TXT: CTR 4/7
Paul Graveline
Man-O-War also settled by the loyalists is a small God fearing
community with more than a half a dozen churches. Marina facilities
are available however restaurants and lodging is sparse. Still a spot
no yachtsmen should miss. The"Aubry's" canvas shop is the place to
see. Here you'll find the town ladies making all sorts of bags and
hats out of canvas. By the way the Island is "Dry".
Elbow Cay / Hopetown (the names are often used interchangeably) is
famous for its Red and White Striped Lighthouse. Reputedly one of
the most photographed attractions in the Bahamas. Hope town is a
small village with a few restaurants, bars and Inn's. there is a
small quaint museum of artifacts from earlier times. Life surrounds
the harbor on this Island which has only one narrow (and shallow)
opening for the many visiting yachtsmen.
Continuing down the chain, the last and most remote stopping spot
(for the yachtsmen) is Little Harbor. It is actually on the mainland
of Abaco and the jump off spot to Eleuthera and the Islands to the
south. It is accessible by road from Marsh Harbor if you can find
your way there. Little harbor is a protected anchorage with hundreds
of turtles poking there heads our of the water. Here you will find
only a beach bar that sometimes serves Burgers at lunch only. More
importantly this the home of the late Randolph Johnson who made home
here 30 years ago after being marooned during a hurricane. You can
even explore the caves where he and his family took shelter. Mr.
Johnson was an artist so he set up a small foundry where he made his
bronze castings which he sold to visiting yachts folks. Soon his fame
spread till the point where the Government commissioned him to make
his now famous statue in downtown Nassau. Unfortunately Mr. Johnson
dyed in 1992 who was survived by his wife who still runs the gift
shop with the artistic traditions being continued by his son.
Barbados by Teresa Breininger
-----------------------------
We returned from our timeshare in Barbados at the Divi Heritage on
the west coast. The weather was beautiful all week but we found the
water to be somewhat rougher than usual. This was purely a time to
rest and I did just that. For a change I did not go to Bridgetown for
shopping. It just did not happen. However, I did do the one thing I
have wanted to do for a while. We took a cruise on the Tiami, a
catamaran out of the careenage in Bridgetown. The cruise was 4 1/2
hours and went up the west coast. We stopped at Cobbler's Cove for
swimming, snorkeling, etc. and were then served a fabulous lunch by
the crew. For those of you who would prefer a tamer experience than
the Jolly Roger, I recommend this cruise highly. The staff is
knowledgeable and very professional.
As for restaurants, we went back to our old haunts. We went to
Fathoms twice. Their grilled tuna was absolutely wonderful. We also
went to Koko's and the Coach House. I went to the Coral Reef Club for
dinner and as usual, had a great meal. And on Thursday night, we went
to the Waterfront Cafe in Bridgetown for dinner and entertainment by
the VSOP Dixieland Jazz Band. This is always a fun evening and it was
no disappointment this time.
For a change, my timeshare at Divi Heritage was in good shape and I
had little to be upset about. There seems to be some improvement in
the property in general and they are finally going to start building
the 5th building and putting in the long promised pool. There is new
management and they seem to be starting to shape up the place.
For those of you who are interested, I went up to the Coral Reef
Club. I saw Mark and Patrick O'Hara. Mark and his wife Maria had a
baby girl on March 17. Her name is Sophie and she is just adorable.
Patrick's wife is due in the middle of May. They plan some
renovations at Coral Reef in that some cottages will be torn down and
new ones built in their place. As usual, everything is in great shape
there and we enjoyed visiting. Mark wished to be remembered to all
the those who stayed there in the past year and thanks all of you for
the publicity.
It was hard to leave on Saturday and the thought of going to work is
not very pleasant. However, this is another year of fond memories of
Barbados and we are already looking forward to next year.
By the way, we rented our car from Corbins. You always get a good car
and they are very reliable. All in all we had a very good relaxing
time and were sorry the vacation ended so quickly.
Barbados by Tom Leib
--------------------
My wife and I returned from Barbados in April.
We got to the island at about 2:00P.M. Saturday - We couldn't get a
car from our favorite place (Stout's) because the Brits had them all
rented for the Cricket Test Match. The West Indies (the Windies) were
playing the team from England and the Island was packed with
visitors. At any rate, we took a cab to our time share, Sand Acres,
on the South Coast, and lo and behold, they had a Moke for us. A new
one at that. The newer Mokes are soooooo much better than the old
ones.
