Before leaving Anguilla, I had intended to write a story about the island’s recovery after the devastation of Hurricane Irma. While we were there, I looked for all the things that had changed. Homes, hotels, restaurants, and businesses had been rebuilt, and some were in the process of rebuilding. But upon reflection, this was not what I really wanted to write about. What was most remarkable was not the new structures, new businesses, or renovations. Instead, what inspired me was what compels us to return again and again. Anguilla is more than what is, or was, there. Instead, it is about who is there. Anguilla is back? The heart of…
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The most difficult part of planning a trip to Anguilla is deciding where to eat. There are so many great restaurants, that you’ll have to create a short list. 2019 was our fifth trip to the island, so we’ve been to many places on previous trips. This trip, we returned to some favorites, and tried a few new places. Take a look at our restaurant choices for our week on Anguilla. I have to point out that we stayed at Belmond Cap Juluca, so our breakfast every morning was at Cip’s. There were a few mornings we had a late breakfast or a big breakfast, and didn’t have an appetite…
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January of 2019 marked our fifth trip to Anguilla. Every trip, we try a few new restaurants, but we can’t help but revisit our old favorites. In those previous trips, we somehow never made it to Blanchards, despite the fact that Melinda and Robert Blanchard’s book, A Trip to the Beach, drew us to the island. This trip we had the best of both worlds, revisiting Blanchards Beach Shack, and dining for the first time at the original Blanchards, a divine duo. Both Blanchards and Blanchards Beach Shack are on the same property on the east end of Meads Bay. The signs on top of the building show you the…
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It is remarkable how Anguilla has bounced back after Hurricane Irma, but there is a noticeable loss. Smokey’s at the Cove was our go-to place on Saturday afternoons. I remember our first trip to Anguilla, and walking down to Smokey’s from the CuisinArt. We heard the Musical Brothers playing Bob Marley tunes and Christmas carols, and it was as if we had found our heaven on earth. But Irma came, Smokey’s was heavily damaged, and the Gumbs family had no plans for reopening. We had pretty much given up on Smokey’s being anything but a memory. Then we found our way to The Place. Rumor had it that “Smokes,” the…
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It’s not every day that you get to see new life come into the world, especially when you’re on vacation. A morning walk along Maunday’s Bay in Anguilla ended in the excitement of seeing dozens of hawksbill turtles hatching, and make their way out to sea. We had just finished breakfast at Cap Juluca’s Cip’s and were walking back to our villa at the west end of the beach. A few people walking ahead of us stopped, and soon a small group formed. It wasn’t long before we spotted it. There was a turtle nest along the retaining wall, and the baby turtles were hatching and heading out for their…
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I love Sunday afternoons at Da Vida on Anguilla. Omari Banks and his band perform, so you know you’ll have great music accompanying your lunch. The thing I love the most about Sunday afternoons is that families gather together. I love the buzz of families and friends enjoying a meal and catching up. This Sunday was even more special as we celebrated a birthday, the 26th birthday of Anguilla’s own Miss Universe Great Britain, Dee Ann Kentish-Rogers! If you haven’t heard Dee Ann’s story, it’s pretty inspirational, and tells a story of a very determined and gifted young woman. Dee Ann was a heptathlete, representing Anguilla in the Commonwealth Games.…
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This trip to Anguilla was our fifth trip since 2007, but we had never been to Jacala before. For the first couple trips, it was not possible as Jacala opened in 2010 when Jacques Borderon and Alain Laurent left Malliouhana‘s Michel Rostang to start their own restaurant. Despite trips in 2010 and 2014, we had never made it to Jacala. Hearing all the raves, we made a point of making a reservation for dinner upon arrival. We loved it so much, as we left dinner, we immediately made a reservation for lunch a few days later. Jacala is on Meads Bay, just west of Blanchard’s. Along the beach, there are…
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Let’s take a tour of Belmond Cap Juluca which opened just in time for festive season in December of 2018. The star of the show is the beautiful stretch of sand along Maunday’s Bay. Each room is oceanfront with spectacular views. The rooms are beautifully appointed with comfortable furnishings in soft tones. Small things like outlets and USB plugs inside the bedside drawers are a nice feature, particularly with every member of the family having their own electronics to store. The bathrooms are spacious with a large shower and tub, both with a view of the ocean. Double sinks and a large vanity give you plenty of space to spread…
