Anguilla Local News

Damian Carty and his younger brother Marcus have a unique new business: they make scale models of traditional racing boats. . . .

Models of traditional Anguillian racing boats
 November 1st, 1997 - Site Map.

A Souvenir that Sums up Anguilla

Damian, who is eighteeen, started making the models of the open wood racing boat of Anguilla last year. They use narrow strips of white pine, shaped and formed just like the real boats. The models are 16" long and 20" high, while the real boats are 27' long and 45' high. The rigging comes down like a real boat does for trailering, but the model, masts and sails stow in a special box for travel.
[Click to enlarge Damian] Damian Carty, model boat creator. Click to enlarge.

The boat stands on a plexiglas base cut out in the shape of Anguilla, with two plexiglas dolphins as holders and a 25 cent piece in the bottom for balance (it is a tradition among many boaters to place a coin under the low step of the mast for good luck when the boat is being rigged). Damian will even custom name your boat to whatever you want, and paint the name on the side before you take delivery.

During the busy winter tourist seasons you can see the model racing boats and purchase them at gift shops such as Devonish Gallery, Cap Juluca, Rainbow, CoveCastles, and Maliouhana. The price is $250 US for the 16" models and $295 for the 19" ones, including a copy of their father's highly recommended book on boat racing, Nuttin' Bafflin'. Until the model boats are in all the gift shops, you can telephone 264-497-3782 and order a boat directly from Damian and his brother. Fax: 264-497-5814. Since the boat packs down into a special box, they can ship it via UPS.


News Items from Anguilla

Three on Three Basketball Tournament. October 30th to November 2nd at West End basketball court. Contact Delroy Lake at Carimar for details.

Sewing Club meeting Nov 6 at 7 pm at the Curiosity Shop in South Hill.

Aerial View of Little Bay. The October issue of Caribbean Travel and Life has a great aerial picture of Little Bay and the surrounding cliffs on pages 80 and 81. "Consider the fact that Anguilla has five times as many beaches as traffic lights."

Cyril's Fish House has Moved. Cyril's Fish House is reportedly moving from Island Harbour to Back Road in South Hill, in the building formerly occupied by Lucy's Harbour View.

Honeymooners Like Oliver's. Our newest restaurnt gets a boost from this posting: "We just got back from our honeymoon on 9/28/97. A new restaurant just opened on Long Bay called Oliver's. It has fantastic ambience, a great menu, wonderful mixed drinks (get a Caribbean Cream if Oliver takes your order), and of course, delightful Anguillian service. Additionally, The view is magnificent. They are open for lunch and dinner (closed Mondays I believe). Oliver is a great guy, take the time to hear how he built the place himself over the last 12 months. "

Chatterton's on the beach at Cap Juluca has a new awning that allows more seating closer to the sand and the grounds are spectacularly landscaped. We went for dinner while the chef was away in Puerto Rico for the competition and the food was still great. We had fried goat cheese pancake, Black Angus steak, Creme Brulee. Price for dinner was $100 for two with generous tip, drinks, no bottle of wine.

Extra Saturday Flight. Lee Garrett asks "We are back to Anguilla for our 7th year in late February. Have you heard if American Eagle will add another Saturday flight during the season. We have been calling American Airlines with no news. Need to get college daughter and friend to join us for the trip. We love Anguilla -- obviously!". According to American Eagle at Wallblake Airport (497-3503, they aren't in the new phone book), they will add another Saturday flight on November 8th. It arrives Anguilla at 7:27, leaves at 7:37PM. To read and post messages on air fares to Anguilla, visit our new Air Fare Bulletin Board.


Hidden Anguilla: Sile Bay

[Click for larger view of Sile Bay] Sile Bay is another one of Anguilla's apparently endless supply of remote and wonderful beaches. Sile Bay has two parts: the closer is a crescent of rock and the further is a longer crescent of sand. Located in the east end between Mimi Bay and Savannah Bay, it has no shade, no services, no crowds--a Robinson Crusue beach!

The first beach has fishing boats, lobster pots and fishing paraphenalia along the shore and there are lots of shells. I went in the water there, but I suggest you be careful not to fall on the slippery rock as you enter.
[Click for larger view of Sile Bay]

Separating the first and second beaches is an odd concrete structure of about 100 yards that effectively makes a giant children's wading pool!

