tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52570367326836113492024-03-17T03:21:58.432-04:00As the Crowe Flies (and Reads!)Book blog? Travel blog? Why not both, I say?As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.comBlogger696125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-91023655259259743962024-01-28T09:08:00.003-05:002024-01-28T11:47:16.888-05:00Anguilla XV: Another Tuesday in Paradise<p><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPjSMRpOgAA-GJ4w90x4BewNjYfouUIzACHO05HJQFNAEBzZH7ixgd_6UQB5zEBjNpkvdtY7WUB7pY_vs3yQ1Dk2_r-1zSa3DsERVZO-lXB1qVyNKV4dOpe8A3CTVv3iXLuybVqD4Sm6m6NLuRoeQBSTFt2kqd8GCy6kz4crG8lBo7evMKtRu2JhjCxvXw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPjSMRpOgAA-GJ4w90x4BewNjYfouUIzACHO05HJQFNAEBzZH7ixgd_6UQB5zEBjNpkvdtY7WUB7pY_vs3yQ1Dk2_r-1zSa3DsERVZO-lXB1qVyNKV4dOpe8A3CTVv3iXLuybVqD4Sm6m6NLuRoeQBSTFt2kqd8GCy6kz4crG8lBo7evMKtRu2JhjCxvXw=w240-h320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>The little weather station by our apartment</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;">Having turned in
early the night before, we both woke early on Tuesday, eager to greet the day.
This was the morning that an echoing boom could be heard across the entire
Sandy Ground village, and as better writers than I have stated (thank you,
RMG), it was the explosion of a catamaran’s lithium battery. Yikes!</span></span></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDTlHmxLw3ie1waT7_BAGiHXrfKx--CE5f3qW_bqZ1pNLDxHKKbdtJTcSzZ8PVca5RgCRypSvaLHaU_2dVLIsKm5ysqbA4Aqt0BJ08HGO2JSnBhk_kLoSMk_lknvU18S1WocSM3Hxw0wCorqzHK43SSZz9dUFjJH8HrQj_NM_IUog4Sb5wKFvVUScgDaRi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDTlHmxLw3ie1waT7_BAGiHXrfKx--CE5f3qW_bqZ1pNLDxHKKbdtJTcSzZ8PVca5RgCRypSvaLHaU_2dVLIsKm5ysqbA4Aqt0BJ08HGO2JSnBhk_kLoSMk_lknvU18S1WocSM3Hxw0wCorqzHK43SSZz9dUFjJH8HrQj_NM_IUog4Sb5wKFvVUScgDaRi" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br />We heated up our
omelet and johnnycake leftovers from our earlier (and enormous) breakfast from
Roy’s in the efficiency kitchen in the studio and dined al fresco for breakfast
before taking a walk up the beach.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjakud3Kd1CxGPxpycZ4-kZudWYj2yNNIxLoe77R8zRhBh__ue7UE2FARupNlQj2I-SAm_GsMiDFUv0_mqrbrKoRqyVmD47I6cwqvSjtRjm-IAYciAPkagu45JE-RUHSfQ80XxJDpPbOcqHGsylF55nGq0DAciv_EmAzFRRv78Zdd1KaGkzPE1aqxY9BZ1S" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjakud3Kd1CxGPxpycZ4-kZudWYj2yNNIxLoe77R8zRhBh__ue7UE2FARupNlQj2I-SAm_GsMiDFUv0_mqrbrKoRqyVmD47I6cwqvSjtRjm-IAYciAPkagu45JE-RUHSfQ80XxJDpPbOcqHGsylF55nGq0DAciv_EmAzFRRv78Zdd1KaGkzPE1aqxY9BZ1S" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparkling Sandy Ground</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq_sUmqeIm9B-ZXUo69812dYHxfN6tx_4QfzyIjm5P4nHz6g7LtLwWWCaPVZpAIHNQlqQiruo6dJFcBaC0sHqDBOf326Ip11xfiJMkQggZSv84CHFzzJWPzKzfnLqltdShAqgwIRR-ZDyK5xVsaUtyhMgQijWucPWcH3Mj7HLOoXQO-IqZ6Gk0BOigI4mW" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq_sUmqeIm9B-ZXUo69812dYHxfN6tx_4QfzyIjm5P4nHz6g7LtLwWWCaPVZpAIHNQlqQiruo6dJFcBaC0sHqDBOf326Ip11xfiJMkQggZSv84CHFzzJWPzKzfnLqltdShAqgwIRR-ZDyK5xVsaUtyhMgQijWucPWcH3Mj7HLOoXQO-IqZ6Gk0BOigI4mW" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The listing catamaran. </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br />Before this
visit, I had never given much thought of Sandy Ground as a great beach
destination, but it’s only in Anguilla that the “afterthought” beach is nicer
than what you find on most other islands! I <i>loved</i> feeling like I was
staying in the middle of things, like being a part of the local community.
Obviously that communal fellow-feeling isn’t found on the big resorts that are
intentionally providing an oasis for their guests, but until I experienced it
in Sandy Ground, I hadn’t realized that it was something missing from my
previous villa stays on the island, too. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6uMA9m4_LqxnJ7NEnSJSjvE7Hotqzaph65FQEwjXnAs4cJj8slBT-QkR5RvJV5lQt1CqlFC4mkdzI9zULlsenI8GSVFk8QKd9Ka-YwSIoh9JBup9hjFu5I-FxfXTQVmzT6ULc3ZxlQEr8KGS-NvEsp77cji0jC38Iy6fGZDq99RnYoswerLcnRYXROVbm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6uMA9m4_LqxnJ7NEnSJSjvE7Hotqzaph65FQEwjXnAs4cJj8slBT-QkR5RvJV5lQt1CqlFC4mkdzI9zULlsenI8GSVFk8QKd9Ka-YwSIoh9JBup9hjFu5I-FxfXTQVmzT6ULc3ZxlQEr8KGS-NvEsp77cji0jC38Iy6fGZDq99RnYoswerLcnRYXROVbm=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEHYE3xO-BNj8iKadPvklZorrESz2edyTUGXAOojN3fvuSU04XKXqstC93UDoXjyaI3ZRVVxh0j8EMMUFLGkI9dTpRPDfCgBUNLSA_BjSMa7otQJyHjPiEB1A_hQWo2cLlggCSXGQ_Y5pr1_E1gR1BVRs1isD2zZova9hADEBsF0Cjtq_f2930vj5gGiYG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="1508" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEHYE3xO-BNj8iKadPvklZorrESz2edyTUGXAOojN3fvuSU04XKXqstC93UDoXjyaI3ZRVVxh0j8EMMUFLGkI9dTpRPDfCgBUNLSA_BjSMa7otQJyHjPiEB1A_hQWo2cLlggCSXGQ_Y5pr1_E1gR1BVRs1isD2zZova9hADEBsF0Cjtq_f2930vj5gGiYG" width="320" /></a></span></div></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br />We packed up our
beach bags and drove all the way out to Shoal Bay East to spend the day at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/elodiasbeachbar/">Elodia’s.</a> That location is
my favorite spot to park myself on SBE, just a short walk from the point, with
steady breezes to keep you comfortable and a constant changing in shades of
blue, thanks to the wind, the water, and its myriad interplays of light. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5M6OWHjcqQLLoKKzbmIS-A5fIKCHJsfEY8-8d3c1NOBNL8v6_j_bFkR-qmb00NG3LJLCixF1pYsVg0p17vsBm3hdOHb9jHlywcoMjmH-qRmNvzWskTXnvqaezG3NGnMagTT5araVWdJPSVsD-IkJnZdmSqoueugLlOtf4OsPcksyifHj9r2XjX8xTda4a" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5M6OWHjcqQLLoKKzbmIS-A5fIKCHJsfEY8-8d3c1NOBNL8v6_j_bFkR-qmb00NG3LJLCixF1pYsVg0p17vsBm3hdOHb9jHlywcoMjmH-qRmNvzWskTXnvqaezG3NGnMagTT5araVWdJPSVsD-IkJnZdmSqoueugLlOtf4OsPcksyifHj9r2XjX8xTda4a=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU9H1BYtjk9jdHknJxt8VZkDPy0Eoaz4WlYhCcJqxU1sxAwq8OcNEsELy6zFNXEMt4js43lQrJjbaqfTw1zE2V4rYxnRqXfHGrxfFKqVJlxLAeP4N8xnu6AbMEQwtgoDyu_CYGRC0rGokFv0ABw0-LDW133p-ms1jhixlxA0D3Gl6frNS9iv4-VDGWJHCP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU9H1BYtjk9jdHknJxt8VZkDPy0Eoaz4WlYhCcJqxU1sxAwq8OcNEsELy6zFNXEMt4js43lQrJjbaqfTw1zE2V4rYxnRqXfHGrxfFKqVJlxLAeP4N8xnu6AbMEQwtgoDyu_CYGRC0rGokFv0ABw0-LDW133p-ms1jhixlxA0D3Gl6frNS9iv4-VDGWJHCP=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br />We began our
usual cycle of swimming (which honestly is just treading water, not actually any
kind of forward locomotion, other than drifting in the current), reading, and gazing
at the horizon before I walked up and requested one of my favorite drinks: a
passionfruit daiquiri. The one at Elodia’s is excellent and they provide a
generous pour, and their prices are still lower than most other spots on the
island. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhV1qE7h3nNoiU3GyQVR8PqNDhvvxlcWh-VFhef7_HwhEmIrYgivtwxtwVkz0LVe3xVjaqMFBjgiNB5mC4ddBztrad6EJspXp9huo24HcbwIFJMeuYuMn9DskLtUXfPeQljqkhWjkrxnPnzAp39IPDE5Qkx4Qv8-ItSQgQC9ffk5yjXvMHeoO0OGsBMPs2B" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhV1qE7h3nNoiU3GyQVR8PqNDhvvxlcWh-VFhef7_HwhEmIrYgivtwxtwVkz0LVe3xVjaqMFBjgiNB5mC4ddBztrad6EJspXp9huo24HcbwIFJMeuYuMn9DskLtUXfPeQljqkhWjkrxnPnzAp39IPDE5Qkx4Qv8-ItSQgQC9ffk5yjXvMHeoO0OGsBMPs2B" width="180" /></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieDGbyWdxi3EqGUEh9etZc6BGtsVlZ5Kol42NeDsTzrDCf2fd_4ZzL81AjB4LmPtWmTzUsF7KSi8Y_Huo5fWkYz-TAEtRax-vTmEM-hfrtxFDV8_2u-t6buzXfgEnoisAg4G5dTxy1AzlGnDLQ7hITwWOUEdxkxgTQZirygLCNjulnU6iv4HxAFaN0fo3f" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieDGbyWdxi3EqGUEh9etZc6BGtsVlZ5Kol42NeDsTzrDCf2fd_4ZzL81AjB4LmPtWmTzUsF7KSi8Y_Huo5fWkYz-TAEtRax-vTmEM-hfrtxFDV8_2u-t6buzXfgEnoisAg4G5dTxy1AzlGnDLQ7hITwWOUEdxkxgTQZirygLCNjulnU6iv4HxAFaN0fo3f" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br />After another dip
in the water, we wandered back up to the restaurant for lunch. Michael ordered
a mahi mahi sandwich and I had the bbq chicken plate. Both offered solid value
and we made quick work of them before heading up the beach for a walk. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijB3PBOcuexAU4LqSYAF2JWEcfgCxoyCpuD2P2DOOqC5fXjkvPPOp60KT-wtyzrONGJTZK41nvtRHp8e-CjjL7OO-M_BOeZKbcyuv9K4ZAWizp5UYVXUEJ6Bmtd1ZktmZe4wp4rQ1_fpKR3nZeBzpTO8owIS7HERr_x_L9d_ZGWNaLzy-u_G5Uknba2TV4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="6269" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijB3PBOcuexAU4LqSYAF2JWEcfgCxoyCpuD2P2DOOqC5fXjkvPPOp60KT-wtyzrONGJTZK41nvtRHp8e-CjjL7OO-M_BOeZKbcyuv9K4ZAWizp5UYVXUEJ6Bmtd1ZktmZe4wp4rQ1_fpKR3nZeBzpTO8owIS7HERr_x_L9d_ZGWNaLzy-u_G5Uknba2TV4=w400-h121" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkGECo-JFpW-cIN3KKqrEATtRwcJzTGcW1M7-hQ4Tu1lrJmOSLFM9h20ZssEHbMSjIMzSg-iwMHGrd5YsZdQ3oLd7NZ2FyTr7QRTnSVC3sTLK41oKxxmvRZKmsQ-x_EmTvqvlaH2zJosKZBYC50nVOIzoFEGNqQCKEru6Oqo-n1CzhyyJzoQfuDFuQLQDi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkGECo-JFpW-cIN3KKqrEATtRwcJzTGcW1M7-hQ4Tu1lrJmOSLFM9h20ZssEHbMSjIMzSg-iwMHGrd5YsZdQ3oLd7NZ2FyTr7QRTnSVC3sTLK41oKxxmvRZKmsQ-x_EmTvqvlaH2zJosKZBYC50nVOIzoFEGNqQCKEru6Oqo-n1CzhyyJzoQfuDFuQLQDi=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVmmM1kMoHN_ySiaHv5HabFmriBEFK_gD4qQ66qjhAmLEq0Db7QkZP5_BIRR0YoIUQeVgB5uPhd1RpIRDjkCrw2w6PpTo6b42CzagC_IDpvEDOILhz4Ud3ctlKRTIATYosiPy2ntHvNjBfcVd6-fXPj-APMWAdPNLYK_Es_b93N0h1RNKTyizKGVgl_dxN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVmmM1kMoHN_ySiaHv5HabFmriBEFK_gD4qQ66qjhAmLEq0Db7QkZP5_BIRR0YoIUQeVgB5uPhd1RpIRDjkCrw2w6PpTo6b42CzagC_IDpvEDOILhz4Ud3ctlKRTIATYosiPy2ntHvNjBfcVd6-fXPj-APMWAdPNLYK_Es_b93N0h1RNKTyizKGVgl_dxN=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The last time we’d
been to the island you couldn’t navigate around the point to Upper Shoal Bay,
at least not on foot without wading through the waves, but on this visit we
could walk all the way up. I have always loved that moment rounding the point,
where the wind is suddenly aggressive in your face, whipping your hair around
and the waves kick up and all the vegetation is bent to its will.</span></div></span></div></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7kVvk7xGuj-9U8MlXAqXOvG_Xm-XV2z3o7E_LQTGosbowK7i5fkltNSoqnd-2NPBXnulmzr0Q1ukgmujX4XLV8GtD9uoUGJnbj6utbXV5dn1zDC2wYVnD6_NwyL6i1LgeezW0yrwOQEKrXJxfR8xz1Ee1dus1cxIadUlJDFdz517wrfLkwGLnlbC4nFZc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="1584" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7kVvk7xGuj-9U8MlXAqXOvG_Xm-XV2z3o7E_LQTGosbowK7i5fkltNSoqnd-2NPBXnulmzr0Q1ukgmujX4XLV8GtD9uoUGJnbj6utbXV5dn1zDC2wYVnD6_NwyL6i1LgeezW0yrwOQEKrXJxfR8xz1Ee1dus1cxIadUlJDFdz517wrfLkwGLnlbC4nFZc=w320-h267" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilNwq1lvaqQJA1IM3ufQ9FoTCsGPjjovyfHDSuH-vYe5Tn92U5GwfqrYhbxNgEbHeoUiRTsujxcsp7iOz7nm-Tc5JxIzWoIiggjb0aM2yn1hD0-8SxWIsZi7kq_0Dw913w2idziNycuNk2iARjpNNA0DPcnvIUtF6iDFT7NPkdLtzAnhF9F2V06xB1e5wf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1903" data-original-width="1427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilNwq1lvaqQJA1IM3ufQ9FoTCsGPjjovyfHDSuH-vYe5Tn92U5GwfqrYhbxNgEbHeoUiRTsujxcsp7iOz7nm-Tc5JxIzWoIiggjb0aM2yn1hD0-8SxWIsZi7kq_0Dw913w2idziNycuNk2iARjpNNA0DPcnvIUtF6iDFT7NPkdLtzAnhF9F2V06xB1e5wf=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></span></div></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br />We walked back
and swam again, then read some more, and eventually packed up our bags and
settled up, for today was our visit with Pam at Sea Spray. Pam hadn’t been on
island on our visit in 2022, I hadn’t seen her since 2019, and Michael hadn’t
seen her since his first visit in 2016, so we all had some catching up to do! We
sat and chatted while sipping our smoothies and watching the world drive by until
eventually we bid her goodbye and hied ourselves down the hill to Sandy Ground.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieLPQMfQ6UXRj1c10M8c6qMd3UU28u8BLvcDtxowqhEU2bGqlyw2S3GKNVOXSrv7UPy3IZPy_Uc3gpsXgX2yrLrYc9uF8NFZbY7wfkHo9PFWlNI95DHQIo_l3P_op90KRt6OvumdbJU_HEAjfgepjAldCjL8Seo94r4zaq_LDiXOgiaDcc1WDl8v767zmj" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="1720" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieLPQMfQ6UXRj1c10M8c6qMd3UU28u8BLvcDtxowqhEU2bGqlyw2S3GKNVOXSrv7UPy3IZPy_Uc3gpsXgX2yrLrYc9uF8NFZbY7wfkHo9PFWlNI95DHQIo_l3P_op90KRt6OvumdbJU_HEAjfgepjAldCjL8Seo94r4zaq_LDiXOgiaDcc1WDl8v767zmj=w320-h231" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset from Roy's<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC-FwjjPnXoAkVYrBptlZeN0Xmu7-fgDCzQJqConLX8Mp9ptTu-mzmfegWj0R8tsutQiXaN34ga2nkZ-tKjqiij4DBq79Leqb_4w5MatH2I2oyYsVQVL-AXysLLmK05I1I7Bt4j67KEcGtzXyNfEmV4a8L88gb2D9jPT-VqcA7JwbUrd2zYvj-sFJQJJJs" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC-FwjjPnXoAkVYrBptlZeN0Xmu7-fgDCzQJqConLX8Mp9ptTu-mzmfegWj0R8tsutQiXaN34ga2nkZ-tKjqiij4DBq79Leqb_4w5MatH2I2oyYsVQVL-AXysLLmK05I1I7Bt4j67KEcGtzXyNfEmV4a8L88gb2D9jPT-VqcA7JwbUrd2zYvj-sFJQJJJs=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veya's signature urchin candle holders</td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrnL9z7zhqlOngLo7EObcWCdulBRUadTsDSTBqsfPzO5gzfZ6eF5jLDOouM2RxjrsEEIbmCSPqyr-fRmy9SLuPCcuejxIsYTIGIqG72U86d7Z6-aBZRqCoh1F1AkC3bmIPlxSa6at-JbX_NB_lFPtNAPYn44Z4txlmMPMpDbWyB2RPej9YHx6bbzpU2hzM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgrnL9z7zhqlOngLo7EObcWCdulBRUadTsDSTBqsfPzO5gzfZ6eF5jLDOouM2RxjrsEEIbmCSPqyr-fRmy9SLuPCcuejxIsYTIGIqG72U86d7Z6-aBZRqCoh1F1AkC3bmIPlxSa6at-JbX_NB_lFPtNAPYn44Z4txlmMPMpDbWyB2RPej9YHx6bbzpU2hzM=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crudo of the day</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;">Tonight was
special, for tonight was dinner at Veya, which has long been one of my favorite
restaurants anywhere. We started by sharing the crudo of the day (forgive me, I
don’t recall what fish it was), served with plantain chips that was just delicious,
followed by the five-spiced duck breast (Michael) and the grilled mahi mahi
with miso-sesame glaze and coconut rice (me). </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4p792WAE88uFWtv9L2I-35xg1zi-V-hkM15stUS3hJTDfSdA60zJBhYsa9OXLEFP0hy--zMhpXKHBp67SkjFZ3HD-kT5_QJ6HKbfQKhbA9XbrD_lu9733tZBvm4VB2AZNGPALPScW2tb7SAREckYYwzYfAseAL0dLEmxiFjayizhb--zFsJovFpBqsdFQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4p792WAE88uFWtv9L2I-35xg1zi-V-hkM15stUS3hJTDfSdA60zJBhYsa9OXLEFP0hy--zMhpXKHBp67SkjFZ3HD-kT5_QJ6HKbfQKhbA9XbrD_lu9733tZBvm4VB2AZNGPALPScW2tb7SAREckYYwzYfAseAL0dLEmxiFjayizhb--zFsJovFpBqsdFQ" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;">The absolutely incredible mahi mahi<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYNH_o7KKhsjOZblSaw36JDWmPP_0LxYgFttOQkNkRcp9eZfy0eDrj1ppRotz0kZIUPKoGakXQKy73FBeUgYct0XSJqKOL-4gEs3X3PNyqTQ7_xHMspOgVlP1iyg6Gdu4o5SQzWiJ_KFryDkvhqCfiy44DNlCGyVHQS0OX804YguTMIN6Jtw6yUI4fyexm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYNH_o7KKhsjOZblSaw36JDWmPP_0LxYgFttOQkNkRcp9eZfy0eDrj1ppRotz0kZIUPKoGakXQKy73FBeUgYct0XSJqKOL-4gEs3X3PNyqTQ7_xHMspOgVlP1iyg6Gdu4o5SQzWiJ_KFryDkvhqCfiy44DNlCGyVHQS0OX804YguTMIN6Jtw6yUI4fyexm" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;">The totally delectable duck<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #e4f7f8;">There were quite a few new-to-me
items on the menu this time, and I was deeply pleased to see that Veya now has
a very nice selection of vegetarian and vegan-friendly items compared to my
previous visits. (It must be said, that even though most restaurants in Anguilla
can accommodate a vegetarian or vegan diet, not all of them list full options
on the menu, which is a shame. When traveling with my vegetarian friend in
2022, all of our meal decisions were based on the online menu that restaurants
provided.)
