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imnoexpertblog · 6 years ago

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What’s new?

10/01/18

Holy buckets, it's been awhile hasn't it? I'm glad I don't have to explain myself to anyone when I go off the grid a bit, but I will let you in on the fact that there's been a ton of stuff going on and I just needed to get settled into life after marriage. Life didn't all of a sudden change because I got married, but a bunch of new or stressful things coincidentally occurred as soon as we got back from our elopement.

Nugget (my stepson) started 4K! That isn't stressful, but it's new and changes my days around when we have him here during our weeks. School ends at 2:45pm, earlier than most are done with work. Seeing that I work third shift, its also earlier than I am awake. Now, I wake up an hour and a half early on the days he is at school so I can run there and pick him up. Baby (my husband) doesn't get done with work until 4pm so it works out that I am able to be up earlier than normal. I am concerned for the day that I eventually switch to first shift, whenever that may be. I'll no longer be available to get him at 2:45. But I guess we will cross that bridge when we get there. He is doing incredibly well in school! He's so smart and creative; I'm glad he started now and will be acclimated to the environment a little early.

The (carpeted) lower level in our home flooded while we were in Grenada getting married. It then flooded again about a week and a half later. Green Bay was under an immense amount of rain; nothing we see on a regular basis. There were flash floods, cars were almost completely underwater in some parts of the city. Luckily we have a split-level home and we just moved all our furniture to our upper living room and will buy more when the lower one is refinished. Dealing with insurance, worrying about mold, ripping up carpet and tacking, making sure we have an adequate drainage system outside and in, having to see the disaster every time I walk by the stairs all stresses me out considerably. But you can only take it one day at a time.

Most recently, we had our small wedding reception this last weekend. It was held at Baby's grandparent's cabin an hour north of Green Bay. It was put together entirely by his grandparents, his aunt Jen, and her boyfriend. The floral arrangements were breathtaking, the table settings were out of this world, and the food was great. Baby's family from Indiana came up just for the reception and it was truly amazing. My mom got to help me put my dress on beforehand, which I obviously didn't have when I was in Grenada. The gifts were incredibly kind and we appreciated them all. We plan on using some of the money to purchase my first wedding band (we will get two eventually). It was about 45 degrees the whole time and I wore my dress for 3 of the 4 hours, but it was so worth it. My aunt Nikki took pictures for the entire reception due to my photographer canceling. I'm so glad I have her, pictures are so important to me. It's the only thing that really preserves the memories of anything. My mom preformed and beautiful reading. My sister and I cried together. I will say, it was a successful day due to those involved in planning and to those who showed up. It was beautiful and will always be remembered. There were a lot of twists and turns before the day of, things fell through, things changed constantly, all of which stressed me out as well. But. It was perfect.

With all of this going on, I had to put modeling on the back burner. There is no way I can model during the weeks we have Nugget now that I am responsible for pick up. I would actually never sleep if I tried to do it all. I could model on our weeks alone, but I prefer to catch up on housework, sleep, and quality alone time with my husband those days. I love modeling so much and it's the only thing I really do for myself, but my family is number one to me and it's going to stay that way. I will make time for photoshoots if I really REALLY want, but I am more focused on my husband and stepson right now.

There's been a ton of other little stuff that I've been dealing with; Baby was just on another week-long business trip, legally changing my name, figuring out insurance changes, cleaning the house after the flood, etc. September has seemed to last forever and it also seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye.

So. Coming back to a ruined living room, having a 4 year old start school, and anticipating a wedding reception, and not being able to model was a lot to take in upon coming back from paradise. It's only been 3 weeks since we got back and life has not slowed down just for us to catch up, not one bit. But you learn to adjust your pace to keep up with it all. You learn what is worth worry, what you need to let roll off your back, and what is truly important. I hope this was a nice little catch up for you all; you can expect you hear more from me in the near future. Love you all!

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thechasefiles · 6 years ago

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 1/28/2019

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Monday 28th January 2019. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

MIA ON A HIGH – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley says she feels validated by Government’s decision to support the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) bid to host international cricket matches between West Indies and England at Kensington Oval. Given projections that Barbados stood to gain $80 million in foreign exchange, and following West Indies’ massive victory in the first Test that featured outstanding performances from four local boys, Mottley also pledged Government’s commitment to any sporting activity that would redound to the benefit of the country. In an interview with THE NATION after West Indies crushed England by 381 runs on Saturday on the back of sterling contributions from captain Jason Holder and fellow Barbadians Shane Dowrich, Kemar Roach and Roston Chase, Mottley expressed delight at the turn of events. “I am on top of the world. This is even more special for me. One of the first decisions I made after being sworn in as Prime Minister was to agree to host this match and the One-Day Internationals. To have this kind of validation with this kind of victory, it doesn’t get better than this – a Bajan double century, a Bajan century, a ‘barriffle’ of Bajan wickets in the first and second innings, and then to have a Bajan sub as wicketkeeper when the chips were down,” she said. (DN)

PM MOTTLEY TO ATTEND CARICOM-UN TALKS ON VENEZUELA – Prime Minister Mia Mottley will join two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) colleagues in New York on Monday for talks with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss the crisis in Venezuela. According to a statement from the CARICOM Secretariat, issued on Sunday evening, the regional delegation will be led by CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris of St Kitts and Nevis, and will also include Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Grenada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter David, and CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque will also attend the talks at UN Headquarters. The meeting is a follow up to the decision of CARICOM Heads of Government at their Special Emergency Meeting on Thursday which discussed the ongoing conflict in Venezuela. The CARICOM Leaders agreed to request a meeting with the UN Secretary-General which he accepted. (BT)

CRIME QUERY – Months before the spike in crime at the start of the year, Barbadians had expressed concern, fearing for their lives and the safety of communities in the wake of an increase in gun and gang-related activities. They made their feelings known in a study on the public perceptions of crime and violence conducted by Dr Dwayne Devonish, a senior lecturer in management studies at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus late last year. In his survey, which polled about 1 000 people, more than 70 per cent described the crime situation as “bad” or “very bad” and all agreed crime had worsened compared to 2017. They laid the root cause of this increase squarely on unemployment, especially among high-risk youth, drugs and the state of the economy. Respondents believed that some of the crime was being perpetrated by “outsiders” of a given community, who were seeking revenge, or by rival gangs who were looking for “justice” or “possessions”. The police also came under fire in the survey. Some respondents stated their reluctance to report crimes they witnessed to police because of their lack of trust in the Force and perceived tardiness in responding to a report. They also feared being labelled or targeted as informants. (DN)

WOMEN’S TEARS – Amidst complaints that clerks at the maintenance courts were driving some women to tears, the Registrar of the Supreme Court has said staff will continue undergoing customer service training. Registrar Barbara Cooke-Alleyne made the comment as a guest on Starcom Network’s Brass Tacks Sunday. Cooke-Alleyne, along with Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch, were fielding questions from mainly female callers about the service and treatment they received when they journeyed to court offices to collect child maintenance. The Registrar apologised to several women who related their experiences on air. Two of the women spoke of being reduced to tears and of feeling humiliated after their interaction with the clerks who, they said, made them feel as if they were begging for money. (DN)

CONSTABLES NOT FEELING SO SPECIAL – An old police mobile unit parked along St Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, for many years is the “home” for Special Constables (S. C.) attached to the Southern Division’s Tourism Patrol Unit. It has no running water; no bathroom facilities and no air conditioning. Instead, Special Constables have to use an old fan borrowed from a business in the area over a year ago. The only furniture the mobile unit contains is an old desk, a bench whose leather bottom is torn and tattered and an old chair. When the Special Constables want to use the bathroom, they either have to telephone the nearby Worthing Police Station and wait for a vehicle to arrive to take them there or go to a hotel or other business place in the area. “This is another example of how we are not special to the Royal Barbados Police Force,” said a disgruntled Special Constable who has long complained about their conditions of service. The Special Constables who are deployed to patrol the tourist belt pointed out that given the high level of gun crimes they are now required to work shifts around the clock to ensure that the visitors are safe; but noted their working conditions are both unsanitary and unacceptable. (DN)