I went exploring at Sile Bay because Joellen Samojla was trying to find a beach where she snorkelled 4 years ago and saw hundreds of star fish. It wasn't Sile Bay, but we think it might have been Rendezvous Bay.
[Click for larger view of Sile Bay]

If you walk all the way to the point, you look back across the sandy curve and the rocky curve to the fishing boats and the coast line. Behind the sandy beach and all along the rocky point, there are tidal pools with interesting sea life. This is a good spot for exploring.

Directions: From The Valley, take Coronation Blvd east past the gas station and Barclays Bank and through the light. At the roundabout, take the right fork. Take the second paved turn off after the primary school in East End Village. The main road curves left around the pond and continues to Island Harbour, but you turn off at the sign for Heritage Collection, a museum worth visiting in its own right. Go up the hill to the museum and turn right just after it on another paved road, then take a left and go down the hill. At the bottom you bear right and switch to dirt through a sandy "bottom", with pond and palm trees to the left, then on to the southern coast, where the road dead ends at Sile Bay. The distance from Heritage Collection to Sile Bay is 0.6 KM.

Related Web Page: More hidden places in Anguilla.


Tiny Anguilla Offers Smiles to its Visitors

Both Susanne Thevenet and Olan Coates made us aware of a feature travel article about Anguilla in the Denver Post of October 12th, written by Judi Dash.

"Caribbean's sleepy Anguilla short on glitz, long on charm," was accompanied by five color photos she took. They were of the beach and buildings at Cap Juluca, two gorgeous lunch plates at Scilly Cay, held presumably by Eudoxie and Sandra, Jerry Gumbs standing beside a flowering tree, Courtney Devonish, seated while potting, and finally, a woman relaxing in a hammock. Ms Dash's favorite restaurant was Nat Richardson's Palm Grove at Junk's Hole. She also hiked to a cave with a tree growing through the roof near Katouche Bay and was warmly received when attending a service at Anguillan Christian Fellowship Church.


How to Submit News Items

[Click for more fish!] Most of the stories in the Anguilla Local News originate with readers. There are four ways to submit news items for consideration:




Weather in Anguilla


Weather Summary Anguilla
Today: 83F 28C 69% Humidity, Clouds/Sun October 31
Low temp in last 30 days 75F 23C
High temp in last 30 days 90F 32C
Low humidity in last 30 days 59%
Tropical storm web site Link
Weatherpost live 5-day forecast Link

Thomas Peabody of the The Dive Shop sent this information on water temperatures:

I've been keeping rough track for the last 8-10 years of our local water temperatures, especially since the advent of accurate multi-level dive computers. I've consistently noted during August-October water temps averaging 82F-84F. These high temps are required to bring about the algae blooms so critical to keeping the food chain happy and balanced. As far as "whitening" of coral goes, this coral bleaching has been epidemic Caribbean wide. Various theories have been circulated by marine biologists as to why this is happening but it seems there is not yet universal consensus. It is widely believed however that water temps may be a factor.


Special Report: Pre-Historic Artifacts

[Click for larger view of artifacts]

The Anguilla National Trust has a fantastic collection of Amerindian artifacts, many over 1000 years old. The newest additions to the collection come from the Archaeological and Historical Society, which has been collecting them for years. The Fountain, which is preserved as a future national park. was the source of some; others were found at Rendezvous Bay, Sandy Ground, Sandy Hill, and other sites of pre-historic occupation in Anguilla.

The beautiful carved face (out of a shell) and mask were probably worn around the neck as signs of rank and power. The tiny carved frog is beautifully detailed and is believed to have been made in Anguilla. The stone axe comes from about 1500 BC, before fixed agricultural settlements and pottery, when Anguilla was occupied by a fisher and hunter society. The snuff tube shaped like a shark was for use with ceremonial hallucinogenic powder called Cahoba. Also the ritual spatula, to cleanse yourself by vomiting away your impurities.

What is a Zemi?

[Click for larger view of zemi]

A Zemi was a religious idol, many having three points (although the two carved faces in the first photograph are also "zemi" in the general sense). They were made of several materials, including coral, limestone, and granite, which are represented in this collection. There is no granite on Anguilla, so the granite must have come from off-island. Some of the zemi stones have special curved details on the bottom, and some come to a steep and precise peak on top.