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOCf0wTYHHy578YgEaY5CAY9chIHotrs7tDXdO0KytW42fQns9Nsi9mjatDoE14heLPBzqHthGwFi1TrAPAB9kx6wrNZDtgqcmjBKlv2K2JymnXT9wA73rG_DOcZfXbL1W5zoaa56499s6z-l37qFKRlWJ2sEJvgSL38q4OO2msHDFEt6LbiPh6uVNxTwJ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOCf0wTYHHy578YgEaY5CAY9chIHotrs7tDXdO0KytW42fQns9Nsi9mjatDoE14heLPBzqHthGwFi1TrAPAB9kx6wrNZDtgqcmjBKlv2K2JymnXT9wA73rG_DOcZfXbL1W5zoaa56499s6z-l37qFKRlWJ2sEJvgSL38q4OO2msHDFEt6LbiPh6uVNxTwJ=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br />As tempted as we
were by dessert, we decided to skip it in favor of following Peter’s advice and
stopping by Waves on our way back down the hill to have a night cap, but not
before popping into Meze for a moment to listen to Sprocka, who waved and greeted
us as we gathered ‘round. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwJZOWUCatydmViXr-5ExfW8QaiJl6GdOSlB2YPOAe2tdT58opix_74X9KP1BKjFXSFdtrOaFhvmtd2hyktdTMVr5Vnhh6Bg-2M14b-MUoBsosaggi9WsfMuU7nlniVryNDQs53ROyHpDEwzKQnLGYm_L23qeCLPCqBe8wllu9lzjH3IHgLxBxIimJD74N" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwJZOWUCatydmViXr-5ExfW8QaiJl6GdOSlB2YPOAe2tdT58opix_74X9KP1BKjFXSFdtrOaFhvmtd2hyktdTMVr5Vnhh6Bg-2M14b-MUoBsosaggi9WsfMuU7nlniVryNDQs53ROyHpDEwzKQnLGYm_L23qeCLPCqBe8wllu9lzjH3IHgLxBxIimJD74N=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br />While Waves is
technically walkable from Roy’s, I am so glad that we drove because walking that
dark road through the abandoned Mariners resort to get there would have been
creepy AF. It was creepy enough driving! But eventually the road gave way to a
brightly lit spot on the water and we could breathe a sigh of relief. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiI4rZZ6lvIHRaokajse2i8mqh0tWK5aLRlGF99esu06CowtAGa6EZqXY0iclKUqnZIxytNFx0f9iTix-fRrljUUo243PDqCxFohNY_qGsCyNdTXvjYqF01w6JUm4ZobcA4Eue6LDv1qDXhMezI01Z-_ILY6FBsWduJ_Vt9dvQ13rTdvuuTJVNw3Cy3TUbv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiI4rZZ6lvIHRaokajse2i8mqh0tWK5aLRlGF99esu06CowtAGa6EZqXY0iclKUqnZIxytNFx0f9iTix-fRrljUUo243PDqCxFohNY_qGsCyNdTXvjYqF01w6JUm4ZobcA4Eue6LDv1qDXhMezI01Z-_ILY6FBsWduJ_Vt9dvQ13rTdvuuTJVNw3Cy3TUbv" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRhA1MaHCc9r4zlcw-TQFxli69vsHJNqcbGjBAJwz4bINNp9Fd5WHHOTl7rKfBBlHh7f_H5L6gwQMt-ZweAtET9tKc_bkn4pZCt3B9HGsfjUntkyojFseFyy5jiLToMjRboZAgIQCKjiyqPu7Feu0b5tNstP9Gg1MuRodb0vtnMX3BuE8ta8tp63ct3uK3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRhA1MaHCc9r4zlcw-TQFxli69vsHJNqcbGjBAJwz4bINNp9Fd5WHHOTl7rKfBBlHh7f_H5L6gwQMt-ZweAtET9tKc_bkn4pZCt3B9HGsfjUntkyojFseFyy5jiLToMjRboZAgIQCKjiyqPu7Feu0b5tNstP9Gg1MuRodb0vtnMX3BuE8ta8tp63ct3uK3=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggi6msRaj1s7S94Sj-jcZUbntPXB4Rzsm9_zANa2yCXzI4dlPpeLR3jZ4tAsJYa4im7hxRBQ1XDG9LyBgm7UB61yQPSv-kiIABZkt_XXSL0aGgINtuGOfruJCg7w7rVC5Ix5Je_FclG-GO1n4UpygmsG6J9ULV0IywZX1Vh31z4WeIJ_vVU4amgAnshDTu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="1512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggi6msRaj1s7S94Sj-jcZUbntPXB4Rzsm9_zANa2yCXzI4dlPpeLR3jZ4tAsJYa4im7hxRBQ1XDG9LyBgm7UB61yQPSv-kiIABZkt_XXSL0aGgINtuGOfruJCg7w7rVC5Ix5Je_FclG-GO1n4UpygmsG6J9ULV0IywZX1Vh31z4WeIJ_vVU4amgAnshDTu" width="229" /></a></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEj0S0-8BNmjAtXLBJTqmXdCJnDnwzhBE9Rv9NKKpNlRrxEZp98_dBhIoW-vsgBIcVTQlOAPgr4SnfQduS0vCkmMC6ddGwXz3Jrt8poBae5qCTGrDu4r3ZGDYmJZS-H3RsLLxxN1YyMcGOt64WEVV3PDvNLBnlA1r_Ly4_Arwnad1U9PLBGVjvAUwkjVBX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="1282" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEj0S0-8BNmjAtXLBJTqmXdCJnDnwzhBE9Rv9NKKpNlRrxEZp98_dBhIoW-vsgBIcVTQlOAPgr4SnfQduS0vCkmMC6ddGwXz3Jrt8poBae5qCTGrDu4r3ZGDYmJZS-H3RsLLxxN1YyMcGOt64WEVV3PDvNLBnlA1r_Ly4_Arwnad1U9PLBGVjvAUwkjVBX=w192-h209" width="192" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br />We happened upon
them at a quiet moment – they told us that 7-9 is pretty quiet until the after
dinner crowd hits them – so it was fun feeling like we had stumbled across
something secretive. We had two rounds of drinks while chatting to the two
women working and the occasional person who dropped in for takeout before
heading back to Roy’s and turning in for the night. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAFZaL9fGW6ZO8cPTuxqMawMpbgrZBx7bV-Ce86DXWhXaURN1aHOMI0iqTXBdDNSS89vtvF5iHXtyP8VskLCYTTna9v7_q8tHtYZwmuwUvlOQatX7d1noI4cbYnxpmeIGOW3aChYUe96ivlkoJBD5ckYyYTdiZBY6UzAQcDoUXSe9kqDghZrf_Cv1AIKaZ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAFZaL9fGW6ZO8cPTuxqMawMpbgrZBx7bV-Ce86DXWhXaURN1aHOMI0iqTXBdDNSS89vtvF5iHXtyP8VskLCYTTna9v7_q8tHtYZwmuwUvlOQatX7d1noI4cbYnxpmeIGOW3aChYUe96ivlkoJBD5ckYyYTdiZBY6UzAQcDoUXSe9kqDghZrf_Cv1AIKaZ" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;">Christmas Bat!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKlUapeS2_cGhUMTyq8s0SE6olcITotY4lNKf2t71FAMbEyJRPokksE8URRjxsfOPCtItAzHKCRXLIHENcphcKPGsslfvECIT6wpsCsAFnzTItRJDPsh77GlyS7qetr9N8WRftjMsqFA3r7GIEWA7g3vk8jdoU0H_wLoWE45PE8tyXLy796OSDMbnR6bJk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #e4f7f8;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKlUapeS2_cGhUMTyq8s0SE6olcITotY4lNKf2t71FAMbEyJRPokksE8URRjxsfOPCtItAzHKCRXLIHENcphcKPGsslfvECIT6wpsCsAFnzTItRJDPsh77GlyS7qetr9N8WRftjMsqFA3r7GIEWA7g3vk8jdoU0H_wLoWE45PE8tyXLy796OSDMbnR6bJk" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p>As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-47778050468512232662024-01-27T08:53:00.001-05:002024-01-27T08:53:36.568-05:00Anguilla XV: Straw Hat, Tasty's, and Another Day of Sheer Perfection<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtNTtFCuvmrx8ZGkenzcdtpHwlF0hB2tZkDADtSA0eIzmFtK-2XnyUewuF-_SdqWo8yPEsTCc9cZ60HGk7oYoVBvIwv0rYq6lo0B2CfeXJwtHhpNhPbEtGbo4zfQj5efsuTyDJgqars8BsO3-jRi9IfI3X_Y8ltbq77EgqutcYB1rAhUV_iDF3MvEsgFQ/s2016/roys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtNTtFCuvmrx8ZGkenzcdtpHwlF0hB2tZkDADtSA0eIzmFtK-2XnyUewuF-_SdqWo8yPEsTCc9cZ60HGk7oYoVBvIwv0rYq6lo0B2CfeXJwtHhpNhPbEtGbo4zfQj5efsuTyDJgqars8BsO3-jRi9IfI3X_Y8ltbq77EgqutcYB1rAhUV_iDF3MvEsgFQ/s320/roys.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing showers during morning coffee</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: left;">Despite the late
night (by my standards anyway!), I rose with the dawn on the first day of the
year and read while Michael slumbered a bit longer. Before long we were</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">both feeling a bit hungry, but Roy’s is
closed on Mondays, so we broke our fast on with coffee and granola bars that we
brought from home. We checked with Wayne first to make sure it was okay, and
then brought our coffee downstairs to the closed restaurant to enjoy by the
water.</span></span></div></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhZ-hyjxs3LZBgzXTlVXfKZnWJ8Obx3WUB9LKNcXGgPUFbdZ6Lnf5gMnLZFjPstxypuEBcKT6bE0w7zmimvhVA9jF-w3Q4GPFpQCwZETEBjKFQp2R2bI6GLMfS2d2AUvLJ3BPeE46i-XdV9WjDpZ1zlaHf4hlAJpsShBp_LG_yIAgOori3k4yOtv7HUbm/s1448/tall%20ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1448" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhZ-hyjxs3LZBgzXTlVXfKZnWJ8Obx3WUB9LKNcXGgPUFbdZ6Lnf5gMnLZFjPstxypuEBcKT6bE0w7zmimvhVA9jF-w3Q4GPFpQCwZETEBjKFQp2R2bI6GLMfS2d2AUvLJ3BPeE46i-XdV9WjDpZ1zlaHf4hlAJpsShBp_LG_yIAgOori3k4yOtv7HUbm/s320/tall%20ship.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We would not have
wanted a full breakfast anyway since we had luncheon reservations at <a href="https://www.strawhat.com/" target="_blank">Straw Hat</a>
at 12:30. After it stopped raining we took a shorter walk up and down the Sandy
Ground beach but the direct sun with no ameliorating breeze was starting to get
a little too intense for my husband, who hails from northern stock much better
suited to the cold.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X_icePUeclLSCbX9JsItTB7h3S2-Q-nEq9mRuGYbxbi97SXyGBgnyk-LbuC6ZR5P3EH1_KTYxGRK8PEenNNThyH6hFuRqLqQ7G3uiVxkfkBP4duHGYxdqI-DsSgVrwTjx76LewOoiLYImYf8L4l3bhr32y54CEBqh7MElx_hiA7BrKxOq924rSlii34W/s6109/meads%20pay%20pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1844" data-original-width="6109" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4X_icePUeclLSCbX9JsItTB7h3S2-Q-nEq9mRuGYbxbi97SXyGBgnyk-LbuC6ZR5P3EH1_KTYxGRK8PEenNNThyH6hFuRqLqQ7G3uiVxkfkBP4duHGYxdqI-DsSgVrwTjx76LewOoiLYImYf8L4l3bhr32y54CEBqh7MElx_hiA7BrKxOq924rSlii34W/w400-h121/meads%20pay%20pano.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous Meads Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Looking for a
change of scenery, we decided to take our chances to see if Straw Hat might
have chairs & umbrellas available and packed up our beach bags to head to
Meads Bay early. Luck was with us as we checked in and inquired whether they
had anything left and we got the last set of chairs & umbrella in the front
row facing the beach – huzzah!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7Um2cofycllG58Iv3SXwCFl1yoj5eROUN6SlWBZWK5E4trIoywPm-jogVCRFJxUp-8wxUYRWpbbCynYiwyFvkW5HE3GmK_S9_4NhyphenhyphenN4E5JBJnDYCiA0T4g1yTXXbHqawpJ77WKolRtegKMYjKg_bdOzoR56SJU410xyHDLJ1v3lcd7CiwuAHlopyu7Xo/s1920/umbrellas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7Um2cofycllG58Iv3SXwCFl1yoj5eROUN6SlWBZWK5E4trIoywPm-jogVCRFJxUp-8wxUYRWpbbCynYiwyFvkW5HE3GmK_S9_4NhyphenhyphenN4E5JBJnDYCiA0T4g1yTXXbHqawpJ77WKolRtegKMYjKg_bdOzoR56SJU410xyHDLJ1v3lcd7CiwuAHlopyu7Xo/s320/umbrellas.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />With more than an
hour before our reservation, we alternated between reading, hanging out in the
water, and simply enjoying the breeze. Other times of year Meads can feel a
little still, a little hot, but on this particular visit it was all bliss. We
ordered a couple of Tings to enjoy and then eventually wandered up for our
lunch table.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJtcSc4PiQjsh9vBhCGYfyTpTnLEyVgD9_EfAFy-9u4DwnqqOhsUHJN4z-qLy8tOlALib6bDph1qhzZ3xclortzghbV4gLJFo86_CyEaGGCnGxA3wuCDpEvMfyGQsSOj71sDJAc8bZdLOQpG-80zFOF2L0yDo_T3eIsx2494T_ehLzeZPSqiMfdgbUBXM/s2016/rueben%20better.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJtcSc4PiQjsh9vBhCGYfyTpTnLEyVgD9_EfAFy-9u4DwnqqOhsUHJN4z-qLy8tOlALib6bDph1qhzZ3xclortzghbV4gLJFo86_CyEaGGCnGxA3wuCDpEvMfyGQsSOj71sDJAc8bZdLOQpG-80zFOF2L0yDo_T3eIsx2494T_ehLzeZPSqiMfdgbUBXM/w240-h320/rueben%20better.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Rueben</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcX_If-WMEQJDxlKOSdU5SBEjKbOKAI5UPtQgSJhj9bXWnY7b2CYxbJP_CoUPMKBNSCz_C78IieSYJqF3VMF3ohnTKMVbJMMd5AxPbTj4CpuLpho2UCti3drCqNoaQ6FKmrHspOVQycjWlStvW1uJu4obF70YJ5IKduEYNLLsbPNzQUR_DpgCUIUmJd5G/s1920/banh%20mi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcX_If-WMEQJDxlKOSdU5SBEjKbOKAI5UPtQgSJhj9bXWnY7b2CYxbJP_CoUPMKBNSCz_C78IieSYJqF3VMF3ohnTKMVbJMMd5AxPbTj4CpuLpho2UCti3drCqNoaQ6FKmrHspOVQycjWlStvW1uJu4obF70YJ5IKduEYNLLsbPNzQUR_DpgCUIUmJd5G/w320-h240/banh%20mi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banh Mi - minus cilantro</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It’s always so
hard to make up my mind what to eat at Straw Hat – I’ve never had a bad meal
there, and their menu has changed so often that I’ve never fallen into any kind
of food rut – but I have never hesitated when it comes to my drink order, and
that’s their Ti punch. It’s one of my favorite rum drinks anywhere – not too
sweet, and each ingredient gets to shine. Michael ordered the Island Passion,
and then we decided on the Sea Rueben (him) and the Tuna Banh Mi (me), after I
was gratified to learn that it could, in fact, be made without cilantro.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2vUrY5jcx6ixR4Sk-kuz_W4ikfEYEyCnYcuX3kI_o8dgPE453CVdexU-M9F-l6ThisOg_VvYkQGnhHKPsfXd4spD5FOmcdiaRjG-cGIfjieJDo8Q6_M3mcbQumLblCfM62j1HpTBsTB5-3B_EGPncwZG5feXBfdZO5EGF1mscbrBG16ZBSMyEBT4x5P8/s2016/straw%20hat%20menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2vUrY5jcx6ixR4Sk-kuz_W4ikfEYEyCnYcuX3kI_o8dgPE453CVdexU-M9F-l6ThisOg_VvYkQGnhHKPsfXd4spD5FOmcdiaRjG-cGIfjieJDo8Q6_M3mcbQumLblCfM62j1HpTBsTB5-3B_EGPncwZG5feXBfdZO5EGF1mscbrBG16ZBSMyEBT4x5P8/s320/straw%20hat%20menu.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo2liI8AxEykAjLwn96CuQ8Q66A9-hzLdgAVe-mHx4KuNky-nk29g4k-mWornqx5Ao7NStai0b9ycgF8uldr3wBQdp-YMyD-Osrq4AOFSZSl8ZplHtxQziuLFm4FTQXH-NLFMitvQD8RbGEeCnwyKbujOiJPonvZeBhsySBI5nCg7CkMaNqtsSpEgn-Bl/s2016/drinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo2liI8AxEykAjLwn96CuQ8Q66A9-hzLdgAVe-mHx4KuNky-nk29g4k-mWornqx5Ao7NStai0b9ycgF8uldr3wBQdp-YMyD-Osrq4AOFSZSl8ZplHtxQziuLFm4FTQXH-NLFMitvQD8RbGEeCnwyKbujOiJPonvZeBhsySBI5nCg7CkMaNqtsSpEgn-Bl/s320/drinks.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />The whole
experience was basically sublime. Our original plan for the day was to scoot
somewhere else by 2:00, but we were experiencing a serious gravitational pull
there. My husband’s preferred way of doing things is to stick to whatever plan
we may have (it’s a plan – that’s what it’s for!), but even he seemed delighted
with my proposal that we just stay put. Meads Bay was tossing up waves that
were just large enough to demand our full attention when in the water so that
they wouldn’t crest directly on our heads, and so our afternoon was spent in
rotation between that glorious water, reading on our loungers, dozing off, and
repeating.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj285R26_LcBgn-aMHOqnLBrUXKQHCH7Ng31IqnOxarIfbyYUSACMOO5MOZ5O8LcVlSVOpG25RTfQzPSNd3m5JwPlfMa2VPLYowevb30ZQA853xMOHZGnnWLG4NiUbF7yfZOSrBKAV-BWe451yeP1Ao5pzLONzqYSeJEFEcwk3-J5oigaapU_Hh6q0a78U5/s2016/artsy%20umbrella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj285R26_LcBgn-aMHOqnLBrUXKQHCH7Ng31IqnOxarIfbyYUSACMOO5MOZ5O8LcVlSVOpG25RTfQzPSNd3m5JwPlfMa2VPLYowevb30ZQA853xMOHZGnnWLG4NiUbF7yfZOSrBKAV-BWe451yeP1Ao5pzLONzqYSeJEFEcwk3-J5oigaapU_Hh6q0a78U5/s320/artsy%20umbrella.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiOaqhmgeW9Ctho3tyWplFCa3KlwYlSOzet6wPq5XDh5V8u_EGLUEbsPgGqllBOYc-fEZaux9n_8sHIBBc3ywhR-33QOQWdqsaubNUCf8X8DZ1EdVuy608YfSlI00k4YfUwHQW0ipndYVGCNgFVq4CQ6IKqETwVo9z5qL6XATJh8IsCWZrz3lACnm9BS-/s1798/book%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="1349" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiOaqhmgeW9Ctho3tyWplFCa3KlwYlSOzet6wPq5XDh5V8u_EGLUEbsPgGqllBOYc-fEZaux9n_8sHIBBc3ywhR-33QOQWdqsaubNUCf8X8DZ1EdVuy608YfSlI00k4YfUwHQW0ipndYVGCNgFVq4CQ6IKqETwVo9z5qL6XATJh8IsCWZrz3lACnm9BS-/s320/book%20photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This book pubs in May. It's SOOOO good.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Peter and Anne
stopped to chat with us and we caught each other up on the broad strokes of our
lives in the last couple of years, and then Peter mentioned that Waves had
moved down to Sandy Ground and that it was amazing and we should try it out
since it was so close to our home base at Roy’s. Around 4:00 pm we settled up our
beach tab (which is separate from the main restaurant) and made our way
homeward. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZaDxa4Fcw0VhNnFZbAuAHrsQHw-oATmNnCWvN7O5T-5I4VLqrfIWfUNYRvwV42CokYm7FRDTse00Nt2l0ZcW4xh9V0t4_CLoaMxw1Nrqx5pZ5frL9yf-55X5KsK7y0COJBro37tEX949G5nskK8aAumEc-QYfhKNtv9xl9vnPcoLDWHkPQ5tS0qOFxZf/s2016/tasty's%20tables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZaDxa4Fcw0VhNnFZbAuAHrsQHw-oATmNnCWvN7O5T-5I4VLqrfIWfUNYRvwV42CokYm7FRDTse00Nt2l0ZcW4xh9V0t4_CLoaMxw1Nrqx5pZ5frL9yf-55X5KsK7y0COJBro37tEX949G5nskK8aAumEc-QYfhKNtv9xl9vnPcoLDWHkPQ5tS0qOFxZf/s320/tasty's%20tables.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />For this trip we