BADNESS MOVIE CLIP SPARKS PROBE – The Royal Barbados Police Force has launched an investigation to find out how a local film crew was able to drive into Central Police Station and film a scene for a movie. The NATION was reliably informed that police hierarchy was caught off-guard when Episode 10 of the popular movie series Badness aired in December showing a scene filmed on the compound of the station. In that scene, two men acting as police officers casually drive into the station located at Coleridge Street, The City, and proceed to drive around the entire compound as they discuss killing some men on the block. In the film, no real police officers are seen at the station and no sentry appeared to be at the gate. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Erwin Boyce said there was a protocol to be followed. “You can’t do that. You can’t just come in and do what you want to do. There is a certain protocol involved. You [have] to report to the station officer or an officer at the gate. “Obviously, it is something that we would investigate. I would assume that there is some effort to find out what happened.” (DN)

17 DOGS TAKEN FROM HOME – Seventeen dogs, including 13 puppies, were removed from a house in Vauxhall, Christ Church, last week after concerns were raised about their welfare. The severely malnourished adult dogs, and flea- and worm-riddled puppies, which were kept chained to cement blocks, are now being treated at the RSPCA’s Cheltenham Lodge vet clinic on Spring Garden, St Michael. Chief Inspector Wayne Norville responded to the house after calls for assistance were made to the RSPCA. He told THE NATION the dogs appeared to be caught in the middle of a family dispute. (DN)

TREVOR BAYLISS WANTS ENGLAND TO SHOW MORE GUTS – Trevor Bayliss has questioned the “guts and determination” of his England side after their chastening defeat in the first Test in Barbados. Bayliss, the England coach, described himself as “speechless” after the team’s second batting collapse of the game and suggested some frank words would be exchanged within the squad after a performance that lacked “mental discipline”. While he defended England’s preparations and selection, arguing that several players had simply not performed and that the batting errors gave the spinners little chance to bowl on a worn surface, he did acknowledge that Sam Curran had endured the “first bad game” of his career and that Keaton Jennings’ struggles had him worried. “I think it gets down to a bit of guts and determination to get through those tough periods,” Bayliss said. “It’s not the first time that we’ve succumbed in a short space of time. The boys are in the dressing room hurting and I’d be worried if they weren’t. “Do they lack mental discipline? Personally I think so. You don’t have to have perfect technique to be able to score runs or take wickets: it’s how you go about using it. On this occasion we’ve certainly been lacking in that department. I’m not sure I can repeat what has been said [in the dressing room].” Bayliss did acknowledge West Indies’ fine bowling – especially in the first innings when Kemar Roach claimed a five-wicket haul – but felt England should have coped better throughout, especially when Roston Chase was on his way to an eight-wicket haul in the second innings. “They did bowl well, but every time a team does that we shouldn’t be expecting to get knocked over for 77,” he said. “In the second innings, the guys looked like they were trying, we made good starts but at this level you have to be able to bat longer than that. “Chase bowled a good line and a good length. He didn’t give us any easy runs to get off strike. He built that pressure up, broke down our techniques on a couple of occasions and there were some poor shots on some occasions. That adds up to eight wickets. “It’s not the first time this has happened. Every time we lose a wicket it’s the beginning of a collapse. And to be honest, I don’t know how to explain it. There’s nothing that stands out in your preparation or the lead up to the game that is any different to when we win. We have to work out what’s the difference between when we put on a partnership after losing a wicket and losing eight or nine quick ones.” The decision to omit Stuart Broad and play two spinners has been widely criticised in recent days, but Bayliss believes it was not so much the decisions that were wrong as the performances. He did suggest, however, that Broad had been missed and that his inclusion would be considered ahead of the second Test. “We made a decision in the belief that the five guys we picked would go out and bowl as well as they can do,” he said. “Unfortunately, on this occasion, they didn’t. “When we saw the wicket we were going to go with two spinners. Unfortunately, we didn’t bat well enough in the first innings to get through to the fourth or fifth day, where the two spinners could take advantage. And I think they would be disappointed [with their performance]. Chase bowled very few short balls, but we let them off with easy singles so you can’t put pressure on the batsmen. “It was down to Curran and Broad [for the final seamer]. Our gut feel was Curran as he has done well for us over the last six or seven games. It didn’t work out like that, the young bloke has had his first bad Test in his career. It won’t be his last but he’s a good young player who will learn from it. “One of his advantages of playing someone like Stuart is that he doesn’t go for too many runs, hopefully picks up some wickets, but gives us control. That stood out in this match, with only [James] Anderson and [Ben] Stokes being able to provide that line-and-length bowling and a bit of pressure on the opposition. We’ll have to revisit that in the next match.” While Bayliss celebrated the performance of Rory Burns, who made a career-best 84 in the second innings, he accepted Jennings’ struggles against seam bowling were a worry and also suggested that, in a perfect world, he would prefer to see at least one four-day, first-class games ahead of a Test series. “Burns has shown enough,” he said. “He looks like he’s been here for 20 or 30 Tests, not four. He’s still learning and will still get better. “Keaton is struggling a little bit. I’d be lying if I said we’re not worried about it and I’d be lying if I said he hadn’t been thinking about it. He’s one of the hardest workers we’ve got and he’s going to leave no stone unturned in making it better. “We prepared the same way as we did in Sri Lanka. Two two-day games. But we knew what we were going to get in Sri Lanka. Here we were a bit unsure. We were expecting it to be not as dry and go in with four seamers and one spinner. “Personally I would like to play some first-class games before the series, but you’ve only got four days scheduled, and if you want to give everyone a go, it is difficult. It’s the way of the world these days.” England fly to Antigua on Monday with the second Test starting there on Thursday. (BT)

GRAVE CALLS FOR MORE RESPECT TO BE SHOWN TO WINDIES – Chief executive officer of Cricket West Indies Johnny Grave wants more respect to be given to West Indies players. His comments have come in the wake of the regional team’s commanding win over England on Saturday, which saw them take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The Windies, the eighth ranked Test nation destroyed the number three rated English outfit by 381 runs inside four days at Kensington Oval on Saturday. Before the start of the opening Test match, former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott described the West Indies as “very ordinary, average cricketers”, while another former player in Andrew Flintoff said the “world’s gone mad” after West Indies captain Jason Holder made 202 not out in the second innings. However, Grave described those comments as being “borderline disrespectful” and “completely unwarranted”. “Criticism of our players and suggestions that they’re not world class is unfair. They are so dedicated. We’ve got 11 cricketers here and many more in the region who want to play Test cricket,” the CEO said. “I saw Andrew Flintoff say he can’t believe Jason Holder got a double hundred, yet I think Jason Holder is a fantastic cricketer and has been performing so fantastically over the last 18 months – a brilliant captain.” The 41-year-old Flintoff averaged 31.77 with the bat and 32.78 with the ball in his 79-Test career, while Holder is currently averaging 33.86 with the bat and 28.29 with the ball in 36 matches. (DN)

CHASE WANTED SOME GLORY – Roston Chase didn’t have to look too far for inspiration to produce a career-best eight-wicket haul that helped West Indies complete a crushing victory by 381 runs over England in the first Test yesterday at Kensington Oval. The stimulus was the outstanding performances of his teammates on the previous two days. “Yesterday, after watching those guys perform like that, I was happy for them but I was a bit jealous that it wasn’t me. So I guess that I really took my opportunity to get the spotlight on me as well in the second innings,” Chase cheekily told the media as he flashed a smile. “It was a great feeling to get career-best figures and I will just look to keep on pushing from here,” he said. “The pitch didn’t really assist me that much. I was really focusing on putting the ball where I want to put it in my area, despite what the batsmen were doing and that really paid off for me, with a little bit of variation in my speed.” (DN)

