Boating in the Virgin Islands: Day 1

    The Virgin Islands offer a unique opportunity for boating unlike any other area.     Recently a group of four of us rented a 29' Fountain center console boat from Nauti Nympths in Red Hook and went out for an adventure around the islands.      This means of transport gives you the freedom to rove the waterways in any manner that you choose.     We had the boat for 3 fabulous days, and got to experience adventures that we will be talking about for years.
  

     The first day we checked in with British Customs at Soper's Hole, Tortola and took off for Road Harbour.      There we visited Pusser's Outpost for a round of cocktails and a bit of exploration.     After wandering around the city for a while it was back to the Sir Francis Drake Channel and more exploration of the South side if Tortola.     The channel can get a little bit rough with all of the ferry's and boat that use it, but the Fountain slices through the waves and chop like butter.

     We kept heading East up the channel to Virgin Gorda where we entered the Gorda Sound and the Saba Rock Resort.     This is a great little spot that is a cross between a museum and an resort.    They have antique outboard motors, racing boats, salvaged gold and silver from old sunken ships, and even some Toucans.      Thought that was all very fun and interesting, we had stopped there for lunch and another round of cocktails.     This place offers some of the best food anywhere in the islands.    


















I had the conch steak, others had fish taco's, and all of us were stuffed and smiling as we moved away from the docks.       As we exited Gorda Sound we met up with a 12 to 14 foot wave that gave us a real lift, especially on a full stomach, but all ended dwell as the boat settled on the backside of the wave.

      Next we decided to venture around the North side of  Beef Island and Tortola to visit Cane Garden Bay and the Callwood Distillery.      As we got on the North side of Tortola we were greeted by some 16 to 18 foot rollers.     These were long frequency waves that were not breaking, so we kept right  on our course for Cane Garden Bay.     As we approached the Bay, we noticed that these very large waves we had been running up and down for the past hour or so were breaking at the entrance to the Bay.     We chose not to deal with the surf there and decided to go to Great Harbour in Jost Van Dyke instead.

     Great Harbour is home for Foxy's, a great watering hole and restaurant.     We found Foxy there and had a great opportunity to spend some time there with him in a very relaxed atmosphere.    The project that Foxy heads up, making a traditional native sailing vessel is nearing completion.   This vessel is being built by the High School students as a way to understand and appreciate the way their ancestor's built boats to travel around the Virgin Island waterways.

     Our conversation with Foxy and a chance for Carl to pose with him by the picture that he had sent him from a previous visit was really nice.     We were able to share some experiences with Foxy and his daughter as we sipped still another cocktail.      The day was getting short, and it was time for us to head back to Red Hook, after a stop at Cruz Bay and the US Customs office to check back into the US Virgin Islands.

     This was only the first of three days that we would spend on the waterways and islands that make up the Virgin Islands.     We came back to the dock, filled the boat with "Petrol", and put it away for the evening.   Next up was a visit the the "Island Time Bar" and a chance for the captain to enjoy a cocktail or 6  before going back up the hill to the resort and supper.   ;o)

    
   

Sunday and it is Back to the Rum Bar and Doing What I Really Love Doing

ARRRRRRR it is always a fun day in the Islands and Key West is still my home and it is so good to be home and back with all my favorite people at the Rum Bar.     Stop by and lets talk Islands and have a cocktail that can take you there.   ;o)

St. Thomas:The Final Day

     Thursday found us in St. Thomas with a beautiful day to go back and revisit some of our favorite places on the island.    First it was down to Red Hook and a couple of cocktails at Molly Malone’s on the water front.     We wandered the docks and watched as the fleet of “Naughty Nymph s, that we enjoy so much the previous week, headed out for the day.

     Next we stopped by Industrial Boat yard to see our friend Bob Z, an old racing days buddy.     After a couple of cocktails and a trip down memory lane it was back in the Safari for a trip over to Megan’s Bay for some time in the sun.     The Safaris are a great public transportation system that you pay $2 each to ride from the time you get on until you reach your destination.

     Megan’s Bay is National Geographic’s “Top Ten beaches in the World”.     This is a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of Charlotte Amalie.    The white soft and fine sands make it great beach to walk or sun bath on.     Swimming or snorkeling in the warm and beautifully colored waters is really why you travel across the island for.  

