PEOPLE AND BEACHES

people & beaches

Revel in picture of our glorious beaches and relish articles from contributing writers about their love of Anguilla.

Rendezvous Bay

Beyond the BLUE

Written by: Rhonica Connor Photography: KSharp Media

The waves have always played a constant game of tag with one another, while fish darted between human legs. Ask any tourist and they’ll say that, aside from the people, ‘the beaches are the best part of Anguilla’. Indeed, our beaches are perfect for relaxation and the ideal photo op, but they are more than just tranquillity wrapped in blue to me. From a young age, I realised that what is so special about Anguilla’s beaches is that they often serve as places of wisdom, community, culture and healing. The beach cures all.

Culturally, Anguillians have always held this belief in high regard. In Anguilla, our immediate thought is not to get medication when someone is sick, rather, to send them to the beach.

The minute I sneezed, my entire family would rush to the beach and ‘duck’ (a term used to describe putting someone’s head under water forcefully several times) me to get the cold out of my system. When the coronavirus pandemic hit the island, Anguillians still believed that a swim at the beach would heal them faster and better than any vaccine. Even if this is just a

superstition of the healing powers of our waters, I always felt better when I got ducked in the sea.

Attached to each beach is a special group of people, older persons, aged 60 and above. They are at their beach so early and so often that, as a child, I often wondered if they were mermaids, since I only ever saw them in the water. There were many mornings when my mom and I would race with dawn to go to Rendezvous Bay, and every time we got there, the group was already submerged. They were willing to include anyone interested in their conversations, and because of my interest I gained profound wisdom from a young age: from how to make the perfect conkie dumpling to how to keep a relationship strong.

They reminded me to cherish the life that we have, because at any second our worlds can change, turn upside down, but the sea ... the sea will always be here, unchanging. It is these special people, who you could probably still find in the sea at 5am, who taught me not only the significance of our Anguillian beaches but also the importance of life.

Shoal Bay East

Love ANGUILLA

Written by: Michael Sokolove Photography: J.Austin Pro

When I was in my-mid 20s and single, one of the ways I entertained myself, in those pre-internet days, was to browse magazine stands. I’d walk into a store, page through the magazines that seemed most alluring and buy a couple of them to take home and read.

One night I came upon a Travel and Leisure with a cover that said, simply: ‘Most Beautiful Beaches in the World’. Anguilla was featured prominently and the lead picture was of Shoal Bay East – a long and nearly empty sweep of white sand with a few palm trees at the far end.

I remember thinking at that moment: I’m going there some day. I just need the right girl to take with me, someone who loves the beach as much as I do – and someone, I’m sure I hoped, who would look ravishing in a bikini as we walked on that powdery sand.

I did find her, and we got married. She already had a child, and then very quickly, we had one together and then another. So it took us several years before we got to Anguilla.

Katouche Bay

I can’t say that Anguilla ‘saved’ our marriage. But it enhanced it and shaped it. We started visiting when our kids were still young, when home life was busy, our careers were demanding and money was tight. We left the kids behind and well tended. Anguilla was where we reminded ourselves why we had gotten married in the first place — why we were "at this game," as we liked to say.

We could only stay for five or six days in the beginning, though one year we did steal a little more time by sending word back home that we needed to stay on island one more day to hear our favourite band at the Pumphouse, the dearly departed juke joint that perished in hurricane Irma. We spent many late hours there and prided ourselves on always being the last tourists amid the post-midnight crowd of Anguillians.

We have stayed mostly on Meads Bay, at Carimar, but we always rent a car and over time have gotten to every corner of the island. Yes, it’s small, but you’d be surprised how much there is to see. What we discovered early on, and what delighted us, was that with a little effort and some good water shoes, we could make our way to a beach that was literally deserted, where our footprints might be the only ones from that day – or even that week.

I always tell people: If you want to visit Anguilla, it helps if you like to walk – the soft sand on my feet feels like physical therapy – and it also is good if you like to read. Most importantly, I

Crocus Bay

think you have to dig the person you’re with, to use a phrase from the magazine-rack days. My person is Ann Gerhart, above.

When we first started visiting, we would meet these ‘old’ people who said they had been coming for 20 or 30 years, and we would think: how strange. Why would you keep coming back to the same place?

But that is us now. We’ve been visiting for a quarter-century, often more than once a year. The officers at immigration, when they look at our passports, always say, ‘welcome home’.

In an ever-noisier world, we crave Anguilla’s sense of peace, and the togetherness we always find for ourselves here. We treasure its civility. We walk the same familiar beaches but always discover something new.

And, yes, she still looks ravishing in a two-piece.

Michael Sokolove is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and the author or co-author of ten books.

Latonya Mussington Loves

SHOAL BAY EAST

Photography: Kevin and Devin Archibald, KSharp Media.

TRUE Anguilla cover star, Latonya Mussington, is one of the island’s most accomplished young women. When she wants to take time for herself, she heads to her favourite beach Shoal Bay East. The reigning Miss Anguilla describes herself as a product of “optimism, passion, advocacy, creativity and tenacity.” As digital creator @Latonyatropicana, she has tens of thousands of followers on IG and YouTube. Her posts - tips and tutorials to maintain beautiful healthy locs without constant manipulation – are fun and informative. Latonya’s job as Activities Coordinator at Blue Sea Anguilla, allows her to indulge her passion for meeting people and promoting Anguilla daily.

NEW Beginnings

Photography: KSharp Media.

Anguillian, Kevin Carty, General Manager of Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club is pictured at the resort’s beach bar on beautiful Rendezvous Bay. Kevin loves to create legendary guest experiences and works continually to develop a strong cadre of local hospitality professionals with the capacity and drive to deliver first-class services.

Chef DALE CARTY

loves that ANGUILLA is not in a HURRY

Written by: Shellicia Brooks Johnson Photography: J.Austin Pro

Chef Dale Carty, owner of the popular Caribbean-inspired Tasty’s restaurant and the fun new open-air bar and restaurant, Tasty’s Point of View, is a culinary legend on the island. Tasty’s which has been open for over twenty years is where you will find the ‘serious but delicious food’. Tasty’s POV, the after party, is quickly becoming known for its BBQ, fun cocktails and live entertainment.

You are almost certain to run into Chef Dale while visiting either restaurant. He vowed never to give up being in the kitchen and loves grilling, steaming and now smoking meats at POV. His creativity knows no bounds as he concocts new menu items and delicious sauces and seasonings which he says are the secret to the tasty meals at both restaurants.

What does Chef Dale love about Anguilla? In his own words:

Anguilla is not in a hurry. I love it. We work hard but we are not in a hurry. I love to wake up in the morning and go to Rendezvous Bay. I jump in the sea, leave the beach at 7:45am and still make it to work for 8am. It’s the soft, chill vibe here. Relax, lose the crowd, lose the corporate mindset. Join the island vibe and chill.