Its not often that Nassan comes to my rescue but the story goes..
I forgot to fill up the rental car and already it was past 2 the time they were going to fill it up, this I realised as I dropped some food left over to John. So had to wind my way back to south finger barriers – arggggg to get the number for the car rental people also thinking that I had next to no credit left.
So managed to get through and I had time to get a fill up (glad I didn’t hang around for you guys) but at this point I also realised I needed some credit later on my phone. I was at the Epicurean supermarket and was thinking – damn I didn’t bother to throw on a shirt. Nassan was right there ‘hey buddy’ they not gonna let you in without a shirt on. He was already offering to lend it to me, I had to do it. It wasn’t so bad and didn’t smell too much. Â I am not sure what people made of the exchange but they were looking ! Even by Antiguan standards this was new. So today Nassan earned his change and indeed I will throw a couple of shirts his way as I have some to get rid of that are no longer good for me.
Oh yes got the number wrong for the topup too, so John is the lucky winner – but he is very kindly dropping me at the airport anyway.
I finally felt like a pizza and thank god I have been dying to stop by and try one of Perry’s pizzas. It’s close by Sugar Ridge and next to Shelly’s fish and chip bus ! It is in a really nice spot. I have always driven past and just not been hungry or had had a pressing destination in mind while blogging this amazing island. I opted for the Perry special because it had bacon and for a change I was actually interested in chicken. I asked him to spice it up and he did just that.
The Pizza Hut
See the board for the prices and pizza flavour ideas.
Perry and his oven !
I am ready for this !
I thoroughly recommend his pizzas and restaurant as an Antiguan place to eat – good quality food and good service. Especially if you are staying at Sugar Ridge then it’s almost across the road.
I want to simply drop a link in appreciation of this months sailing humour / humor !
Well written Sir , interesting informative
Check out Cap’n Fatty Goodlander who claims to have been afloat for 53 or his 60 years. There you have it people CHOICE. In the article he writes about the perils of harbouring and the extortion faced bribes and with a great style and patience. So pick up a copy or ask allatsea.net to publish it online !
But to finish it underlines a truism that a great saffer once bestowed upon me while on a dive boat ;
‘If it floats flies or fcuk’s it’s better to rent than buy.’ fatty’s site
it’s been a rewarding but protracted period of commute, career, and maybe family commitments and you deserve a break for a week or two. Let me walk you through a destination where you and yours will be treated as royalty. That destination is ‘the Ridge’ Sugar Ridge in Antigua.
Feel like a million dollars.
Turn off from your high-touch world as much or as little as you like. With omnipresent Wi-Fi, you won’t be limited by location, pool, restaurant, room, gym etc. Catch up on your reading or use your laptop or tablet while relaxing in the infinity pool on top of the hill at the renowned Carmichael’s restaurant. Just Instagram that view and watch the followers flock in! Carmichael’s you should absolutely reserve, and anticipate the experience. Often serving Antigua’s most important dignitaries and famous, with Caribbean fusion dishes created by the head chef. Carmichael’s position on the ridge was chosen for the views which are simply unparalleled, out across to the uninhabited Redonda and to St Kitts and Nevis. Carmichael’s is not the only restaurant at Sugar Ridge, the Sugar Club bar and restaurant is tastefully contemporary in design – let’s describe it as Caribbean informal chic.
Tastefully Modern
Throughout the resort rests generous and comfortable ergonomic designer furniture.  Poolside and throughout the Sugar Club you will find your own style of lounging- as the locals say ‘limin’.
Amazing pool, you can do lengths!
Villas are also available to accommodate larger parties and families, but let’s get back to YOU. Rooms (lower with plunge pools) with clever spaces are 4 to a building; Apple device docks and designer fixtures will accommodate you and your family in style and comfort. I felt the room more like a suite than a room because it is more than a single room with a dining area and balcony and my own entrance and private path. Whisking me around the ridge are the resort’s green electric buggies.
beautiful immediate surroundings.
The rooms are Incredible!
Dare I say the whole resort smells great! I have no idea how they do that – it’s aromatherapytastic. A full week of relaxation also involves some activity for the body and mind ensuring that you return to self. Try some yoga or Pilates in the fitness studio or elect to hit the iron with their state-of-the-art machinery and free weights.