were trying to alternate bigger ticket meals with more moderate ones, and so
originally we thought we might pick up take out for dinner from Blanchards
Beach Shack since we were in the neighborhood. After some discussion, however,
we determined that we really wanted to sample something new-to-us and so we
decided to give <a href="https://tastys-anguilla.com/" target="_blank">Tasty’s POV</a> a try. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgb1NtxWNoHw74JZn4La16VrTOd64u3qQZ1LInfsH02bhOrAw45WcnT-JxIhiNJqkVB1e7usiGVS6-B216kC37lVewe5mRAcaoB7uVaUMaarqFKEOucUunbkQi_Ga0hpN5ve6teV7v9GHWHaoMuWzsYPopfd0QmADNHw5HyQbDJ6UAbXlvdIKblLN8fOV/s1920/tastys%20vuew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgb1NtxWNoHw74JZn4La16VrTOd64u3qQZ1LInfsH02bhOrAw45WcnT-JxIhiNJqkVB1e7usiGVS6-B216kC37lVewe5mRAcaoB7uVaUMaarqFKEOucUunbkQi_Ga0hpN5ve6teV7v9GHWHaoMuWzsYPopfd0QmADNHw5HyQbDJ6UAbXlvdIKblLN8fOV/s320/tastys%20vuew.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />We arrived while
it was still light enough to appreciate the view over Sandy Ground and were
only the second table occupied. I think this is the second occasion on the trip
where our server may have forgotten to put our order in, because we were there
for nearly 30 minutes before she came back to say that they were out of a key
ingredient for the drink I ordered. Again, luckily, we had not arrived hungry
and we were in no rush whatsoever, so it was no hardship to sit and enjoy the
view, the breeze, and the music which had started up in the interim. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJotW8nfg6XV8BFc8ioE0EjfR4IIk24UpfknfdNLPesvYmyJCjiN4OjSJsC9VJcBmYEVZ-OxbsPYX8QtbzOfab6CgUKLndENvCLEnL9RaKgZdzBRatumtMmoCOUOwbzh68KZeqf20P_nKJJl9y2H0eUkyDScPv6UmDuLj4dq5DtGcKuAjPmc3RYLZrDTl/s1920/dusky%20vire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJotW8nfg6XV8BFc8ioE0EjfR4IIk24UpfknfdNLPesvYmyJCjiN4OjSJsC9VJcBmYEVZ-OxbsPYX8QtbzOfab6CgUKLndENvCLEnL9RaKgZdzBRatumtMmoCOUOwbzh68KZeqf20P_nKJJl9y2H0eUkyDScPv6UmDuLj4dq5DtGcKuAjPmc3RYLZrDTl/s320/dusky%20vire.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTNkyB4VIT-1L_i9aGx00qJrTzd_fHZBZcM_VJdunT5rzn06M-DPsoAwU_Od4iYHapB99Zbf_lAiHftYniZUzYK36JAsrjEa3zbMMiXRGf-rnnpR_tmZfcck7AApO1dLbSNUukChHTt5xS2raC9K3DQsg1Gv_GVXlBtbPhEnuLlV6w_k2VklphxMOMbOQ/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTNkyB4VIT-1L_i9aGx00qJrTzd_fHZBZcM_VJdunT5rzn06M-DPsoAwU_Od4iYHapB99Zbf_lAiHftYniZUzYK36JAsrjEa3zbMMiXRGf-rnnpR_tmZfcck7AApO1dLbSNUukChHTt5xS2raC9K3DQsg1Gv_GVXlBtbPhEnuLlV6w_k2VklphxMOMbOQ/s320/thumbnail_IMG_0201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAZnGbGGHqAxrEHfYg7JY4UocRZMG_wNCNfToc5AFhzRfsbpj30n612q9vcUm48D5hnquXgzW0katM9cIz8TnpbM8L13dWj2AUGZxfWD9hEPEHCqESCC0g20Oa_YqqWjZg8xDpP10J8IY77AtVz9YEiVLatKV3_dHN6KpPHxXpkoUYyAfBEndwdvxmBIQ/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAZnGbGGHqAxrEHfYg7JY4UocRZMG_wNCNfToc5AFhzRfsbpj30n612q9vcUm48D5hnquXgzW0katM9cIz8TnpbM8L13dWj2AUGZxfWD9hEPEHCqESCC0g20Oa_YqqWjZg8xDpP10J8IY77AtVz9YEiVLatKV3_dHN6KpPHxXpkoUYyAfBEndwdvxmBIQ/s320/thumbnail_IMG_0203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I’m happy to say
that our drinks arrived immediately after that, with our food not long to
follow, and it was all worth waiting for. Michael had the seafood pasta, which
was delicious (although not beautiful to photograph), while I chose the coconut
crusted fish, coconut rice, and roasted veg. We loved it all and frankly it was
hard not to lick the plate. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>Our bellies were full and happy, and it was a fantastic ending to a perfect day. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0BiAR_7HrLd1nZih_tQjsmvq5OBdyhPNGFLaJAdYqJtmuUtWdytnpzmkglRdRlK7_UkX7-yrQr9IwVDXbrOAtntWlyoKQXD-JD-JobQY9eRq6yT62Eoy6GZVZHgkQWG04SMn7OliGLNkrXA8GyBLaV_71wpvjrRTiiYEb9HmdPLc7rz-1QWhxs__mIwU/s2016/tasty's%20sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0BiAR_7HrLd1nZih_tQjsmvq5OBdyhPNGFLaJAdYqJtmuUtWdytnpzmkglRdRlK7_UkX7-yrQr9IwVDXbrOAtntWlyoKQXD-JD-JobQY9eRq6yT62Eoy6GZVZHgkQWG04SMn7OliGLNkrXA8GyBLaV_71wpvjrRTiiYEb9HmdPLc7rz-1QWhxs__mIwU/s320/tasty's%20sign.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p>As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-52266477590866769102024-01-22T09:07:00.010-05:002024-01-22T14:52:35.547-05:00Anguilla XV: Out with the Old, In with the New<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gGndLn34MQfHlBh62SOzHExRxBpyCNCjR61FCuuNFmr97g9m4qLcN_e4EtPxes96at055J0qrytALMkd3giTa9sFp-LYw6_Kv0p0rPl4iPgEsvYmwOIN9jVjgCVAvxZLCvNno780-gYrJI5X_8NU_vPJzN02Zte1hk9Ell5RcVttQCR0Oe8fAHo4s5tB/s1920/nye%20sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gGndLn34MQfHlBh62SOzHExRxBpyCNCjR61FCuuNFmr97g9m4qLcN_e4EtPxes96at055J0qrytALMkd3giTa9sFp-LYw6_Kv0p0rPl4iPgEsvYmwOIN9jVjgCVAvxZLCvNno780-gYrJI5X_8NU_vPJzN02Zte1hk9Ell5RcVttQCR0Oe8fAHo4s5tB/s320/nye%20sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on Sandy Ground, as seen from our rooftop</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="color: #d0e0e3;">Michael and I are
not the sort to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve, much less go out, but
we played against type for our first Old Year’s Night in Anguilla. About a
month before our trip, we sat down to determine which restaurants we wanted to
prioritize for dinners while on the island, but particularly for December 31
when reservations would be harder to come by. We toyed with the idea of heading
to Rendezvous, lured by the thought of ringing in the new year with Bankie and
whatever musical celebs might be partying with him at The Dune. Ultimately we
decided that given our budget, but more importantly, given our practical
nature, that it was the sort of night that would be more fun in the retelling
than in the actual experience. Spending $180 pp cover just to be able to <i>say</i>
that we spent NYE in the company of Madonna (or so I heard) and then driving a long
way home in the dark amidst drivers who have overindulged just isn’t us (not to
mention that we were trying to</span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> keep some costs down on this trip).</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzdR6Aau76andJF6Rdo_Hj6e64Zi3f3XzS3tGcrbKiw8FHOPGBrtV_YZvYVm2kCH5NRwGrtnhonweRWD5Y6PgimPcxsQEaUBo56rPrJiMaTNb1w93jBMFXuFLbLJ1GVvn7QnRybHj2vEuK5jsBU9KRmyAMCgIacU6C1RHRha6yuDE23NzmYe9VWA4vLne/s1544/dolce%20vita%20portrait.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzdR6Aau76andJF6Rdo_Hj6e64Zi3f3XzS3tGcrbKiw8FHOPGBrtV_YZvYVm2kCH5NRwGrtnhonweRWD5Y6PgimPcxsQEaUBo56rPrJiMaTNb1w93jBMFXuFLbLJ1GVvn7QnRybHj2vEuK5jsBU9KRmyAMCgIacU6C1RHRha6yuDE23NzmYe9VWA4vLne/w320-h240/dolce%20vita%20portrait.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beachfront table at Dolce Vita</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="color: #d0e0e3;">Instead, we chose
Dolce Vita, one of our favorite spots, and now even better – just a short walk
up the beach from Roy’s! It falls to my lot to be the designated driver on the island because I’m comfortable driving on the left and am generally pretty
familiar with the main roads, so it was a real treat to indulge in adult
beverages without worry for a change.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oN8oORe0Wfz0pK1lL10AVA1HMnawpVlyWAdLN1iKebgsKI34jyVqd75vybTaEkF-LKrwjN1tdXTfHWkrCBt_u995gn94ntPHg6I6Ojgo0hWdDIISdSsXZaQHBXQh2mXlbloyuoNBghalwUsFF1WOjfgFDolNaJSyWtk8pXSP1n-6mnMV4hxuf48zNm6n/s1601/crayfish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1601" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oN8oORe0Wfz0pK1lL10AVA1HMnawpVlyWAdLN1iKebgsKI34jyVqd75vybTaEkF-LKrwjN1tdXTfHWkrCBt_u995gn94ntPHg6I6Ojgo0hWdDIISdSsXZaQHBXQh2mXlbloyuoNBghalwUsFF1WOjfgFDolNaJSyWtk8pXSP1n-6mnMV4hxuf48zNm6n/s320/crayfish.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grilled crayfish: Anguilla's signature dish</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Typically I
order from the same rotation at Dolce Vita – gorgonzola gnocchi, spinach
& pear salad, eggplant rollatini, poached pears in red wine with white chocolate mousse – but this night I opted
for the grilled crayfish special, and why not? I was hungry and had been
dreaming of the island’s signature dish for the last year. <o:p></o:p></span><span>Michael and I split
the Caesar salad to start, and he ordered another evening special with seafood pasta. We shared the Nutella cheesecake, which always looks beautiful
but has never really tasted very chocolatey or hazelnutty to me, but I do love
how light-bodied it is. And it pairs beautifully with that coconut cream sauce on the
plate, too.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqfxwA6Aoh49rgZQwVBuLi9E_9GHalzXl5YQWcOI26VzHpgdV2VpF1ob30_jNe-E8BDPT9FCX0nqzkWPok5BXVmiYXhrNVuZCObLWppPHMtcdpNUPmLVvecwPhpjhfVcO-y2tYG3R5_Yz-R-cMnmto3h7VVyLtyP2-NK_y3J_Hqlmzdc7xCo5UTG6e7Z4/s1562/nutella%20cheesecake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1562" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqfxwA6Aoh49rgZQwVBuLi9E_9GHalzXl5YQWcOI26VzHpgdV2VpF1ob30_jNe-E8BDPT9FCX0nqzkWPok5BXVmiYXhrNVuZCObLWppPHMtcdpNUPmLVvecwPhpjhfVcO-y2tYG3R5_Yz-R-cMnmto3h7VVyLtyP2-NK_y3J_Hqlmzdc7xCo5UTG6e7Z4/s320/nutella%20cheesecake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So silky smooth in texture</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Since our
strategy was to stay awake until midnight, we parted ways with Dolce Vita after
our complimentary limoncello but before the joint really got to jumpin’. Abbi
came by with a hug, a smile, and warm wishes to send us on our way. From there
we walked to the end of the beach to have our second round of drinks at Elvis’s,
rum punch for Michael, planters punch for me (it’s less sweet). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymeyHQr3OkcXlwIDUPSUdN1xGti_m12ypsxUlA-RxVPCb-SJ5mxvHu1bNgj4obqFANBeesTk-radmv1vR5rQBMTXp7MD3WYCDPRtgtp9IESdHxrGzFFe0ns87NM55yv-fGXvaUqlSo7BsWybafCsPSM_tpbi-6TRUoQe76OYo3F3CU0iZtA5fc17Kq0Ew/s1920/elvis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymeyHQr3OkcXlwIDUPSUdN1xGti_m12ypsxUlA-RxVPCb-SJ5mxvHu1bNgj4obqFANBeesTk-radmv1vR5rQBMTXp7MD3WYCDPRtgtp9IESdHxrGzFFe0ns87NM55yv-fGXvaUqlSo7BsWybafCsPSM_tpbi-6TRUoQe76OYo3F3CU0iZtA5fc17Kq0Ew/s320/elvis.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwGUbIPWvM4v6M6oD7siYuaue_RhyXhv3DfDAbIPps5HpD4a5YknG_k5kP7kQF0DsFAtNVSaxbkMAY-Jyn7XNBZIO_P25VvyT6nfysGRdxwYXTw4zcEtFhMbmIiZKS3lU18PS77eXNbbAuIwRSqAock7Glx4Css0mWhIOXZub8Rs39x9mRvullay8721f-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwGUbIPWvM4v6M6oD7siYuaue_RhyXhv3DfDAbIPps5HpD4a5YknG_k5kP7kQF0DsFAtNVSaxbkMAY-Jyn7XNBZIO_P25VvyT6nfysGRdxwYXTw4zcEtFhMbmIiZKS3lU18PS77eXNbbAuIwRSqAock7Glx4Css0mWhIOXZub8Rs39x9mRvullay8721f-" width="320" /></a></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>We chatted with Elvis
and the other patrons and decided to have another round of the same – hey, not
driving! – before walking back up the beach around 10:00 pm. Our best laid
plans of stopping in at Criss Conch Shack for a snack and then Lit Lounge for
another drink never came to pass. We were still too full from dinner and
despite my lack of driving responsibilities, I just didn’t have it in me to
have another drink. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsiKl_LcjGT4D1T7zPsYHmyf6LxBZW8RRxwJsxuT5N-YhRIikOnpWYSy3eGyiopp7z3Vdk20tcukiVHjOV-JzKqB15tAn1OnR6Leg6GctK0fHLpNj2NG0bdyhrU2zASXPNAfSfRtExig9OSj6RVC3RMEj_rp4g_qJ_2h4277Ds5PsBJWLAatcQVi8YGB6x" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1094" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsiKl_LcjGT4D1T7zPsYHmyf6LxBZW8RRxwJsxuT5N-YhRIikOnpWYSy3eGyiopp7z3Vdk20tcukiVHjOV-JzKqB15tAn1OnR6Leg6GctK0fHLpNj2NG0bdyhrU2zASXPNAfSfRtExig9OSj6RVC3RMEj_rp4g_qJ_2h4277Ds5PsBJWLAatcQVi8YGB6x" width="205" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy's lights - just follow them home!</td></tr></tbody></table><span><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHOw9Rh1zcI_fxleba8lmTfUQSB1yrnEZrmnDcEivqKSf3icwrbro3sW60DIugHR2EsvzvYT6-5SdcIb_hyUj1g3ERbqfA9jWhTFcimCHQ_BCE_nStX_iNC0xBDZYgX5cp-ClMM462gR9_vcoBFvUcE8pBm9MsD_lnnmP2g_FbIu5VJPUoSaIUZN-0m2t/s1766/black%20cake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1399" data-original-width="1766" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHOw9Rh1zcI_fxleba8lmTfUQSB1yrnEZrmnDcEivqKSf3icwrbro3sW60DIugHR2EsvzvYT6-5SdcIb_hyUj1g3ERbqfA9jWhTFcimCHQ_BCE_nStX_iNC0xBDZYgX5cp-ClMM462gR9_vcoBFvUcE8pBm9MsD_lnnmP2g_FbIu5VJPUoSaIUZN-0m2t/w320-h253/black%20cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional holiday Black Cake</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Instead, we
bellied up to the bar at Roy’s so that I could sample another traditional Caribbean
holiday food I’d never had before and hear the last bit of Sprocka’s set. The Black
Cake was an intriguing mashup of something like a rum cake, but with the flavors of a mincemeat
pie and the density of a fruitcake. I’m so glad I could finally try it! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Sprocka
joined us at the bar after his set and we talked until about 11:30, at which
point we went upstairs to watch the fireworks in the comfort of our jammies
from the rooftop. I love that the entire Sandy Ground community of restaurants
and bars pool their resources to provide fireworks for the entire village’s
viewing pleasure. It’s true that various resorts do the same thing for their
guests, but it felt special to be a part of a community celebration. The show
only lasted a few minutes, but they were memorable – and at one point somebody
up on the hill along Back Street was shooting off fireworks, too, so we were surrounded.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfUTsNTzbWLk8y1vPto4fSLoMD6cIlAB-HTq6iqDHUgCXL-BgllToxlVXBZ1Wg4nYCOrgc9enlvK-9abLTi8Dn_gTl_3D5LKYo3TdM7KcWky2ymeUOkAdX9Hm0KIT07TJuSUFQfKvUiU-JwCQWcvHM3y47O_AIsnvUnTmupMmXBDqdgnniZjmSw8u6ykwv" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfUTsNTzbWLk8y1vPto4fSLoMD6cIlAB-HTq6iqDHUgCXL-BgllToxlVXBZ1Wg4nYCOrgc9enlvK-9abLTi8Dn_gTl_3D5LKYo3TdM7KcWky2ymeUOkAdX9Hm0KIT07TJuSUFQfKvUiU-JwCQWcvHM3y47O_AIsnvUnTmupMmXBDqdgnniZjmSw8u6ykwv=w308-h320" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The opening fireworks, seen from our rooftop</td></tr></tbody></table><span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRWOTQ13Em5eaQbeShh2qyOFK4eGz_oIXzfff-MvTZ2InNFX44h-aM9C5vM-fXzDt8wq07BPYg9zIYxc5l2dUYPYLW02R-FDDLEopeUcXbA6VK9jJr3PPL3f_rMnVtIW8VYoTr8SK0y6VoXLItGIleEVPhB3OB6H-BGj0G-5jppBug8_A0jiFAEeTxr1x2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRWOTQ13Em5eaQbeShh2qyOFK4eGz_oIXzfff-MvTZ2InNFX44h-aM9C5vM-fXzDt8wq07BPYg9zIYxc5l2dUYPYLW02R-FDDLEopeUcXbA6VK9jJr3PPL3f_rMnVtIW8VYoTr8SK0y6VoXLItGIleEVPhB3OB6H-BGj0G-5jppBug8_A0jiFAEeTxr1x2=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self portrait in jammies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyT5ikmJ3XCS4o7wo7vr9_Je8JlNx3cTsQ8A6-eC7SPt2s2A_HzdS4_WwdOmv8So91QVDiqqtE-7iTxj6JnDQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>“Oh, what a night!”
