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Miami The first thing that arrives on the table at Sumak is a downright marvel: too-hot-to-touch pita bread that’s fluffy I knew I’d want it later for the eggplant dip but I also just couldn’t help tearing off pieces ignoring burning fingers for pita that could solve all a day’s problems a Miami Beach spot where otherwise dishes can be uneven but still worthy of a drive over the causeway.  Dark and dominated by an off-to-the-side bar under a shiny tin ceiling Sumak is a charming antidote to the traffic screaming past on 71st Street and the owner’s kid watching iPad videos in the back gave the place a lowkey dinner party vibe albeit with pumping house music setting an odd lunchtime tone I had the highest hopes here after that pita and the eggplant dip served as a nice accompaniment The Sumak salad arrived without dressing or salt although they brought olive oil and vinegar after we asked My well-charred beef kebabs needed a sauce—tzatziki And my wife’s vegetarian plate required more help as it was simply every vegetable in the house (peas sweet grilled künefe cheese arrived on a honey-laced sauce topped with shredded phyllo and toasted pistachios—sweet an ice cream so dense it’s eaten with a knife and fork an ingredient you apparently don’t often find this side of Istanbul are enough to pull me back for another try Sumak feels like a restaurant on the verge of greatness—if only it could smooth out the inconsistencies Even if the lows occasionally leave you reaching for the olive oil it’s a place where the highs are worth savoring The vibe: A charming Turkish eatery marred by overzealous beats The food: Turkish kebabs and other classics highlighted with exceptional pita The drink: A solid selection of Turkish wines and teas You’ll want it for that eggplant dip—and for everything else Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterAbout us Contact us Time Out magazine PROFILEmiami - Your Premier South Florida Real Estate & Lifestyle Guide PROFILEmiami is a leading source of Miami and South Florida Residential and Commercial Real Estate News and Content EVENT MAY 21: Secure your spot Royal Retreat - Hospitality Real Estate in Miami at Queen The Miami-based Sabal Development has sold a modern 5-story luxury residential apartment building they recently developed on Miami Beach’s Isle of Normandy for $13.5 million the newly-constructed building offers stunning waterfront views of Biscayne Bay Dora Puig of The Dora Puig Team represented the seller founder and CEO of Sabal Development and Sabal Luxury Builder The building features four elegant apartments with expansive floor plans starting at 2,551 square feet of living space Open views of Biscayne Bay permeate each residence’s principal suite through floor-to-ceiling windows Reflecting the chic outdoor Miami lifestyle each residence features a delightfully finished rooftop deck complete with a wet bar The building features a ground level garage “We are very pleased to close on this exquisite waterfront apartment building on the stylish Isle of Normandy for $13.5 million,” said Nicolai contemporary residences for those who love the best of Miami: sun Sabal Development has made a name for themselves as a vertically integrated developer and builder with over $130 million in luxury custom-built home sales in 2021 who has more than 30 years of experience in the industry with completed projects in Europe and the U.S. Sabal Development is currently developing a modern office/ retail mixed use commercial building on Alton Road in Miami Beach and has developed a large portfolio of luxury properties including several homes on Palm Island and the Venetian Islands as well as Miami Beach and Palm Beach Sign up to stay up to date with the latest in Miami residential and commercial real estate news and content Sign up to receive PROFILEmiami’s Bi-Weekly Newsletter to stay up to date with the latest in South Florida residential and commercial real estate news and content Actively read by 15K+ of South Florida’s Top Real Estate Industry Professionals Fort Lauderdale and the Palm Beaches since 2016 Privacy Policy PROFILEmiami takes no ownership of any imagery unless otherwise noted This laid-back restaurant serves two main staples of Argentinian culture: parrilladas y fútbol Meat lovers have their pick at Muchaaachos a soccer bar-slash-restaurant in Normandy Isles Tomahawk steak and a $90 parrillada feast with house-made chorizo blood sausage morcilla and sweetbread mollejas a whole branzino and wild-caught Argentine shrimp and a flame-grilled broccolini dish that might just turn your kid into a veggie lover MIAMI BEACH – The City of Miami Beach filed a lawsuit Thursday against an owner and tenant of a property they say has become a “nuisance party house.” located at 1776 Bay Drive on Normandy Isle is being used as an “illegal short-term rental” that Miami Beach officials say has amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid fines and code violations “Despite the single-family residential character of the RS-4 district the tenant has been using the subject property as a ‘party house,’ causing frequent and reoccurring disturbances to neighbors,” the lawsuit stated “The landlord has not taken any action to cease tenant’s disruptive parties and Court records show Krause purchased the property for $6.5 million in 2020 while The Nightfall Group was identified as the agent for the property and identified Scott Weissman as the tenant the City of Miami Beach is seeking a temporary and permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from “maintaining a public nuisance” on the property together with court costs Prosecutors said the defendants were accused in the suit of operating an illegal short-term rental business with rates up to $7,650 per night the landlord and/or tenant have been cited with at least 45 violations total of the City Code based on activities at the subject property and have incurred substantial fines in connection with many of these violations,” the lawsuit stated Weissman has had a rent obligation of $616,000 under a seven-month lease that began in November 2022 The property has been listed by various names in short-term rental advertisements “Despite there being hundreds of thousands of dollars due and owing to the city the substantial fines imposed by Code Enforcement and the special magistrate still are not an adequate deterrent to stop landlord’s and tenant’s flagrant violations of the City Code,” the lawsuit said the city also plans to amend its lawsuit to foreclose on liens on the property arising out of the unpaid fines They said they will seek to have the home sold at auction if the fines remain unpaid Copyright 2023 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Closed Captioning / Audio Description Contact Us Careers at WPLG Terms of Use Privacy Policy Public File FCC Applications EEO Report Do Not Sell My Info 1.0 Host Exhibit Copyright © 2025 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC. TrendingResidentialSouth FloridaAMiami insurance honcho sells Normandy Isle waterfront estate for record $16MSeller Rafael Cedeno Camacho built the nearly 6K sf house in 2019 Atrio Insurance Group Chairman Rafael Cedeno Camacho sold his waterfront Normandy Isle estate in Miami Beach for a record $15.5 million Camacho sold his home at 2608 Biarritz Drive to an unknown buyer this week according to listing agent Nelson Gonzalez of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Gonzalez declined to comment on the identity of both the seller and buyer saying only that the buyer is a Brazilian who lives locally Carolina Lara of One Sotheby’s International Realty brought the buyer 2608 Biarritz Drive (Courtesy of