State of the art Gym and Studio
If, like me, you like running on the beach (Antigua is known for its beaches) within minutes you can be barefoot on some of Antigua’s best. Other Antigua activities include a new clay pigeon shooting range, ziplining or simply hike a part of Antigua’s nature on one of the many trails. Visit the charming Antiguan interior with its sugar mills and historic dockyards once manned by Nelson himself. Antigua of course has water-sports galore, jet-skis and hobbie cats to scuba diving. Not your thing? Charter a boat for a day (crew or no crew) sail. On Sunday don’t miss the Shirley Heights BBQ attraction where Steel Band meets views atop Nelsons Dockyard and English Harbour. One of Antigua’s most popular tours is the getting married in Antigua tour! And Sugar Ridge has your most special day covered. Brides are treated to in house makeup with the specially trained Aveda makeup artist using ONLY their range of high end AVEDA makeup products. Sugar Ridge is arguably one of the best spots to say ‘I do’ in the world.
Sugar Ridge I do!
The Aveda Concept Spa, the only one in Antigua is part of Sugar Ridge Club.
Antigua can be frustrating. I tried to fit a bit too much into my day and missed the donkey sanctuary by about 30 minutes. It runs Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. I got my fig tree drive fix in on the way and all went ok here. It was just taking me forever to get to the donkey sanctuary. And then I realised that I must have passed it. I picked up a local lad who was going to work in the fields around here and I couldn’t understand him well at all ! On turning back I found the sign and the road I had missed. If the road gets real bad turn back. I was in the non 4×4 rio. But really it wasn’t all a waste some of the interior views of the fields were simply beautiful. See for yourself.
Coming to Antigua ? Well get in the mood with some music. I found this from hearing it played a couple of times and though this is somewhat of a longer compilation of a base rhythm – but what a sweet one it is. Not too new circa 2011 but its still getting played and appreciated.
Contact us to get recommended !
Get this button on your website that means that we think your pretty special ! You won’t just get one of these buttons. We must have visited your business and think that it is worthy of our green badge.
Well let me start to list my favourite places and why:
Putters: pub quiz Thursday and this is also a place to escape touristic hell. Not that Antigua really does that. The music is slightly too quiet but it makes for better conv. Friendly locals and expats like it here. Also hit this on a Friday before the next bar … Pepperz N’ Lime (Peppers and Lime)
Friday night in Antigua has been a tradition here since before the latest Mexican rebranding theming. Friday dress up or down no problem but don’t make the same mistake the locals do 😉  ; Don’t arrive too late ! Instead get there after say putters and enjoy more space and the ability to get served. The music is still good and it is nicely busy. But for an even better time do the Sunday Cooler Fete which is bring your own cooler and leave you inhibitions behind as you grind and whine away to a local DJ on the beach.
Crows Nest: Good value with themed evenings such as movie night, karaoke and salsa night, all the good stuff about this sports bar makes up for the too neutral music ! soft jazz etc karaoke on Wednesday is the best night IMO! Steve the new owner of the epicurean brought some great music across yesterday so hope this is to be repeated !
Bay House at Tradewinds : For arguably some of the best views on the island – the cocktails here are excellent I recommend a ginger twist on a mojito. You can find yourself a great table for food after a couple of warm up drinks.
A triathlon took place today around the beaches of ffryes and Darkwood. It was an especially hot day and the contestants had it tough. Antigua Triathlon Darkwood Beach
Ken Jackson (Antigua) 1st in Tin man triathlon class mixed. Well done ! I have never felt that I could do this sport it looks gruelling with the cycle swim and run taking it out of you. This is Darkwood beach in the background.
When 26th to 29th September 2013
Ok so starting Thursday here in Antigua we have the Arthur Guinness Day (days here !) event party across differing venues such as Millers (Saturday) and the Beehive in St. John’s  heritage quay. It will feature top djs such as jazzy t from Renaissance and Coppershot. I will be blogging while drinking the black stuff listening to great music and getting some colour. If you spot me say hi and I will get your photo here. I’m the white boy with rhythm.
Thursday – Gspot bar
Friday – tgif (Thank Guiness it’s Friday) at Beehive Coppershot
Saturday Millers ‘Paint the Town Black’ – again Coppershot and Jazzy T
Sunday – Horse-racing ! Visit the facebook page >>
Artists not necesarily coming to Antigua but playing the Arthur Guiness Day in the Caribbean and maybe coming to the Antigua event
I Octane : Dancehall + reggae fusion
Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons : Popular  Soca duo in the Caribbean. ,AIDONIA : Jamaican dancehall, Tarrus Riley is a  Jamaican singer and songwriter, Busy Signal dancehall artist.