as Frankie Valley might say. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>And the evening and the morning were the second day.</span></p><p>
<br /></p>As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-62704095056002258762024-01-21T12:21:00.004-05:002024-01-21T13:32:35.677-05:00Anguilla XV: New Year's Eve Eve and Old Year's Night (and Day)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHarNf50uf2Cv6a6s9r9bN8rXkfQmFrznXdgDnyKCCIY7u8FbMv1JBgTN6-A5zYSyFS-Y3UoJ8vTlqqKeM2-pZhSl2eV3SMak17TeX-dluhzl3rwxZvc4dRIqE1WTFsEOIusHWSNiDGoMPw0rDQaBb9tFa3unOl38sRcPm4lVkt0RBP5ATvqlzJx5pFBP/s1656/purple%20twilight%20sandy%20ground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1656" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHarNf50uf2Cv6a6s9r9bN8rXkfQmFrznXdgDnyKCCIY7u8FbMv1JBgTN6-A5zYSyFS-Y3UoJ8vTlqqKeM2-pZhSl2eV3SMak17TeX-dluhzl3rwxZvc4dRIqE1WTFsEOIusHWSNiDGoMPw0rDQaBb9tFa3unOl38sRcPm4lVkt0RBP5ATvqlzJx5pFBP/s320/purple%20twilight%20sandy%20ground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>After a round of gin & tonics (gins & tonic?) to shake off the day’s travel, we walked up the beach in the most beautiful purple twilight to get to <a href="https://sandbar-anguilla.com/" target="_blank">SandBar</a>, which is one of our favorite restaurants on the island. We knew we’d want dinner on the earlier side after being vertical for 16 hours, and given the GST that makes everything more expensive than you think, we appreciate the pricing on their small plates!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQAMhItkjWufd4D0XsTN_O2e4rTSiJV8YgPE6j3kx-E6NR0qsaBjFhG2s_jaK2kMJriDPtYdGjzY6leViQlDPGY_vjXnmWyy6svQcnASaljJkD-9rLLGjyjsJDKB9KIqmxjQ3ixEUfHjG_EW6pOxYzhe2RPI1qODFZnFaw-bvAC5h9alAMLrEBqbug5K0/s2016/sandbar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQAMhItkjWufd4D0XsTN_O2e4rTSiJV8YgPE6j3kx-E6NR0qsaBjFhG2s_jaK2kMJriDPtYdGjzY6leViQlDPGY_vjXnmWyy6svQcnASaljJkD-9rLLGjyjsJDKB9KIqmxjQ3ixEUfHjG_EW6pOxYzhe2RPI1qODFZnFaw-bvAC5h9alAMLrEBqbug5K0/s320/sandbar.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It’s unbelievable, looking back at my photo library, that I didn’t take pictures of any of our food, but I did manage to snap a photo of my cocktail – the porn star, featuring passionfruit and prosecco. When my husband and I traveled here in November 2022 with our friends, we appreciated how vegetarian-friendly the menu was, and I’m happy to say that Chef Carrie has even expanded some of those offerings since. We ordered four small plates: the charred broccoli with chili crunch, the roasted beet salad with goat cheese, the tuna poke with creamy chili sauce, and the mahi bites with Carib batter. I enjoyed each one immensely, and my husband, whose taste buds were still in recovery from our bout with Covid earlier in the month, was especially pleased with the textures of the salad and the tuna poke.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNLdn4KQc1-oTcTKR66UeCPTYnjNYA9TnHm_dunhtTNdM0GCfhDAy6Z1zazb7DBO1MWa7bv5xq3QOJI_Oj_V5BXk8nvDGKy1yAMjVz_3kk8vkOSftdtA5mgb-ZGFYH13VtHjKI0y9-6BHM7ypUkVbgAGgbg4696PRsK9z-Qr0MnY4Q5E0JvWr7w5ta7yq/s2016/porn%20star.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNLdn4KQc1-oTcTKR66UeCPTYnjNYA9TnHm_dunhtTNdM0GCfhDAy6Z1zazb7DBO1MWa7bv5xq3QOJI_Oj_V5BXk8nvDGKy1yAMjVz_3kk8vkOSftdtA5mgb-ZGFYH13VtHjKI0y9-6BHM7ypUkVbgAGgbg4696PRsK9z-Qr0MnY4Q5E0JvWr7w5ta7yq/s320/porn%20star.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a sucker for anything with passionfruit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Our table for two was right along the edge of the beach, so in between savoring each bite, we could gaze out at all the sailboats and watch other people walk the beach in search of their evening repast. We were a tad concerned when the live music set up was immediately behind our table, but the talented young woman who performed, Jennique, had the perfect volume, even for those diners seated adjacent to her. They had a dessert special of a lemon mousse served with raspberries that was the perfect not-too-sweet-but-light bite for ending our meal on. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5RXo7cttbHclCtj8QHkAlD9S6deGwuGrM0uHbpfQx4NuPohRw7NQC3yIiqJcbPL1NynrNEfkXp4Xvqg54ob-dHFPRalWWUgjgrRUHmflFSBpGmsR_dWIixo4XRGq0pl97AvOiLOnPdRf94MkRM3MVOc5OaPGcSCXfvOrbm_MQ-x9H27Wmc-iJt7BYCw3/s1920/table.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5RXo7cttbHclCtj8QHkAlD9S6deGwuGrM0uHbpfQx4NuPohRw7NQC3yIiqJcbPL1NynrNEfkXp4Xvqg54ob-dHFPRalWWUgjgrRUHmflFSBpGmsR_dWIixo4XRGq0pl97AvOiLOnPdRf94MkRM3MVOc5OaPGcSCXfvOrbm_MQ-x9H27Wmc-iJt7BYCw3/w240-h320/table.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our table, front and center<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs6UQ1SEJSIpUE9K6LnPUh0AmUV2L6-Caegg8LgbTl2MYL_u6qp-XT3jazbGs6q8kqgu1OSabLTLdbMm1gD1tXaKtSaEVQX6mNBY3HZ54-URDRQBy4f854tupRFKTfa1fXoBLQVPbbK2Byfk9hvKLKhuBcGUE2WnGJPGLMbIBeGNJUcahSWoBTR9_4HzM/s1544/jennique.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs6UQ1SEJSIpUE9K6LnPUh0AmUV2L6-Caegg8LgbTl2MYL_u6qp-XT3jazbGs6q8kqgu1OSabLTLdbMm1gD1tXaKtSaEVQX6mNBY3HZ54-URDRQBy4f854tupRFKTfa1fXoBLQVPbbK2Byfk9hvKLKhuBcGUE2WnGJPGLMbIBeGNJUcahSWoBTR9_4HzM/w240-h320/jennique.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennique</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Exhausted, we walked back home along the beach, letting the colored lights at Roy's guide the way. (Not that we need real guiding, mind you. All we had to do was go to the beach and turn left. I just liked to think of those lights as "home.") We had a nightcap at the bar and to close out our tab from earlier, enjoying our chat with Romero and Patrick, who were both behind the bar, before climbing upstairs. After closing all the louvered windows, shutting all the curtains, and turning on the a/c, we tumbled into bed, ready to greet the morrow. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And the evening, and the morning, were the first day. I woke up first, which is typical, while Michael dozed on, so I got up to take inventory of the apartment and our immediate surroundings. Never having stayed in Sandy Ground before, we weren't sure whether our location (either generally, or our specific location above a popular restaurant) would be noisy into the night or not, and I'm delighted to report that it was not. Granted, we travel with earplugs (both of us), sleep mask (just me) and use the white noise app on our phones overnight to combat the effects of snoring (mostly mine), but I think even travelers without those accoutrements would find it a peaceful place to sleep.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11qhcAwu9wcIHQntTqN7o3UcZTms5Nq1VmNH1Fq1OJ-CLjb0PsUBibM7EyYKwKVxSV3dTgeMKWltJSGy9FFJWQsNxRstsqM6zShsEvYsEJLOyqnP5XPYfEwCILUcMp0I4RlpHDjniGmwYQxOtPgLAt8_Xyh4wtCo6uOJD4znTn_YQ1w97fb97qNcVFQQO/s2016/roy's%20breakfast.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11qhcAwu9wcIHQntTqN7o3UcZTms5Nq1VmNH1Fq1OJ-CLjb0PsUBibM7EyYKwKVxSV3dTgeMKWltJSGy9FFJWQsNxRstsqM6zShsEvYsEJLOyqnP5XPYfEwCILUcMp0I4RlpHDjniGmwYQxOtPgLAt8_Xyh4wtCo6uOJD4znTn_YQ1w97fb97qNcVFQQO/s320/roy's%20breakfast.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheery tables with a view</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We went down early for breakfast and ordered omelets (delish) with johnny cakes (natch). The breeze was pleasant, the coffee was hot, the portions were huge (alas, no photos), so we lingered there for a while to plan our day before taking our leftovers upstairs to store in the fridge for breakfast later in the week. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpvzw-fnDSZ0-nrfxVFrhvFuONaWDy5wGWTZe5ckRwnlBZ5sOWau_H-tCdSJ-Z9p5EYeLQQrxKIG21QGHArYNUbv2u9vZ55DrWPsHOY6g0WoZgOCi7pi_aSWVoEuy6JZfQLJN7jYGE91XbfuR2ctdyoA3eE49J5kHs3sl3nEyxwPevBDbRn1eNa1J9wL7/s1920/sandy%20ground%20morning.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpvzw-fnDSZ0-nrfxVFrhvFuONaWDy5wGWTZe5ckRwnlBZ5sOWau_H-tCdSJ-Z9p5EYeLQQrxKIG21QGHArYNUbv2u9vZ55DrWPsHOY6g0WoZgOCi7pi_aSWVoEuy6JZfQLJN7jYGE91XbfuR2ctdyoA3eE49J5kHs3sl3nEyxwPevBDbRn1eNa1J9wL7/s320/sandy%20ground%20morning.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely Sandy Ground, sparkling in the sun</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We decided that the first order of business would be to walk the beach to get our bearings of where all the restaurants and beach bars are. A little recon, if you will, for our evening when we would somehow have to stay awake between dinner at 7:00 and the fireworks at midnight. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviV__dq-U09YSrvt5o72r4FPmoar0Y860W4rN_fNEnCFMxFS-lH9iU208Kunme3MUUs8OfJ0rHwU1xadcTiw9XkTC2qiJSAMBiGa-hGlzY_FtGReytAeOaJV1Ke6IEZtIy6S1tcPRMCp6NnKE-LT_uHW71lhGAPua3QGVU4ya2m308I4GQ9v1DVhX0CLY/s1920/dolce%20sign.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviV__dq-U09YSrvt5o72r4FPmoar0Y860W4rN_fNEnCFMxFS-lH9iU208Kunme3MUUs8OfJ0rHwU1xadcTiw9XkTC2qiJSAMBiGa-hGlzY_FtGReytAeOaJV1Ke6IEZtIy6S1tcPRMCp6NnKE-LT_uHW71lhGAPua3QGVU4ya2m308I4GQ9v1DVhX0CLY/s320/dolce%20sign.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IYKYK</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We walked almost all the way to Elvis, pausing to snap photos here and there, or pet a dog, or say good morning to all whom we passed. I didn't realize that Johnno's had a new spot there, I'm not sure I'd ever heard of the Lit Lounge before, and the Criss Conch Shack had definitely expanded since my last visit -- it was great seeing new and new-to-me spots pop up! Eventually the heat got the better of my husband, so we hied back to the apartment to pack a beach bag for the day. We'd decided at breakfast to try setting up at The Place for thenext several hours.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmcTIu3ypGP2dG6qYI2n-QbijfLTPgLPOPNLBlvUj-NtfD3qOIOioUOuBdb9cDn9I6GqW4iNcn-tBpHzdnq6EBE0SKBcHfIGlni17aTs8ibMcaE3JmySzXSrlVo1VhnXq5J0OlCS0uclZ5wlKxsJcOpQJ2y7S4xuB7fOJsgLdHXl0DhKc9kH9jslR2Rqk/s1920/the%20place%20nice%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmcTIu3ypGP2dG6qYI2n-QbijfLTPgLPOPNLBlvUj-NtfD3qOIOioUOuBdb9cDn9I6GqW4iNcn-tBpHzdnq6EBE0SKBcHfIGlni17aTs8ibMcaE3JmySzXSrlVo1VhnXq5J0OlCS0uclZ5wlKxsJcOpQJ2y7S4xuB7fOJsgLdHXl0DhKc9kH9jslR2Rqk/s320/the%20place%20nice%20view.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love the part of Rendezvous Bay where The Place is. The tone has changed quite a bit since the days when it was my favorite spot on the island, but you still can't beat the view and the overall gorgeousness of the beach. We got a pair of chairs with an umbrella, but the umbrella was broken so that one section of the canvas flapped in the wind and didn't provide as much shade, but they didn't seem very invested in either moving us, fixing it, or giving us a different umbrella. We made the best of it by applying more sunscreen and concentrating on the positives of the situation, which were numerous. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2JdCAn3pFzffBabyuKhEOTG4Btdm_jUW8CvTM8FvGuSZNUlag_NiJM3LZxyRDo283eae8ND9GdEDWzhmxQlErUXP-npo0oA4rCd8wkPB_2r4419BF6JzIwHg2IMP9-reMYcn5PnrGdoEhrUpU2azwzrE42NriDLbq4jbC3nn_2v5Lk3PtOhNCWVAGv9x/s2016/umbrella%20the%20place.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2JdCAn3pFzffBabyuKhEOTG4Btdm_jUW8CvTM8FvGuSZNUlag_NiJM3LZxyRDo283eae8ND9GdEDWzhmxQlErUXP-npo0oA4rCd8wkPB_2r4419BF6JzIwHg2IMP9-reMYcn5PnrGdoEhrUpU2azwzrE42NriDLbq4jbC3nn_2v5Lk3PtOhNCWVAGv9x/s320/umbrella%20the%20place.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyBdTveXbAv9w1g0ddWj_RKk-2yZXobMsb7Wdc-ottbWXywweegV-YZZMRXRj3rsIImcfKpbK4y4EuJKcquePlIcsJReUrVzd4qV7P_aYSdjovK5M3PRQPdvmqZpsgPBEymB65xIPkGKIXp45G1T056vky72lmwEMzJd9Nj7D4fPLEo8Br8LMvwvw0Cj2/s2016/ting%20at%20the%20place.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyBdTveXbAv9w1g0ddWj_RKk-2yZXobMsb7Wdc-ottbWXywweegV-YZZMRXRj3rsIImcfKpbK4y4EuJKcquePlIcsJReUrVzd4qV7P_aYSdjovK5M3PRQPdvmqZpsgPBEymB65xIPkGKIXp45G1T056vky72lmwEMzJd9Nj7D4fPLEo8Br8LMvwvw0Cj2/s320/ting%20at%20the%20place.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We spent a couple of happy hours reading and dipping in the water before moving up to the restaurant to order lunch. I've always found it a good rule of thumb to move from the beach up to the beach bar <i>before</i> I get hungry, and I was especially glad to have done so today. Our drinks arrived right away, but our food took almost 45 minutes to get there; two other tables ordered were brought to us before our order eventually arrived. Not a huge deal, but I suspect that our food order might have got lost because it was definitely not very busy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAeAkbYf8Td0KqENMvJ_BSsHzplulLc0ziTGQEBCNedUZkA0jNRj0XJhMmze9k7zSbWYTV_Qg45L7lhyOqA9zMtp4dkiibDh16M6Eoh97NBExhJ9CvUzZuiX3wVmMXsBE6hlewtZhwtPuR8zqUcjGYUqLO6mdnLTMwVrq3KCG0AAfKmbw9J-sdAftl3gl/s2016/fisht%20acos%20the%20place.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAeAkbYf8Td0KqENMvJ_BSsHzplulLc0ziTGQEBCNedUZkA0jNRj0XJhMmze9k7zSbWYTV_Qg45L7lhyOqA9zMtp4dkiibDh16M6Eoh97NBExhJ9CvUzZuiX3wVmMXsBE6hlewtZhwtPuR8zqUcjGYUqLO6mdnLTMwVrq3KCG0AAfKmbw9J-sdAftl3gl/s320/fisht%20acos%20the%20place.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RVrS8MKw0aZ13LkCgr1dwjrpBJLWbuiJTWQZZ3JithK1ttNj0saC5GRQdAmA0UGIHU4r6uNHd8z5K15yvgLjM6Qm9lbfPoxWQGNVMnM0ekK6Gr_pivc_mGjbQ5QXQmLCi3jbylB41hMpU3SVly9AW2aHXMPAgCejN76dLyV9f612Ui5cBVcxuYwPjq5l/s1920/the%20place.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1508" data-original-width="1920" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RVrS8MKw0aZ13LkCgr1dwjrpBJLWbuiJTWQZZ3JithK1ttNj0saC5GRQdAmA0UGIHU4r6uNHd8z5K15yvgLjM6Qm9lbfPoxWQGNVMnM0ekK6Gr_pivc_mGjbQ5QXQmLCi3jbylB41hMpU3SVly9AW2aHXMPAgCejN76dLyV9f612Ui5cBVcxuYwPjq5l/s320/the%20place.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's not a hardship to sit in a beautiful place with your favorite person, sipping a Ting, and wait for your food, but I <i>am</i> glad that we didn't wait until we were hungry to go up there. My fish tacos were perfectly fine, as was my husband's order of fried calamari, and we didn't want a huge lunch anyway since our supper would be Italian. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRJXqQsh6ykAxS5kZtaeBf0Zz1o1Y-ubGkoOu8khFcohgLBMSg9FnMSQi6mM2Wy1O5_aj76VYydC29QvoLEUeOF2HKkdvyG54yt6huHV2gvBZ2n6APmC3ebdfwigJRrA3ASKjbYlIR6wL3RPLJym8O5QciExBecaVlBbru-4kMz_5CLjP9Q3RP4OsTJR5/s2016/christmas%20place.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRJXqQsh6ykAxS5kZtaeBf0Zz1o1Y-ubGkoOu8khFcohgLBMSg9FnMSQi6mM2Wy1O5_aj76VYydC29QvoLEUeOF2HKkdvyG54yt6huHV2gvBZ2n6APmC3ebdfwigJRrA3ASKjbYlIR6wL3RPLJym8O5QciExBecaVlBbru-4kMz_5CLjP9Q3RP4OsTJR5/s320/christmas%20place.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hadn't anticipated seeing all of the Christmas <br />decorations on the island. It made me smile each time!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We enjoyed our time at The Place, and would certainly return again in the future, but the broken umbrella combined with the actual lunch itself does make me rethink the overall value I've always attributed to it before. The location is spectacular, though, so if you're not in a hurry do give it a try.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We took a couple of Tings back to our beach chairs and spent more time on the read-swim-walk circuit before packing up and heading home to Roy's, where we took one last dip in the ocean before we headed upstairs to take a brief nap and then get ready for dinner. About which, more anon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEoCDBA2uSPBo46Y_xFg6N20uyb0gWJ8qk8jSNlfEteJCgmDYFPHoqLiLPIbBmmik4vS1FdeJ0MHG1b4P1CfKZc-v-g81tpJXzjaiAgn7sYBXn-YH08XAL0PaiESmYY4C8dBBFD5hW_sjfiT7C3ub6cgyYYvsb3GHVPJph-ZeiElMiijgv0oWS8vJxD78/s1544/place%20portrait.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEoCDBA2uSPBo46Y_xFg6N20uyb0gWJ8qk8jSNlfEteJCgmDYFPHoqLiLPIbBmmik4vS1FdeJ0MHG1b4P1CfKZc-v-g81tpJXzjaiAgn7sYBXn-YH08XAL0PaiESmYY4C8dBBFD5hW_sjfiT7C3ub6cgyYYvsb3GHVPJph-ZeiElMiijgv0oWS8vJxD78/s320/place%20portrait.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-80434584840782232562024-01-21T08:30:00.000-05:002024-01-21T08:30:28.559-05:00Anguilla XV, or There and Back Again<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgBkN3UDWsFdsfry5MMUK65fC2AtnH8IWNZZ2cm8pbu5mHBTkirKeCH2H-qZw0lPv0STvwrlMVW48p2JUPZwlcHMSkrpMa8JLc497UglVd_vH-Pc9jvcRmqAU4ZihK8SB9zZrNL8m3QHmjJjfpx9nyQ6d257KDTWCKXM6ks7Q-_odW1addojr1g2u8nbxi" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1920" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgBkN3UDWsFdsfry5MMUK65fC2AtnH8IWNZZ2cm8pbu5mHBTkirKeCH2H-qZw0lPv0STvwrlMVW48p2JUPZwlcHMSkrpMa8JLc497UglVd_vH-Pc9jvcRmqAU4ZihK8SB9zZrNL8m3QHmjJjfpx9nyQ6d257KDTWCKXM6ks7Q-_odW1addojr1g2u8nbxi=w400-h198" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoilers: the view from Roy's studio in Sandy Ground</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal">While I’ve dreamed of spending part of the winter holiday
season in Anguilla ever since my first taste of the island back in 2009, I
never really thought it would be a reality, thanks to the fact that I’ve been
the manager of an independent bookstore for most of the last two decades: time
off in December is as rare as hen’s teeth when you work retail. That all changed
for me about 18 months ago, when I got my dream job and in a topsy-turvy change
of fate, suddenly had more downtime in December than I’ve had since I graduated
from college.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Still, I didn’t think a trip to Anguilla during Festive
Season would happen any time soon since 2023 was the Year We Bought Our First
Home, and while my husband’s and my coffers weren’t <i>entirely</i> depleted,
we also had to contend with replacing our entire heating system for our first
winter season. We knew that we’d want some sort of small vacation to mark a Big
Year with Lots of Changes, so I diligently searched where we could go using my
cache of airline miles. I’ve always wanted to see the Christmas markets in a
major European capital, and we very nearly went in that direction for variety of
reasons: miles could get us there, we have friends who just moved from the US
to Edinburgh, and we’ve been longing to return to the UK after falling in love
with London in 2019. There were just two catches: with six days of vacation to
play with, we didn’t want to lose 1/6 of our trip to jetlag AND my husband’s
job had taken a pretty stressful turn in the fall, so we decided that a more relaxing
trip was the wiser option. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdXBNhhR6xBWjGeanllTnNS8oPvAHftc2D2Rs3mjdW3XmRFyHmT6L1uUOjnyuqBmwWIl7zcPhj5zFs4-e0-tdZ22VEC67lyOmVAPGOfmxOGx__IS0a9DeDFnD2EH_mztObI95Kz9K_Nzmofb7V2j-54JdV6CizKj80vywnt4voCKoaHfFBzkeKDbtb4SsJ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdXBNhhR6xBWjGeanllTnNS8oPvAHftc2D2Rs3mjdW3XmRFyHmT6L1uUOjnyuqBmwWIl7zcPhj5zFs4-e0-tdZ22VEC67lyOmVAPGOfmxOGx__IS0a9DeDFnD2EH_mztObI95Kz9K_Nzmofb7V2j-54JdV6CizKj80vywnt4voCKoaHfFBzkeKDbtb4SsJ=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking no chances on getting sick and ruining the trip!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Since I’m never going to fight too hard against planning a
relaxing vacation in a tropical locale during the winter months, that was all
A-okay with me. I checked all the places Delta flies but was having trouble
finding two tickets anywhere in Mexico or the Caribbean using my FF miles. I
could get one FF ticket but then would have to pay $800-1200 for the companion
fare, depending on the destination. Feeling a little down in the dumps, I did
what I sometimes do when I’m procrastinating, or feeling restless, or it’s a
Tuesday: I checked flight prices to Anguilla on all airlines, not just Delta.
First I checked prices into St Maarten, on the off chance that I might see
something affordable, but nothing did I spy. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I
checked prices for flights right into AXA. LO AND BEHOLD, there was one
American Airlines flight that showed up for significantly less money than I’ve
ever paid to fly to either AXA or SXM. In fact, the price was so low that I could
book two of us for less money booking a single fare on Delta to many of the
other destinations we had considered.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK7FCN7Aik_gKob02j5whmJGDLNwKTS53HWqnqFqxhHR778NaBb5KAlqnO6F6QyOVHf9of-hy-4aKWcSQJBsglH7hYXaH1dGK7ix-Xy4Tv-8TLMyHC9Pm0L2uznLTdpsamBf8f64PgGXWkWOAdmDjGVmj1RAdyO9kBSvygJQJlR4E_UDtjHPm-aKKNGKR5" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhK7FCN7Aik_gKob02j5whmJGDLNwKTS53HWqnqFqxhHR778NaBb5KAlqnO6F6QyOVHf9of-hy-4aKWcSQJBsglH7hYXaH1dGK7ix-Xy4Tv-8TLMyHC9Pm0L2uznLTdpsamBf8f64PgGXWkWOAdmDjGVmj1RAdyO9kBSvygJQJlR4E_UDtjHPm-aKKNGKR5=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise from the plane</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My heartbeat raced. Could it be? Could we <i>possibly</i> be
lucky enough to find ourselves in my favorite spot on earth for New Year’s Eve?
