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…
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Taking on a legend is never easy. People will remember a place or experience and it’s not easy to do justice to the memory. When Belmond took on the task of renovating the jewel of Anguilla resorts, Cap Juluca, people were optimistic that this was the right group to take on the task, and they were not disappointed. Belmond’s Cap Juluca is a grand tribute, worthy of the original. Originally conceived to showplace the island as a luxury tourism destination, Cap Juluca realized that ideal. Mr. Robin Ricketts and Mrs. Sue Ricketts of Ricketts & Associates, Ltd., and Charles and Linda Hickox, the principal owners of Leeward Isles Resorts, were…
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You know you want to honeymoon in the Caribbean, but which island? The islands are incredibly diverse. Some have better beaches. Some are ideal for foodies. Some islands are favorites for adventure. The islands are as diverse as the people who visit. Here are some suggestions for the perfect Caribbean honeymoon. Best Islands for Beach Lovers Anguilla Anguilla is located at the northern end of the Leeward Islands chain in the Eastern Caribbean, a short 25-minute boat ride north of St. Martin. You won’t see any mountains or rainforest on Anguilla, as it is largely coral and limestone with limited vegetation. However, what it lacks in elevation, it makes up…
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I am honored to be recognized as a Finalist in the 2017 competition for best Independent Travel Blog by the North American Travel Journalists (NATJA). The NATJA awards recognize outstanding publications, travel journalists, photographers whose work was published in print and online media each year. Last year, we won awards for our features on Andros, Bahamas and Kamalame Cay, and it is exciting to be recognized for our blog devoted to travel throughout the Caribbean. A full list of award winners can be found here, but I wanted to recognize some of the great work from NATJA members featuring our favorite islands in the Caribbean: Luxury & Resort Travel – Print…
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A few years back, I returned to film photography, and now shoot both digital and film while traveling. With a lot of hits and misses, I’ve come to find that several film stocks have emerged as my favorites, reliable from trip to trip, and perfect for the way I shoot. Although I will continue to experiment, these film stocks have proven their worth and will be in my bag on every trip, or as long as the manufacturers continue to produce them! Kodak Portra 400 Portra 400 is clearly my favorite of all film stocks. I used to shoot Portra NC and VC back in my pre-digital days, but the…