NSC OPENING LATE ON MONDAY – The National Sports Council (NSC) and all of its facilities, including the National and Netball stadia, will open at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 28. An official at the NSC explained that the late opening is to facilitate a staff meeting. Persons are therefore asked to conduct their business accordingly. The National Sports Council apologizes for any inconvenience this late opening may cause. (BGIS)

STATUE FOR SIR WES - Sir Garry Sobers is about to get some company outside Kensington Oval. Windies fast bowling great Sir Wes Hall seems set to be honoured yet again, as plans are in place to erect a statue bearing his likeness near to Sir Garry’s iconic monument outside the Oval by November. Former chairman of World Cup Barbados, Chris de Caires, confirmed the news yesterday as part of his initiative with Cricket Legends of Barbados to pay tribute to all of the country’s great cricketers. “If you travel the world you would see that statues are used to promote images of nation-building, and someone like Sir Wes definitely fits that profile as not just a great cricketer, but a former West Indies manager, West Indies board president, Cabinet minister and priest,” said de Caires. (DN)

BALANCING MOTHERHOOD AND BUSINESS 101 – If you told Zoë Allamby six years ago that today she would be a mum to a bouncing, adventurous and beautiful baby girl while managing a booming make-up line, she wouldn’t have believed you. But today she’s doing it and she’s doing it well. Zoë is mother to Nala, a bubbly nine-month-old baby girl. She has also now started her make-up line CaribBeauty. Known to many as a model and as YouTuber, Zoe, who now lives in Delaware, said her life as it is now came as a quite a shock, especially becoming a mum. “Nala was one big surprise to us all. My husband Alan and I had plans for a child maybe around 30 or so or when we were more settled because we just moved up to Delaware for one of his jobs. Life happened; it was very unexpected but we just rolled with it and embraced it as it went on,” the 26-year-old said. The make-up line started just before Nala came into the picture but began booming when it was time to raise her new daughter. “CaribBeauty started out as a single highlighter ZoGlow, and when I was developing that Nala wasn’t in the picture. After the highlighter launched and did well, the lipsticks came, then I had Nala so I had to take a break. But I’m now back full force and distributing in the United States as well as Barbados,” she said. Zoë said since getting back into the game, her line has been doing well. (DN)

CHEERS FOR NEW BISHOP - A fanfare and loud cheers heralded the ordination and consecration yesterday of the new Anglican Bishop of Barbados. But the man of the moment, Reverend Michael Maxwell, shook his head in what appeared to be disbelief as hundreds of Anglicans rejoiced and welcomed their new leader after a lengthy and acrimonious election process that threatened to divide the church. It was just after 5:30 p.m. that visiting regional bishops removed the raiments of Maxwell’s former position and garbed him in the robes of the office as the 14th Bishop of Barbados. In a ceremony in the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, attended by Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason, Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson, members of the Cabinet, former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and current senators, including the Barbados Workers’ Union general secretary Senator Toni Moore, the visiting bishops anointed his head; gave him the staff with which to lead the flock; slid the ring on his finger and placed the mitre on his head. (DN)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 337 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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mrbobgove · 6 years ago

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Best Wreck Diving in the Caribbean

In the fifth of our six-part series on the world’s most dive-able wrecks, we’re highlighting the best wreck diving in the Caribbean. (Check out our stories here on wreck diving in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the United States). Each Caribbean wreck has a unique story — from the vessel confiscated for drug smuggling to the ship that became an underwater art exhibit — read on to find out about the best wreck diving in the Caribbean.

Hilma Hooker

Where: Bonaire

Customs officials found nearly 12 tons of marijuana hidden on the Hilma Hooker in 1984. The vessel had lost power and was towed to shore where the inspection revealed the illegal cargo. Officials arrested the captain and crew members and the vessel remained moored at the pier. The ship was in poor condition and began to take on water. Officials decided to move it to a permanent anchor point between two reefs where it subsequently sank.

The vessel lays on its starboard side. At the stern you can see the rudder and propeller. There’s also a large deck, two deck houses, a galley, crew quarters, wheelhouse, chart room and an empty cargo hold. The ship was evidence in a criminal case, which means that nothing was removed from the vessel prior to sinking. Some objects like furniture, debris and heavy steel doors make penetration hazardous. Wreck-certified divers should take particular care due to number of entanglement hazards, low visibility and a lack of natural light.

The wreck lies between 49 and 100 feet (15 to 30 m) and visibility is often more than 100 feet. Water temperatures vary from 79 to 89 F (26 to 32 C). Open-water divers can dive the Hilma Hooker but you’ll need wreck certification to penetrate the wreck. The best way to visit the wreck is via boat charter from one of the island’s dive resorts. Bonaire has good diving all year round.

The Odyssey

Where: Roatan, Honduras

The Odyssey is a 295-foot-long (90 m) freighter, sunk in 2002. It is the largest wreck in the Caribbean. Divers can see a huge wheelhouse, many stairs and ladders, and the captains’ head with original tiling still intact. The wreck lies between two reefs, home to many tropical fish. You can see some barracuda, groupers and tuna above the wreck. Although the wreck is still fairly new there is some coral growth visible.

The Odyssey lies between 40 and 112 feet (12 to 34 m) and visibility ranges from 82 to 88 feet (25 to 27 m). Water temperatures vary from 75 to 84 F (24 to 29 C). The wreck is best for advanced divers and the best way to reach it is via a short boat ride from shore.

The best months to visit are April and May when the weather is warm and dry. The rainy season is between July and January with the peak rainy season being between October and January.

Kittiwake

Where: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

The Kittiwake was a submarine-rescue vessel, launched in 1945 and decommissioned in 1994. and many of its exploits are still classified. It played a part in a number of record-breaking achievements, including conducting the deepest submarine rescue exercise in 1959. The Kittiwake crew recovered the Challenger’s black box from the Atlantic Ocean in 1986 after it exploded.

The vessel was donated to the Cayman Islands Tourism and it was scuttled in Grand Cayman in 2011.

The Kittiwake has an abundance of marine life, including a huge resident grouper that hangs around the propeller. Divers can explore the mess-hall and the large propeller shafts, with lots of natural light for easy penetration. Don’t miss the smoke stack, two recompression chambers and a head with the mirror still intact.

The Kittiwake lies between 16 and 60 feet (5 to 18 m) and visibility is usually over 100 feet (30 m). Water temperatures range from 77 to 84 F (25 to 29 C).

Open water divers can dive the Kittiwake but advanced certification with wreck qualifications are required for penetration. There is good diving year-round but note that hurricane season falls from June and November. The Kittiwake is a private park so you must pay an admission fee and visit the site with a licensed operator.

Felipe Xicotencatl C-53

Where: Cozumel, Mexico

Also called “the Cozumel wreck,” the Felipe Xicotencatl served in the U.S. Navy in WWII as the USS Scuffle. Mexico bought the vessel in 1962 and used it to patrol the Caribbean for 55 years. The government purpose-sank the Felipe Xicotencatl in 1999 as part of the Cozumel underwater park. There’s a large diversity of marine life and divers can explore the engine rooms, galley, officers’ quarters and radio room, all of which are still intact.

The wreck lies between 20 to 82 feet (6 to 25 m) and there can be strong currents at times. Visibility is usually over 100 feet (30 m) and water temperatures range from 77 to 84 F (25 to 29 C).

Open-water divers can dive the wreck though you need advanced and wreck qualifications for penetration. There is good diving year-round in Cozumel with May to October being the rainy season. The wreck is accessible via boat.

RMS Rhone

Where: British Virgin Islands

The RMS Rhone was a British mail ship. It sank during the San Narciso hurricane of 1897 when winds pushed into Black Rock Point on Salt Island. The wreck cost 123 passengers and crew their lives.

Today, the Rhone is one of the BVI’s most well-known dive sites. The bow is mostly intact and in the stern you can see the propeller, drive shaft and engine box. Most of the wreck is exposed, which means it is fairly easily penetrable.