A quick glance on the VRBO and AirBnB apps showed no shortage of accommodations
in our price range (a mere $150/night), so with the airtight logic that while
this was still more than we wanted to spend for this particular trip for the
reasons stated above, my husband solemnly pronounced that we would never be
able to get to Anguilla for less money, ever, and so we should go with that.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m not sure I’ve ever been happier to purchase two plane
tickets. I booked a rental car with Ronnie Bryan immediately thereafter and
then began one of my favorite tasks: finding a place to stay that fit our
budget and our few accommodation requirements: optional a/c in the bedroom, a
central-to-west location, wifi, and a kitchenette. My biggest nice-to-have for
this trip was a view or walking distance to the beach, but truly never thought
we could find that, given that our budget would have been tight even for low
season travel, much less Festive Season.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0h8B0gGXgNOePf-iCxGP68-g5v0kbMFStg3cFEPhv63TAmePq9hRveeDgQkySZ5rBhiRbu0__R99PjgxCGDvwYRrwEkfSJeCc0RjFdQJ_LIfzVcE7GcfCsCgbj28B_4NtBJfrMjA0ZsfHi1NPiazBt2maLnXcbZ5Fu-Wp1R-dcNnqjQiTPDgrrp-hpqBd" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0h8B0gGXgNOePf-iCxGP68-g5v0kbMFStg3cFEPhv63TAmePq9hRveeDgQkySZ5rBhiRbu0__R99PjgxCGDvwYRrwEkfSJeCc0RjFdQJ_LIfzVcE7GcfCsCgbj28B_4NtBJfrMjA0ZsfHi1NPiazBt2maLnXcbZ5Fu-Wp1R-dcNnqjQiTPDgrrp-hpqBd=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It always feels lucky to spy a rainbow from the plane</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Enter: the studio above Roy’s restaurant. I’d heard of it
before, of course, but there aren’t many reviews on line that I could find, so
I took to the forums to find somebody who’d stayed there before and messaged
them directly. Carolee gave me the personal experience and assurance that I’d
hoped for and I booked online. Patrick and Claire, the hosts, were helpful and
communicative at every step of the process, including when I wanted to frontload
one more night to our trip. I’ve always read that Anguilla doesn’t <i>have</i>
to be an expensive destination, despite its reputation, and so for my 15<sup>th</sup>
visit to the island, I was about to find out if that was true.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz65G3uIGX1qS_1GCAws9KZncKj7esgKTZA8lS5Pg4ITJ8I7XSCmacePEy2KRRjn26OQWqwriLet-UFd7mIhxcqm-Q_LCUH9BKYF51ESiIKeJgHc95JmtID2SlhY2AOGpP9YIRvtJutWT670R9J3s52vmUKSGK7KivqUYwiIf7yKxfg11BarJUf_Fd69oS" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz65G3uIGX1qS_1GCAws9KZncKj7esgKTZA8lS5Pg4ITJ8I7XSCmacePEy2KRRjn26OQWqwriLet-UFd7mIhxcqm-Q_LCUH9BKYF51ESiIKeJgHc95JmtID2SlhY2AOGpP9YIRvtJutWT670R9J3s52vmUKSGK7KivqUYwiIf7yKxfg11BarJUf_Fd69oS=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor seating area at the apartment</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thus it was that at 3:30am on 30 December, we found ourselves scraping the ice off our car and making a pre-dawn drive to the airport for our flight to Miami. To sum up, our MIA flight was turbulence-ridden and significantly delayed, so we were doubly glad that we'd booked the longer connection there (the idea being we'd try to get standby on the earlier flight if we arrived in time). We used the extra time to take a walk through the concourse, eat breakfast, and do a little people watching. The MIA-AXA leg was delayed but uneventful and it felt marvelous to land in Anguilla and see how green the island looked. Immigration was quick and easy, as was locating Ronnie Bryan's rental car in the parking lot. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhudd473eNchzowKiyY2JQVfNL4gIsvSuqDTVCvBBPp2F7LDS0Kk--mdhgDtYxzClqylLNe0wimfvRg1qBnH6DV3vHEO8gX4YynIHalcovzb2UdaTjx3-Iyx7_e65rgaH1Z-IAEpD7pk6MzFUh4xFC1qOHOLCFTS2n7yFw2FDQ3fQY4jnDaOhuTrSwtdit" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhudd473eNchzowKiyY2JQVfNL4gIsvSuqDTVCvBBPp2F7LDS0Kk--mdhgDtYxzClqylLNe0wimfvRg1qBnH6DV3vHEO8gX4YynIHalcovzb2UdaTjx3-Iyx7_e65rgaH1Z-IAEpD7pk6MzFUh4xFC1qOHOLCFTS2n7yFw2FDQ3fQY4jnDaOhuTrSwtdit=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the studio</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">We made one quick stop at Syd & Pete's market for bottled water and half & half (we always travel with our own coffee and didn't need anything else for our first morning) before heading down the familiar hill into Sandy Ground to arrive at our new home for the week. Wayne greeted us and showed us upstairs to the studio apartment, which was light and airy and inside, where we promptly dumped our bags to change into some weather appropriate clothing and then hurried downstairs to Roy's to have a quick sunset drink at the bar before walking up to the beach for our dinner reservation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTa3OKgWIishf5ht4liovW24uCHmahT8p7ImbJAMVBYQuRePFG0qUjAqrsYYX0Blb7dp8Pka-6k9d6pIp88T9tWabbg_Sx7dovIyhVmxqQLzbAUhCC93K70Ae5czLt5zxMY5rDcbaK1KAbBxF80DFZLQOMAMQqPXt6QjNtm-YCOUzd_ewAjqX43_KJKH2K" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTa3OKgWIishf5ht4liovW24uCHmahT8p7ImbJAMVBYQuRePFG0qUjAqrsYYX0Blb7dp8Pka-6k9d6pIp88T9tWabbg_Sx7dovIyhVmxqQLzbAUhCC93K70Ae5czLt5zxMY5rDcbaK1KAbBxF80DFZLQOMAMQqPXt6QjNtm-YCOUzd_ewAjqX43_KJKH2K=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3j3HuvWU0yGCUVl41yKNc4lbnrGdEpdEgZ1YyZKb8W6Ex2I5N5JDbjODJJqZlF1vmHFNODg6XODDmaz7q4v2nNucaPBHh8zm4KhmKNfTibUYCvVbHcFz4ujGObQaw9kmdmd4Uf4NGMuRa4nPJeC0HutL5sVEntcU2fTESV7c7695iUU8I0wNMXlqwkc45" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3j3HuvWU0yGCUVl41yKNc4lbnrGdEpdEgZ1YyZKb8W6Ex2I5N5JDbjODJJqZlF1vmHFNODg6XODDmaz7q4v2nNucaPBHh8zm4KhmKNfTibUYCvVbHcFz4ujGObQaw9kmdmd4Uf4NGMuRa4nPJeC0HutL5sVEntcU2fTESV7c7695iUU8I0wNMXlqwkc45=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That string of colored lights guided us home every night</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This was a pretty long preamble, and it only covered the pre-trip and arrival! I promise that the rest of my trip updates will be more photo forward and less loquacious. Stay tuned for dinner up the beach at SandBar and the rest of our pinch-me-how-did-we-manage-to-pull-this-off trip.<p></p><p></p>As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-79743477304563798532020-01-02T20:08:00.000-05:002020-01-02T20:08:38.721-05:00Best Books of 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image found <a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/disney-book-books-VcizxCUIgaKpa" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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You know what’s almost as much fun as reading all the books? Counting down the best books of the year. According to my handy stats at Goodreads, I read 68 books comprising over 21,000 pages. I tried to read with intention for much of my reading this year, making sure that I was getting more non-fiction, YA, and genre into my literary diet. Some stats:<br />
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It’s getting trickier to break authors down into binary genders, so let’s just say that of the 68 books, thirteen of them were written by men. 19%<br />
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Nonfiction: 22%<br />
Genre (romance, SFF, thriller): 30%<br />
Diversity: 25% (I thought this would be higher)<br />
YA or middle grade: 19%<br />
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Best Novels of 2019</div>
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Best Nonfiction of 2019</div>
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Best Books for Young Readers of 2019</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ERlf3lNV_A/Xg6PZk2wDFI/AAAAAAAAM9Y/0mgigfSlSL4t9aXCtcopLP6RfhdK8v2twCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/chirp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ERlf3lNV_A/Xg6PZk2wDFI/AAAAAAAAM9Y/0mgigfSlSL4t9aXCtcopLP6RfhdK8v2twCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/chirp.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0N_68ahc-5M/Xg6P901lpZI/AAAAAAAAM9o/EJOMC8izU-IQWwUE91b6UentzStQ3vX2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0N_68ahc-5M/Xg6P901lpZI/AAAAAAAAM9o/EJOMC8izU-IQWwUE91b6UentzStQ3vX2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/queen.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bosIURA37KQ/Xg6P-0H70oI/AAAAAAAAM9s/ERBqr7i7WcISKWzwlExwBsmI9NZDfwtIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/come%2Bup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bosIURA37KQ/Xg6P-0H70oI/AAAAAAAAM9s/ERBqr7i7WcISKWzwlExwBsmI9NZDfwtIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/come%2Bup.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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Biggest [Nice] Surprises of 2019</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWl2L0UNFzg/Xg6QqO_qzDI/AAAAAAAAM98/wNMLk8XHZ6UH8fG-mN4c5tVoUGp_DJh9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/hollow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWl2L0UNFzg/Xg6QqO_qzDI/AAAAAAAAM98/wNMLk8XHZ6UH8fG-mN4c5tVoUGp_DJh9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/hollow.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Qi9CUHOEbk/Xg6QrNScinI/AAAAAAAAM-A/Aha7fZkb9mQMZ_V4pLhvIEjlWFZ4jNtKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/gideon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Qi9CUHOEbk/Xg6QrNScinI/AAAAAAAAM-A/Aha7fZkb9mQMZ_V4pLhvIEjlWFZ4jNtKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/gideon.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
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Who could have predicted that a zombie apocalypse narrated by a crow and a pair of lesbian necromancers would be among my favorite books of the year? I should clearly read more genre fiction with this kind of pay off!<br />
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And of course I read lots of books in 2019 that won’t be published until 2020. Here are some titles to consider pre-ordering from your local library or indie bookstore:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cjxOV2hT0WA/Xg6RmjnjHwI/AAAAAAAAM-M/lJeMVzNlw4k7qh8QaFIHYceNS52Xtpk-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/fun%2Bage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cjxOV2hT0WA/Xg6RmjnjHwI/AAAAAAAAM-M/lJeMVzNlw4k7qh8QaFIHYceNS52Xtpk-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/fun%2Bage.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiVAmaQ-zfs/Xg6RwsOwXRI/AAAAAAAAM-Q/QXsLImjp1fcXn62HvesqicTD73I6O9zJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sea%2Bwife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiVAmaQ-zfs/Xg6RwsOwXRI/AAAAAAAAM-Q/QXsLImjp1fcXn62HvesqicTD73I6O9zJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/sea%2Bwife.jpg" width="135" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7SIndSrr50/Xg6R6dbECII/AAAAAAAAM-Y/MyEA_k6gxVM1yZ7-aq0BdMTvRmF9Hhk3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/glass%2Bhotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7SIndSrr50/Xg6R6dbECII/AAAAAAAAM-Y/MyEA_k6gxVM1yZ7-aq0BdMTvRmF9Hhk3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/glass%2Bhotel.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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What about you, gentle reader? What did you love in 2019? What did I miss that you would recommend?</div>
As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-81271749116757638102019-12-25T09:13:00.000-05:002019-12-25T11:33:15.973-05:00I Wish You Peace and Light in These Dark Times<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Stonehenge in the Midwinter Snow<br />
Image source: http://www.disclose.tv</div>
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<i>NB: This is a slightly modified post from years past that I wanted to reuse for Christmas.</i></div>
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It's a little out of character for me to write a blog post that is about neither books nor travel. It’s also a little out of character to share many of my personal details in such a public space, but I’ve been largely away from the blogosphere for a while now and I’ve had many supportive inquiries from readers. 2019 has largely been a very good year for me, significantly better than 2018 was, but its closing also brought bad news on the health front for many family members and friends and their loved ones, including pets.<br />
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There's a Christmas song lingering in my mind right now that I have been listening to more or less on a loop for the last couple of days. I love sacred Christmas carols though I'm not Christian, or at least I’m not a Christian if by “Christian,” you mean somebody who believes that Jesus Christ is the literal offspring of God. Agnostic, I suppose, is the proper term for me. Perhaps a cultural Episcopalian is a little more specific. But if by “Christian,” you mean somebody who thinks that fellow named Jesus Christ was a revolutionary ahead of his time, especially his ideas regarding the treatment of the disenfranchised, then maybe the term fits.<br />
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Whatever inclination toward the sacred I possess always feels deeply disheartened by the relentless commercialism of a secular Christmas; thus, my recent mental soundtrack of <a href="http://www.quinlanroad.com/" target="_blank">Loreena McKennitt</a>'s performance of <i>Good King Wenceslas</i>.</div>
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As far as I know, it is the only Christmas carol that remains as relevant today as it ever did. Regardless of any divine context, a couple of millennia ago, give or take, this guy Jesus did some pretty revolutionary stuff. I'm prepared to accept that at face value, if not his divinity. But what does the celebration of his birth mean for the world today, all those angels and mangers and <i>glorias in excelsis deo*</i>? For my money, it's the <i>et in terra pax ominibus**</i> that is so important, so relevant today, yet so sorely lacking in our current times where grace and graciousness are endangered species. </div>
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With the changing of just two little words so the song is non gender-specific or non-religious specific, <i>Good King Wenceslas</i> is what speaks to me tonight and all year 'round: <b>give of yourself, give of your time, share what you have, <s>even</s> especially if it takes you out of your comfort zone</b>. It's pretty simple. Here are the lyrics, with my slight modifications in place. Maybe they will speak to you, too.</div>
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<b>Good King Wenceslas looked out</b></div>
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<b>On the feast of Stephen</b></div>
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<b>Where the snow lay round about</b></div>
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<b>Deep and crisp and even.</b></div>
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<b>Brightly shone the moon that night</b></div>
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<b>Though the frost was cruel</b></div>
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<b>When a poor man came in sight</b></div>
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<b>Gathering winter fuel.</b></div>
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<b>"Hither, page, and stand by me</b></div>
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<b>If thou know'st it, telling--</b></div>
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<b>Yonder peasant, who is he? </b></div>
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<b>Where and what his dwelling?"</b></div>
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<b>"Sire, he lives a good league hence,</b></div>
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<b>Underneath the mountain</b></div>
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<b>Right against the forest fence,</b></div>
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<b>By St. Agnes' fountain."</b></div>
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<b>"Bring me flesh and bring me wine, </b></div>
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<b>Bring me pine logs hither.</b></div>
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<b>Thou and I shall see him dine</b></div>
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<b>When we bring them thither."</b></div>
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<b>Page and monarch forth they went,</b></div>
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<b>Forth they went together.</b></div>
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<b>Heedless of the wind's lament</b></div>
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<b>And the bitter weather.</b></div>
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<b>"Sire, the night grows darker now</b></div>
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<b>And the wind blows stronger.</b></div>
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<b>Fails my heart, I know not how.</b></div>
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<b>I can go no longer."</b></div>
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<b>"Mark my footsteps, my good page.</b></div>
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<b>Tread thou in them boldly.</b></div>
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<b>Thou shall find the winter's rage</b></div>
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<b>Freeze the blood less coldly."</b></div>
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<b>In his master's steps he trod</b></div>
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<b>Where the snow lay dinted.</b></div>
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<b>Heat was in the very sod</b></div>
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<b>Which the saint had printed.</b></div>
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<b>Therefore, all good folk, be sure,</b></div>
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<b>Wealth or rank possessing:</b></div>
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<b>You who now shall bless the poor</b></div>
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<b>Shall yourself find blessing.</b></div>
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It's not just the song, for me, but also the arrangement that is so important. I love the melding of a traditional western carol with Celtic and Middle Eastern musical elements and the instruments you don't normally hear outside a medieval/Renaissance festival. The Middle Eastern aspect actually places the song in a historical context like never before, and it’s an important signpost in these dark times when many Americans think Islamophobia is the way to go.<br />
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I hope, wherever you are, that you find peace in your heart during these darkest days of the year. </div>
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* Glory to God in the highest</div>
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**And on earth, peace to all people</div>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-23674122258315338032019-11-20T22:00:00.002-05:002019-11-20T22:00:23.814-05:00Anguilla, or There and Back Again: Part V<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blooming ixora on Turtles Nest grounds</td></tr>
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Wednesday arrives and I’m inevitably sad. It’s my last full day on the island, and thanks in part to Delta’s scheduling gaffe, there are still too many of my favorite Anguilla things that I haven’t done and I’m actually a little bit stressed at the thought of fitting them all in. Good thing I spent my time last night making a list.<br />
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The first thing I do after making a few pictures of Turtles Nest flora (looking vibrant after the light rain in the night) is hightail it to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/villagebakehouseanguilla/" target="_blank">Village Bake House</a>, which has been closed for the last two mornings and which I’ve been eagerly waiting to try. Located in the new-old Geraud’s location in South Hill, it has ample parking and outdoor seating for those patrons who wish to partake of the delectable pastries on site.<br />
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I selected a blueberry pastry and an apple tart, along with an iced latte. That’s when I learned that the Village Bakehouse has a fairly high credit card minimum (US $25, I think?). I didn’t want to dip into my cash because I was a little concerned about having enough for boat fare, departure tax, and a tip for housekeeping the next day, and ATMs are sometimes a little finicky on the island. So I proposed to the woman since I planned to come the next day for breakfast that I go ahead and pay for tomorrow, too, and then we’d be square. Anguilla being Anguilla, she happily agreed to my proposal but the whole time I was struggling to place her face. <br />
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In the meantime, I took my pastries and coffee outside to the shaded patio to enjoy while trying to remember where I knew her. The deliciously flaky and buttery pastry crust must have jogged my memory just enough, because BINGO! It was Susanne from the former Bonjour Cafe in Sandy Ground.<br />
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At one point she came out to see if I needed anything else, and as she turned to go, she asked if she knew me in almost the same breath as I asked her if her name was Susanne. It seems that she’d been going through her own mental Rolodex to place me, too. We both laughed and then she lingered for a few minutes while we checked in to see how the ensuing years had treated us since we last crossed paths.<br />
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After breakfast, I headed back to Turtles Nest to enjoy the beach for a little while. Mostly I was simply biding my time until the morning was sufficiently advanced to head up to <a href="https://www.oceanechoanguilla.com/" target="_blank">Ocean Echo </a>to spend a few hours in the company of Andrea. No trip to Anguilla would be complete with a nice, leisurely visit with Andrea!<br />
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I squealed a little bit when I walked up and saw her behind the bar. Luckily I was the first guest at Ocean Echo that day, so we could have a proper catch up. She asked me where I wanted to sit, and when I replied, “In the breeziest spot,” she sat me at the corner of the bar.<br />
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I know that lots of folks love The Rumzie, Ocean Echo’s signature drink, but it’s a little sweet for my personal preference, so Andrea created this beverage for me. Passionfruit, raspberry vodka, lots of fresh lime juice, and a touch of sparkling water. Delicious!<br />
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A good hour passed while sipping my drink, chatting with Andrea, and reading my book while she was tending to various tasks. My adult beverage went down with tolerable ease, but I needed to pace myself. In the interest of avoiding plastic bottles, I opted for a Ting instead of a bottled water. Eventually, though, I grew hungry enough to place my lunch order for a fish burger.<br />
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The fish burger was deliciously seasoned and despite missing the French fries, I was glad I made the sensible choice and requested the green salad as my side. Meanwhile, a lovely American couple who own a home in Anguilla had arrived and she recognized me from this blog and from the TripAdvisor forum, so we had lots of things to chat about.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking west toward Four Seasons</td></tr>
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Originally I had packed a beach bag with the intention of setting up shop on Ocean Echo’s comfy beach chairs, but that part of Meads was feeling a tad warm, so after making a few photographs on the beach, I was happy to head back to the bar for the rest of my visit. Andrea made me a margarita to help slake my thirst while finishing up my book. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking east toward Straw Hat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turtles Nest seen from Ocean Echo</td></tr>
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Alas, I still have miles to go before I sleep, so sometime in the late afternoon I regretfully bid adieu to Andrea so that I can keep my other commitments for the day. First up: a bit of shopping at <a href="https://devonishart.com/" target="_blank">Devonish</a> gallery. I almost always come home from my Anguilla trips with one of his carvings/sculptures because they’re the ultimate affordable piece of art and this time I needed a little somethin-somethin’ for my colleague who was doing some of my work for me whilst on vacation. </div>
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From Devonish, I headed east so that I could get in a visit with Pamela from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeaSprayAnguilla/" target="_blank">Sea Spray</a>. Here I picked up a t-shirt for my beau and made friends with her new feline companion, who is a real sweetheart. Sea Spray always has a nice array of casual jewelry and island-themed Christmas ornaments suitable for people even in <i>my</i> tax bracket.<br />
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Typically I would have ordered Pamela’s famous rum punch, but since my plans for the evening also included a sundowner in Sandy Ground, I opted for a smoothie instead.<br />
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I always enjoy catching up with Pam and hearing her news. She was still getting readied for the upcoming season when I stopped in, and of course we spent some time talking about our cats, dogs, and AARF. Before long, though, I had to hie myself down the hill to Sandy Ground so that I could catch the sunset from a new vantage point. </div>
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I arrived at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SandBarAnguilla/" target="_blank">Sand Bar</a> just in time to settle in at my table and order a drink. There was one other couple seated there when I arrived, and they were of a friendly bent, so they invited me over to chat. They’d been to Anguilla a few times before and were also active on one of the travel forums. We discussed our favorite restaurants and they asked me the pros & cons of renting a villa vs staying in one of the resorts. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, so refreshing</td></tr>
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Soon enough, though, it was time for me to think about heading home to clean up for my last dinner on the island. Last dinner on the island generally can mean only one thing for me: <a href="http://www.strawhat.com/" target="_blank">Straw Hat</a>.<br />
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My 7:00pm reservation put me the first to arrive in their dining room that night. I think it was the very first dinner there where I wasn’t seated in Armel’s section, and I was very sorry in retrospect not to have requested that. Still, the young man taking care of me was capable and friendly.<br />
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As difficult as it is to believe, I hadn’t had crayfish yet on this visit, so I made amends. Skipping the appetizer because I’d just had one of Pam’s excellent smoothies just three hours ago seemed like a wise decision, and even so, I left half of a crayfish behind on my platter.<br />
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In the meantime, Doris, Peter, and Armel all took a moment to come over and chat, which made me very happy, indeed. I ordered a second glass of wine while contemplating the rain and my choices for dessert. I’d had my heart set on the warm coconut tart with rum raisin ice cream but it wasn’t on offer that night, so I had to consider my other options very carefully. In the end, I opted for the layer cake served with (if my memory is accurate) a homemade ginger ice cream and a rich caramel sauce.<br />
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While perhaps not strictly as satisfying as the coconut tart would have been, it was delicious and a very fitting end to my last evening meal. I was, in fact, sad when leaving and if there were tears in my eyes, then so be it.<br />
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Next up: a farewell tour of the west end and trip report wrap-up.</div>
As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-5749299638504553162019-11-18T16:33:00.001-05:002019-11-18T21:34:40.586-05:00Anguilla, or There and Back Again Part IV<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Another Tuesday in paradise. Rise with the sun, read in bed while listening to the waves, breakfast on the balcony. Early walk on the beach, floating in those gorgeously warm waters, read under the umbrella. Those last three bits? Repeat until it’s time to clean up for lunch. Because today, lunch is a Special Occasion.<br />
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Which is to say, <a href="http://www.hiberniarestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Hibernia</a>. I’d only been there once before for dinner many years ago, and when I tried going there for lunch on my last trip in 2016, I showed up without a reservation and they were closed. So this year it was definitely a priority for me to have a nice meal at Hibernia, and I wanted to go for lunch so that I could enjoy the views and their lovely gardens to the fullest.<br />
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As it turns out, I was the only guest for lunch, so basically I had the luxury of a private dining experience. Mary Pat was incredibly lovely and gracious, and we chatted a bit about the island and the changes we’ve seen over the years, but then we also bonded over books.<br />
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I placed my order for the scallops & wahoo carpaccio with passionfruit, cucumber, and basil, followed by the warm crab, lobster, and onion tartlet, accompanied by the delicious Irish brown bread and sauvignon blanc. While waiting for my first course, I explored the art gallery and made some photos.<br />
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The Hibernia meal is like no other on the island. From the<i> objets d’art </i>of Southeast Asia to the gorgeous view to the unique menu, it all adds up to one phenomenal experience. This beautiful appetizer is one of the two best cold first courses I’ve enjoyed on Anguilla (tied with the cucumber soup with tomato sorbet at Jacala). Also, how gorgeous is it? I love passion fruit - the flavor is so bright and clean, and frankly I don’t know why it isn’t used more widely with tropical cuisine. The warm tart was redolent with seafood and was comforting AF. The two combined were sheer perfection.<br />
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For dessert, I ended up ordering a trio of sorbet/ice cream. One scoop each of ginger and almond gelato and a separate bowl for the passionfruit sorbet. Every last spoonful was divine. Also, the bowls they were served in were just beautiful. Hand painted coconut shell and hand carved wood. </div>
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Eventually I tore myself away from that idyllic setting because I wanted to briefly stop in Island Harbour before heading on to Shoal Bay East for the rest of the afternoon. Sidenote: I gave my mom my old iPhone in September, but I mistakenly deleted all of my photos, including all of my Anguilla pics. So I wanted to stock up on my stock photos, as it were.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lime Keel is new since my last visit to the island</td></tr>
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My favorite spot on Shoal Bay East is Elodia’s. The location is a bit quieter and I love being so close to the point. I’m sure there are other spots in Anguilla where the same thing happens, but what is so remarkable to me about that location is the change in scenery, wind, even temperature when you reach the end of the point and look towards Upper Shoal Bay. </div>