Zemi were used for good luck and to ward off evil spirits. They were planted in fields to make the crops grow and included in burials. They are also believed to have been kept in houses to worship ancestral spirits. Zemi stones were made in Anguilla in large quantities, which is known because of the manufacturing debris that has been found (flakes of granite and stone).

Read the full Special Report.

Amazing Pottery! Prehistoric Dinner Menu! Six More Pictures!


An Event Calendar for Anguilla

The Anguilla Local News now has a Calendar Page which lists events for the next year and has web links to more information about the events. For example, here are two upcoming events:

Nov 1st Sat Concert. Benefit concert with local bands, including Drak. Landsome Bowl. Sat night. Benefit for Miss Talented Teen. But a truck ran into Drak's barber shop and demolished it on Oct 24th, so will he still perform?

Dominican Society Party. All invited. Creole Food, Creole music, Credole dance, unlimited partying. At Dorracks Place, Katouche Bay, US$15. Sat Nov 8th, dinner at 7:30pm. Tickets at Taz Beauty World in The Valley (497-3195).

Most of the fun festivals and events are locally generated and organized - they are part of the culture of the island, not staged just for tourists. If you are fortunate enough to be here when an event is on, by all means attend--you will be welcome and have a fun and unique experience.

To add an event to this calendar, send email to [email protected] or fax 264-497-4389.


News from Zara's Restaurant

In this posting to the Anguilla Tête-à-Tête forum, Ken and Adele Holtermann can't say enough nice things about Chef Shamash and Zara's:
Without a doubt this is the best little secret on the island! Shamash, your master chef, is colorful to see and a truly great chef... Don't Miss This Great Place!
Zara's reopened on October 17th, for dinner only now. Telephone: 264-497-3229/3504. The menu has changed some and these new items sound interesting:

New Menu Choices at Zara's
Anguillian Pumpkin Soup $7.00
Gaspacho Chilled Soup
(Shamash's recipe including balsamic vinegar, parsley and almonds)
$8.50
Conch Fritters
(served with Mild or Spicy Dip
$8.50
Conch Ceviche Salad
Conch is delicately sliced and marinated in lemon juice and oil.)
$10.00
Lobster Mango Salad$13.00
Lobster Penne
(Lobster chunks, tomatoes, mushrooms and ricotta cheese in a pink marinara sauce with a hint of vodka and garlic. Served on a bed of penne pasta)
$21.50
Balsamic Grilled Chicken
(Boneless breast grilled with balsamic vinegar and served in a light marinara sauce with sauteed mushrooms and a hint of garlic)
$18.50
Shrimp Feta Cheese Casserole
(Battered shrimp, deep fried and flavoured with herbs, scallion and tomatoes, then casseroled in a feta cheese sauce)
$21.00
Spiced Fish Wrapped in Banana Leef
(Fish fillet spiced with turmeric, ginger and tamarind, then grilled in a banana leaf)
$21.00
Your reporter was there for the reopening. The new spicey fish in banana leaf was excellent, with tamarind spice for those who like spicey food. Food enthusiasts, read the full menu.



Updates and Feedback

Cancelled Reservations. Karen, the owner of La Petite Maison L'amour, writes "I had two cancellations which leave me with the following periods free: November 10th - 23rd (last minute--can someone come on an impulse?) and December 22 - January 2nd (the busy Christmas season)." For more villa information, visit our Villas web site.

Update on Watersports Operator Ritz. Thirteen year old Alex Scolnick has put up a web page for Ritz who taught him and his 9 year old sister Tish to water ski while visiting Anguilla. Make sure you click all the way to page 4, so you can see the picture of Ritz himself. Read our earlier story on Ritz.

Update on Bluebeard. Last issue we referenced a web page about taking a day excursion from St. Martin to Anguilla on the Bluebeard. Ricardo Perez noticed that they gave no way to make a reservation (a very exclusive boat!). Their number is 011-5995-52898.

Update on Maps. You can order the Caribbean On-Line map of Anguilla from a Cartographers Ltd. for $5 and study it before you come to Anguilla! Calabash Skyviews has a 3D sky map and a simple road map.