Do not read below this line !
Right time to bitch about google !
If you do a search about Antigua Guinness on google it’s all trip advisor !
So please find some better results on bing ! And start to question how dominant google are these days ? Start searching across the different search engines like dogpile.com who search all the engines at once and it’s good for dogs !
Don’t assume that google are the best. Those that start to explore and seek get the rewards !
And remember if your stuck in the house – life is outside. Go get some !
Kelly and Martin – what a wonderful couple celebrating their first year of marriage by coming back to the blessed isle !
I met them at the skulduggery cafe in Falmouth this evening and it was one of those evenings. Even the water was still. September has brought us s cooler evening and thank Guinness for that ! The tarpon were even hanging out and jako was testing the staff and a semi local expat who was more than a match for his antics. Jako I first saw riding his donkey in falmouth down the road side sadle doing something while he went. I didn’t get a pic that day but did one other evening prior.
Well we all chatted hung out – limed as they say. It was an evening that saw me see how different Falmouth could be in season. Watch this space. But thanks and congratulations to a great couple. Martin and Kerry please get in touch ! We want to know about your week.
So I am shocked to learn that Anti-guans think that Guinness is for the black man ! Down in Falmouth harbour we stopped by the skulduggery cafe and it transpired this very myth. So what is Guinness in Antigua and why do they not think that this drink originating in colder waters is not one for the white boy ? Maybe you can tell me ? Well there is the Guiness Party in Antigua if you like your beer bitter like me.
I have some regrets about making the very most of  all inclusive holidays in Antigua take last year for example- I may well have literally stumbled upon (or at least OUT OF) Putters next to the salt lake up in Dickenson Bay.
This is early- it gets nicely busy and rather fun.
I was welcomed by a very friendly bunch buying shots just like that- it was a Thursday Pub Quiz Antigua day and I even got to chat diving with the Divemasters and Instructors of Sandals. Drunken banter about Canada- the UK all the old stories rivalries and swapping notes that happens and that was the guys behind the bar ! They were sober and doing a grand job for the record, the rest is true. SO make sure you make it down when you visit Antigua. I recommend the large sports screen, small crazy golf and if you have kids a playground. But the bar is its best feature after the friendly crowd. You can do this as part of the Antigua Pub Crawl on a Friday night. Oh yes please support Antigua, Best Antigua and the good people that like this stuff. That means a quick share copy the link and email if you need but support we are grateful for. Thank you!
How do you turn a daytime beachside restaurant into Antigua’s most happening place on a FRIDAY ? Well I went along to see what the talk was about. It’s entirely all 100% every-ting true..The place to be seen and see the gorgeous amongst.
Well it may be that you are not staying close by to Dickenson Bay so then allow me to propose the Pub Crawl Tour that will get your group to Putters and Peppers and Lime – the latter being the beachside restaurant I was on about. Up to 14 people travel in fully a/c insured official taxi style minibus with Raymond. He is also a really good local music artist. Contact Raymonds No 1 Taxis (him) here:
(268) does anyone ever need that ? 7269100 /7751001
email :[email protected] or facebook GSMARTPETERS he says 24/7 and appears to be hard working and caring !
just mention you found him through BEST ANTIGUA ! As we like to let businesses know where they got the lead.
Start the tour from your resort or villa rental, travel down to putters at your preffered time. Plan bearing in mind your group needs to keep together or discuss with Raymond and extra return trip. Putters gets going from 6ish we say and that is already a lot of time to be drinking – so if you want to go long go later and get a few in putters and spend most of your time in Peppers and Lime. Great music great atmosphere and great times.
Find them Peppers N Lime on facebook if you can!
iPhone in one hand about to Skype video call emily, piña collada in the other. Lying back poolside isn’t technology a wonderful thing. Well piña collada full to the brim ringing for video call and spilled drink over onto my chest in globuletts of creamy white,well piña collada actually but looked quite wrong – very wrong.
The call didn’t make it.
So I have my green card (wrist strap) which gives me entitlement to an all inclusive day here like I was a guest.
It must be good for some reason as I keep coming back up here.
I just questioned my first drink diet coke ! I guess I want to maximise my attempted windsurfing – I will let you know how it goes.