On Sunday we rose early for the Bank of Barbados hike. The kick off
point was at Graeham Hall in Christ Church. Even though the hike was
located in what has to be the most urban province on the Island, it
was very interesting. We saw egret nesting homes, wild swamps,
beautiful mangroves (trees whose roots are above the ground) and lots
of plants that you don't see in the USA. It turned out that the hike
was sparsely attended because there had been some confusion over
whether it would start from Graeham Hall or on the Easternmost point
on the Island - Ragged Point Lighthouse.
Since the hike in the morning was so much fun, we decided to also
take the afternoon hike which was also at Ragged Point. That hike
was,if possible, better than the morning hike. The views were
breathtaking. We swam over to a small island called Culpeper Island
(yes one P) and toured some early Indian ruins. Tired and fulfilled,
we made it back to the South Coast and had a wonderful dinner at the
Mermaid Inn (Maxwell Coast Road).
On Monday I jogged along the Southern Coast - out of Oistens, and in
the afternoon we went to the horse races at the Garrison. We lost
money, but the Englishman who accompanied us won. We had dinner at
Southern Accent in St. Lawerence Gap. Try the Thai Noodles. On
Tuesday we went to Cricket, but a couple of hours is all that we
could take. Then it was the evening buffet at Angies Beach Bar at
Sand Acres. It you haven't been to Angies and heard Swammi sing "He
Lies", you're missing a treat.
On Wednesday it was time to kick back - lunch at Angies, drinks at
Round Rock watching the wind surfers,and dinner in our room - grilled
flying fish from the Oistens fish market.
Then, on Thursday, we went up to the East Coast to take in the sights
- back to the room for a spaghetti dinner. On Friday, it was back to
the East Coast, this time to the Farley Hill Nature Trail - a new
attraction that identifies all of the plants in Barbados. We also
went to the Wildlife Reserve, next door, and saw more green monkeys
and peacocks than you can imagine. Next it was Chalk Hill to the
Pottery Factory, and, of course, bought some stuff - its a great deal
for some truly classic pieces. Then back to the South Coast and out
to dinner at one of the Island's great restaurants, Josef's. We sat
"e. We
walked back to Sand Acres along the beach. Saturday was our day to go
back home. A bummer , but not too bad because I had to finish off the
remaining bottles of Banks beer from the case we bought earlier. Next
year we are going for two weeks.
BVI: Drake's Anchorage by Perry and Rose Mary Joseph
----------------------------------------------------
Planning our Honeymoon can be one of the more challenging tasks in
our lives. We spent months poring over books, magazines and
brochures. We talked to friends, rented videos and even solicited
advice from users of nationwide computer networks. We were searching
for the "perfect" Honeymoon spot. It did not take long to decide the
number of choices was overwhelming. Even after narrowing our
selections to "beautiful," "private," "intimate" and "somewhere in
the Caribbean," we still faced much homework. Call it luck, call it
tenacity, we found our perfect spot at Drake's Anchorage.
Drake's Anchorage is a small resort located on a secluded 125 acre
island called Mosquito; a five minute boat ride from Virgin Gorda
located in the British Virgin Islands. This resort handles up to 28
guests in its two villas, eight rooms and two suites. Besides these
facilities, an office, gift shop, restaurant and a few other
buildings, the Island is unspoiled and the tranquility is wondrous.
It's hard to believe there are still places virtually untouched by
commercial expansion.
Before discussing the Island's many amenities, let's review the
accommodations. The Inn's offerings are either oceanfront or
oceanview with balconies. Two are suites with comfortable living
rooms and private bedrooms. Two large villas overlook one of the four
beaches called Limetree. Made of stone, copper and white tile, these
villas were simply charming and offered the most privacy.
Our choice was to stay in an oceanview double. The room, ideally
located a hundred or so feet from the water, offered a spectacular
view of Virgin Gorda Sound. The rooms were simple but complete. A
king size bed, overhead fan, chairs, table, and a small private
bathroom and shower. Besides the basics, the resort is very
thoughtful in providing bottled water, beach chairs, umbrellas,
flashlight and other accessories to help make the stay comfortable.
A small balcony offered lounge chairs and table. Just if front of the
room, a double hammock hung in a small grove of beautiful trees. This
became the perfect place for reading, sipping your favorite tropical
drink, watching the many sail boats wander through the sound, or
spending some "hammock time" with your mate.
There are no cars and no roads. Instead, there are bicycle paths and
hiking trails to explore the island's many wonders. The Island offers
many scenic views. A fifteen minute hike to "Drake's Lookout"
provides a spectacular view of Virgin Gorda Sound. A comfortable
bench provides a great place for taking pictures of the nearby
islands. You have to bring plenty of film; I took an abundance of
pictures before we even reached the top. The grounds are well kept
and the flora magnificent.
