It’s no surprise that on a Sunday afternoon on Anguilla, you’ll find us at Garvey’s Sunshine Shack, located on Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla. Just a short walk down the beach from Aurora Anguilla, you’ll find a “toes in the sand” beach bar with great live music. On Sunday afternoons, it’s Omari Banks, who we make a point of seeing every visit. Order some ribs or some chicken, and settle back with a beer and enjoy the music. The crowd was totally into the music and it was one of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon!
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We flew into Anguilla on a Saturday afternoon, so Sunday was our first full day on the island. We hit the beach early, and were just starting to think about lunch when we heard the music start up at the Sunshine Shack, just down the beach from our resort, Aurora Anguilla. We walked down the beach, and grabbed a rum punch. The bar was humming, and Garvey was working the grill, mixing the scent of grilled chicken with the ocean breeze. Omari Banks was doing an acoustic show that afternoon, and while we waited for the show to start, who would walk up to the bar but his father, Bankie…
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When we first visited Anguilla in 2007, Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve was much different than we see today. Back in November 2007, the bar was expanding, and construction was in full force. My daughter was 10 years old, and spotted Bankie on the beach, prompting one of our favorite photos. Over the years, we have returned again and again, seeing many changes, but the atmosphere remained the same, making it one of the best beach bar in the Caribbean. Take a look at the changes to the Dune over the years. 2007 2009 2010 2014 2020 2023 Watch for “Bankie Banx King of the Dune,” the story of Bankie Banx…
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One benefit of returning again and again to the same place is that you know the lay of the land. You know the best beaches, the best restaurants, and where to stay. After years of traveling to Anguilla, we gravitate toward the west side of the island, and favor the beaches on the southern side, facing St. Martin/Ste. Maarten. This trip, we returned to Rendezvous Bay. It has amazing views of the hills of St. Martin/Ste. Maarten, has calm water and soft sand, and you can walk to some of the best beach bars and music on the island. I’ll post shortly on our stay at Aurora Anguilla, which we…
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We’re just back from our 2023 visit to Anguilla – our 7th trip to the island. We stayed at the Aurora Anguilla, and have loads to share. I know some readers have been interested in the comparison between the CuisinArt Resort (where we stayed in 2007 and 2014) and Aurora, so look for that to come. Overall, it was a week for relaxation and recharging, with beautiful beaches and fantastic food, and Anguilla never disappoints. Stay tuned!
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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 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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When people describe Anguilla, they often rave about the beaches and the food, but not to be overlooked is the music. Live music is widely available on the island, and the most famous Anguillan musician has to be Bankie Banx. Bankie plays regular at his now famous Dune Preserve, but once a year, he hosts “Moonsplash,” an event bringing in even more great music to the island. Moonsplash began as a moving music festival with the first concerts on Sandy Island off St. Martin and in St. Barths. In 1995, Moonsplash landed in its permanent home at The Dune Preserve on Anguilla. Over the years, Moonsplash has featured many of…