Nelson Gonzalez) Records show Camacho bought the 0.3-acre property for $2.5 million in 2016, and built the 5,884-square-foot, six-bedroom, six-bathroom house in 2019. The waterfront property includes 73 feet of water frontage Gonzalez said the seller built the home for his family but decided to move closer to his childrens’ school further south in Miami SIGN UPThe sale broke the price record for a residential sale on Normandy Isle The last record was the $11.1 million sale in July of the home at 1120 Bay Drive “If that exact house was on North Bay Road it would be $30 [million] to $35 million,” Gonzalez said, adding that demand remains high and inventory is still thin for waterfront Miami Beach properties Ken Griffin sold one of his waterfront lots on Star Island to A-Rod this week The billionaire hedge fund founder had bought the property for $24 million in 2020 In August, a residential brokerage founder bought a waterfront Miami Beach house for $10 million. That same month, Todd Glaser and two partners bought a waterfront lot on Allison Island for $7.9 million Marcus & Millichap a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales announced the sale of The Villas at Normandy Isle located at 1971-1985 Bay Drive in Miami Beach 24-unit apartment property sold for $6,800,000 investment specialists in Marcus & Millichap’s Fort Lauderdale office had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the Miami-based seller The undisclosed buyer was procured by Landy Toledo first vice president investments in Marcus & Millichap’s Miami office the 2-building property was completely renovated in 2021 to include hurricane-resistant impact windows and doors air conditioning units and interior modernization inclusive of custom cabinets According to the Miami-Dade Property Advisor the property consists of 16,365-square-feet on a 21,790-square-foot lot (0.50-acres) The Villas at Normandy Isle features a unit mix of (4) one-bedroom/one-bathroom apartments and (20) two-bedroom/one-bathroom apartments The property is situated on Normandy Isles west of North Beach and south/southwest of Surfside A waterfront spec home on Normandy Isles has sold for $15.5 million setting a record for the priciest home sale ever in Normandy Isle the seller was represented by Nelson Gonzalez with BHHS EWM Realty while the undisclosed buyer was represented by Andre Duek Carolina Lara & Camila Paiva with ONE Sotheby's International Realty The new modern waterfront with a western exposure and views of Biscayne Bay sits on a 12,052 SF bayfront lot across Normandy Shores Golf Club The home features 6 beds and 6.5 baths as well as soaring ceilings and a waterfront master suite with a private terrace The Backyard is equipped with a covered patio for dining and lounging and a pier dock with a boat lift with 73’ of water frontage TrendingCommercialSouth FloridaALeFrak buys Normandy Isle apartments in Miami Beach for $25MWaterfront property last traded in 1997 for $2M LeFrak bought the Marina Del Rey apartments in Miami Beach’s Normandy Isle for $24.5 million The Finvarb family sold the 108-unit waterfront complex at 1006 and 1022 Bay Drive Calum Weaver and Garrett Pordes of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller in the deal which varies in height from two- to four stories A spokesperson for New York-based LeFrak said in a statement that the firm “has great plans for the place,” but did not provide specifics Robert and Ronny Finvarb – bought the property in 1997 for $2.1 million LeFrak was also a joint venture partner with Barry Sternlicht’s Starwood Capital Group in the redevelopment of the former Gansevoort Hotel into 1 Hotel & Homes in Miami Beach. They sold the 429-key hotel in 2019 to Host Hotels for $610 million although the condos were not part of the deal Miami Beach has caught the eye of investors in recent months, as both multifamily and retail properties have traded in South Beach. In April, Sentinel Real Estate bought a 452-unit portfolio of apartments mostly in Miami Beach, although some are in Bay Harbor Islands, from affiliates of Boardwalk Properties for $96.6 million Regal Acquisitions bought the retail portion at 2000 Collins Avenue Multifamily deals have abounded across the rest of South Florida, as well, in recent months, with Related Group selling a Royal Palm Beach multifamily complex to Pantzer Properties for $119.4 million in May we want their experience to be as simple as the name Bob,” says Danielle Savin co-owner of the fresh locals watering hole Bob’s Your Uncle in the historic district of Normandy Isle. From the team behind Bob’s Your Uncle in NYC, a laidback Upper West Side gem since 2015, the new Miami outpost makes its home in the heart of North Beach and pays homage to illustrious Bobs throughout history with walls covered in framed photos of Marley The petite backyard patio and airy indoor bar framed by rustic wood tables offer seating for 60 a collection of classic board games and a vintage arcade table where you can kick back and play PacMan and Space Invaders. The drink menu keeps things simple and fun and includes a vast selection of craft spirits a $10 “Mule Bar” with twists on the Moscow classic and a bubbly $9 “Spritz List.” Daily happy hours are from 3 to 7pm with reverse industry happy hours Sunday through Thursday from 1 to 3am unpretentious vibes and remote-controlled Spongebob Squarepants shot delivery cart aren’t enough to keep you coming back look out for monthly events like Salsa Saturdays and bingo nights TrendingCommercialSouth FloridaASabal sells waterfront apartment building in Miami Beach’s Normandy IsleDetroit-based private investors paid $13.5M for four-unit property Sabal Development sold a recently completed apartment building on Miami Beach’s waterfront to a pair of Detroit-based private investors An entity managed by Jason and Amanda D’Herin, a married couple who own a facility management company in Detroit, paid $13.5 million for the five-story boutique building at 1930 Bay Drive in Normandy Isle, according to records and Vizzda. The buyers obtained a $10 million loan from the selling entity, managed by Sabal’s CEO Pascal Nicolai Dora Puig with The Dora Puig Team at Luxe Living Realty represented the seller the Sabal entity paid $1.9 million for the property and completed the four-unit building in March the building’s units each span roughly 2,500 square feet and each has three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms The price equates to nearly $3.4 million per unit The average asking rent is $22,000 a month SIGN UPSabal typically focuses on developing luxury the Miami-based firm paid $4.2 million for a teardown five-bedroom house at 5440 La Gorce Drive in Miami Beach into a 6,000-square-foot modern house with five bedrooms Last year, Sabal sold a waterfront spec home in Miami Beach’s Hibiscus Island for $16 million Normandy Isle, an enclave in the North Beach section of Miami Beach, has attracted private and institutional investors. In April of last year, Magnum Holding Company, a U.S. subsidiary of Montreal-based family-owned real investment firm Trams Property Management, acquired the Pierre on the Bay apartment complex at 2050 Bay Drive and an adjacent lot at 2095 Bay Drive for $15.2 million an entity affiliated with Gustaf Arnoldsson CFO of Miami-based hospitality property investor SMS Lodging paid $6.4 million for Normandy Villas at 946 and 950 Bay Drive In 2021, LeFrak paid $24.5 million for Marina Del Rey a 108-unit waterfront apartment complex at 1006 and 1022 Bay Drive – A judge ordered a Miami Beach man to be held without bond Wednesday one day after he was arrested after being accused of beating his 75-year-old neighbor in an apparent trash dispute beat the senior with “an