The stern lies between 39 and 60 feet (12 to 18 m) while the bow sits between 72 and 85 feet (22 to 26 m). Visibility is usually over 100 feet (30 m) and water temperatures range from 79 to 84 F (26 to 29 C).

Divers can visit with only an open water certification but must be wreck certified to penetrate the wreck. Because part of the Rhone is so shallow, it is a perfect spot for snorkelers.

Diving is good year-round but note that hurricane season falls from June 1 to November 30. Both liveaboard and day trip options are available for this wreck.

Suffolk Maid

Where: Butler Bay, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

One of the three ‘Shallow Wrecks’ in Butler Bay, the Suffolk Maid was a 144-foot-long (44 m), steel-hulled North Sea trawler. A hurricane drove the ship onto the Frederiksted Pier during a hurricane in 1984. The next year the vessel was towed and scuttled at its present location in Butler Bay. It sits upright. Divers will see the vessel’s name, clearly visible on the bow. There are many Creole wrasse, reef fish and the occasional green moray.

The ship lies at 60 feet (18 m) and visibility is usually over 100 feet (30 m). Water temperatures range from 79 to 84 F (26 to 29 C). There’s a slight current on the wreck most of the time.

Divers can visit with only an open-water certification but must be wreck certified to penetrate the wreck. Diving is good year-round but note that hurricane season falls from June 1 to November 30. It’s best to dive the site via boat.

Bianca C

Where: Grenada

The Bianca C is also called the ‘Titanic of the Caribbean’ due to its vast size. The wreck is 590 feet (180 m) long and sits upright on its keel. The former cruise liner was owned by the Italian Costa Line but an explosion in the boiler room in 1961 led to the ship’s ultimate demise and the death of one crew member, as well as injuring eight more. After the explosion, fishermen from nearby St. George’s rushed out to help the roughly 700 passengers and crew as the ship burned at anchorage. Fire quickly spread throughout the vessel, which was towed around three miles away, a mile from the popular Grand Anse beach.

Divers can see the collapsed funnel with the ‘C’ for Costa Line still visible, lifeboat davits, and the swimming pool. The bridge has collapsed but from there you can see the fore deck with broken stairs, winding winches and fallen spars all covered in soft coral. You can also see the remains of the forward mast.

A variety of tropical fish and barracuda often hang around, as well as blacktip and the occasional bull shark. You may also see eagle rays and nurse sharks.

The wreck lies in 100 to 164 feet (30 to 50 m) and the current usually runs from medium to strong across the ship.

Divers will need an advanced qualification and wreck certification for penetration. Diving is good year-round but note that hurricane season falls from June 1 to November 30. It’s best to dive the site via day boat.

Kodiak Queen

Where: Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

The Kodiak Queen is one of only five vessels that survived the Pearl Harbor attack. After WWII it went on to become a king crab fishing vessel running out of Kodiak, Alaska. In 2012, the efforts of historian Mike Cochran, photographer Owen Buggy and entrepreneur Richard Branson saved the ship from the junkyard. Today it rests just off of Richard Branson’s private Necker Island. The shipwreck has become an underwater art exhibit with the main feature being a huge Kraken sculpture wrapped around the vessel.

The ship lies in 56 feet (17 m) of water and the visibility is usually over 100 feet (30 m). Water temperatures range from 79 to 84 F (26 to 29 C).

Divers will need an advanced qualification and wreck certification for penetration. Diving is good year-round but note that hurricane season falls from June 1 to November 30. Divers can reach the wreck via shore-based excursions.

Superior Producer

Where: Curaçao

The Superior Producer was overloaded with Christmas cargo and sank soon after it left port at Willemstad on the way to Venezuela. The vessel sits upright and is covered with a variety of colorful sponges and coral. Barracuda and blackbar soldierfish are often hiding among the wreck.

The ship lies at 100 feet (30 m) and often has over 100 feet (30 m) of visibility. There are strong currents at times as well. Water temperatures range from 79 to 84 F (26 to 29 C).

The wreck is best for experienced, advanced divers with wreck certification for penetration. Diving in Curaçao is good year-round, with the rainy season falling between October and February.

Divers usually reach the shipwreck via a shore entry and a 5- to 10-minute surface swim.

SS Antilla

Where: Aruba

The SS Antilla was a 400-foot-long (122 m) German freighter. On the day that Germany invaded Poland during WWII, the ship sailed from a safe bunker in Cartagena toward neutral Curaçao but changed course for Aruba en route after learning that the harbor at Willemstad was already full of German ships. After interception by Royal Navy ships, the crew scuttled the Antilla to avoid its capture.The wreck is covered in sponges, fire coral, anemones, yellow frogfish and other tropical marine species.

The ship lies in 60 feet of water (18 m) and visibility often exceeds 100 feet (30 m) There are strong currents at times and water temperatures range from 79 to 84 F (26 to 29 C).

The wreck is best for experienced to advanced divers with wreck qualifications for penetration. Diving in Aruba is good year-round, with the rainy season falling between October and January. The best way to access the wreck is via day boat from a dive shop.

The post Best Wreck Diving in the Caribbean appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life https://ift.tt/2Q5WEgR

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allofbeercom · 6 years ago

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8 small cruise ships that are big on luxury, intimacy and adventure

(CNN)It may have been the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had. Setting sail aboard the Star Flyer out of Athens in the middle of the night was serene and dreamy.

The Star Flyer — a four-masted, 16-sail luxury sailing ship — holds only 170 passengers maximum (and there weren’t that many on my trip). But it offers the deluxe amenities of the larger cruise ships combined with the romance and adventure of a time-tested, fully rigged vessel that draws its power from the wind.

I awoke early the next day, nearly dawn, and wandered up on deck. A busy international crew, few who spoke English, had us well under sail.

On the horizon, Turkey, where Kusadasi would be our first port of call, with guided trips to Ephesus, of biblical fame, and the reputed final home of Jesus’ mother Mary.

Someone handed me hot coffee. The sun rose over the Aegean Sea. It all felt right and timeless.

An eight-day cruise like this around the Mediterranean and Aegean offers a much grander sense of adventure and smaller onboard population than larger engine-powered cruise lines.

Here are eight ships, scattered around the planet, that’ll sail passengers to a more exclusive cruise vacation.

1. Star Flyer

This four-masted ship, 360 feet long, holds a crew of 72 and 170 passengers, many of whom will become close mates by the end of the trip.

It’s casual elegance aboard ship, with comfortable cabins, open-seating dining, two swimming pools and other amenities.

But it’s the dynamics of feeling the pull of 16 full sails trimmed for maximum speed in open water that will have passengers giggling and singing their own sea shanty.

Standing on the teak deck, there’s a sense of old adventure and new discovery.

The Star Flyer offers island-hopping throughout the Mediterranean in the summer and heads to the Caribbean from November to April.

Day trips are educationally fun, with stops at salty tavernas complete with retsina and ouzo, Greek orthodox churches, ancient Greek ruins and postcard-worthy villages and ports.

Nothing beats the view of your harbored sailing vessel from atop a Greek hill.

Star Clippers; +1 800 442 0551

2. Diamant

Island Windjammers’ Caribbean-based Diamant is one of three tall-masted ships the company operates.

Twelve passengers will enjoy a laid back version of playing adult hooky, in a truly relaxed fashion.

From its home port in St. George’s, Grenada, the 100-foot schooner follows the Windward Islands, visiting a selection of ports.

“We have found the perfect mix,” says Shannon Manno, part of the all-woman company based in Florida. “Good food, great cabins, good quality.

“We’ll have your feet on the sand 20 minutes after breakfast. You’ll visit villages, walk on the beach, or see a turtle sanctuary.”

Underwater boat lights that “attract cool fishies,” says Manno, and a night swim with a rope swing will cap the perfect day. Plus there’s no Wi-Fi onboard.

“We encourage face-to-face socializing,” adds Manno. “And we’re happy about that. It’s chill and laid back.”