Another trail takes you to "Long Beach." This beautiful sugar white
beach is complete with umbrellas and lounge chairs. Just in front of
the beach is a large coral reef teaming with tropical fish providing
hours of snorkeling pleasure. The view includes many beautiful sail
boats making their way around the island.
My favorite trail led to "Honeymoon Beach." The name speaks for
itself. This small secluded beach is carved from a massive wall of
rock. The views along the way are just as spectacular as the beach
itself. Large rocks scattered about provide a bit of privacy from
those who may happen upon your hideaway. There are tall rock
formations looking over deep pools of water for the brave diver.
"Honeymoon Beach" is a perfect place for swimming, sunning and
spending intimate time with your mate. A truly unforgettable place.
Yet another trail takes you to "Rocky Beach." As its name implies,
there are plenty of shells and rocks to choose from. Yet, there is
still plenty of sand to make for a comfortable spot to lie in the
sun. We particularly enjoyed making sand castles and other rock
formations as the "building materials" were plentiful.
All these trails offer a rich assortment of tropical vegetation and
rock formations. Along the way, there are plenty of opportunities to
take great pictures or stop to admire the many scenic views. Some of
these trails are navigable with bicycles provided by Drakes. The
bicycles even have baskets mounted on the front so you can carry your
accessories. Do not forget to bring the binoculars for those
encounters with the many exotic birds.
Naturally, all of this exploration can make one very hungry. This
takes us to my favorite feature of Drake's, their restaurant.
Renowned for its fine West Indian and Continental cuisine, the open-
air restaurant sits right on the water's edge with a fabulous view of
the Sound. Visited by many from the adjoining islands, you do not
have to worry about sitting at the best seats as they are reserved
first for the guests.
The menu is excellent. Breakfasts can be Continental style, eggs,
omelettes, french toast, pancakes or my favorite, Belgian waffles.
For lunches, you can have soup, sandwiches, salad, fish, fruit,
crepes, more omelettes and conch fritters. The dinner menu is unreal.
A four-course meal with entrees including lobster, swordfish, shrimp,
snapper, dolphin, chicken, duck, lamb, strip steak and filet mignon.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the fabulous thick and creamy
soups we enjoyed at lunch and dinner. We were not much into soup
until after our stay at Drakes. And the desserts were decadent:
caramel bananas, pies, ice cream and Drake's own "special recipe"
chocolate mousse. You should not be on a diet when visiting Drake's.
If you relish exploring other islands, it is easy to do. There is a
boat captain on duty to take you to several places. There is shopping
for souvenirs, clothes and groceries on the nearby islands. We
visited Bitter End and Pusser's to name a couple. Each is just a
short boat ride away. Both places are gorgeous, offering shops,
restaurants and bars. These places also offer a larger crowd of
people and provide night life and the opportunity to meet others.
Once visited, the return trip to the privacy of Drake's is welcome.
For the adventurous, nearby Virgin Gorda offers a spectacular
collection of rock formations and beautiful beaches called the "The
Baths." The elevation of Virgin Gorda offers excellent panoramic
views of neighboring islands. A long beach called "Savannah Beach"
has excellent snorkeling reefs just in front. If you like, Drake's
can prepare an excellent box lunch for extended visits to the
neighboring islands.
Frankly, we did not fully take advantage of the number of other
places to visit and other activities available. We found exploring
the Drake's and its amenities most satisfying. For those who do like
more activity, Drake's is well equipped. There are a couple of 19
foot day sailers, motorized dinghies, wind surfing equipment and
snorkeling gear. With all these items included in the price of your
stay, you do not have to carry your wallet around. If you enjoy scuba
diving or fishing, Drake's makes arrangements for that and most any
other activity.
A fine attribute of Drake's is their staff. They are there when you
need them, but otherwise leave you to do as you choose. The manager,
Albert, is there to greet you at the dock when you arrive. The first
the's.
If there is anything he or his staff can do to indulge you, just let
them know. We knew we were at the right place within minutes of being
there.
Finally, the price was reasonable. Their rates include three meals a
day, boat service to and from the neighboring islands and gratuities.
Of special interest is Drake's substantial discount for Honeymooners.
The assumption is "you'll like it so much, you'll be back." How right
they are. We booked our next trip to Drake's before we even left the
Island!
If you would like more information on Drake's, you can reach them
through their reservation office in Boston at 800-624-6651 or in
Massachussetts 617-661-4745. If you choose Drakes, be sure to tell
Albert we said "Hello" and look forward to our next visit at the end
of the year. Have an extra chocolate mousse for us too, please.