electric bicycle tire and rim” outside of a Normandy Isle apartment building Leer en español Authorities said the attack happened just before noon on Monday around the 1200 block of Normandy Drive Horton and the neighbor were in a verbal dispute “regarding the placement of garbage” when Horton walked up to the senior and pushed him in the face Police said after the man pulled out a screwdriver he was using to install video cameras in an “attempt to defend himself,” Horton wielded the e-bike tire and rim and hit the victim in the “face at which point (Horton) kicked him in the face,” the arrest report states “The victim sustained visible lacerations to his head hands and several abrasions throughout his body Miami Beach Fire Rescue responded and treated the victim on scene.” Police said surveillance footage “clearly depicts the physical altercation as described” and “corroborates the victim’s account.” The report states that officers couldn’t locate Horton until Tuesday morning when he “walked up to the victim’s front door knocking and yelling incoherent statements” as officers surveilled the area Police said when they went to talk to Horton he had a “strong (odor) of alcohol emitting from his breath.” Officers arrested Horton on a charge of aggravated battery on a person 65 or older he was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as he awaits a pre-trial detention hearing Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist Real estate developer James Curnin and his wife Jennifer have sold their stunning waterfront mansion on La Gorce Island in Miami Beach for a record setting $60 million The sale establishes a new record for the price per square foot of single-family homes in the Miami Beach area The off-market deal was overseen by Jordan Karp of Jordan Karp LLC was crafted over four years and exemplifies luxury living the property commands captivating views of Normandy Isle from its 0.4-acre lot Renowned architect Max Strang was responsible for the home's design while New York-based Pembrooke & Ives curated its elegant interior and furnishings executed off-market and inclusive of most furnishings Originally purchased for $7.5 million in 2020 the property came with an older structure that the Curnins had demolished to make way for their dream home This latest venture is just one of many significant deals unfolding in the vibrant Miami Beach real estate market The home was not intended to be listed but Curnin decided to sell after being approached by brokers amidst the hot waterfront market for single family homes in Miami Beach The island has seen considerable investment activity with multimillionaire Anand Khubani reportedly acquiring adjacent properties for $100 million just last month has active projects in South Florida including multifamily projects in Wynwood and Bay Harbor Islands The Isle of Man is marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day troops from the allied nations landed in Normandy and attacked German forces Ben My Chree and Victoria were all part of the operation You can find out more about the Island's involvement in D-Day through the online exhibition by Manx National Heritage The King's expected to attend a service in France today, where Manx woman Claire McCabe will carry the British National Standard A short wreath laying ceremony has been taking place at Douglas War Memorial this morning The time was chosen as this is the time personnel landed on the beaches in Normandy will be performing at the National War Memorial at St John's the final stage of an 80-day relay of piping that's taken place across the British Isles At 7pm the bells of St George's Church will be rung to mark the anniversary At 8pm this evening a service of reflection is being held in St John's Church.  wreaths will be laid at the Manx National War Memorial a beacon will be lit in St John's - at the same time as others are lit across the allied nations In Douglasat 9.15pm a short ceremony will be held in the grounds of St Ninian’s Church when a beacon will be lit at the Church tower one of the highest vantage points in the City Maine — Historic C-47 aircraft landed in Presque Isle on Saturday before heading to Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day Planes from the commemorative D-Day Squadron flew in to meet an eager crowd of more than 1,000 people at the Presque Isle International Airport’s General Aviation Terminal yard C-47s dropped paratroopers in Normandy on D-Day — June 6 1944 — in a massive airborne mission that eventually brought the end of World War II and the Allied victory which formed five years ago to commemorate the 75th D-Day anniversary made Presque Isle the first stop on its 2024 Legacy Tour because the Presque Isle Army Airfield was a significant stopover during the war years With vintage military gear on display and 1940s-era music from the loudspeakers visitors marveled as pilots shared stories of the planes that shaped history “I know what some of these guys went through It cost a lot,” said Peter Cote of Fort Kent As he watched the planes touch down and heard the unmistakable It was their first time seeing the D-Day Squadron The Presque Isle Army Airfield was the starting point of the North Atlantic Route to Normandy for the D-Day operation, according to Kimberly Smith of the Presque Isle Historical Society The route went from Presque Isle to Newfoundland That operation involved 156,000 troops storming Normandy from the sea and 13,000 paratroopers dropped in enemy territory Brother” led 800 planes into Normandy that day said D-Day Squadron pilot John Bixby of Houston the fact that we’re retracing the air transport route is significant,” Bixby said “It’s neat to be retracing the ferry route these guys traveled.”  The Blue Spruce Route went from Presque Isle to Goose Bay Brother was found in a scrap yard some years after the war and might have been turned into scrap which formed with the goal of restoring World War II aircraft Pilot Ben Smith of New Jersey is a crewmember of the Placid Lassie He had a ride in a C-47 and right then decided he wanted to learn to fly them He actually met the last surviving wartime crewmember of the plane Tunison was a radio operator on the Lassie’s original crew, which flew about 155 men into Normandy on the morning of D-Day, according to the Tunison Foundation Smith was enthused about being part of the squadron Flying the plane feels like history come alive “When given the opportunity to fly this airplane the C-47s will head across the Atlantic to follow The Blue Spruce Route and join several D-Day celebrations they will recognize the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift which dropped food and supplies to civilians in West Berlin following the war The event also recognized Armed Forces Day A flag ceremony featured the Loring Job Corps Color Guard and the singing of the national anthem by Miss Teen Caribou Heather Gustin came to see the planes with their two young children They had never seen military aircraft like this up close he was glad to share the moment with his children “I wanted to teach the kids why we live the life we do I’d often gaze wistfully at smaller atolls Eilean ShonaJames BedfordAnother epiphany came 12 years ago when my husband and I kayaked around the Isles of Scilly for two weeks The wind and rain were so violent that our tent – the kind people take to Everest – actually rotted But we would kayak out to the easternmost ends of the islands where seals would drift under our kayaks and the sense of wilderness was complete It became a mission to circumnavigate as many of the British islands as I could I bought a huge map and created a system of sticker dots denoting which of the roughly 6,000 isles were accessible