This is less formal than certainly any large cruise ship, and significantly more relaxed than other tall-masted or alternative cruises. “The Diamant,” says Manno, “is its own world.”

Island Windjammers; +1 877 772 4549

3. Wind Star

Captain Belinda Bennett has the perfect schedule — summers in the Mediterranean, winters in the Caribbean.

In addition to being the first female and first black captain in Windstar’s history, she is the first black female captain in the commercial cruise industry.

She guides the Wind Star, a 360-foot yacht that feels like a personal pleasure craft.

A 100-person crew attends to the 148 passengers who bunk in 73 well-appointed staterooms (plus one deluxe 220-square-foot owner’s suite, complete with ocean view).

And sure, the Wind Star offers a spa, a watersports platform, a casino, lounge, library, pool and absolutely gourmet dining, but its charms run deeper.

It’s luxury at a relaxed pace. The wind pulls and pushes the ship toward endless adventure, whether it’s the Mediterranean or Caribbean. It’s active travel.

“There are some fabulous places,” offers Capt. Bennett, “that cruise ships like Wind Star call at whereby you get to see multiple cities and islands you would not normally see by staying in one place.”

Windstar Cruises; +1 877 958 7689

9 of the best new cruise ships launching in 2017

4. La Estrella Amazonica

La Estrella Amazonica, under the guidance of expedition leader and naturalist Dennis Osorio, is engine-driven, and plies the Amazon River in Peru.

The rustic 139-foot craft has an open-air top sun deck for meals and drinks, and three cabin options for its maximum 31 guests.

According to Osorio, a Peruvian with 30 years experience who’s been with International Expeditions for 11 years, there are only two typical days aboard the boat: arrival day and departure day.

In between, passengers marvel at the wonders of the Amazon River: its people, its wildlife, its very nature.

If there’s a “typical” day it runs like this. Before it gets too hot, there’s usually a trip to look for wildlife like birds, monkeys and sloths. After breakfast, a morning excursion explores riverbanks, creeks and isolated lakes.

In the heat of the day, passengers enjoy lunch aboard La Estrella, a siesta, and a short-but-informative late-afternoon nature talk.

Then it’s back aboard the skiffs for more Amazon exploration.

Nights include gourmet dinners, often with local fare, and entertainment provided by crew who double as musicians.

Passengers are encouraged to bring school-supply donations for local schools that they visit and International Expeditions helps with water treatment and other partnership programs.

“We help maintain a quality of life for the locals,” says Osorio. “We’re not here to change lifestyles.”

Osorio clearly loves the mighty Amazon. Its basin is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, includes nine South American countries, and contains one of the biggest forests on the planet.

“It’s the experience of a lifetime. The river is vast, and there are not many companies going there. It’s a personal experience, feeling the spirit of the forest. It’s living a dream.”

IE Travel; +1 844 547 2421

What are your rights as a cruise passenger?

5. The Mandalay

Once part of the Barefoot Windjammer empire, the Mandalay — a 236-foot, three-masted sailing vessel built in 1923 — was purchased by its former captain and an ardent passenger, and now sails under the auspice of Sail Windjammer.

Says Tiffany Mitchell, daughter of that ardent passenger and who now works for the company: “They have a love for and wanted to preserve this type of sailing.”

Mitchell says Mandalay offers an historical sailing experience to “less touristy” parts of the Caribbean that larger cruise ships usually pass by.

“You’re not herded off the boat,” she says. “You get to know the crew, locals and fellow passengers. Everybody leaves with a new friend.”

Sailing aboard the Mandalay defines “laid back,” where passengers can do as much or as little as they choose.

The vessel holds 58 passengers total, with a crew of roughly 20.

With a flexible itinerary, there’s plenty of room for adventure, exploration and relaxation.

Meals often feature local delights. There are sandwiches, barbecues and beer on the beach, Bloody Marys and sticky buns for breakfast and Rum Swizzles and snacks at happy hour.

A favorite spot on the Grenada trip for Mitchell includes the Tobago Cays, a protected marine park, where the ship stops for swims with sea turtles followed by a beach lunch under palm trees.

An added treat is the holler for volunteer hands on deck to help raise sails.

Passenger Neil Sawyer says an active itinerary and great fellow passengers blew away his fears about being stuck with strangers, reading books and staring out to sea.

“It’s not one of the floating cities on the sea where you get lost in the crowd and can sometimes forget that you’re even on water,” he says.

“This is for those who want to feel the experience deeply, to immerse themselves into the culture of the islands and the life at sea.”

Sail Windjammer; +1 888 972 7245

6. Queen of the West

Many may know the romance and lore of Mississippi sternwheelers through Mark Twain, but the clunky paddlewheel is no stranger to America’s Pacific Northwest.

The Queen of the West, a four-deck, 120-capacity authentic sternwheeler, churns the waters of the mighty Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington.

Operating May through September, the Queen went through a major overhaul in 2011, gaining expanded staterooms, more private balconies and custom-built furniture.

Cruises retrace parts of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery expedition on both the Columbia and Snake rivers, with specific L&C-themed cruises offered.

The themed cruise offers stops at Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark and company camped before heading back to their home base in St. Louis.

There are views of Multnomah Falls and the spires that line both sides of the Columbia, with history experts on hand to offer insight on the famed expedition.

Local wildlife and stunning geologic landforms abound. Scenic wonder, coupled with a truly leisurely pace, affords the traveler an unrivaled look at America’s Northwest corner.

American Cruise Lines; +1 800 460 4518

10 of the world’s most adventurous cruises

7. Eye of the Wind

There’s a unique twist to the 104-year-old, 132-foot brig Eye of the Wind.

“The main purpose of our operations,” says company spokesperson Ina Trumpfheller, “is to keep the principles of sail training and the traditional way of seamanship alive, and to inspire as many people as possible with the beauty of this old yet elegant sailing legend.”

The Eye is internationally certified as a sail-training vessel.

While all 12 passengers — yes, a mere 12 — can enjoy all that sailing aboard a luxury yacht offers, its real charm is its educational sail training.

During a cruise, all participants who care to volunteer (and some charter cruises specifically designed for groups) literally take over the lead on board.

They’ll steer the ship, plan all sailing maneuvers and set the sails, all under the guidance and supervision of the experienced crew members and trainers.

“It’s fun and adventure in a sea breeze,” says Trumpfheller.

“We call it practical learning with all senses!”

Eye of the Wind; +49 8233 381 227

8. Sea Cloud

Some call the Sea Cloud legendary.

It’s a four-masted barque built in 1931 in Kiel, Germany, at the request of Wall Street tycoon E.F. Hutton.

There’s a certain glamor, a mystique, an authenticity about this vessel that captures the sense of open-sea adventure for its 64 passengers.

“Our international guests are joined by a certain attitude,” says Hamburg, Germany-based Sea Cloud Cruises spokesperson Julia Eble.

“They are of all age groups. They love to be close to nature, they love the elements and the wind in their hair.”

Both the Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud II (a larger version of the Sea Cloud) offer an intimate atmosphere with the opportunity for a genuine sailing experience.

The Sea Cloud offers two luxurious owner’s cabins, and several deluxe and dual-bed original cabins, many outfitted in period elegance.

Guests enjoy several meals throughout the day, as well as shore trips during various itineraries throughout European waters.

In winter, both ships are in the Middle Americas and the Caribbean.

Sea Cloud Cruises; +49 40 30 95 92 50

8 U.S. river cruises — get your slice of Americana via its waterways

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/8-small-cruise-ships-that-are-big-on-luxury-intimacy-and-adventure/

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homedesignbest · 6 years ago

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sentrava · 7 years ago

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In 2017: Highlights from the Year

At the end of every calendar year, I think the following 12 months can’t get any better, and yet they always manage to exceed expectations. Well, except for 2016; that will forever be the year that nearly did me in.