Update on Real Estate. The October 20th, 1997 issue of Barron's Magazine has cover story on high end travel that recommends Cap Juluca and Malliouhana on Anguilla, and an inside article on buying a vacation home that recommends Carimar on Meads Bay. You can read the articles on their web site if you sign up for a two-week trial on-line subscription. Here is a short sample extract:

Hurricane Hugo leveled much of the Caribbean real-estate market in 1989, and then in '95, Luis made sure it didn't get back up. "In the 80s. properties had been appreciating 10% a year, and waterfront land was going up 20% a year, but with the storms, real estate in many areas lost 30% to 40% of its value, and it still hasn't recovered," observes Nick Bailey, a managing partner at John Foster Real Estate, Sotheby's affiliate in St Thomas.

At Carimar, a condominium development in Anguilla. A fairly short ferry ride from St Martin, Anguilla remains a relatively obscure place known mainly for its pristine beaches, gourmet restaurants and affluent tourists. Carimar itself is located on Meads Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in Anguilla, right next door to Malliouhana. In 1986, when Carimar opened, two-bedroom apartments with a terrace, living room and full kitchen fetched $225,000. A year later prices had risen to $300,000. But then came Hugo, followed by Luis. Recently, a unit sold for $185,000. Carrying costs are easily covered by rental income, and most owners stay fewer than two months.

To that price, add a "foreign buyer's tax," which applies in most places except the US Virgin Islands. The surcharge can be steep: 17.5% on Anguilla for example. Despite such taxes, the British Leeward Islands, which include Anguilla, Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis, "have a reputation for being the most solid investments in the Caribbean," according to Rick Moeser, Sotheby International's regional manager for the Southeast the the Caribbean. Baily agrees, adding that the Leewards are "poised for appreciation."



Have You Seen the Fence Post Trees?

[Click to enlarge fence post trees.] Along the roads in certain areas of Anguilla is a tree that goes by many names and has many uses. Some people call it the turpentine tree. Others call it the Gumbo-limbo, the red birch, or the red lobster tree, because it has an outer reddish skin, which it continually sheds to reveal a shiny green surface beneath. The scientific name is Bursera simaruba. It's sometimes called the fence post tree, because it makes a perfect fence post-if you cut off a branch and stick it in the ground, the branch will grow into a living fence post that never rots.

The soft wood is ideal for young boys to use in carving model sailing boats.

But the best name for this tree is the tourist tree, because the tree gets red and peels.




Web Sites About Anguilla

Coyaba.ai is the web site for a large holiday villa and conference center on the south coast facing St. Martin.

Keene Enterprises, Alecia Ballin's real estate office, has a web page and a fancy waterfront house for sale. Alecia also has a home decor center in The Valley where you can buy tile, sinks, ceiling fans, etc. and a gift shop called Alecia's Place.

Travelwise.org is a labor of love for independent travellers: Chat rooms, a Travel Network of resources in each country, Travel Companion matchup service, photographs, ... Start at travelwise.org and see if you can find the pointer to Anguilla Local News.

Software Distributor Meeting In Anguilla. My firm Robelle held its 1996 meeting of dealers on Meads Bay. Here are some pictures. Click the arrow icon to visit all four pages. We set up a temporary office in the penthouse at the Frangipani, complete with Internet for checking email. Having everyone in one small venue increased the interaction and meeting value suprisingly, versus a standard downtown hotel in London.

Hot Inet. Steve Donahue has instructions on his web site for accessing the Internet while visiting Anguilla. Now, does anyone know how you access AOL from Anguilla?

Road Primary School has added pages on Children's Expo and School Rules to its Roadprimary.ai web site.



How to Promote Your Anguilla Web Site

So you have put a lot of effort into creating a beautiful and informative Anguilla web site -- how do you get people to visit it? The Internet is like an unimaginably huge bulletin board where anyone can post anything, but no one is forced to read it.

You can join the Anguilla Mailing List and send a short notice to it when you create your web site or do a major improvement to it.

There are three sites that specialize in free links to other Anguilla sites. They will want to know about your site and may find a place in their site for a link to it. Remember, linking to your site is at their option, so it is wise to give a very brief description and the address.

For more ideas on promoting your site, read the rest of this article.

Top stories from the previous issue.
Child Visitor's View Maps of Anguilla
Wonderful Chefs of Anguilla Fantasizing about Villa Classifieds
Chinese Food at Landing Strip New Scuba Shop at La Sirena


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Copyright 1997. Bob Green
Anguilla Local News