My scientific system became a mess of dots but formed the basis of Islandeering charting routes around the 150-plus smaller islands I have visited many of which are only accessible at low tide many don’t really see themselves as Scottish Their often quirky identity is bound up in each other partly for environmental reasons but mainly because I don’t feel the need to my husband and I cycled around the Summer Isles overlooking the rocks and skerries near Althandu These are the best of Britain's islands Just over 5,000 people live on Arran full time and most of those are scattered around the south-east – which means the craggy north of the island has been left unspoilt It’s the northernmost point of the British Isles and the economy here relies more on fishing than tourism and book rooms in the waterside Scalloway Hotel or elegant Belmont House to explore this UNESCO Global Geopark’s beaches The Sands of Breckon is one of the prettiest beaches on the archipelago while the tiny tidal isle of Uyea is connected to the mainland by a remote sweep of sand with sea on both sides Visit eileanshona.com for more information or the horrors of its war-time occupation by the Germans but there’s a real live-and-let-live ethos – locals refer to themselves as ‘two thousand alcoholics clinging to a rock’ and consider the island’s nine pubs their second sitting rooms too: I’ve swum with bioluminescent plankton and have been kept awake by obnoxiously grunting native blonde hedgehogs as bats swooped against a huge starry sky It’s worthy of at least a weekend – stay at the smart Braye Beach Hotel a row of old fisherman’s cottages overlooking the dunes in pretty St Anne or take over Fort Clonque – a fortified island accessed via a causeway from one of my favourite beaches where you can forage for samphire and shellfish at low tide Visit brayebeach.com and landmarktrust.org.uk for more information the little island of Cei Ballast was formed in Victorian times when trading ships from the bustling port would dump the rocks they used as ballast The best way to get to it is to drop down from the Cob right by the line for the old Ffestiniog steam train there are tidal pools in the sands to dive into; then after searching for pottery shards among the island’s industrial slag I also like the tidal sand pools at Ynys Gifftan in the middle of the Dwyryd Estuary in Cardigan Bay – where you swim in sun-warmed pools with views across shimmering salt flats to Harlech Castle and Mount Snowdon or the tributaries to the colourful Italianate spires of Portmeirion where I was invited to a coffee morning straight off the ferry where life for the 40-odd islanders revolves around its curious seaweed-eating sheep I came during the summer sheep festival and was immediately employed building a wall to keep the sheep on the shore the locals are exceptional: such as Billy Muir keeper of the huge lighthouse for 50 years air-traffic controller and handyman extraordinaire who dances a mean eightsome reel and has a hundred tales of shipwrecks where you can accompany RSPB wardens catching and ringing birds but the most elegant stays are the two renovated lighthouse keeper’s cottages Visit northronaldsay.co.uk for more information but also a certain island spirit that I love Visit stmartinsscilly.co.uk for more information the little MV Sheerwater was accompanied by dolphins islanders appeared from nowhere to banter with the ferrymen and help with bags will often join some of his 26 or so fellow islanders I always order a crab sandwich in the crofthouse café at Port Mor run by a couple collectively known as Sheddie with the distinctive ‘krek krek’ of the rare corncrake ringing across the tables It takes four-and-a-half hours to walk the dramatic coastline of basalt cliffs I make like the locals and leap into the Mermaid’s Pool a deep limestone-lined swimming hole at the south a lodge and a Mongolian-style yurt with a wood-burning stove for £15 per person Visit isleofmuck.com for more information someone told me that Keith the postman is the only person who knows exactly when low tide is because he drives his salt-wrecked van across the sand to serve the eight residents When I finally found the post office there was a little handwritten note with the tide times on it I remember mountain biking across the Strand with a few centimetres of water; fish sticking in my spokes I was with a father searching for Irish Lady’s tresses white orchids who was convinced she might find a mermaid It’s that kind of island: a place of neolithic shell middens grey seals in limpid waters and brown cows ambling across beaches For more details on these islands and walks, visit islandeering.com. Lisa Drewe's book, 'Islandeering', is out now (16.99, Wild Things Publishing) Keep scrolling to read more about the best British islands Who needs Mont St Michel in Normandy when we've got our own it was monks from the former who first took possession of the island just off the Cornish coast in the 12th century but it's been home to the St Aubyn family for most of the past 400 years anything called 'St Michael' usually involves a steep hill and sure enough the castle and the original priory church tower over wooded slopes and a cluster of houses occupied by around 35 islanders cross by the causeway at low tide or get a boat from Marazion on the mainland when you'll find them lobster potting and allotment tending Stay on the sea-view side of the Godolphin Arms across the bay (it's still on the St Aubyn Estate) for perfect views of the island and its causeway Stay: The Godolphin Arms sits looks out over the beach and has 10 ensuite roomsPrice: Double rooms from £110 per nightWebsite: godolphinarms.co.uk Channel IslandsBEST BRITISH ISLAND FOR TRADITIONALISTS There's nothing quite as intriguing as a hermit. From October to March Herm's 60 or so islanders keep themselves to themselves with a reduced boat service and the main White House Hotel closed to visitors (cottages are still available) although it does have a mobile signal and Wi-Fi Herm is old-school: this is where you take your children to scamper up cliff paths and wander along roads untouched by cars (there aren't any) or bicycles (ditto) Traffic is limited to a handful of quad bikes and tractors and in peak season there are eight ferries a day from St Peter Port in Guernsey you'll feel as if you've stepped off the edge of the world Stay: The White House HotelPrice: Doubles from about £105 (dinner, bed and breakfast)Website: herm.com/hotel HebridesBEST BRITISH ISLAND FOR PEACE AND QUIET breeding populations of eagles and Manx shearwaters and a 'singing beach' of quartz sand Artists may be seen at Sweeney's Bothy an off-grid timber hut designed by artist Alec Finlay and named after a Gaelic hermit king - and watch out for Eigg Box a creative collective of island artists and writers who maintain a programme of low-key events and projects Stay: When there's no artist in residence, Sweeney's Bothy is one of three boltholes offered by EiggtimePrice: From £85 per night or £520 per week, minimum two nights.Website: eiggtime.com This 400ft-high chunk of granite in the Bristol Channel is one of the Landmark Trust's longest-serving and most popular getaways Go by boat (the trusty MS Oldenburg takes two hours) or chopper (15 minutes) especially when the generators shut down at night leaving guests to manage with torches (romantics should take candles) diving and cute little puffins are all very well one of the chief attractions is still the pub which was converted from the old village stores and which has a payphone (remember those?) Stay: At The BarnPrice: Four nights from about £420Website: landmarktrust.org.uk/lundyisland DorsetBEST BRITISH ISLAND FOR LASHINGS OF GINGER BEER We