Curacao: Kent Shamblin
----------------------
Like many Caribbean islands, Curacao of the Netherland Antilles has a
year round pleasant climate (air temp averages 82 degrees, varies one-
two degrees between summer/winter; water temp averages 80; nice
tropical breezes), seldom spoiled by rain, with white sandy beaches,
fine resorts, excellent scuba diving and snorkeling, wind surfing,
deep sea fishing, good restaurants and casinos (but seldom requiring
a jacket, much less a tie) and fine shops. What makes it different
from other islands are: - A wonderful blend of Dutch culture with 79
other nationalities, echoed by the variety of visitors'
nationalities.
Holland accounts for most visitors-30%, followed by Venezuela-14%;
United States-10%; Germany-4%; and the remainder from Canada, other
South American and European countries and other Caribbean islands.
The many different races and social/economic levels of Curacao
citizens co-exist harmoniously and are friendly to visitors. It's far
safer on the streets and beaches at night than any place I've lived
or visited, although as a matter of common sense anywhere I visit, I
don't stray down deserted alleys or side streets at night. There's a
variety of things to do, places to see, shops to check out and
restaurants to try. More on this later.
The diving spots are less pressured. No crowds. Excellent underwater
experiences. Several operators provide one-two tank boat dives.
There's excellent shore diving from several resorts and from public
accesses. Snorkelers also will have a good time. More on diving
later.
There's history here. Curacao as a settlement dates from the Dutch
conquest of 1634, the Spanish there first but leaving little evidence
of their fleeting tenure. Curacao is a working island, not just
resorts and beaches; it's cosmopolitan and a major trade center, with
commercial shipping coming and going daily, a thriving business
center and the governmental center for the five islands of the
Netherland Antilles.
Location: 35 miles north of Venezuela (spend day or overnight in
Caracas), between Aruba and Bonaire, 1,710 miles from New York.
Outside hurricane belt. One hour ahead of EST; same as EDT.
Population and size: 160,000; 180 square miles, 37 miles long and 2-
7 miles wide.
Getting there: ALM or Air Aruba connect the three ABC islands
(Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) with Atlanta, Baltimore, Miami and other
U.S. ports. KLM flies daily from Amsterdam. American has begun
service with competitive fare.
Rental cars: Desirable to have a car for at least part of your stay
(although most hotels have shuttle service to downtown and plenty of
taxis) because there's places to see around the island. For example,
we enjoy the Westpunt (west point) area, the remote end of Curacao,
with its desert-like terrain and rocky beaches; don't miss nearby
Christoffel Park, a natural preserve with mountain paths and caves.
Avis, Budget, Hertz & National rentals plus three major local
agencies-Carib, Love and Vista. Best to avoid the other local
firms.
Miscellaneous information: Drinking water is safe and tastes quite
good (distilled seawater; used to make the local Amstel beer which is
excellent!). Electricity/TV: 110-130 AC, 50 cycles. Most hotels offer
cable TV. Taxes: Low duty tax (3%) so has good prices on many goods,
especially linens, perfume, watches, electronics, china, jewelry. No
sales tax. 7% room tax.
Language: Dutch but English & Spanish widely spoken; also Papiamentu.
Service clubs include Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary. Religious services
include Episcopalian, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and range of
Protestant.
Night life: Casinos in resorts. Three other kinds of night spots, (1)
restaurants with late hours and entertainment, (2) bars, the real
watering holes for diehards and (3) real nightclubs, usually discos.
Talk with the social director or information desk at your hotel.
Resorts are all air-conditioned; all have restaurants and most have
dive operations; generally a service charge is added to food/beverage
bills so check before adding much of a tip). Of my recommended
resorts, the first three are more expensive than the others:
Princess Beach Resort & Casino, where we stay (three trips to date,
last one March 1994). One of the best beaches. Deluxe resort, but
good price range of rooms. Peter Hughes' Princess Divers operation
(PADI), which is very well managed and with exceptionally customer-
oriented managers and staff. You can shore dive from its steps (and I
did on two wonderful night dives) Two dive boats. Good "happy hour"
(common thing at resorts, typically 6-8 P.M., half-priced drinks,
often entertainment & snacks). Our deluxe room with balcony in
"winter" season (Dec. 15-April 15) was $225 per day, but other nice
rooms at lower rates available. See Hotel Postcard in Travel Forum
for on hotel.
Curacao Caribbean Resort & Casino. Excellent; well managed. Beach,
many activities, one of the most popular "happy hours" on the island
for local residents; several fine restaurants; largest casino.
Seascape dive shop.
Sonesta Resort & Casino. 15 minutes from downtown. New, in a class
with PB and CCRC, good beach.
Holiday Beach & Casino. 10 minutes from downtown. Small but very nice
beach, new dive shop under construction when we dropped by, a very
friendly place, well organized, social director.
(continued)