Still, 2017 started off with very little on the calendar by way of work and wound up being our most fulfilling and lucrative year ever. For 2018, we already have a solid dozen projects booked, so I can’t wait to see what this year holds!

Work

This was the first full year that SVV and I worked together full time. To clarify, he always served as my manager of sorts—well, at least from the time I started monetizing this blog about three years after its 2007 inception—but he also always had a “day job.” I was getting to the point where I was making enough between magazine writing, content projects, photography and blogging that I could pay someone a healthy salary, so it just made sense that someone was him. We also had a paid intern this summer (who we would love to bring back next!) and a VA. This year, we’re toying with the idea of bringing in more part-time subcontractors on to fill some holes.

It’s worked out better than we could ever imagine, too; having extra help has allowed me to expand my roster of anchor clients—we also have a micro-agency specializing in consulting, strategy, copywriting and other such tasks for the corporate world—and also really upped my blog partnerships.

Speaking of which, we had SO many fun content collaborations last year and I’m truly thankful to get to work with every single one of them. Among them: Google Fiber; Visit Franklin; Tru by Hilton; Oklahoma City; St. George, Utah; American Refractive Surgery Council (for LASIK); Fairmont Hotels; Visit Florida; Zappos; Mars Petcare; Grand Ole Opry; Wrangler; Blount Partnership; Savannah; Twin Creeks, Tennessee; New Orleans. I started a monthly highlights series this past year to share more about my work and track both hits and misses.

On the editorial side, I’m starting to scale back on my magazine writing for myriad reasons (mostly time and a decline in rates), but still managed to write for National Geographic, PEOPLE, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Marriott Traveler, AAA Living and AFAR.

Travel

I estimated that I spent more than 200 nights in hotel rooms, friends’ houses and Airbnbs this year. Dang, that’s a lot! In 2018, I really hope to spend more time in the home we’ve worked so hard to rehab.

The year started off in Washington state with our beloved NVR Guys, then quickly followed with a trip to Grenada, an island nation I absolutely fell in love with and one that you should consider putting on your radar right away.

Next, in February, it was off to Florida for my birthday at Universal Orlando Resort.

It would actually be my first of two Florida jaunts in less than a month, as I headed back in early March when my BFF Lemon and I road-tripped from Georgia to South Carolina for a wedding, then down to Jacksonville, where I got to see my girls Angie and Jade (and team up with Visit Florida on a content project!).

April saw us taking visitors around Middle Tennessee before hopping a plane to Boston for a Fairmont project, then taking the train to NYC. We also drove back to Charleston to attend the wedding of my college suitemate, as well as up to Myrtle Beach for her bachelorette weekend.

From there, we headed to Savannah, where we kicked off the month of May with a content project. That month, I also went to Utah to play in Zion National Park, then back to Orlando for the opening of Volcano Bay.

June had me sticking close(r) to home: First, to the Smokies for work, then to Knoxville for a wedding, then back to Middle Tennessee for CMT Awards and Bonnaroo. Then, I went to Knoxville again (this time for work), followed by a yoga retreat at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch.

In July, I was mostly homebound. SVV went to visit his family in California for 10 days, while I tended to the pup (and my cousin’s kids). We did bop on down to the Florida Keys for five days mid-month, but then came home in time to throw my blog an epic 10-year-old birthday party.

August was jam-packed, beginning with five days in New Orleans, then I flew to meet SVV in NYC for a wedding, then we were home for a few days before heading out to Oklahoma City for the first time. One of the biggest surprises of the year was just how much we became obsessed with OKC; it’s such a dynamic, friendly and fun place to explore!

In September, we went to Sweden—one of only two international trips we took this year—and it made me fall in love with Scandinavia all over again. When we got back to Tennessee, it was festival season in Nashville: Music City Food & Wine and then Pilgrimage the following weekend.

October took us all over the state of Tennessee—literally, we hit every major city (Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Clarksville) and several small guys in between—for our big whiskey trail project and also to Georgia (for a Hilton campaign), where we got to see Team Mayhem and Team Vagabond3.

We thought our final work trip would fall in November so headed to South Walton on an actual vacation for four nights en route to Orlando for my final project with Universal for its holiday experience. On the way back, we decided to swing through Crystal River for the night BECAUSE MANATEES. I will definitely be going back to the Florida Springs in the future, as that was just too cool.

I thought that was it for 2017, but then! Travel Mindset called and wanted to send us to another awesome Fairmont Hotel for a project at the beginning of December, this time for a Christmas campaign with their D.C. property, to which I said: count us in!

The year ended with our annual Colorado jaunt, this time a week in Breckenridge courtesy of my mom. What a way to close out a fulfilling year!

Health

I started off the year by running like mad—and completed the harrowing Jack Daniel’s Oak Barrel Half Marathon in April—and then just … stopped. Or rather, my travels picked up and I had no time to train. That’s going to change this year (as soon as it’s not 8 degrees here in Tennessee!) as I’m slated to run the Fargo half-marathon in May with Lemon.

Around the time my travels became crazy, my trainer had knee surgery and then came down with pneumonia so she was out of commission for quite a few months. This means, my weight-lifting this past year really went downhill; I’m hoping to change that starting now and get back on a weekly routine with her. Being a former college athlete, I don’t really need someone to train me, but I have no gym buddies where I live, and having an accountability partner is so clutch (plus, I just really enjoy hanging out with her, too!).

SVV got his own paddleboard (copycat!), so we were able to SUP together many of the warmer weekends we were home in summer and fall. Ella, in particular, was thrilled with this arrangement!

One thing that didn’t suffer, though, was my AcroYoga classes, which I take one day a week, then jam with friends on another. Acro is truly my fitness love—so fun! such a good team-building activity—and a damn good core workout at that.

Family

Dad is doing much better, 23 months post-stroke. Speech is still hard, but we’re seeing him get more and more words back as the months progress. He also finished his first book since the stroke (a John Lescroart novel) while on our trip. He’ll never fully recover to the point he was pre-stroke as the clot was too big by the time they got into his brain to operate, but he’ll have a comfortable (and hopefully, happy!) life.

Of course, the BIG news for the year was that my sister is pregnant! Charlotte Rose Clarey is joining our nutty clan sometime in March, and I couldn’t be more stoked to have another niece—and one just down the road at that (my two other darling nieces live some 2,500 miles away in California).

Friends

2017 was a year for friend hangs, and I love that so many projects took me to see so many of my besties! Lemon and I got to see each other a handful of times—in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, South Carolina again, Tennessee and NYC—and Jade and I almost managed to get back on our every-other-month visitation schedule.

I saw the Mayhems several times, in both Georgia and in Tennessee. And I stayed with Angie Away at her new house in JAX; Angie, Alex and I took a trip to New Orleans together; and Alex also spent nearly two weeks in Tennessee with me for Bonnaroo, during which her lovely mother and her fiancé also joined us. It was a packed house, as another three friends from Tennessee stayed with us, in addition to an extra canine body. The best way to spend Bonnaroo, in my mind!

Of course, there’s my Nashville squad, too, and I squeeze in as many happy hours and dinners with them when I’m home and their schedules allow. I also run a media networking group that just hit four years, so I know that at least once a month I’ll get face time with that crew.

House

We continue to plug along at our house (mostly SVV), but to be honest, we’ve had so many other projects that have taken precedence, including a house he’s fixing up for my parents that’s in bad shape and the new commercial property we just bought in our backyard. So many house projects, so little time!

This past year, we did manage to finish our master bathroom (which the TODAY Show then featured!), stock up on some awesome MCM furniture, finish our fence all the way around (the only missing part is the electronic gate), build a kick-ass garden (again, all SVV) and add a few new pieces to the inside (like a custom-built island and table).

Biggest Wins

This post on why you can’t pick my brain went viral.

My guide to Savannah was my best-performing travel post of the year.

I still can’t believe I’ve been blogging for 10.5 years; I shared some lessons on this crazy journey.

I finally put together the Nashville murals post I’d been working on for years, which prompted this Google Fiber partnership.