can't prove this was the inspiration for Kirrin Island in the Famous Five novels but Enid Blyton did own the golf course overlooking Poole Harbour and Brownsea sits just inside the harbour's entrance Here is a place for retro pleasures: jolly picnics messing about in dinghies (no bikes or dogs allowed because it's a Site of Special Scientific Interest) spotting red squirrels and birdwatching on the lagoon In the 1920s a reclusive owner expelled residents and banned public access for four decades take the brood to buy second-hand Blyton books at the Engine Shed shop then to the Villano Café for Purbeck Ice Cream Or escape via the chain ferry across the harbour mouth for Poole Rock oysters at Shell Bay or a day on Studland beach Stay: There are two rental cottages: Custom House sleeps four and practically has water lapping at the front doorPrice: Three nights from about £330Website: nationaltrust.org.uk Isles of ScillyBEST BRITISH ISLAND FOR TIME-TRAVEL Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall rolled up in St Mary's to sample the first wine made from the first harvest from its first vineyard housed in a star-shaped former fortress a stroll from the beach turns up at breakfast to tell guests which islands he's going to There are rooms in the 16th-century garrison fort itself but the best spot is one of the garden suites preferably on a sunbed on the terrace with a glass of Holy Vale's Silver Carn Pinot Gris in one hand Stay: Star Castle HotelPrice: Garden suite from £215 (bed and breakfast)Website: star-castle.co.uk Western IslesBEST BRITISH ISLAND FOR GRAND ARRIVALS Hebridean beaches are famously beautiful (on a good day): crescents of moon-white sand and ludicrously blue sea. But Barra's Cockle Strand has function as well as form: when the tide is out, it doubles as a runway. If the windsock's up, the beach is closed to allow Twin Otters to skitter in from Glasgow or private planes to land islanders pick cockles on the gleaming shoreline music and other things actually happen on Sundays as opposed to the more sober Presbyterian islands to the north - as befits the island where much of Whisky Galore Stay: Northbay House is a 19th-century schoolhouse converted into homely B&BPrice: Doubles from £76Website: isleofbarra.com The best beaches in the UK The best secret islands in Europe The 20 best beaches in the world The most amazing private island hideaways in the UK and Ireland – Police arrested a former employee of a Miami Beach law firm Wednesday after accusing her of stealing from an elderly woman under its guardianship 20 after another employee of Kahn & Kahn told police that a review of the victim’s assets revealed unauthorized activity on her credit card A judge had named one of the firm’s attorneys the woman’s guardian after finding her to be “totally incapacitated,” the report states was assigned to work with the attorney on her file giving her access to the woman’s personal information and her credit card Police accuse Rolle of racking up nearly $600 in charges on the woman’s card in December and January 22 surveillance photo of Rolle from the Publix at 6876 Collins Ave pointing out she was wearing the same “festive” Christmas sweater in the photo that she wore during an office Christmas celebration The report states that detectives then subpoenaed the victim’s bank records and found that Rolle wrote herself a $5,290 check from the woman’s trust account which she later deposited into her own account Police said Rolle wouldn’t speak to investigators without legal counsel prior to her arrest Wednesday uttering forged instruments and credit card fraud was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $16,000 bond as of Thursday afternoon Despite multiple attempts to connect an emergency tow a runaway barge has gone aground on the picturesque beaches of Sotteville-sur-Mer It was one of many marine casualties stemming from Storm Darragh which swept over the British Isles and the coastline of northern France last weekend.  the 120-meter deck barge AMT Challenger broke away from the oceangoing tug Boka Glacier at a position east of the Isle of Wight and it entered French waters at about 2300 hours.  the shipowner contracted with two salvage tugs - Abeille Horizon and the Princess - to attempt to connect an emergency tow conditions were too rough for the operation and their efforts were not successful - even after a French Navy helicopter flew a four-man salvage team onto the barge to assist.  By Sunday morning the barge was just six nautical miles off the coast of the Seine-Maritime region French SAR coordinators determined that a grounding was imminent and informed local municipalities to take precautions including setting up a cordon to keep bystanders at a distance The barge went aground shortly after on a sandy beach near Sotteville-sur-Mer.  the deck barge was immediately ballasted down using its own pumps in order to prevent further movement It poses little hazard to the marine environment according to the Maritime Prefecture of La Manche and the North Sea (Premar Manche) No pollution or hull breaches have been reported because there is a very small quantity of marine diesel on board The rescue plan will define the means to be implemented three tugs are positioned offshore to ensure that the barge does not move," Rouen sub-prefect Audrey Baconnais-Rosez told local outlet BFM.  the weather was still too rough to begin to make salvage arrangements or begin a close inspection Dieppe's public prosecutor has launched a judicial investigation into the casualty.  Local authorities have called on the curious public to stay back from the grounded barge and avoid hazards including the risk of attempting to observe the site from nearby cliffs a mother and a child of three both perished in a fall from the steep cliffs above the same beach.  codify and revive the island's complex language to hopefully ensure its survival learning a few phrases in the local language is a good idea But as I attempted to wrap my tongue around "Cůme či'k t'ê?" I knew it was highly unlikely I'd be able to use it despite being one of the most archaic Gallo-Romance languages still in existence there are only three native speakers of Sarkese alive British Crown Dependencies that are located close to the coast of Normandy Roughly 3.5 miles long by 1.5 miles wide with a population of around 500 It's also allowed the Sarkese language to retain elements that can't be found in any other Gallo-Romance language Sarkese (also called "patois" by the islanders) is a unique archaic variety of the Norman language that arrived in 1565 Norman itself developed when Norse Vikings settled in what is now Normandy in France and their language melded with that of the local population Norman languages and dialects are spoken on the Channel Islands Some Sarkese words do resemble modern French "mérsî" is the Sarkese for "thank you" and similar to the French "merci" (although its pronunciation is different) but "mérsî ben dê fê" (Sarkese for "thank you very much") looks and sounds very different from "merci beaucoup" but this is a relatively recent development it was reported that there wasn't a single English-speaking family Subject to weather, Sark Shipping operates a year-round ferry service from Guernsey rent a bike from one of several hire locations Cycling is by far the most popular way to get around the island and there's no better way to explore it miners from Cornwall came to work in the island's tin mines and English began to spread the church and school adopted English as the lingua franca The advent of radio and TV and increased tourism meant that islanders began to spend longer engaging with the English language and Sarkese diminished within a generation Elsie