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Carole, the lady I used to know from Elodia’s, no longer works there but her niece was there the day I dropped in. It was a quiet afternoon, so she let me camp out under the big canopy for a couple of hours for only the cost of a single chair & umbrella. I had a small nap and when I emerged from my food coma, I went for a short swim. Or rather, I simply entered the water and bobbed in place for a while. </div>
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Around 4:00pm I settled my tab and drove homeward. Mindful that I still had a little shopping to do for friends back home, I stopped in at Irie Life on my way back to Turtles Nest. As always, their prices are a little high, but I knew it was where I could pick up some baseball caps.<br />
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I’d originally planned to stop in to visit with Pam at Sea Spray on my way home, but since she was closed that afternoon, I headed home and tried to figure out what my plan for the night would be. I debated between eating my Dolce Vita leftovers and staying in for the whole night vs eating my DV leftovers and then actually heading over to Dolce Vita so I could see Abbi (since I’d missed him, thanks to my reservation gaffe), sit at the bar, and eat that amazing poached pear dessert again. </div>
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After heading up to the rooftop deck for sunset and making a few photos (alas, less than spectacular) with my complimentary glass of house rum punch, I felt extreme inertia kicking in. As darkness fell, I knew in my heart that I’d be staying in for the night. (Sorry, Abbi!) The leftover lasagna from Dolce Vita was quite possibly even better than it was the first night and I finished off the bottle of wine that Turtles Nest had given me upon checkin.<br />
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That was also the same night of the exclusive wedding party that had booked the entirety of the Four Seasons resort. It was definitely a no-expense-spared sort of soiree, so between the light show and the fireworks, it felt like a private party <i>pour moi.</i> <span style="text-align: center;"> Happy early birthday to me, indeed. </span><br />
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-31940384282828618412019-11-14T01:30:00.000-05:002019-11-14T01:30:02.318-05:00Anguilla, or There and Back Again Part III<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another beautiful Meads morning</td></tr>
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Waking up on Monday morning was essentially a repeat of the day before. Up with the sun, early morning coffee and reading in bed with the windows and sliding doors wide open on the balcony. Listening to the light rain, followed by a walk on the beach while the shadows were still long. It’s a pretty terrible way to start the day, let me tell you. <br />
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My second book of vacation: Super Host by Kate Russo. This debut novel will be published in June 2020. It’s the story of a London artist past his heyday who rents his home on a website similar to AirBnB to make ends meet. Lots of wonderful bits of London color, art, and human insight to boot. She’s the daughter of famed author Richard Russo, and I’m happy to say that literary talent definitely runs in the family!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Public access path to Rendezvous</td></tr>
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I had originally planned to spend Monday on Shoal Bay East but couldn’t find confirmation online anywhere that Elodia’s (my favorite place to park myself for the day on SBE) was open, so I switched gears and decided that Rendezvous would be my destination for the day. I called The Place to see if they were open, but the reply was “only for breakfast.” Undeterred, I packed a beach bag and headed for Rendezvous anyway and decided to spend a nice chunk of my day at <a href="http://www.anguillagreathouse.com/" target="_blank">Anguilla Great House </a>instead.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chairs for rent, or complimentary with lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The palm trees that didn’t survive Hurricane Irma were a great loss for this beach</td></tr>
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I’ve had many well-loved beaches over the years, and for my last several trips to Anguilla, Rendezvous has reigned as my favorite. Shoal Bay East used to be my top pick, but it’s starting to get a little built up now for my taste. Rendezvous pleases me with its stunning length, views to St Maarten, casual beach bars and above all, the low density of hotels and resorts.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click for full view</td></tr>
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I set myself up on the far westerly <i>chaise longue</i> for privacy and immediately went for a swim. Despite this beach having more small rocks & pebbles closer to shore, I appreciated that there was less undertow here than what I’d been experiencing on Meads, where merely getting out of the water without being sucked back in required both sure footing and good timing. After my swim I took a short walk towards The Place in order to dry off a bit, but since the sun was higher in the sky, I was careful about my exposure. After all, the one thing that I wasn’t able to do sufficiently on my own for this trip was to apply sunscreen on my back!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading east, toward The Place</td></tr>
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I’d started a new book earlier that morning and was eager to get back to the narrative, so for the next two hours I stayed under my umbrella until I started getting hungry. While I’d dined at Anguilla Great House before I’d never before eaten at Coconuts, the restaurant that sits on the beach. I picked out a table in the shade, ordered the BBQ chicken and a Ting, and got lost counting the many shades of blue in front of me.<br />
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It was altogether pleasant, especially with the constant breeze. I completely inhaled my chicken, which was delicious and even managed to eat some of the cole slaw and the Sysco-esque French fries.<br />
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I still wanted that little something, so I ordered a frozen rum drink with banana, strawberry, and mango. It wasn’t, strictly speaking, my favorite adult beverage ever, but it was cold and refreshing and managed to finish it all. I was pleased with myself that I’d remembered to bring my own reusable straws when dining out!</div>
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Moving my chair so that it could stay in the shade of my umbrella, I settled in for a nice long read after lunch. The breeze was perfect - strong enough to keep me feeling quite comfortable but not vigorous enough to be kicking up the sand. Basically it was the Goldilocks of breezes in that it was jusssssst right. Eventually I was feeling too sedentary and so put on my beach coverup and went for another walk - this time in the direction of Cuisinart.<br />
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After a decent amble, I walked back, went for another swim, and then settled my tab. I’m not sure how much the chairs and umbrella are to rent if you’re not buying lunch at Coconuts, but they were complimentary with my meal.<br />
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Meanwhile back at the ranch, I decided to go for a swim in the pool at Turtles Nest. The water was actually cold! Like, teen-chattering cold, at least for the first minute. It was an utterly new sensation for me. Feeling far too chilled to sit outside in a wet bathing suit after that dip, I hiked back up to my room and stayed there for the rest of the afternoon reading and catching up on work a little bit back home.<br />
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The sunset, while pleasant, wasn’t spectacular enough to tempt me down from my balcony. Afterward I spent a little time actually blow drying my hair and and a minimal amount of gussying for my dinner at <a href="http://www.veya-axa.com/" target="_blank">Veya</a>, which is arguably my favorite restaurant on the island.<br />
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It’d been three years almost to the day since my last meal there and I was excited to see a few new things on the menu, and I had a difficult time deciding whether to try something new or go for an old favorite, so I did both. Favorite cocktail (Sandy Hill) for an aperitif, new appetizer (green salad), favorite entrée (jerk spiced tuna), and new dessert (pineapple upside down cake). Their delicious johnny cakes & pumpkin bread, an <i>amuse-bouche</i> of pumpkin soup, and a glass of wine rounded out the meal.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veya’s signature votives</td></tr>
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It was a beautiful evening and before long, Omari’s voice drifted up from the courtyard below to serenade us all. The salad was perfectly fine but nothing out of the ordinary, but the rest of the meal was culinary perfection. That tuna dish, with its many layers and flavors and textures, is unlike anything I’ve ever eaten anywhere else. </div>
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Despite not finishing the salad or the tuna, I still felt like I needed to roll myself down the stairs to my car after dinner. I’m definitely not used to eating that much for my evening meal! The staff were kind enough to wrap up my uneaten banana bread and even tossed in a couple of extra johnny cakes and pieces of pumpkin bread for me to take home for my breakfast the next morning. All in all, it was a pretty damned perfect day. </div>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-60362877758460602032019-11-12T21:35:00.000-05:002019-11-13T09:00:51.066-05:00Anguilla, or There and Back Again, Part II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They don’t call it Rainbow City for nothing</td></tr>
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While I do not strictly identify as a morning person, I transmogrify into one when I’m in Anguilla. There’s something about the brightness of the morning, the clarity of light, that makes me rise with the dawn. Sunday was my first morning waking up on the island, and there was a light shower right after sunrise, so I turned off the a/c, threw the windows and balcony doors wide open, and got back into bed so I could listen to the raindrops on the palm fronds outside.<br />
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I made coffee and sipped it while reading in bed. A little after 7:00, the rain stopped so I got dressed and went for a walk. My early venture was rewarded with a beautiful rainbow. With the breeze, I was actually just the tiniest bit chilly and wished I had brought my coffee to the beach with me.<br />
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Sidenote: I had the most glorious weather on this trip of any of my many trips to the island. This was my third November visit (I think) and it was sheer perfection. There wasn’t a single time where I felt uncomfortably warm, no matter where I was on the island.<br />
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After a walk along the beach, a swim, and hanging out under the umbrella to read, it was time to get cleaned up for lunch. My destination for the afternoon? <a href="http://www.strawhat.com/" target="_blank">Straw Hat </a>for an early lunch and then to while away a few more hours reading in their complimentary chairs. As always, the staff was so welcoming and solicitous of my comfort. <br />
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After much deliberation, I decided to order the blackened lobster and and shrimp tacos with mango creme fraiche and chipotle aioli. It was just as amazing as it sounds. I also enjoyed some iced tea (I wanted to hydrate but avoid ordering bottled water) and two ti punches whilst enjoying my book.<br />
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Emma Straub is a fellow bookseller and a very good novelist. Her new book will be published in May 2020, so request it from your library or indie bookstore now! Pulling off a coming of age story for three generations of a family is no small feat and Straub manages it with style. Whether we have family who aren’t really friends, or friends who are definitely family, we all need second chances at forgiveness, not least of all for ourselves.<br />
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After a few hours enjoying everything that Straw Hat has to offer, I ambled back to Turtles Nest for a brief nap before sunset. Thanks to a tip from somebody on the TripAdvisor forum, I walked east on Meads to get a better vantage point in order to see the sun set into the sea instead of behind the Four Seasons. Well, aside from the fact that I neglected to put any bug repellant on my legs, it was totally worth it.<br />
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The face of Meads Bay has changed considerably since my first stay there in 2009, when Carimar was my home base. At that time, Turtles Nest stood out a bit like a sore thumb, taller than any other structure on the beach. Now, though, there are humongous luxury villas that intimidate the beach in the same manner, plus the new accommodations under construction at Frangipani which loom a tad higher than Turtles Nest does.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not creepy. (Said no one, ever.)</td></tr>
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What at first promised to be a somewhat subdued sunset turned into a true spectacle. I think it’s one of the best I’ve seen in many trips to the islands, and I even caught a tiny glimpse of the green flash! I’ll include a video here, but I’m not sure how worthwhile it is. It gets rather shaky in spots because I was alternating standing on one leg while scratching my leg with the other foot because the sand fleas find my ankles delectable.<br />
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As soon as the sun sank below the horizon I walked double-time back to Turtles Nest just to keep those damn sand fleas off of me. I had time to enjoy a glass of the complimentary white wine and to clean up from my beach time before heading off to <a href="http://dolcevitaanguilla.com/" target="_blank">Dolce Vita</a> for dinner. This was the first dinner reservation I made for myself back home before the trip when I carefully laid out my grid for where to dine on which night. Abbi, the owner, wrote me back the sweetest and most gracious confirmation, so it was with a true spring in my step that I drove to Sandy Ground for my first <i>real</i> dinner on the island.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is from a previous visit, not this trip</td></tr>
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So imagine my surprise when I walked in to see a young couple being seated at <i>my</i> table. My surprise turned to shock when the host could find no record of my reservation at all. He rushed to assure me that they could accommodate me, but I was just bewildered and a little bit mortified that they would think I’d just show up for dinner unannounced, as it were. I grabbed my phone and quickly skimmed through my emails to find proof, when my jaw dropped. Apparently I’d made my reservation for <i>Monday</i> night. Mystified how I’d made that mistake, I checked on the website and realized: the little calendar that one clicks on to select the desired date for a reservation runs Monday-Sunday, not the usual Sunday-Saturday that many Americans are accustomed to. I hadn’t checked closely enough to see what date I’d selected; I used visually reckoning to select what I thought was the first Sunday of the month but inadvertently clicked on the first Monday.<br />
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Lesson learned.<br />
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Though disappointed not to have one of the beachfront tables (which were being reserved for people who weren’t too idiotic to book the correct day of the week), I had one nice consolation: I was seated in the second row underneath one of the lamps that gave me ample reading light. I sheepishly explained to Argen, my server, what my gaffe was and he was very kind about it and was very attentive for the rest of the night.<br />
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I usually opt for the arugula and bleu cheese salad to start. Not only is it delicious, it’s a sure-fire way to ensure I actually eat a few vegetables. They had no arugula, so I decided to try the tuna tartare. Alas, it was not for me. The tuna was a little stringy and the avocados were just shy of being ripe. I ate about half of it before deciding that was enough. Besides, I had the world-famous lasagna coming for me entree, and we all know that it’s filling enough on its own.<br />
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Despite not completing my appetizer, I was not able to finish this delectable bundle of meat, cheese, and béchamel, so I wrapped it up to take home for leftovers later in the week. Which is not to say that I was too full for dessert. No, sir! I ordered the pear poached in red wine and accompanied by a white chocolate mousse. <br />
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It may not be much to look at, but it’s my favorite dessert I’ve ever had at Dolce Vita and one of the best desserts I’ve ever had on Anguilla, full stop. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day, and it completely redeemed the lackluster tuna tartare as far as I was concerned. I drove back to Turtles Nest with the windows down to enjoy the feel of the night breezes on my skin, where I tumbled into bed to finish my book. Yes, I could definitely get used to endless days like these. </div>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-39468181960652973582019-11-11T17:13:00.001-05:002019-11-11T21:51:27.819-05:00Anguilla, or There and Back Again: Part I<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Earlier this year, my boyfriend and I visited <a href="https://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/search?q=london" target="_blank">London</a> for the first time. It was a magical trip - it was his first trip to Europe and our first major international trip together, and we discovered that we travel well with each other. Upon arriving home stateside, however, my wanderlust was rekindled in a really strong way. Due to budget and circumstance (my best friend’s wedding, a new job, a major move), I hadn’t been able to visit Anguilla, my favorite spot on earth, in nearly three years, but a quick check of my frequent flyer account confirmed that I had enough miles to get me to St. Maarten. A quick conferral with my boyfriend determined that whereas I had sufficient paid time off for a week long getaway, he (alas) did not, so I booked a solo return trip to Anguilla.<br />
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Which means that from May until November, I had the fun of planning and anticipating my entire trip. The most fun of which was determining where to stay - do I return to my beloved Barnes Bay and rent one of my usual places there or try someplace new? Despite getting a free flight, I still needed to be budget conscious, but because it was a solo trip, I also wanted to feel secure and not stay in a remote location. I considered <a href="http://www.roysbaysidegrill.com/staywithus.html" target="_blank">the apartment at Roy’s</a> and the ever-popular <a href="https://ferryboatinn.ai/rooms.html" target="_blank">Ferryboat Inn</a>, but in the end I chose <a href="https://www.turtlesnestbeachresort.com/" target="_blank">Turtles Nest</a> on Meads Bay. Since Meads Bay was home for my first ever trip to the island, it felt like I was coming full circle to stay there for my first solo vacation there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turtles Nest</td></tr>
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Since my last trip was in 2016, I was eager to see what changes Hurricane Irma had wrought on the island, but come November 1, the airline had slightly different plans for me. My originating flight was delayed by 7 hours, and since Delta only has one daily flight to SXM, my vacation began one day late. Thus it was a mere 29 hours of travel time by the time I landed in St. Maarten, where I grabbed a boat to Anguilla. I hadn’t made a reservation, instead opting to take either the public ferry or one of the shuttle boats, depending on who was leaving soonest and <a href="https://www.calypsochartersanguilla.com/" target="_blank">Calypso</a> was the winner. $65 later, and about one hour after landing, and we were racing across the channel to Anguilla, but in the mean time I sat back and enjoyed the ride with my complimentary rum punch in hand.<br />
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I was glad to get off the boat for multiple reasons, but not least of which was the preponderance of ugly Americans sharing the ride. Badly behaved and giving the rest of us a bad name, there was one couple and a family of four on my boat who were the very picture of entitlement. They outright refused to tip the luggage guy even after he came up to them asking for one (and he handled a LOT of bags for them) and they sat and groused loudly about the boat not leaving on time (we left a few minutes late) and how they weren’t paying good money to sit around waiting.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Calypso en route</td></tr>
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I cleared immigration in record time and walked out of the new-to-me ferry terminal to find my rental car from Ronnie Bryan and then made my way immediately to Turtles Nest. Jacquie was working in office when I arrived, so she walked up to my room (all the way to the 4th floor!) and showed me around. I’d booked a studio, which turned out to be spacious, and upon advice from other travelers I’d requested one with a view, and so I’m happy to say that unit 4BW’s views amply compensated for walking up all those floors to get there. Jacquie also provided me with a complimentary rum, which I sipped while unpacking and changing into something more beach-appropriate.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic shot of my studio unit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My tiny west-facing balcony</td></tr>
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I arrived at the right time - the light was just turning golden so I walked the beach and considered my great good fortune at being back in my favorite spot on earth.<br />
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As you can see, the beaches are hideously crowded. That gorgeous water was calling to me so I took a quick dip before heading back up to the room. I’d originally been planning to have a casual beach dinner at <a href="https://blanchardsrestaurant.com/beach-shack/" target="_blank">Blanchards Beach Shack</a>, a 7-minute walk up the beach from Turtles Nest, but apparently they were closed for the phenomenal private wedding taking place at Four Seasons. Instead I ran up to Best Buy for some cheese & crackers to nosh on with the complimentary bottle of wine that Turtles Nest left for me in the room, along with some breakfast essentials for the upcoming week. <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The sunset was beautiful and the perfect backdrop to my first meal on the island, and since I had been awake for roughly one billion hours and the wine was having its wicked, wicked way with me, I decided to make an early night of it. The air conditioner chilled the room to perfection and I fell asleep reading with the distant sound of the waves in the background. Home at last.</span></div>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-16313841184002481842019-07-19T21:08:00.000-04:002019-07-20T07:49:55.402-04:00Once More Unto the Breach: Shakespeare Sunday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Despite the fact that Michael woke with a seriously nasty head cold on Sunday morning, we powered on because we had a date at the new <a href="https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/discover" target="_blank">Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.</a> In fact, when we bought our tickets to Henry V months before departure, it was the first concrete plan we made for our vacation. <i>Henry V</i> is my favorite of the history plays, and about a month before our trip Michael humored me by watching the very fine Kenneth Branagh film adaptation.<br />
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We opted for front row seats on the upper tier. Certainly a more authentic experience might have been the groundling tickets, but we are definitely of an age where standing for hours on end in the sun or rain no longer holds appeal. So armed with tissues and cough drops, we climbed to the upper deck to await the play.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my photo - from the Globe’s website. </td></tr>
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Even if <i>Henry V</i> hadn’t been my favorite history play, we would have been intrigued with the staging, with many of the lead roles having gender reversal. Sarah Amankwah, the woman who played Henry, was absolutely captivating and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised for her to become a household name in the future.<br />
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Other than a very annoying seat mate who apparently felt the need to mansplain the entire play to his companion, we loved the experience. We enjoyed a lemonade during the intermission and dove right back in. Unfortunately for the groundlings, that’s when the weather turned cold and rainy, so we were quite thankful for our covered seats - not to mention happy that we rented the cushions for our derrieres.<br />
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After the show, I had the marvelous good fortune of meeting up with an old friend from college. Marci is an architect who’s been living in London for well over a decade. She met us outside the theatre and we walked down to the Tate Modern together after lots of hugs and squealing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael’s photo of a light installation reflected in the window</td></tr>
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I confess that I didn’t have much use for the exhibits at the Tate, but the views from the top floor were exhilarating. Marci’s art and design background did help give context for some of the exhibits, which was interesting. After wending our way back down to the ground level, we took an Uber to the Shoreditch neighborhood so that Michael and I could see Marci’s studio, meet her husband Emory, and enjoy an early tapas dinner.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoreditch pedestrian area</td></tr>
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The four of us ate scrumptious foods and drank a delicious wine and decided that we weren’t quite ready to part ways yet. So we wandered around the neighborhood for a while, with Marci and Emory pointing out interesting bits of architecture and street art. We decided that we were still hungry, so they directed us to their favorite Vietnamese restaurant. Despite having had tapas less than an hour earlier, we ordered broadly off the menu and sampled nearly a dozen dishes among us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two college chums, reunited</td></tr>
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By 8:00, Michael’s energy was fading quickly so we parted ways with lots of hugs so that we could head home to Notting Hill, stopping first to get some nighttime cold medicine to ensure a good night’s sleep. After all, we had a big day coming up: boat ride on the Thames to Greenwich!</div>
As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-4116801830372527472019-06-17T18:53:00.000-04:002019-06-17T18:53:12.560-04:00Portobello Road, Portobello Road - Streets Where the Riches of Ages are Stowed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When we booked the Pink House in Notting Hill for our home in London, we had no idea how just how close we would be to the world-famous <a href="http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/" target="_blank">Portobello market</a>. Turns out, that we were less than two blocks away, but lucky for us Lonsdale Road is closed to vehicular traffic on that end, so we still had a very quiet neighborhood experience!<br />
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Thus we spent our Saturday morning in the ‘hood. For breakfast, we walked the mere two blocks to the Ottolenghi bakery and brought some incredible pastries back to enjoy the morning from our rooftop terrace. The selection of pastries and goodies was mouth-watering and it was very difficult making our final selections, but I decided to go classic with a croissant and a <i>pain au chocolat</i> while Michael ordered a muffin and something lemon. I think. I didn’t take notes and he’s not right here for me to confer with, so I could be incorrect.<br />
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After polishing our breakfast off to the last crumb, we walked over to explore the market. While I was expecting the tchotchkes and the made-in-anywhere-but-England souvenirs, I wasn’t prepared to see the smorgasbord of foods, both prepared and fresh, that were on offer. It was crowded everywhere, as you can see from the photo above, and it was almost overwhelming in terms of stimulating all of the senses at once.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I’m not a fungi fan myself, but it was still fascinating<br />to see so many varieties in one place</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ginstitute. Alas, we never made it back here to partake, but I love the name.</td></tr>
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Walking around in the hot sun made us feel thirsty and the scents of all the yummy foods on the air <i>almost</i> made us regret the Ottolenghi, especially when confronted with the fragrant paella in a pan whose diameter had to be damn near my height (!). After the crowds started to feel like too much, we bought a smoothie served in a fresh pineapple shell to quench our thirst and then moved perpendicular to the market to escape the sea of humanity.<br />
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We found a lovely wine shop where the proprietors let us sample an expensive ginger liqueur that we’d seen many times before but didn’t want to drop $45 on a bottle without knowing whether we liked it. (It was delicious and we walked out with some nip-sized gins to share with folks back home.) We walked down lovely street after street and soaked up the very English atmosphere. Michael even located the “whoopsie-daisy” gated park from the <i>Notting Hill</i> movie so naturally we had to take a photo there. We even discovered the world’s smallest working car and the local public toilets. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the public toilets have great maps to show you where you are.</td></tr>
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We were enjoying the sunshine and the fresh air, so for the second half of the day we decided to keep going in the same vein. Our London Pass included the zoo, so that’s where we headed. En route, we made a pitstop at the 221B Baker Street to pick up some presents for Michael’s sister whose one request was for a souvenir that feeds her Sherlock love. From there we took the bus (another form of excellent public transportation that the wonderful city of London has to offer) to the zoo. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">221 B Baker Street</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double decker!</td></tr>
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I have ambivalent feelings towards zoos in general, even when they’re as nice overall as the London Zoo is. Michael feels similarly conflicted, and I was as surprised as anybody when he said that he was interested in seeing the special <a href="https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/exhibits/in-with-the-spiders" target="_blank">spider exhibit</a>. I love the man, but to say he’s not a fan of spiders is to engage in the most careless of understatement. </div>
