the ocean or a local band playing island tunes. Those included on our list were selected for the best in food, drink, and live music. Join us in visiting the best Caribbean beach bars! Click each image for more details! [the_grid name=”Beach Bars”] Explore Dune Preserve, Garvey’s, Blanchard’s Beach Shack, and Smokey’s on the island of Anguilla, Da Conch Shack on Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Sunshine’s on the island of Nevis, The Beach House in Eleuthera, Bahamas, Bomba’s Surfside Shack on Tortola, The Big Bamboo on…