Courtney was born and bred on Sark and can trace her family back to the original 16th-Century settlers but you couldn't figure out what they were saying," she said with a laugh "I think people stopped speaking it because lots of local girls and boys married outsiders Because [their partners] didn't speak it In my lifetime it's nearly disappeared Most people I spoke to told me they didn't speak Sarkese but Alongside the three remaining native speakers – Margaret Toms and Joyce Southern and 95-year-old Esther Perrée – there are also perhaps 15 semi-speakers One of the recurring reasons I was given for the near disappearance of the language was newcomers to Sark the person spearheading a project to save the language comes from nearly 1,000 miles away Czech linguist Martin Neudörfl has been working to document, codify and revitalise Sarkese since 2016. He first heard of the island when studying in the UK. Years later, when searching for a Norman-language project for his master's degree thesis, Dr Richard Axton, MBE, who led La Société Sercquiaise (which works to preserve and enhance Sark's natural environment and cultural heritage) Let's Talk is a month-long series of language coverage across BBC.com, exploring the ancient roots of alphabets, jargon-busting the modern boardroom, and seeking to understand why we speak the way we do. Browse the whole series here we need you." Neudörfl told me that Dr Axton persuaded him to persevere with learning and recording the language "He opened every door I needed and convinced me to continue with Sarkese otherwise we lose the chance to preserve the language.'" Neudörfl has spent countless hours working with the last three native speakers to reach a point where Sarkese can be learned and taught "We have hundreds of hours [of recordings] and our audio archive is outstanding someone could revive the language just using the recordings We've only achieved this through years of exhaustive research It's all thanks to [the speakers] for sharing their knowledge." Explaining the significance of the language "I call it a window into the past… When you hear it you know it's one of the most archaic northern Gallo-Romance languages that still exist There are things we've lost in the other Gallo-Romance languages that we've retained in Sarkese It's just incredible what they've preserved." He continued: "Sarkese helps us understand other Gallo-Romance languages and even English We've likely confirmed a theory from the beginning of the 20th Century [about how the pronunciation of a sound in English has evolved] And that's only thanks to a language spoken by three native speakers and myself." Teaching the language is key to its survival "There are so many vowels," Neudörfl explained One word can be pronounced three or four different ways." Its complexity also likely gave rise to the popular perception that it couldn't be written down The island consists of Big Sark and Little Sark a dramatic isthmus so narrow that before railings were installed children were forced to cross it on their hands and knees in high winds As I leaned over the railings and looked at the beach below drenched in winter sunlight honorary secretary of La Société Sercquaise She had described two Sarkese-speaking sisters who when questioned about a difference in the language used by another speaker Neudörfl teaches the children at Sark School (the only school on the island) by video or in person when he's able to travel to the island, and holds a weekly online class for adults. "So much about Sark is unique and we don't want to lose that," said Michelle Brady, Head of Sark School "It's the young generation that will keep [the language] going I just thought it was so important for it to continue Martin is so good with the children as well that he's become quite a character for them." This year, the students will perform a Sarkese-language play for the Guernsey Eisteddfod arts festival The language's survival is especially desired by the few who have Sarkese as their first language one of the three remaining native speakers summed up the precarious position of a language that has survived for centuries and all the history and identity that's tied up in that "Sarkese is important for the island and hopefully it won't be lost Thanks to Martin who is keeping it alive and good… it's important to keep these things because once it's gone Join more than three million BBC Travel fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can't-miss news delivered to your inbox every Friday. Mubble Fubbles: Six forgotten words you'll need this summerWho doesn't love a spot of sunset gongoozling on their summer holiday? 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Planes like those that dropped paratroopers in Normandy during World War II will visit Presque Isle as they mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day The D-Day Squadron will appear at the General Aviation Terminal yard from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, before heading to England and France on their 2024 legacy tour to honor WWII veterans On June 6, 1944, Allies invaded Europe in the largest airborne troop operation the world had seen up to that time, according to the U.S. Army’s D-Day history The D-Day Squadron formed in 2019 to mark the 75th anniversary of that day with 15 restored C-47 military planes It was one of the largest crowds the squadron saw so they were keen to return to northern Maine “The second largest reception they had in 2019 was in Presque Isle,” said Green “The number of people at the airport and those stopped along the road amazed them.” Presque Isle’s air base played a significant role in WWII according to Kimberly Smith of the Presque Isle Historical Society A stop for planes to and from Great Britain it was once the country’s most geographically important air base The Presque Isle Army Airfield was the starting point of the North Atlantic Route to Normandy for the D-Day operation Smith wrote in her local historical column The C-47s were the military version of the Douglas DC-3 civilian aircraft The paratrooper drop over Normandy’s beaches was at that time the largest military operation in history That operation involved 156,000 troops storming Normandy from the sea and 13,000 paratroopers dropped in enemy territory, according to the D-Day Squadron In the two-month Battle of Normandy that followed D-Day more than 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed and wounded because so many people were gunned down,” Green said “To commemorate D-Day is important because it was the event that began in earnest the end of World War II and the Nazi occupation of Europe.” Green visited squadron members in Pennsylvania last year to start making plans for their return.   He expects about 5 C-47s to fly into Presque Isle for Saturday’s celebration an amphibious model that predates the C-47 by about a decade The plane could land on the ground or in the water making it invaluable for transporting troops to hard-to-reach places Besides the aircraft and pilots on Saturday 1940s music and interviews with the pilots broadcast over speakers The Loring Job Corps color guard will conduct a ceremony And since Saturday is also Armed Forces Day those who have served or are serving in the military will be honored “Private Presquey,” a small stuffed bear that became the squadron’s mascot The bear is actually a Postal Service commemorative figure he decided on the spur of the moment to ask the pilots if they’d take the bear with them and return it to Presque Isle.  “They named him Private Presquey for Presque Isle made him a bed and even gave him his own seat,” Green said “Every day they sent pictures of what he was doing — even flying the plane.”   