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…
-
-
Sunday afternoons are the perfect time to visit da’Vida, located on Crocus Bay in Anguilla. The restaurant always had a great reputation, but we never found our way there on previous visits. After this visit, I look forward to visiting again. We weren’t alone. Sunday afternoon seemed to be the time, and da’Vida seemed to be the place. The parking lot was packed, and we knew we were in the right place when we spotted this van. Omari Banks plays at da’Vida on Sunday afternoons. So not only do you get a nice meal, you get great music too! The setting is beautiful, especially on a gorgeous afternoon like…
-
One constant has remained for every trip to Anguilla – – Saturdays are for Smokey’s. I remember our first trip to the island in 2007. I heard there was live music at Smokey’s for lunch on Saturday, so I was determined to make it there on our first full day on the island. We walked there from the CuisinArt (you could do that back then – the beach was wider). I remember being seated at the table just inside the easternmost door, looking out over the water. I had the jerk chicken (which I’ve had every time since), and heard The Musical Brothers performing, doing Christmas songs. I had found…
-
A trip to Anguilla is not complete without a stop at Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve. We first visited in 2007, and although our kids were young, ages 8 and 10, we forced them to stay up late so we could hear Bankie play. The place has such a relaxed feel to it, that it’s hard to pass up. It’s kind of like being at your own beach place. It’s just so easy to hang out there, and the views of St. Martin never get old. The sign on the road has been updated since 2007. And it’s a bit more built up since then. This year, we popped in when…
-
Fortune smiled upon us as we happened to be on Anguilla at the same time as the video release of Omari Banks’ new single “No Point to Prove,” featuring Peetah Morgan of Morgan Heritage. If you’ve been to Anguilla, you no doubt know Omari Banks. He is the son of Bankie Banx, an Anguillan legend, and it’s clear that the apple does not fall far from the tree as far as musical talent goes. However, Omari hasn’t been a musician all his life. For fifteen years, he was a professional cricket player, and made history as the first player from Anguilla to play Test cricket for the West Indies. He…
-
After traveling around the Caribbean for a few years, we are regularly asked about what is the best resort, best beach, best restaurant, etc. We have a long way to go in our travels through the islands, but these places have impressed us over the years. Enjoy this list of “our best” of the Caribbean, from the best rum punch, to the best beach, and more. Best Music: Dune Preserve, Anguilla Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve should be on every music lover’s bucket list. You can see Bankie himself, along with a number of other performers throughout the week, including Bankie’s son, Omari. And the view overlooking Rendezvous Bay toward…
-
Tests shots were finished. It was time to take my film project on the road and put it into action. In July, I took my film cameras to Bastille Days here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When people think of Milwaukee or Wisconsin, they generally think of beer, brats or cheese. If they think about the ethnic origins of the area, they generally think of the Germans or Polish settlers to the area. Often overlooked is the fact that the first explorers were French. The first European known to explore the area was Jean Nicolet, followed by Father Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit missionary, and Louis Joliet, a fur trader, exploring and mapping the waterways through…
-
No trip report is complete without talking about the food and drink. Vacation is not just about the beach and the ocean. We need to recharge! We tried a wide variety of local food and drink, from local stands off the side of the road to the pricier restaurants which you read about in the magazines. Let’s get started! Friday Night Fish Fry, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera I had been looking forward to the Friday Night Fish Fry since the time that I first began reading about Eleuthera. Locals and tourists gather together once a week in Governor’s Harbour to share food, drink, some music and a few stories. As we…