I teamed up with Kristin Sweeting to plan a Portugal retreat for creatives next summer (there’s still time to book!).

I started a SEP at the tail-end of 2016 and have contributed to it three times thus far (as a freelancer, no one’s got my back when it comes to retirement!).

Biggest Headaches

The never-ending fight with Expedia that resulted in my family losing $10,000.

SVV bonking his noggin and having to get stitches while in Charleston.

A major destination’s PR firm stole dozens of my images, played dumb when we called them out on it, and while we are still contemplating a small-claims suit our court system makes it fairly easy for a shady company to rip off freelancers like us.

2017 by the Numbers

Blog posts written: 102

Countries visited: 3

States visited: 12

Flights taken: 33

Trips to Florida: 6

Weddings attended: 5

Books read: 14 (pathetic! I blame the news and social media)

What were your major highlights of the past 12 months? And what would you love to see more of from C&C in the coming year?

For past year-end reviews, see my recaps here: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

In 2017: Highlights from the Year published first on http://ift.tt/2gOZF1v

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webmasterfreeuk · 7 years ago

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When It Has To Do With Shipping, Grenada Cannot Be Overlooked

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Please get in touch with us 904-356-4455 to go over all about your shipping needs or complete a quick delivery quote now. Container shipping is most appropriate for people who want to ship an important quantity of products or individuals appearing to ship a car, motorcycle, building materials, or other large products. Calculated shipping Automatically figure out the delivery cost based on weight, place, and sort of service. Personalized items aren’t readily available for expedited delivery. If express or overnight delivery is requested you’re going to be responsible for the total shipping price. Letting the supplier deal with the delivery is normal among inexperienced importers. Freight shipping, which is typically dependent on weight, is the thing to do when you’ve got an extremely large package that won’t be in a position to be delivered via traditional techniques.

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There is going to be a link in the email whereby you’ll be able to keep track of your purchase. Whenever your order is prepared to be shipped, you will get a shipment confirmation email. In these cases it may take a little longer to reach you. If it has been delayed, and is still in transit to you (has not been reported as delivered), and there is a clear issue with the length of time it has been delayed for, we will provide a free replacement. When it is ready to be shipped, you will receive a shipment confirmation e-mail. If you paid for your order by means of a mixture of product credit and other types of payment, the item credit portion is going to be refunded first.

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from Rodney Weinman Catch a WeatherBug… http://webmasterfreeuk.com/when-it-has-to-do-with-shipping-grenada-cannot-be-overlooked/

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 7 years ago

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Visiting Lesvos, Greece: Our 5 Day Travel Guide

Adventure-lovers, history buffs and nature-seekers rejoice! The third largest island in Greece will delight you with its endless activities, ancient sites and stunning coastline.

From the mountainous pottery-filled village of Agiasos in the south and the ancient towns of Petra and Mithymna in the north, to the Petrified Forest in the west and the neoclassical architecture of Mytilene in the east. Lesvos truly has something for every style of traveller.

…and that’s without mentioning the food, ouzo, beaches, adventure and wildlife!

Colourful plates in the town of Agiasos

As with its neighbour, Chios Island to the south, tourism in Lesvos was hit hard due to the recent refugee crisis. Because of the island’s proximity with Turkey, this was one of the first stops refugees made when fleeing their war-torn homes in search of a better future in Europe for themselves, and their families.

Foreigners flooded the shores, with the people of Lesvos helping out in every way they could – providing blankets, shelter and food, plus assistance with registering these people at the administration centers. In return for their kindness, the generous residents of Lesvos have suffered economic hardship with many international airlines, tours and cruise ships stopping service to this beautiful island.

A sunken refugee ship

Thankfully, things have turned around this year, and more flights are returning to the island of Lesvos! During our stay, which was in the shoulder-season of June, we saw lots of happy tourists exploring the villages, and dining on freshly caught seafood at little tavernas.

If you’re planning a trip to Greece, consider the islands in the Aegean. Not only are they unique and absolutely stunning, but the wonderful people who live here are more than deserving of your tourism dollars.

Lesvos was the last stop on our month-long trip through Greece, and although we were excited to explore the island for 6 nights, it was bittersweet as we knew our journey through this diverse country was coming to an end.

We arrived in the colourful capital city of Mytilene after an easy ferry-boat journey from Chios. Numerous cafes, shops and restaurants spilled out onto the cobbled side streets, while surrounding the harbour were beautiful mansions, churches, museums and more, all in the lovely neoclassical style.

Towering above the city was the Castle of Mytilene, which covers 60 acres and is one of the largest in all of the Mediterranean! We had just stepped foot on Lesvos Island and were already in awe of the architecture.

As with all of the islands we’ve visited in Greece, we had a rental car to explore Lesvos. An hour’s drive from the port brought us to the top of a hill with expansive views over the village of Petra, the islands offshore and further out to the Aegean Sea. We also spotted a strange rocky mound jutting out of the ground in the middle of the village.

After a windy, hairpin turn descent, we reached Petra and soon realized that atop that odd rock sat the church of Glykfylousa Panagia, from 1747. We were absolutely blown away by this scenic monument!

Hiking up to the Glykfylousa Panagia Church

We drove down small alleyways before arriving at our boutique hotel, Archontiko Petras 1821. As the name suggests, this beautiful hotel was built in 1821. We’ve always loved boutique hotels because of their quaint feel and interesting furniture, and this one was no exception.

The dining room area of the beautiful Archontiko 1821 Hotel

The two-level hotel offered two common areas and a community kitchen for guests’ use, which was very well-stocked. To the back of the hotel was a balcony with a hanging chair and beautiful garden. The interior was tastefully decorated, while our room itself was exquisite. The ceilings were at least 15 feet high, the king-sized bed was incredibly comfortable and the antique dresser and chairs were a nice touch.

Our room at Archontiko 1821 Hotel

This would be our home for the next five nights, and it was perfect for us.

The village of Petra is built up around the sandy bay. Along the shoreline you’ll find numerous cafes, bars, hotels and tavernas, all with free sun beds for customer’s use. This is where you’ll see most tourists, but if you take a few steps back from the main bay, and venture off into the quiet back streets, you’ll be one of the only foreign faces! People seem to congregate around the sea, leaving the pretty little lanes void of tourists.

Exploring the back lanes in Petra, one of our favourite towns in Greece

Petra proved to be the perfect base for exploring the island of Lesvos and after getting a feel for the town itself, it was time to head a little further north to neighbouring Molyvos (Mithymna) and the hot springs of Eftalou.

After driving for just 5 minutes, we could see the town of Molyvos, and its castle on a hill. Another 5 minutes and we arrived in the town. Although we could spot the castle, but weren’t entirely sure how to climb up to it. So, we just started walking uphill through little back lanes. Apart from a few local people who were going about their day-to-day lives, there was no one else around. One woman showed us a plum tree and suggested we pick some fruit, another women surrounded by about 6 cats waved and smiled, while a man said hello while pruning his trees.

There were no tourists here and we enjoyed our slow saunter through the lanes to the castle.

Quiet lanes lead us to the Molyvos Castle

Reaching the Byzantine Castle, we were in awe of the structure and the expansive views of the sea and the town of Molyvos. This ancient castle is one of the most impressive in all of Greece, and although it was built by the Byzantines, apparently there are stones here from a previous castle during the Trojan War.

From the Venetians, to the Catalans, to the Genovese and the Ottoman Turks, this castle has seen it all and there is an incredible amount of history here. However, we were disappointed to find that we had missed the opening hours by just 30 minutes. We peered through the gates, but unfortunately the only views we would get were from the outside.

The Molyvos Castle, a must-see in Lesvos

After hiking up to see the castle and wandering around the beautiful seaside town, we were ready to soothe our muscles.

There are numerous hot springs on the island, but we opted for the healing properties of the most radioactive springs in Lesvos, Eftalou. At the beginning of the path leading to the white domed bath house, there was a sign that said the water temperature of the hot spring is around 46°C!