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The zoo itself was spacious and some of the exhibits were lovely, but some seemed so restrictive that they made me deeply sad, like the penguins and the giraffes. One that we both enjoyed, though, was the butterfly enclosure, and Michael really liked the s<a href="https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/exhibits/squirrel-monkeys" target="_blank">quirrel monkey exhibit</a>, where he shot an adorable video of a mother & baby. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved this tree near the flamingo pond</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perspective is everything in this photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The canal on the edge of the zoo</td></tr>
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Once my phone told me that we had clocked six miles already that day, we decided to head back and organize something for dinner. One bus ride and one tube ride later, we found ourselves wandering Queensway to figure out where we wanted to eat. It was my choice this time, so after perusing various menus from every corner of the globe, I chose <a href="http://www.alwaharestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Alwaha</a>, a Lebanese restaurant, because I love the spice profiles and it’s not something we can easily get at home.<br />
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Between the early hour (we’d skipped lunch so we were famished by 5:30) and the fact that it was during Ramadan, we had the entire place to ourselves. We shared a flatbread called Manakeish Bil Jibneh, which was topped with halloumi and spices, I ordered a grilled lamb dish while Michael opted for the grilled prawns with garlic and lemon. One shared glass of arak later, and we were two very happy customers. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG, these prawns</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arak, a traditional Lebanese spirit that tastes of licorice</td></tr>
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The restaurant had a very simple decor and we enjoyed our window seats as we watched the world walk by. I was completely taken by the beautiful calligraphy by the artist Mouneer al-Shaarani. They were framed without anti-glare glass, so I couldn’t get very good shots of them, but if they had been even remotely within my price range, I would proudly have one of them on my walls right now.<br />
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We had a leisurely stroll home, enjoyed a canned gin & tonic on the rooftop terrace (ugh -- why is that even a thing in England?!) and retired to the basement to watch a little Netflix. Which for us meant alternating episodes of Dr. Who and The Crown. When in Rome, right?</div>
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Stay tuned for Shakespeare and college reunions...</div>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-2334792296050729552019-06-12T22:36:00.002-04:002019-06-12T22:36:28.145-04:00Views from the 11th Century<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first view of the Tower</td></tr>
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Our plan for Friday was to spend time with two London spots that are both historical and uber-touristy: The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. Our London Pass gained us entrance to both, so after a quick breakfast we took the tube to the City of London. I also had the anticipatory eagerness of meeting an internet friend for the first time. Though Kayleigh of the <a href="http://nadmiral.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Nylon Admiral blog</a> and I had been bonding for years over books (Harry Potter in particular), we’d never met in real life. Since she hails from Australia and I live in New England, it tickled me that we would cross paths for the first time in another country altogether. Squee!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The White Tower is one of the oldest sections. I love<br />that I accidentally caught a bird in flight. Too bad it<br />wasn’t one of the tower ravens!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down from one of the walls</td></tr>
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Built in the 11th century, the Tower of London is one of the oldest places I’ve ever had the privilege of stepping foot in. There were certainly thousands of tourists milling about, but because the grounds themselves inside the wall are so spacious, it didn’t feel particularly crowded. Some of the exhibits we had to stand in line to see, such as the crown jewels, and others we occasionally had to wait a moment to get close enough to read some of the exhibit placards, but for the most part we could just wander around at our own pace without feeling jostled. I’m not sure that I’d stand in line for more than 10 minutes to get into the crown jewels exhibit, as it was the bit with the most buildup but the smallest amount of payoff, so I guess we were lucky that the queue was moving so rapidly.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Tower Bridge in the background<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a lot of examples of torture devices found on<br />display for a country where torture was “very rare.” Just sayin’. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was carved by one of the prisoners held in the tower.</td></tr>
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It would be easy to spend the better part of a day wandering around and taking everything in. We tried to soak up as much of the atmosphere as possible without straining to read every placard, as interesting and informative as all of it was. One thing that we never tired of was seeing the juxtaposition of modern architecture and these thousand-year-old spots. <br />
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One part in particular that I liked very much was the chapel that was built inside the White Tower. I’m not sure why I’m so particularly drawn to ecclesiastical architecture, but I really am. Here’s a panoramic shot of it. Somebody was giving a guided tour in there when we happened upon it, but it’s the sort of place that I would have been happy to sit for half an hour in quiet contemplation if the circumstances had been otherwise.<br />
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Around 1pm we decided to wrap up our self-guided tour so that we could organize lunch. Since Michael and I were trying to make sure we got back to Westminster Abbey for a 3:00 entrance we knew we wouldn’t have a lot of time to linger over food, so it was terrific when Kayleigh suggested that we walk across the Thames to the <a href="http://boroughmarket.org.uk/" target="_blank">Borough Market</a>. Well, it was perfect! What a sea of humanity surrounded by every kind of food imaginable. I don’t think I’ve seen such incredible comestible variety in one place in my life. We each picked a kiosk, purchased some refreshingly minty iced tea, and leaned up against the wall for a standing meal. I wish I’d had the foresight to take a few photos there, but all I have is the one I took on our walk back to the tube afterwards. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photographic evidence of Kayleigh’s and my meeting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just the walkway down to Borough Market.<br />It does not give a sense AT ALL of what awaits at the end!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southwark Cathedral, across from Borough Marke</td></tr>
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We parted ways with Kayleigh, as she had to make her way back home and we had to hie ourselves to Westminster, and on the way to the tube I had to pause to make a photo of the Southwark Cathedral. If the Tabard Inn were still intact, the English nerd in me would have been on the hunt for it. That is where Chaucer’s pilgrims gathered, in Southwark, to begin their journey in his famed <i>Canterbury Tales</i>. Still, it gave me a small thrill. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westminster? Parliament? <i>You</i> decide!</td></tr>
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So, funny story. After exiting the tube station, we followed the wonderful signage to the correct exit for Westminster Abbey, but either we missed a sign or were simply distracted by a school children protest about climate change, but we ended up at the Houses of Parliament. I swear, up close, Parliament and the Abbey look an <i>awful</i> lot alike, especially since large swathes of both are covered up in scaffolding. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least we had something ornate to look at while queuing</td></tr>
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By the time we made it to the entrance of the correct building, we were a little dismayed to find a long queue to enter. We had timed our arrival to make the most of seeing Westminster before it closed to tourists so that we would have a small break and then could enjoy an evensong service that begins most afternoons at 5:00 pm. The Abbey was as crowded at the Churchill War Rooms were, and so we all basically shuffled along, bumping into one another as we paused to read a placard or crane our necks to look up. No photography is allowed inside the Abbey, and I would have been more upset except there was no space to take photos of anything interesting without having other tourists in the frame. One thing I would have really liked making a photo of was the Stephen Hawking gravestone, but Westminster provides a better quality image on their website. The latent physicist in me was a little in awe of that, I admit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really love this. </td></tr>
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Once we got outside to the cloisters, we had some elbow room, so we sat down for a few minutes to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine again. If it was also opportunity to rest our beleaguered feet after pounding the pavement all day, so be it. It really was lovely, though.<br />
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We poked around the Poets Corner, and despite the crowds, it moved me more than I expected to see the burial sites of authors whose work I have loved and studied over the years: Chaucer, Austen, Milton, Equiano, Darwin, and Behn.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vaulted ceiling directly above</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My seat in the quire</td></tr>
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Because we were able to linger in the nave after the Abbey closed, we had excellent placement in the queue for evensong. We got seats 19 and 20 in the quire (incidentally, the same seat numbers as we had for the <i>Harry Potter</i> plays), where I made a couple of surreptitious photos because I was feeling rebellious. The choir was wonderful, and though I didn’t know any of the music, it felt just wonderful to be participating in the service and to hear those incredible acoustics at work. </div>
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After the service, we crammed onto the train again and this time took the tube to Bayswater so we could eat dinner at <a href="https://www.maharaja50.co.uk/" target="_blank">Maharajah</a>, one of the few restaurants we had chosen ahead of our trip as a place to dine near our neighborhood. There was only one other table occupied when we arrived, but soon enough the small dining room filled up with a truly international clientele. Based on accents, we were the only Americans there, but we were surrounded by Germans, Belgians, Dutch, and Australians and I indulged in my usual custom of eavesdropping on strangers, many of whom were talking politics, particularly of Brexit.</div>
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The good was very good, but I can’t say that it was significantly better than Malabar, where we’d dined our first night in the city. We loved both places and would recommend either one wholeheartedly. There was still quite a lot of daylight as we walked back to our place in Notting Hill, which was closer than we’d first thought, and we made the happy discovery of about a hundred different restaurants within a ten minute walk of our place - about which, more anon. </div>
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We made good use of our rooftop terrace by watching the sunset and enjoying a glass of wine, a perfect way to end our day. </div>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-56677945824034385712019-06-07T21:38:00.000-04:002019-06-07T21:38:09.666-04:00The Room Where It Happened: Churchill War Rooms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Before leaving for London, Michael and I canvassed friends and colleagues to see what their favorite recommendations were for the city. While there were a lot of answers we expected to hear, there was one attraction that we hadn’t given a second thought to but which multiple people raved about: the <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms" target="_blank">Churchill War Rooms</a>. Willing to take their advice, we decided to seek out the room where it happened.<br />
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First, though, we stopped on the way to the tube station for some takeaway breakfast at Pret. I won’t go into detail here since they’re in many major cities all over, but we loved that their usual fruit & yogurt cups here were very passionfruit-forward.<br />
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Even though we arrived before mid-morning, there was already a queue forming outside the CWR. What’s more, we discovered on site that it’s one of the attractions that people can by online tickets for a certain time, so despite having the London Pass, we cooled our heels in line for 45 minutes before we could enter. About halfway through the wait, though, an Australian couple in front of us struck up a conversation, and that made the time seem to pass much more quickly.<br />
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We don’t have a ton of photos from inside the CWR, despite photography being permitted. It was fairly low light throughout much of it and it was also extremely crowded, neither of which is conducive to getting great pictures. We both enjoyed the experience but I would urge all visitors to book a specific timed ticket and not just show up hoping to get in right away.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Enigma machine</td></tr>
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After spending two hours wandering through the museum and the CWR, we decided to part company with the crowds. The day was beautiful, so we wandered around the area and enjoyed the sunshine. Of course we had to take a photo of Michael with the Downing Street sign behind him. (We were surprised to learn that the street itself is closed off.) I was sporting a t-shirt from my store to launch a new social media campaign showing off An Unlikely Story swag around the world.<br />
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Eventually we worked up an appetite so we stopped in for a late lunch at a traditional pub called <a href="https://www.redlionwestminster.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Red Lion</a>. We had an upstairs table for two with a view out the window and were grateful to sit down for a while. Service was prompt for taking our order, but once our food arrived, it was a ridiculously long time before we saw our server again. The food itself okay but nothing special. Michael ordered two small plates of crispy squid and spicy Vietnamese chicken wings, which were heavy on the gelatinous goo, light on the spiciness. I had a more straightforward grilled ham & cheese sandwich with triple-cooked chips that were soggy. The beer was excellent, though, and the day was fine, so disappointing fare didn’t do anything to dampen our spirits.<br />
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After lunch we walked around a bit more before taking the tube back home around 4:00, hoping to avoid the worst of rush hour. The day was still so beautiful when we emerged from Notting Hill Gate station that I suggested we treat ourselves at the local gelateria on our walk home. Well, it was perfect and it completely redeemed lunch as far as I was concerned. Michael ordered hazelnut while I asked for a mix of coconut and salted caramel. Positively decadent!<br />
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Yes, definitely one of my best ideas, getting gelato. Once we got home to the Pink House, we napped for a bit before changing into clothes for the play. Yes, another one of my best ideas, getting tickets to go see <i>Harry Potter and the Cursed Child</i>. This was our second night, and since we already knew where we were going and didn’t have to queue at Will Call for tickets, we stopped in at the flagship <a href="https://www.foyles.co.uk/" target="_blank">Foyles</a>, which is on the way to the theatre, to poke around. You know, busman’s holiday and all that. That place was amazing - five floors, such incredible breadth of inventory. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening scene from Part I</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening scene, Part II</td></tr>
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The production values of the shows were simply incredible. The boy who played Scorpius Malfoy absolutely stole the show, and the man who played Draco and the woman who played Hermione weren't far behind. I absolutely loved seeing the shows and Michael was slightly less enthusiastic but still keen. We took advantage of the intermission with some gin & tonics, which is a British tradition I am 100% in favor of. <br />
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It was a great day, seeing some of the best that London has to offer, and we can’t wait to see will be in store for tomorrow!</div>
As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-26369824455854814182019-06-05T21:44:00.001-04:002019-06-06T17:54:04.139-04:00Unimagined Heights: St. Paul’s Cathedral<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first up-close with the cathedral</td></tr>
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For our second day in London, we activated our 6-day London Pass, a pay-once-for-multiple-attractions digital ticket, which we decided to buy because of the attractive 20% off rates we found before our departure. The morning was so beautiful that we decided to start with <a href="https://www.stpauls.co.uk/" target="_blank">St. Paul’s Cathedral</a> to make the most of the views. Our plan also had the compensating advantage of providing us a serious cardio workout before our fairly sedentary evening watching a play,<br />
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But first, breakfast. We stopped in at a place called <a href="https://www.vqrestaurants.com/locations/notting-hill" target="_blank">VQ</a>, and perhaps in retrospect we would not have selected it if we’d known (a) it has multiple locations around London and (b) it’s open 24/7. Trying to embrace the local food tradition I ordered bubble and squeak. Color me unimpressed. Michael had better luck ordering a simple breakfast sandwich. At least it was quick and the espresso was delicious!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made this photo before realizing that photography<br />
was not allowed.</td></tr>
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We took the tube to the St. Paul’s stop and found that the station basically stands in the shadow of the cathedral. Only a few people were lingering on the steps outside when we went in. Unfortunately, photography isn’t allowed inside, so I only made one picture of the side of the nave before seeing the sign. The space is large and impressive and that early in the morning there were fewer tourists inside. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Stone Gallery</td></tr>
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I’d heard about the <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/whispering-gallery-at-st-paul-s-cathedral" target="_blank">Whispering Gallery,</a> so I was disappointed to discover that it was closed the day we were there (I’ve since been horrified to learn that it closed a month before our visit because somebody had died), but the Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery were both open. At 257 and 376 steps up, respectively, the galleries can only be reached by visitors via spiral staircases. Girding my loins, we began the slow ascent and I’m happy to report that the views at the top were absolutely worth the risk of cardiac arrest.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Millennium Bridge </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The round white building in the foreground <br />
is Shakespeare’s Globe theatre</td></tr>
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The views from the Golden Gallery weren’t substantially better, and the sense of vertigo I got from looking over the parapet was palpable, but I still felt a real sense of accomplishment for climbing all that way. At one point, there’s a small circle in the floor near the top of the stairs positioned exactly in the middle above the dome where you can look down into the cathedral, spying the chairs assembled far below.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those brown specks are chairs in the nave. (Michael’s photo, not mine)</td></tr>
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After getting our fill of fresh air and views, we began our descent to ground level. By the time we reached the nave, it had filled up quite a bit more with tourists so we were glad to have arrived as early as we had. We took a seat o rest our jelly-legs from our vertical exertions as much as to take in the grandeur of the dome from the inside. It was here, I’m somewhat ashamed to say, that I made a few surreptitious photos. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See that tiny speck of light in the lower part of the innermost circle?<br />
That’s the “peephole” we looked down from on our climb to the Golden Gallery</td></tr>
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After a brief detour down to the crypts, we went back upstairs for the 12:30 service that was starting. We both agreed that it was especially fitting to be in that space to experience the purpose it was created for. It was a spoken service, not a musical one, which made me wish we could be there one day for a proper mass. The service over, we checked out the gift shop and purchased some sodas to fortify ourselves before heading out to explore more of London. It was also astonishing for us to see, as we walked towards the Millennium Bridge, just how far up we had been.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even more refreshing than a turn about the room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Until next time, St. Paul’s...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See where those tiny people are? That’s where we were!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, for comparison purposes so you can see the<br />
Golden Gallery vis a vis the rest of the dome</td></tr>
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Once we’d crossed the river Thames, it was time to consider lunch. We originally had made reservations for afternoon tea at the intriguing-looking Momo, but it wasn’t anywhere near where we were and we were getting hungry. Borrowing some free wifi from the Starbucks, we canceled the reservation and instead walked into <a href="https://www.swanlondon.co.uk/afternoon-tea/" target="_blank">The Swan</a>, adjacent to Shakespeare’s Globe, for afternoon tea instead.<br />
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This delighted me to no end, since I had been longing to do their Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed afternoon tea in conjunction with our tickets to see the matinee of <i>Henry V</i>, but the timing simply didn’t work out. It hadn’t occurred to me before the trip that we could manage to get to the Globe on a <i>different </i>day from seeing the play! Michael had never before experienced afternoon tea, and I myself had only had it one time prior in Ireland, and this one lived up to all of the anticipation.<br />
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For a few additional pounds, you could enjoy a special gin, blackberry, & prosecco cocktail, so obviously I took advantage of that. Because gin. The Swan also offers two types of tea: a traditional one and a “gentleman” one, so we ordered one of each and shared everything. The gentleman’s tea is heartier and frankly I would not have been able to finish one by myself, but I’m glad that it gave me the opportunity to try yet another traditional food, the Scotch egg. It also had the best grilled ham & cheese I’ve ever had, but they call it by the fancier name of Berkshire ham croque monsieur.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bespoke china used for tea at the Swan</td></tr>
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Our server was kind enough to bring us two more scones and extra clotted cream because they were so yummy that I wanted to eat both of them and this way we each got two. My Moroccan mint tea and Michael’s white pear & ginger tea both resulted in two very happy customers.<br />
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And since this seems like quite enough to be getting on with, I’ll conclude Wednesday’s report here and simply add my thoughts about <i>Harry Potter and the Cursed Child</i> to Thursday. </div>
As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-9990198113479407342019-06-04T21:31:00.003-04:002019-06-06T08:25:59.994-04:00From Daleks to the Rosetta Stone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Because we knew that jet lag would be catching up to us, we decided to let ourselves have a bit of a lie-in. Before leaving the US, we had planned our activities on our first day: finding our way out to east London to visit the <a href="https://www.thewhoshop.com/" target="_blank">Dr Who bookshop & museum</a>, then back to the city center to see the British Museum. We figured it would be a great way to dive in and get a taste of public transportation and take us across the breadth of the city.<br />
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But first we had to break our fast. For convenience we selected one of the many places near the Notting Hill Gate tube stop, <a href="https://www.lepainquotidien.com/uk/en/menu" target="_blank">Le Pain Quotidien</a>. Like most of the food we had over the next week and a half, it was delicious. Michael ordered the cheese & mustard scone while I had the coconut “crunola.” Because we had read in some guidebook or another ahead of our trip that many places don’t offer table service the same way we have in the US, we got in the habit, upon entering any establishment, to inquire whether we should wait to be seated or just pick a table and then order at the bar/counter. We were surprised when most places seated us and offered full table service, and Le Pain Quotidien was among them.<br />
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After fortifying ourselves, we grabbed the tube to Upton Park, or so we thought. We didn’t realize that some lines stop short of the terminus depicted on the map, so ended up in Plaistow and then had to catch another train to Upton Park. From there it was about a 7 minute walk to the bookstore. Michael had looked up directions the night before, but as we would discover elsewhere, there is excellent signage at the street level outside of every tube station with maps posted. <br />
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Michael’s eyes lit up as soon as we walked inside the store. There was an entire wall of the Dr Who books, which he collects (and has a few hundred of), plus all kinds of memorabilia and collectibles, including a full sized TARDIS and dalek from the show. Beyond that, there is a small museum at the back of the store that can only be entered via a TARDIS, which was pretty cool. It was small but it had lots of costumes and props from the original series and the reboot, and for any true fan it was absolutely worth the <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">£3</span></span><b style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. </b><br />
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We left Upton Park and took the tube to Tottenham Court Road to get to the British Museum. Once again, I give the highest praise to the signage. There were prominent signs upon exiting the trains which exit to take to get to the museum and then directions from the exit. It was perhaps a 25 minute ride to the museum and we were still feeling full from breakfast, so we skipped lunch in favor of some extra time with the exhibits. </div>
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Well, damn. That is one seriously amazing museum, and with free admission (suggested donation of <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">£</span></span>5), it’s undoubtedly one of the best cultural deals the world. We decided to work our way from the top floor down, starting with the Egyptian exhibits. Unfortunately the galleries were crazy-crowded, with large groups of school children everywhere, making it a challenge to get a real appreciation for the fascinating items there, much less a good photo.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The famed Rosetta stone </span></td></tr>
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We stayed until it was time for the museum to close at 5:30 and then took the tube back home. Unlike our previous rides, this one was during rush hour and it gave us a whole new appreciation of the sardine experience. By the time we got back to Notting Hill we were really quite hungry, so we stopped for an unfashionably early dinner at a pub called <a href="https://www.suninsplendourpub.co.uk/#" target="_blank">The Sun in Splendor</a>. The service was friendly and the beer was cold, but while Michael’s bangers & mash was good, my butternut squash risotto left a little to be desired.<br />
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Toward the end of our meal as the pub filled up around us, we decided to share a dessert and have our first gin & tonic of the trip. The gin & tonic with local Portobello gin was just what we needed, but the rhubarb & apple crisp was mostly a hot, gelatinous goo lacking in flavor. Totally disappointing.<br />
Still, it had been a full day, and we left feeling both satisfied and successful on our walk back to the Pink House, where we managed to stay awake long enough to watch an episode of Dr. Who before falling deeply asleep.<br />
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Next up: the glories of St. Paul, Elizabethan tea, and Harry Potter!<br />
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-38318571681360141972019-06-03T20:34:00.001-04:002019-06-06T08:26:13.376-04:00London, or There and Back Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I thought that my last blog post was behind me, but my boyfriend and I recently took a big trip and I realized that blogging my travels is the best way for me to remember all of the details. Back in 2015, I took an amazing trip to Ireland with my best friends but because it was during a tumultuous personal time in my life I didn’t blog about it, and now I hardly remember any of the small, quiet moments from that journey.<br />
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So, London. More like LONDON! We chose London because so many of our nerddoms coalesce there and because we found ridiculously low-priced nonstop flights, perfect for people in our tax bracket. We booked on a slightly drunken whim on New Year’s Day and chose May because it was good timing for our jobs, we thought the weather might be nice, and because it’s Michael’s natal month. </div>
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Neither of us had ever been to England before, so it was really fun to spend the long, cold winter evenings researching places to stay and things to do. We pored over websites like AirBnB and TripAdvisor for hours at a time and became nuisances to all of our friends and coworkers who’d ever been to London before as we peppered them with questions. </div>