     With the sun setting over the mountain it is time to hustle back to the ship before we are left behind here in St. Thomas.     This is our last night on the ship; we must get packed before morning.     The farewell party is tonight for the Rum Group that has had such a great time on the cruise togI’d like to Send out a special thanks to Robert and Robin Burr for doing a fabulous job of putting this adventure together for all of us.    These two weeks have given me a mountain of pictures and stories that will provide stories for the next few months, and I can’t wait to get back and start putting them together.   ;o)

St. Maarten: Day 13

     Today is Thursday and we have docked along with four other cruise ships in Phillipsburg, on the Dutch side of St. Maarten.     This is the smallest island in the Caribbean to be ruled by two countries, the French and the Dutch.     As we disembark the Celebrity Summit, we pick-up a water taxi to take us around the harbour to the beaches and the town.    

     Wandering through these narrow streets, there are a multitude of shops, restaurants and bars to take care of your needs.    The taxis are everywhere if you need to go across island and see the rest of this 37 square mile island.

     We stopped for a rum tasting at the Guavaberry Emporium, where we sampled their Republic Rum and their many flavored liqueurs.    Their rums and liqueurs were all of a sweet nature and were very flavorful, boasting the true tastes of the infused botanicals.    

     We decided to make our visit to St. Maarten a short one, feeling the effects of our long scooter ride on Wednesday in Antigua.     Back to the ship we wandered visiting several shops on the way.   We had lunch on the ship, an afternoon enjoying the amenities of the ship’s aqua spa, plus sunning on the pool deck.     Tomorrow it is St. Thomas and a chance to revisit some friends before heading back to Puerto Rico.    :o)

Antigua: A Magical Island

Wednesday finds us docking at the beautiful island of Antigua.     I have never visit Antigua before, but this island has held a mystique for me for as long as I can remember.    My excitement built as we left the ship looking for a place that rented motor scooters.     It didn’t take us long to find the scooter rental shop, and we were off on another new adventure.     

     We worked our way out of St. John’s on Sir Sydney Walling Highway heading for the eastern side of the island and the Devil’s Bridge.    As we left the paved road and started down the dirt road that takes us to the coastline, we rounded a corner and met a herd of wild donkeys.    We stopped and watched these beautiful animals for a while before continuing down to the coast.     A few kilometers later we were at Devil’s Bridge.     This is a naturally carved bridge and “blowhole” that the sea attacks on a daily basis.    The wave erosion has created this impressive bridge in the rock cliffs.    Watching the waves hitting the bridge and blowing out the top behind the bridge is very impressive and loud.

     Leaving Devil’s Bridge, we turn to the south and pass through St. Peter and St. Paul Perishes as we wind our way down to Falmouth and English Harbours.    Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour was first used as a hurricane shelter by three British Navy Ships in 1671.   It was recognized as an important harbour to protect the fleet and in 1725 the first ship was built in English Harbour across from where Nelson’s Dockyard is today.  By 1750 construction had begun on Nelson’s Dockyard and operational by 1778.     Today it is a National Park that is a must visit when in Antigua.

     From Nelson’s Dockyard, we head a bit North and West through the Rainforest   then Southwest coastline and some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere.   We follow the coastline back to the north as we work our way back to St. John’s and our final stop at the Antigua Distillery.

     At the Distillery, we get the opportunity to taste three of their finest rums.   First the English Harbour 5 Year Old Rum, fine rum that we have at the Rum Bar that sells well.   Next we taste the Ten Year Old English Harbour; this rum demonstrates the real value of additional aging on already fine rum.   The Ten Year Old English Harbour is a great addition to your rum cellar.     Finally we are offered the opportunity to try their English Harbour 1981 Vintage.    This rum was distilled in 1981, bottled in 2006 and is fabulous from the first whiff to the finish…but it is about $250 a bottle – it is worth the investment.