These would be the hottest hot springs we had ever been in.

Outside of the Eftalou Hot Springs

With our bathing suits on, we opted for the communal bath in the older house, as opposed to the newly renovated private ones. Steam was rising off of the clear water and the entire room was misty. Two men were submerged up to their necks, so we figured it couldn’t be all that hot. We were wrong.

It took what seemed like an eternity to just get our feet in the water, let alone our whole bodies!

After watching us struggle with getting in the bath, the two men said that we should go out to the cool sea, or to the cold shower first, and sit in the water for 3 minutes. Apparently, when your body is cold, this water doesn’t seem all that hot. We were skeptical, but gave it a try and after having my breath taken away by the chilly sea water during a cold day, it was time to give the bath another go.

This time we were able to get our entire bodies in the water, and it felt great.

Inch by inch, we finally made it in the hot springs

We relaxed in the piping hot bath for the maximum allowed time of 4 minutes, before heading to the cold sea again. This routine was completed three times and is said to cure ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, sciatica, neuralgia, skin diseases, kidney and gall gravel and gynecological issues.

Whether or not it cured anything I’m not sure, but it was an experience we won’t forget.

From historical sites and natural wonders to pretty villages and lovely beaches, we had really been enjoying our stay on Lesvos Island. Rather than continue our enjoyment from land, we decided it was time to explore the royal blue sea – both on, and under.

View of Petra and the sea from the Glykfylousa Panagia Church

Lesvos is a volcanic island, and earthquakes and volcanic activity have shaped the land. From the strange rocky mound that sits the Glykfylousa Panagia church in Petra, to the forest which was covered in lava 20 million years ago, resulting in petrified trees today.

Not only was the topography above water filled with rocky mountains and unique volcanic formations, but the same went for below the water’s surface.

Nick’s been a scuba diver since 2008 when he got his PADI certification on Koh Tao, Thailand and has dove all around the world. But even though we’d been to Greece in the past, he hadn’t been diving in this country yet! Excited to spend a day at sea, we met up with George from Lesvos Scuba Diving Center, and George from Alternative Sailing – “Diving George and Sailing George” as we began to call them.

Picking out scuba gear!

There’s a really cool arrangement on the island of Lesvos between these two companies. You can combine sailing with many other adventures, such as hiking, biking, or scuba diving.

We first met up with Diving George at the dive shop where we had a chat about life, the island and diving. Nick picked out his scuba gear and George loaded it into the back of his truck. He drove us to the port where we met up with Sailing George from Alternative Sailing. We were dropped off and hopped aboard the beautiful Salona 42′ boat.

The sky was blue, the wind was fair and the sea was the perfect condition for sailing. We’ve sailed aboard the Savvy and the Timshell in Grenada, a boat with no name in Mozambique, and the Yannis in SVG (plus numerous random fishing boats). But this was the first time I would experience sailing at the speed we did this day aboard the Selana.

The perfect day for sailing in Lesvos

George was an expert and was extremely passionate about sailing. We caught so much wind in our sails that the boat was heeling (tilting) completely on its side! Sensing that I was a bit nervous about this (meanwhile, no one else was), George assured me that sail boats cannot tip over, and after gliding across the water for a few minutes on the speedy boat, I relaxed and was able to fully enjoy the experience, which included stunning views of the Villages of Molyvos and Petra.

George giving Nick a sailing lesson on a tilted boat – we loved it!

We zipped around the coastline, while Nick was given a bit of a sailing lesson from George. The trip was wonderful and we loved learning about the sea, the boat and the island from captain George and his wife Mirella. Eventually, we pulled up behind one of the rocky offshore islands, where the sea was glass calm. We moored up and a few moments later, dive instructor George arrived in a zodiac and tied his boat to ours.

After a briefing about the dive site, Nick put on his gear, hopped in the zodiac, and just like that, it was time to dive!

The zodiac tied up to the sail boat and after the dive briefing, they were off!

I stuck back on the sailboat with everyone else, and helped prepare lunch. There’s a full kitchen on board where Mirella was creating a wonderful meal of fresh octopus, salads and pasta. Meanwhile, George jumped in sea and swam towards the rocks, returning with freshly caught sea urchins!

It felt like we were living on the boat, rather than just on a tour. Nick was diving for the day, I was swimming and tanning, Mirella was cooking, George was out collecting appetizers and others were just relaxing.

Beautifully clear water for swimming off of the boat

An hour or so later, Nick returned from his dive. Although there wasn’t a whole lot of sea life, he did spot an octopus, a lobster and some fish. But the highlight was swimming through, and around, the ancient rock formations, which were created by volcanic activity over 10 million years ago.

Zipping off in the zodiac for a dive, what a great afternoon!

Together with our friends from Alternative Sailing and Lesvos Dive Center, we sat around the table on the sailboat and enjoyed the homemade meal and great conversation. It was a wonderful day at sea and as we sailed back in the late afternoon sun, we reflected on our trip to the lesser-known island of Lesvos and all of the beautiful people we met there.

Enjoying a fantastic homemade meal from Mirella with our new friends from Lesvos

With full hearts and stomachs we headed back to our hotel and prepared ourselves for departure the next day. Lesvos Island was a great place to finish up our journey in Greece. We’ll never forget the ancient villages, the fantastic cuisine and of course, our new friends.

Traveller Tips:

We found Petra a great place to base ourselves during our stay. There are loads of restaurants, bars, cafes and a nice beach. Plus, the beautiful church on the rocky mound is here and we loved the quiet little back streets. Another great option would be Mithymna, with its gorgeous castle, beaches and restaurants.

Archontiko 1821 was an amazing hotel and the breakfast spread was huge. We recommend this place based on the quality of the rooms, the beautiful setting and the perfect location. Click here to see the latest prices on Booking.com.

A few of our favourite restaurants and bars in Petra are Sunset of Petra (€12 huge mixed grill, €5 appetizers), Thalassa / The Sea Restaurant (€9.50 shrimp meal, €8 meatballs and rice), Reef (€15 Prosecco, with free snack), Dak Cafe (€1.50 freddo coffee) and Kalderimi Restaurant and Grill House (€2.40 gyros takeaway).

For rental cars on the island, check out Expedia.com. Book as far in advance as you can for the best deals. We paid €25 / day, and booked just a couple of days in advance.

Entrance to the Eftalou Thermal Bath was €4 / person.

For scuba diving on Lesvos Island, check out the guys at Lesvos Scuba Center in Petra. The equipment and service were excellent. Phone: (+30) 6945998764, (+30) 6981026085 or email: [email protected], [email protected].

For an exciting day of sailing (whether combined with another activity, or not) make sure to contact George at Alternative Sailing in Petra. Phone: +30 697 889 3703, +30 697 479 2050 or email: [email protected].

For flights to and from Lesvos, check out the latest deals on Aegean Airlines here.

To take a ferry boat from a neighbouring island, or to make the longer journey to Athens, click here to see ferry routes. We spent around €21 each to take the 2.5 hour ferry ride from Chios. To search for boats, check out websites like Direct Ferries and Hellenic Seaways.

For more useful information about Greece, check out the wonderful travel portal, Discover Greece.

A huge thank-you to Discover Greece for assisting with our flight back to Athens, two nights accommodation and tours during our trip to Lesvos Island! The rest of Lesvos we planned, booked and paid for ourselves, including 3 more nights at Archontiko Hotel, even though we were offered 3 nights complimentary somewhere else. All opinions and thoughts remain our own, despite any complimentary services received.

After deciding that we wanted to travel to Greece for a month, we reached out to Discover Greece, who became our amazing partners for this trip! The reason we’re able to partner up with wonderful companies like this is because of our travel blog, and loyal followers (you!). If you’re interested in starting a blog and eventually working with tourism boards, tour companies and airlines all over the world, click here to get started. If you start a blog using the link in the article, we’ll send you our pro blogging eBook, for free!

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