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We had an overnight flight to Gatwick, where we muddled our way onto a train to Victoria station. We popped above ground to get a look at things, and then we muddled our way on the underground to Notting Hill Gate tube stop. With Michael’s unerring (and almost eerie) sense of direction, we found our way to the Pink House, our home away from home for the next ten days. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travel weary</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We came to love this juxtaposition of <br />
older and newer architecture</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We became very familiar with the ins and outs of this station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the prettier stations, as we discovered in time</td></tr>
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The Pink House was still being cleaned when we found it, but the housekeeper let us dump our luggage and change our clothes before heading out to find a spot for lunch. We had passed a few pubs on our walk from the tube so we circled back to look them over, but none of them had opened yet. So we cooled our heels, explored our neighborhood, and took some pictures until noon when <a href="https://www.walmercastlenottinghill.co.uk/" target="_blank">Walmer Castle</a> opened. </div>
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We were the first to arrive, so we picked a corner table and eagerly perused the menu. Michael decided to jump in with fish & chips while I opted for the chicken, portobello, leek, and pancetta pie. I’m not sure if it was simply our exhaustion, our delight in finding ourselves in a new country, the very fine beer, or a combination of all three, but we both enjoyed our meals immensely </div>
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As much as we enjoyed our meals, they were also quite heavy so after our very short walk back to the Pink House, we did the bare minimum to unpack and familiarize ourselves with our home before tumbling into bed for a two hour nap. Or maybe it was three hours. It was all quite nebulous. Upon waking, we connected to wifi to find a nearby Indian restaurant with good ratings, which is how we found ourselves at <a href="http://www.malabar-restaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank">Malabar</a>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my photo - found on their website</td></tr>
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It was a farther walk than I was hoping, but it was completely worth the effort. We were both so tired that we could hardly see straight (as demonstrated by my total lack of photographic evidence), but also peckish despite our heavy lunch. Michael ordered the Malabar prawns masala and I went for the pasanda, which is a lamb dish with cardamom, almonds, and sultanas. We shared some naan and then decided to try the mango fool for dessert. Everything was delicious and the mango fool was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal and long day. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our darling home</td></tr>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-16928687045674963792019-01-02T22:01:00.000-05:002019-01-02T22:03:57.709-05:002018: Last Year in Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rj6k9SZgk4w/XC17Ybo7oGI/AAAAAAAAMPw/T04dsbplWw85G03tVUpZPtLUm014CRtbQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGP2624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rj6k9SZgk4w/XC17Ybo7oGI/AAAAAAAAMPw/T04dsbplWw85G03tVUpZPtLUm014CRtbQCLcBGAs/s400/IMGP2624.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Oh, 2018. What a wild ride it has been. 2018 was a year of fresh starts and difficult losses and everything else in between. I said goodbye to a beloved job to take a chance on a new one. I moved for the third time in three years (not recommended) to the other end of the state. My father died. My new job was challenging and fulfilling, but also exhausting. I sorely missed my old home and friends in western MA and found it more difficult than expected warming to my new home and making new friends. However, I visited new places and old friends. I joined the board of my regional trade association and felt recognized for my contributions to New England bookselling for the first time. I bonded with my stepmother and realized that I still have family in MS even after my father’s passing. I have friends deep in my heart who helped me through many rough patches, even if I’ve never met some of them in person.</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;" />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">This may also be my last blog post. My new job is more demanding than my last one, and while I’m extremely pleased that my annual reading is back on track, or at least on its way to being back on track, I’m not sure that I will have the time and inclination to continue. We’ll have to see...</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;" />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Here, then, is a summary of my reading for 2018, and a glimpse or two at some of my travels that I didn’t cover on my blog. I met my goal of reading 80 books and then exceeded it by two for a total of 82. A secondary goal for the year was to read with intention, diversifying my selection of books and the authors who wrote them. Here are some stats:</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;" />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Books by female writers: 45</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Books by male writers: 35</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">One anthology, one book written by one man & one woman</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Books written by non-binary genders: unknown</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;" />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Fiction: 63</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Non-fiction: 19</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Short stories: 9</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">E-books: 7</span><br />
<a href="https://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2018/03/book-review-illegal-by-eoin-colfer-and.html" style="color: #fffa6e; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Graphic Novels</a><span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">: 5</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Middle Grade/YA: 15</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Diversity challenge: 30</span><br />
<br style="caret-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;" />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">I read so many excellent books this year, giving 4* or 5* to a much higher proportion of my reading than usual. One thing I delighted in was the freedom to read anything I desired, whether it was previously published or not, once I started my new job, and I think my ratings reflect that. In no particular order, here are the best books I read this year (not including any re-reads):</span><br />
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<br style="caret-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;" />
<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Sorry for the formatting issues. Blogger isn’t cooperating with letting me put more than one image per line. It’s unusual that three short story collections would make my top ten, but they were all incredible. Four of these books are by </span><a href="https://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-heads-of-colored-people-by-nafissa.html" style="color: #fffa6e; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">debut</a><span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;"> authors, which also seems like a high percentage. I sometimes have to fudge the numbers to include a children’s book or any nonfiction in my top ten reads for the year, but the </span><a href="https://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-leonardo-da-vinci-by-walter.html" style="color: #fffa6e; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Walter Isaacson</a><span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;"> and the Sy Montgomery, while being radically different, were both superlative. Ditto for Holly Black’s second series installment and Jarrett Krosoczka’s heartbreaking graphic memoir. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.364799499511719px;">My new work crew, accepting a local award</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Despite starting a new job, commuting back & forth for a few weeks and then moving, and then being away to care for my father and my stepmom, I was able to do a little traveling. I started the year in Memphis with a trip for work that I combined with a visit to see my best friends. I made fun day trips to Brattleboro, VT, and Newport, RI, one with my beloved and one with his family. We bought season tickets to Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, NY, and have traveled there to see </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Les Miserables</i><span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;"> and other shows (with </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(207, 226, 243); color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;">Hamilton</i><span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 15.455999374389648px;"> to look forward to later this year!). We also spent a week near Acadia, Maine, reconnecting with a friend from high school, getting to know his family and friends, and seeing some of the most incredible sunsets I’ve ever witnessed.</span><br />
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I suppose that 2018’s high and lows weren’t necessarily more numerous than other years, but the lows in particular were certainly more intense. I’ve had much to reflect on, with much more yet to come. Along the way, I was grateful to share the journey with the people in my life who mean the most to me. I’m looking forward to 2019 and the new adventures it will bring, including trips to Albuquerque for work, to Memphis to see friends, and to London for the very first time. I’ve completed my first book of the year on the first day of the year, so I hope that bodes well for a good reading year to come. I thank everybody who is reading this, whether you found me for my book reviews or my traveling writing, and I hope that 2019 becomes a year of possibility and hope for us all. </div>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-55614829473109361092018-04-11T10:08:00.001-04:002018-04-11T10:08:58.113-04:00The Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Work has been keeping my <i>very</i> busy these last couple of weeks. I’m grappling with questions about my future and my job, all while trying to stay on top of myriad deadlines. In the midst of all of that, my book reviewing and blogging have fallen behind a little, so to make myself feel a bit better, here’s a mini review of a new collection of short stories. <br />
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<i>Heads of the Colored People</i> is a debut that simply blew me away, particularly the titular story, which is a true powerhouse (with a nod to Eudora Welty). Subtitled “Four Fancy Sketches, Two Chalk Outlines, and No Apology,” it plays with the fourth wall, turns readerly expectations upside down, makes you laugh, and then utterly guts you. I mean, seriously sucker punches you.<br />
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I picked up this collection of stories because of the provocative title and stayed for the sheer writerly talent contained within. Thompson-Spires’ narrative voice is so distinct, so self-assured, that it defies belief that this is her first book. Edgy but always accessible, she’s a new literary talent to be reckoned with. Put this book on the shelf with Junot Diaz and Roxane Gay, where it will be in good company. Seriously. Just buy this book.<br />
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<i>Heads of the Colored People</i> went on sale in the US yesterday, published by Atria, a division of Simon & Schuster. I read an advance reading copy provided at my request by the publisher. My coworker and I liked this book so much that we made it a selection for my store’s signed First Editions Club, and I am very much looking forward to meeting Nafissa Thompson-Spires in person at the end of this month.</div>
As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-54134777989919204472018-04-02T04:48:00.000-04:002018-04-02T04:48:20.437-04:00Last Month in Review: March 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image found <a href="http://bestanimations.com/Books/Books.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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March was full of so many good books, two of which I actually got around to reviewing already. Out of the nine books, two were nonfiction, one was a re-read, one was an audio, two were graphic novels, and three were by authors of color. I really liked or loved each of them, too, so all the winning for me!<br />
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1. <i>Illegal</i> by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano. This book was a useful reminder that I should read more graphic novels. This one follows a young boy named Ebo in his desperate quest to leave Ghana, cross the Sahara, and make his way to Europe to keep his family together and make a better life. It’s an incredible read. Review<a href="https://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2018/03/book-review-illegal-by-eoin-colfer-and.html" target="_blank"> here.</a><br />
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2. <i>The Ensemble</i> by Aja Gabel. This debut novel follows a quartet of classical musicians from their years in graduate school through adulthood, children, relationships, etc. It’s a very good book, and one of the few books I can think of that explores the importance of work relationships and non-romantic intimacies when people’s livelihoods are intertwined. The music writing is pretty incredible, to boot. <br />
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3. <i>Things That Make White People Uncomfortable</i> by Michael Bennett. This is one of the two nonfiction books I read this month and the other <a href="https://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2018/03/book-review-things-that-make-white.html" target="_blank">review</a> I happened to have written. I had no idea who Michael Bennett was when I picked this book up to read, but it turns out that he’s a professional football player who is also an activist, and he has some pretty terrific things to say.<br />
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4. <i>Today Will Be Different</i> by Maria Semple. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I read a book that was already published, but I was in a bit of a book slump and not interested in anything I’d brought home from work to read, so I grabbed this one from the shelf. I liked it. It has the same wry, bordering on dark, humor that marked <i>Where’d You Go, Bernadette</i>, and the same kind of brilliant and neurotic protagonist, too. <br />
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5. <i>America for Beginners</i> by Leah Franqui. Another debut novel, and this was the right book at the right time for me. Featuring the widow Mrs. Sengupta from Kolkata takes a trip to the US, where she is accompanied by Ronnie Munshi, her tour guide guide, and Rebecca, her companion (for modesty’s sake). These three unlikely pilgrims make their way across the US, but Mrs. Sengupta has a hidden agenda: to find and meet the partner of her gay son, whom her husband disowned. I love road trip stories, and this one had so many rewarding moments.<br />
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6. <i>The Wrong Heaven</i> by Amy Bonnaffons. This is another debut, this time a story collection that feels like it’s the love child between Kevin Wilson and Kelly Link. Each story is dark, leading either to a dark & twisted or dark & titillating conclusion. Lee Boudreaux edited this one, and she’s my favorite editor in the industry. I will blindly read anything she had a hand in, and a ridiculously high percentage of the time I will come away better for having encountered her books.<br />
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7. <i>Sisters</i> by Raina Telgemeier. I can’t remember the last time I read two graphic novels in one month, but the one arrived damaged at my bookstore -- too damaged to sell -- so I was able to take it home to read for free. So much fun, so much truth about sibling and family dynamics! I had read and loved Telgemeier’s <i>Drama</i> and I’m not sure why I never got around to this one until now. Good stuff here.<br />
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8. <i>This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage</i>. I am a bonafide fiction girl from way back, but this collection of essays just may be my favorite book by Ann Patchette. This is maybe my third (fourth) time reading this book and this time I was listening to the audio. Patchett reads the book herself, so hearing her voice in the car on my daily commute made me feel like I was in the company of a friend. <span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> This book is incredibly useful and insightful if one wants to be a better writer, but I actually think it is just as useful and insightful if one wants to be a better human being.</span><span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
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9. <i>The Secrets Between Us</i> by Thrity Umrigar. I had the great pleasure of having dinner with Thrity and a couple dozen booksellers last week, courtesy of Harper Collins. This is the sequel, of sorts, to <i>The Space Between Us</i>, which I had read years ago and enjoyed, but this book, after getting off to a somewhat slow start, became a book that I really loved. The politics of gender, class, and sexuality converge in this heartfelt tale of women and the hardships and indignities they’ve had to survive in 20th and 21st century India.<br />
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And just because I happened to have found old photos, here are pictures of Parnassus, the beautiful bookstore in Nashville that Ann Patchett co-owns with the marvelous Karen Hayes. Wouldn’t it be great to revisit your childhood and find a place for kids that is as magical as the children’s space at this bookstore, complete with a child-sized entrance that requires passing through the pillars of the Parthenon?<br />
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-65342357327688956742018-03-28T10:26:00.000-04:002018-03-28T10:26:20.387-04:00Book Review: ILLEGAL by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oh, graphic novels. Why don’t I read more of you? I know the studies that tell me that reading you stimulates both hemispheres of my brain. What’s more, I know from my own experience how rich and rewarding reading them can be, whether it’s a book that retroactively informs my own childhood (see: <i>Roller Girl</i>) or something that renders the unspeakable down to a distilled form so the reader can grasp at understanding the unimaginable (see: <i>Maus</i>). I can’t answer my own question, but every time I encounter a great graphic novel, I remind myself anew that I should read more of them, and the one that has done that most recently for me is <i>Illegal</i>. This is the same writing team that brought us the Artemis Fowl series, which I have not read, and if I should ever stop being a bookseller (god forbid!) and have more time to read books already published, their efforts here would certainly prompt me to pick up those books.<br />
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When I was in Memphis for Winter Institute in January earlier this year, I picked up an advance reading copy of this graphic novel in the galley room, that mystical, magical place where books are piled high on tables and booksellers walk through, <i>helping themselves to all the free books they want</i>. The cover was compelling, and what’s more, the advance reading copy was complete, not just a blad, and rendered in full color, so I tucked a copy away into my book bag for future reading.<br />
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<i>Illegal</i> is told by Ebo, a young boy from Ghana, who follows his older brother Kwame across the Sahara, who in turn has set off on a journey to find their older sister, who left Ghana years ago for Europe to try to make a better living for the family. Whether it’s the menacing human beings they encounter on their way, or the peril of survival at sea, Ibo and Kwame face danger after danger as they make their way to Tripoli across the desert, only to be launched onto a small boat little better than a life raft and set adrift in the Mediterranean.<br />
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The story is poignant and Rigano brings the story evocatively to life with his illustrations that are often bleak, but not without tenderness. Ebo intersperses his present day narrative, which begins on an overcrowded dinghy at sea, with stories of how he came to be floating on the open ocean with his brother and a group of desperate strangers. Rigano differentiates the stories to great effect using cooler tones for the present day and a neutral palette for the past:<br />
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Authors Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin don’t pull many punches with the narrative. Young Ebo’s life is defined by constant struggle and haunted by tremendous loss, and yet there is still something indomitable in his spirit that keeps him going. The ending is more bitter than bittersweet, but it’s also not without hope, and I would love to know more about Ebo’s story. </div>
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Jabberwocky, a division of Sourcebooks, will publish this book in August 2018. I can’t recommend this graphic novel enough. The book says that it’s rated for ages 10 and up, but I’d suggest for readers that young that an adult read in tandem to answer the inevitable questions this book raises. If you’re looking for a book that will build readerly empathy in your child, though, this can’t be beat. </div>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-29363589968735064822018-03-21T10:54:00.004-04:002018-03-21T10:54:46.580-04:00Book Review: Only Child<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Rhiannon Navin’s debut novel, <i>Only Child</i>, broke my heart. I read an advance reading copy of it in November 2017, but the book didn’t publish until February 6, 2018. It takes as its subject the wake of a school shooting, following one family through their grief, loss, anger, and inability to cope with the enormity of their feelings. While the author seemed to use circumstances from the Sandy Hook shooting as a jumping off point for exploring the emotional aftermath, this book immediately took on new immediacy when the Parkland, FL, school shooting took place less than one week after it was published. </div>
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Zach Taylor is the young narrator of our book, and he’s in first grade when his teacher rounds up his class to hide in the cloakroom. POP POP POP. He doesn’t understand what is happening, but he’s scared every time he hears POP POP POP. Once the police arrive, things get really chaotic for young Zach and his classmates; they’re herded out of the school to a small church to wait for their families, but now the police officers are yelling at them, barking orders for them not to turn around and look at anything, and in general making the situation even scarier. </div>
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When Zach learns that his older brother Andy died in the shooting, his first thought is one of relief. You see, Andy was always loud and mean to Zach, so Zach thinks that finally he can be happy, that family meals will be peaceful, that mommy and daddy won’t yell at each other so much either, now that Andy’s uncontrollable mood swings won’t be disrupting the family. He’s still trying to process the happy potential of being an only child while his parents fall apart, clearly incapable of taking care of Zach in the face of their overwhelming grief. </div>
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Once Zach finally does grasp what it will actually mean to be an only child, the reader’s heart breaks all over again for him. He doesn’t have the language skills or emotional intelligence to understand the feelings of guilt to which his family abandons him; his mother has been hospitalized for hysteria and his father is so incapacitated that he barely notices that Zach is in desperate need of attention. Even Zach’s grandmother, who comes to stay with them, doesn’t know how to be there for Zach, so he tries to cope in his own limited way: he builds a hideout in Andy’s closet, draws pictures, and models his behavior on what he imagines his heroes Jack and Annie from <i>The Magic Treehouse</i> series would do. </div>
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While there were times when reading this book last fall that I felt the author was verging on being emotionally manipulative, in retrospect I don’t see it that way at all. Like the young narrator of Emma Donoghue’s amazing novel, <i>Room</i>, the author uses a childish perspective to great effect, casting light on the emotional horrors of a situation without ever being graphic. One could argue that the limited perspective is even more successful for building readerly empathy, as we are required to fill in more blanks on our own with what Zach leaves unsaid and unobserved. </div>
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It’s difficult to imagine that a book depicting a school shooting and the effects it has on both family and community can end with hope or forgiveness; Navin doesn’t push the envelope that far, but she lays the groundwork for redemption and understanding, which is more realistic, and she lets a little child lead them. Navin’s accomplishment in creating Zach as narrator stands shoulder to shoulder with <i>Room</i>, as I mentioned before, and with the narrator from <i>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</i>, creating an indelible voice poised perfectly to direct the story, allowing the reader to see life from a distinctly different perspective. I recommend this book highly.</div>
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As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5257036732683611349.post-86769071566874810092018-03-14T11:05:00.001-04:002018-03-14T11:05:19.428-04:00Book Review: Things That Make White People Uncomfortable by Michael Bennett and Dave Zirin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Talk about provocative titles, right? I picked this book up in January when attending Winter Institute, an independent booksellers convention, in Memphis, TN. There’s a magical place there called The Galley Room, where tables groan under the stacks of books piled thereon. All the booksellers have to do is wander around the room and help themselves to complimentary copies of anything that looks good. Like many readers and booksellers, I actively try to diversify my reading (which for me also means intentionally choosing some non-fiction sometimes amidst the literary fiction that comprises my main reading interest AND making sure that I read works from small publishers), so this book ticked all the boxes.<br />
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It turns out that Michael Bennett is an important player in the NFL, a fact that no doubt many readers would know, but which took me completely by surprise. I have since asked myself whether I would have picked this up to read if I had known that, as I have zero interest in footfall, despite having grown up in Mississippi, where football is less a sport and more a religion. As of my reading of this book, he was a player for the Seattle Seahawks, but as of this writing, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.<br />
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At any rate, I’m glad I picked this book up to read because first of all, Michael Bennett is talking about things that make white people uncomfortable, and second of all, he’s doing it in a very accessible and conversational tone.<br />
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If you know football, then you quite likely know some of the things that Bennett has been involved with, starting with the support of Colin Kaepernick and his kneeling during the national anthem, but moving beyond that to his participation in the Black Lives Matter movement. So far, so awesome. But what I really loved about this book was Bennett’s passion for intersectionality and the many ways he’s become involved with his community and speaking out against (or in some cases, FOR) various things: the institutionalized racism of the NFL and the NCAA, the importance of providing affordable and wholesome foods in the poorest urban centers, the marginality of women, people of color, and LGBTQ people in every aspect of our society -- really, the list goes on.<br />
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In one case, Bennett had been invited to Israel to play an All-Stars exhibition game, which he was really excited about because he loves to travel and meet new people. But not long before departure, he took a closer look at the itinerary and realized that it was a very sheltered trip, he would not be allowed to visit Palestine, and that the trip was not just a goodwill trip, but a political one. He canceled, voiced his reasons publicly, and spent months researching Israel and Palestine, and then booked his own trip there.<br />
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On the subject of becoming an activist: “It’s so much easier to talk shit than to do shit, because once you are out there representing what you believe, people see the real you. Most everybody in the world wears a mask, and very rarely do people unveil who they really are...So I’m going to be judged by strangers on the core of who I am, and yes, that makes me vulnerable and it can even feel terrifying. Nobody wants to lose his job like Kaepernick...but if the price of employment is silence, I just can’t do it anymore.”<br />
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On the subject of politics and personal activism: “As much as I was into Bernie, I also believe that just electing someone and expecting them to make real change happen for us is a dead end. I believe in intersectionality because Bernie Sanders -- or anyone else - isn’t going to end racism or bring resources into underserved communities. We are going to need to connect with each other to bring about the shifts we need. I hope we have more political candidates who express the values Bernie was talking about, but we still have to do the work.”<br />
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On becoming woke to gender discrimination: “Knowing that sexism and gender violence and employment discrimination are going to be real obstacles in their [his daughters’] lives makes me want to fight for girls and women with all my heart. I wish it didn’t take having daughters for men [and me] to realize that this is their struggle, too. It should be enough that we are all human and we should want equality. But the reality is we live in a world where women -- especially Black women -- aren’t valued, and that often means that until we are looking at the world through our daughters’ eyes, we just don’t get it like we should.”<br />
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Amen to all of that. Whatever Michael Bennett has next in store, I look forward to it. It’s not every day that somebody can get me to consider football, really consider it, and I’ll be the first reader in line for his next book. <br />
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<i>Things That Make White People Uncomfortable</i> will be published by Haymarket Books on April 3. Go out and get yourself a copy to read, why don’t you? </div>
As the Crowe Flies and Readshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com1