Safe and sound, we returned the scooters, and boarded the Celebrity Summit ready to shove off for St. Maarten a little later this afternoon.     Antigua fulfilled my interest and I look forward to returning someday soon when I can stay a little longer.     ;o)

St. Lucia and the St. Lucia Distillery

     Today we visited St. Lucia Distillers where Laurie Barnard, the Managing Director, gave us a personal tour of the facility.     Mr. Barnard enlightened us about the history and the operation of the distillery.      The stills at St. Lucia Distillers are very unique, both the pot stills and the column still.    With three pot stills they have the capability to great a great number of heavy, flavorful distillates from which to blend and create bold new rums.     St. Lucia distillery boasts some 17 brands and types of rum.

     After a fire at the distillery in 2006, many casks of Chairman’s Reserve were missing in the ruble and disorder.    Inadvertently, this rum aged an additional 5 years and once sampled, the flavor was so wonderful, it was bottled.   Chairman’s Reserve – the Forgotten Casks is bottled in limited amounts… available to a few lucky individuals fortunate enough to locate it…I got mine at the Distillery.

     There are many not-for-export rums produced by the St. Lucia Distillers, some of which will soon be available in the United States…among these are:  Admiral Rodney, an bold navy style rum;  1931, a new rum made to celebrate 80 years of rum making at St. Lucia Distillers; and Chairman’s  Reserve  - The Forgotten Casks.

     We were afforded an opportunity to sample some of the distillates as they came off the stills and the same distillates after they were aged.     They also let us taste their agricole style distillates both as they came off of the still and after a short period of aging.    The skills of the blenders and the still operators give this distillery tools to provide very fine rums as a finished product.

     The trip to and from St. Lucia Distillers gave all of us a chance to take in the beautiful island of St. Lucia and see many breath taking sights.     We arrived back at our Celebrity Summit Ship in time to prepare for our trip overnight to Antigua.    Tomorrow, if it can be arranged, we are taking a scooter trip around the island.     Antigua is one of the Caribbean islands that has always fascinated me, so I’m really excited about tomorrow’s visit.     ;o)

Barbados: Rum Shops and Distilleries

     Monday and its Barbados.     We leave the boat and head for the port, find a taxi that is willing to carry us around and show us the island.     Hugh is the man that got stuck with us… not really… as it turned out, we all had a great day together.    

     We then left the port and headed to the East to visit our friends Richard and Gail Seale at the Foursquare Distillery.     We caught them at the start of a tour and were able to tag along enjoying the tour of the distillery and the bottling plant.     The highlight of the tour was the visit to the tasting room where we got to try the Rum Sixty-Six and the Doorly’s XO as well as the new 3 and 5 year old Doorly’s Rums.      Adding J. D. Taylor Velvet Falernum to the Doorly’s XO gave us a Corn & Oil Cocktail that just couldn’t be beat.      As usual it is always a pleasure to spend time with the Seale’s here in Barbados.

     Next, we headed cross island to Cherry Hill to visit Larry Warren and his family at the St. Nicolas Abbey.     The Warren’s have been restoring the abbey for several years now and each time that I return it is absolutely amazing how much they have accomplished.      This year the still is running at full production and there is a new 12 year old St. Nicolas Abbey Rum for sale.    This is rum that needs to be added to any serious rum collector’s shelf.       Larry was the perfect host, as usual, allowing us to spend time wandering around the grounds and looking at the Steam-powered cane crusher used to produce the cane syrup that is fermented to make the rum.      After a fine lunch at the Abbey it was time for us to bid adieu to the Warren’s and their beautiful St. Nicolas Abbey.  Next we headed toward the western coast to visit a number of the “rum shops” that the island is famous for.

     The next few hours took us from one rum shop to another and beaches in between.     The rum shops are really Bajan bars.    In the more traditional “rum shops” you buy a bottle of rum, your mixer and how many glasses that you will need.     The glasses are filled with ice…then taking the mixer, glasses and rum – you mix your own drinks tableside.     Six of us drank a rum and coke at each stop - the bill averaged about $ 16 to $ 18 Bajan or about $ 8 to $9 dollars American.     This is absolutely a wonderful thing that I wish could come to Key West or anywhere in America.     Working our way back to the ship, we managed to visit around nine of these rum shops, and four or so beaches.     To say the very least, our group had a really enjoyable day in Barbados.

     Now we are back aboard the Celebrity Summit headed for St. Lucia where we will disembark at 8:30 am for another adventuresome day on the Rum Cruise.     ;o)

A Day at Sea

     Today is a day at sea for the rum crew.   We are enroute to Barbados for a day of distillery and rum shop visitation.       We will start out with St Nicolas Abbey, then to the Foursquare Distillery, followed by Cockspur’s West Indies Rum Distillery.   The rest of the shore time will be spent visiting some of the many rum shops on the island.

     Today it was off to the gym at 6:30 this morning for an hour workout on some of the finest equipment that I’ve ever seen.     This ship has great equipment throughout, and the gym is no exception.    After a great workout and breakfast, I retired to the pool for some tanning and relaxation.     After lunch it was time for the rum seminars.

     The first one was a great lecture and tasting by Bacardi’s David Cid.    David covered the beginnings of Bacardi in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardi Masso, and the his approach using the “scientific method” to bring rum out of the cellar as a spirit and how he was crucial in redefining the “Spirit of the Caribbean”.     There was an opportunity to taste several of the Bacardi brand rums including the new Bacardi Oakheart Spiced rum.      David’s discussion of yeast, and fermentation was very informative and will be the subject of another blog when I get back home.

     Next was another seminar, this time by Esteban Ordonez from Don Q and the Serralles Family’s distillery in Ponce, Puerto Rico.     Esteban spent a lot of time discussing the importance and the ins and out of aging and blending of the rum.    It is the belief of the Don Q people that barrels need to be used for three different types of aging before they are ready for use in their rum aging method.     They believe that they like most others that you need to start with American Oak Barrels use to age Bourbon, the Canadian Whiskey, Scotch Whiskey, before they are ready for Don Q to be aged in the barrels.     He also discussed the “science of distillation” and the “art of blending’ rums.     We were able to taste several of the Don Q Rums including their top of the line Solera aged Don Q Gran Anejo.

     Finally was the cocktail contest by the Bacardi people after a discussion of the cocktail history of Bacardi and the late 1800”s and the early 1900’s in Cuba.       After the discussion teams were chosen, off to our tables we went to create three cocktails.    First one was the “Mojito”, then the” Daiquiri”, and finally the “Bacardi Cocktail”.     When the results were compiled, and our team won the overall with our “Bacardi Cocktail”, yeah team!!!    These events were very good and I did enjoy the seminars and the cocktail competition.

Watch for the next edition with pictures and stories from Barbados, home of great rums and the “Flying Fish Sandwich”.     ;o)

A Second Day in Old San Juan

     Second day in Old San Juan, it’s off to the trolley and a tour of Old San Juan.      Today we are following the wall as we travel around the city.    Known as the walled city, Old San Juan is a historically significant place that was held and attacked by many countries since its beginnings in the Sixteenth Century.     The fortress is immense and is strategically located at the entrance to San Juan Harbor with Fort San Juan de la Cruz across the harbor from it placing any enemy vessel in a deadly cross fire as it tries to enter the bay.

After leaving San Felipe El Morro Castle, it was down into the walled city to explore the walls and the architecture of this magnificent old city.   Wandering through these narrow streets is an adventure in itself.   You turn a corner and a new world pops up right in front of you and you just can’t keep the camera from taking another and another and another picture.     As we moved toward the South side of the city we were back to the walls again and the feeling that the city had to be impregnable from the land or the sea.     These walls at least 20 feet thick and made of stone and concrete are just plain impressive.     With our time in Old San Juan running out far too quickly, we headed for the port and the Celebrity Summit to get aboard for the beginning of our next adventure.

   

     Once aboard the Celebrity Summit, we got checked in, had the safety drill, move into our room, then it was time for some lunch in the Waterfall café for some lunch and then off to the Setting Sail Party by the pool on the 10^th deck.     The crew made sure that we were well stocked with rum drinks as the ship slowly backed out of its berth and was turned around and got under way.     I can feel the ships movement now as we are at sea and I am in the room typing about today’s events.

Tomorrow is a day at sea so we will be wandering around the ship and seeing what the ship has to offer us as we embark on our sea day. ;o).