The adventures of Presquey turned out to be a hit on social media, Green said. Presquey will once again accompany the D-Day Squadron as they travel to England, France, Germany and Italy.  Following the D-Day remembrance, while in Europe the group will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, which dropped food and supplies for civilians in the war’s aftermath, Green said. A public dinner honoring the pilots will be held at 6 p.m. on May 18 at the Northeastland Hotel, with a Private Presquey video and a jazz band offering music of the WWII era. Reservations are required.  The celebration is free and open to the public. For information, visit the D-Day Squadron website or email Green at Craig@crgins.net. Call 762-6500 for dinner information. The one that claimed our place—the Sea Section—in September of 2018 while my only thought was: What’s with the old-fashioned names Floyd—they sound like finalists in a pinochle tournament Isn’t it time for Hurricanes Madison and Skylar gave new meaning to the word “namaste” along the North Carolina coast Hugh and I were in London when the hurricane hit and was followed almost immediately by a tornado Our friend Bermey owns a house—the Dark Side of the Dune—not far from ours and went over to check on the Sea Section as soon as people were allowed back onto Emerald Isle He found our doors wide open—blown open by the wind A large section of the roof had been ripped off and the rain that had fallen in the subsequent days had caused the ceilings on both floors to cave in which looked so tawdry I was embarrassed to share them It seems that rats had been living in the second-floor ceilings speckled with currant-size turds and tufts of bloated All the interior drywall would need to be replaced it might have been easy to have the repairs done thousands of homes had been either destroyed or severely damaged—and that was just in North Carolina Our other house, luckily, was relatively unscathed. It’s next door to the Sea Section, and when it came up for sale, in 2016, Hugh disregarded my objections and bought it. His argument was that if he didn’t get it someone would most likely tear it down and construct the sort of McMansion that has become the rule on Emerald Isle rather than the exception The size of these new houses was one thing—eight bedrooms were common spread over three or four stories—but what came with them and what you really didn’t want next door to you “It happened to us ten years ago,” moaned my friend Lynette traditionally sized cottage up the street from us “Now all we hear is ‘Marco!’ ‘Polo!’ over and over The place that Hugh bought is ancient by Emerald Isle standards—built in 1972 perched on stilts and painted a shade of pink that’s almost carnal but unlike the Sea Section it’s rented out to vacationers Our friend Lee across the street rents out his place People leave with the pillows and coat hangers They bring dogs regardless of whether or not you allow them meaning all sorts of things get flushed down the toilets: seashells people complain about absolutely everything: The TV only gets ninety channels There’s some missing paint on the picnic table Lee once got a comment from a renter that read “I was shocked by your outdoor shower.” and when I touched the handle for the hot water I got thrown clear across the room.” Hugh bought the second house with everything in it although it’s a bit heavy on the white wicker It was standard fare for a beach house: garish pictures of sailboats and sunsets You’re Overdressed” and “Old Fishermen Never Die “Can you believe that woman?” Hugh said, almost a year after the hurricane hit, when we arrived to spend a week on Emerald Isle. It was August. The Sea Section was still under construction, so we stayed at the rental house, which he was calling the Pink House, for reasons I could not for the life of me understand. “It’s just such a boring name,” I argued. “Calling this the Pink House is just nothing,” she said. The best name, in my opinion, considering that the rental was next to the Sea Section, was a choice between the Amniotic Shack and Canker Shores. Both had been suggested by a third party and were far better than what I’d come up with. “And what was that?” Gretchen asked, opening a cabinet in search of a coffee cup. “Country Pride Strong Family Peppermill,” I told her. “It’s not a pun, but I think it has a nice ring to it.” Hugh opened the refrigerator, then reached for the trash can. Renters aren’t supposed to leave things behind, but they do, and none of their condiments were meeting his approval. “It sounds like you just went to the grocery store and wrote down words.” “Well, too bad. It’s my house and I’ll call it what I want to.” He tossed a bottle of orange salad dressing into the garbage. “But nothing. Butt out.” “C-R-A-B,” Gretchen mouthed. I nodded in agreement, and made pinching motions with my hands. It can sometimes be tricky having Hugh around my family. “What is his problem?” each of my siblings has asked me at one time or another, usually flopping down on my bed during a visit. “What is whose problem,” I always say, but it’s just a formality. I know who they’re talking about. I’ve heard Hugh yell at everyone, even my father. “Get out of my kitchen” is pretty common, as is “Use a plate,” and “Did I say you could start eating?” I’d like to be loyal when they complain about him. I’d like to say, “I’m sorry, but that’s my boyfriend of almost thirty years you’re talking about.” But I’ve always felt that my first loyalty is to my family, and so I whisper, “Isn’t it horrible?” “I don’t know!” I say. Though, of course, I do. I love Hugh. Not the moody Hugh who slams doors and shouts at people—that one I merely tolerate—but he’s not like that all the time. Just enough to have earned him a reputation. “Why did you yell at Lisa?” I asked, the year that three of my sisters joined us for Christmas at our home in Sussex. “Because she came to the dinner table with a coat on.” “It made her look like she wasn’t staying,” he said. “Like she was going to leave as soon as her ride pulled up.” Similarly, he makes the beach feel the way it’s supposed to. A few years back, he designed a spiral-shaped outdoor shower at the Sea Section that we found ourselves using even in the winter. He grills seafood every night, and serves lunch on the deck overlooking the ocean. He makes us ice cream with fruit sold at an outdoor stand by the people who grew it, and mixes drinks at cocktail hour. It’s just that he’s, well, Hugh. I apologized, saying that the chair was already broken, and Hugh contradicted me: “No, it wasn’t.” “Why would you say that?” I asked, after my friend had hobbled home. “It doesn’t matter,” I explained. “The point was to make him feel less embarrassed.” “Too bad,” Hugh said. “I can’t hide who I am.” “Well, it’s really important to try,” I told him. “I mean, like, really, really important.” “Let me ask you two a question,” Hugh said to Gretchen and me, on our first afternoon at the Pink House in August. He opened the sliding glass door to the deck and invited us to sit on the rocking chairs out there. The nails that held them together had been weeping rust onto the unpainted wood for so long that I put a towel down so as not to stain my white shorts, and got snapped at for it. “O.K., do you think those are rickety? That’s what the renter who hated the paintings called them.” I settled in and swayed as much going side to side as I did going back and forth. “Yes,” I said. “ ‘Rickety’ is probably the best word for this, possibly followed by ‘kindling.’ ” “Well, you’re just spoiled,” Hugh told us. “There’s nothing at all wrong with those rocking chairs.” He stormed back into the house, and I heard the click that meant he had locked us out. “Goddammit,” Gretchen said. “My cigarettes are in there.” Lisa and Paul and Amy couldn’t make it to the beach this time. It was sad being on the island without them, but at least it left fewer people for Hugh to crab at. “If you want to raise your voice to someone, you might consider the contractors,” I said in the living room the following morning, looking next door at our empty driveway, and not hearing what I heard coming from other houses: the racket of hammers and Skilsaws. Cartoon by Sofia WarrenCopy link to cartoonCopy link to cartoonLink copied so how about you take care of something for a change?” The last thing Hugh wants is me taking care of something I don’t like seeing my relationship through her eyes I do like seeing my family from Hugh’s vantage point each one of us connected to the other and dotted with foul little corpses “What is with men adjusting their balls all the time?” Gretchen asked “Are you talking about someone specifically?” Hugh asked They can’t keep their hands away from their crotches.” “It could be due to heat rash,” I suggested adding that touching your balls in public is now illegal in Italy and when I took one of my shoes off a roach ran out It must have been hiding in there when I got dressed that morning.” “What does that have to do with anything?” Hugh asked and I remembered a young woman earlier in the summer who’d had a leg bitten off Squinting at the horizon as Hugh grew smaller and smaller I said that if the sharks did get him I just hoped they’d spare his right arm It’s hard to imagine Gretchen’s boyfriend crabbing at anyone She and Marshall have been together almost as long as Hugh and I have balancing a glass of grape juice on the arm of a white sofa Gretchen and I had been on the beach for all of twenty minutes before she did what she always does “I went online recently and read all sorts of horrible comments about you,” she said lazily as if the shape of a passing cloud had reminded her of it I don’t know where she gets the idea that I—that anyone—would want to hear things like this “It’s a consequence of putting stuff out there—you’re going to get reactions That doesn’t mean I have to regard them all.” sprinting back to the house over the scorching sand and wondering which was worse—getting snapped at by Hugh or having to endure what Gretchen was doling out Although it’s true that I don’t read reviews or look myself up I’d been given two hundred and thirty letters sent to me in care of my publishing house I had responded to a hundred and eighty already and brought the remaining fifty to the beach Most were just what I’d always wanted: kind words from strangers She and her husband had attended a reading and apparently objected to my material “I thought you were better than that,” she scolded who doesn’t want to hear about a man who shoved a coat hanger up his ass “What kind of a person are you?” I wanted to write back Sometimes after a hard day of angry letters or e-mails after having an essay rejected or listening to Gretchen tell me how much a woman she works with thinks I suck I’ll go to Hugh and beg him to say something nice about me “I’m in the middle of making dinner”—as if I’d asked him to name all the world capitals in alphabetical order I feel as though I’m always complimenting him “You look so handsome tonight.” “What a great meal you made.” “You’re so smart “I don’t want to give you a fat head,” he’ll tell me That, of course, was me, but they weren’t pictures I was holding. They were index cards with that day’s ten new French vocabulary words on them. In Sussex not long ago, an acquaintance approached me to share a similar story. Again I was identified as mentally challenged, this time because I was picking up trash and muttering to myself. Only I wasn’t muttering—I was repeating phrases from my Learn to Speak Japanese or Swedish or Polish audio program. “The woman who saw you said, ‘I just hope no one tries to take advantage of him,’ ” the acquaintance told me. On Emerald Isle this August, it was German I was muttering. I might have picked up an occasional bit of trash, but I wasn’t carrying any equipment, just ziplock bags of hot dogs or thick-cut bologna to feed the snapping turtles in the canal. We’d been at the beach for four days when I noticed a great many ant colonies in the dirt bordering the sidewalk between the strip mall the CVS is in and the one the grocery store is in. The ants were cinnamon-colored, hundreds of thousands of them, all racing about, searching for something to eat. “Excuse me,” I said that afternoon to the guy behind the counter at the hardware store. “I was wanting to feed some ants and wonder what you think they might like. How would they feel about bananas?” The man’s face and neck were deeply creased from age, and the sun. “Bananas?” He took off his glasses and then put them back on. “Naw, I’d go with candy. Ants like that pretty good.” I bought a bag of gummy worms from beside the register, bit them into thirds, and, on my way back to the house, distributed them among the various colonies as evenly as I could. It made me happy to think of the workers, presenting their famished queens with sugar, and possibly being rewarded for it. “You’re out there feeding ants candy?” Hugh said that night at the table, when we were all discussing our day. “They don’t need your help, and neither do the stupid turtles. You mess these things up by feeding them—you hurt them is what you do.” It wasn’t what he said that concerned me but, rather, his tone, which, again, I wouldn’t have noticed if my sister weren’t there. “Well, they seemed pretty happy to me,” I said. Gretchen patted my hand: “Don’t listen to Hugh. He doesn’t know shit about being an ant.” This was a relatively short beach trip. Renters were arriving on Saturday, so the three of us had to have the house clean and be out by 10 a.m. Gretchen left a bit earlier than we did, and, though I was sorry to see her go, it was a relief to escape her judgment regarding the life I have built with Hugh. As it was, whenever anything good happened during that week, whenever he was cheerful or thoughtlessly kind, I wanted to say, “See, this is what my relationship is like—this!” It was a three-hour drive to Raleigh. I had work to do, so while Hugh drove I sat in the back seat. “Just for a little while,” I said. I must have fallen asleep, though. After waking, I read for a bit, and the next thing I knew the car wasn’t moving. “What’s going on?” I asked, too lazy to sit up and look out the window. “I don’t know,” Hugh said. “An accident, maybe.” I righted myself and was just attempting to hop into the front seat when Hugh advanced and tapped the car in front of us. “Now, see what you made me do!” I don’t know anything about cars, but the one he’d hit was bigger than ours, and white. The driver was husky and pissed-off-looking, with the sort of large, watery eyes I’d expect to find behind glasses. “Did you just hit me?” he asked, walking toward us. He bent to examine his bumper, which seemed to be made of plastic and had a pale mark on it, possibly put there by us. Hugh rolled down his window: “I maybe did, but just a little.” The man glared at what he probably assumed was an Uber driver making extra money by taking people to the airport, or wherever that gap-toothed dope in the back seat was headed. He gave his bumper another once-over, then the traffic started moving. Someone honked, and the man got back into his car. “Hit him again,” I said to Hugh. “But harder this time. We need to show him who’s boss.” “Will you please shut up,” he said. “As a favor to me. Please.” “Well, one of your houses,” I said, thinking of Florence’s other victims. Some, like Hugh, were crying on their beds, far from the affected area, while others were on foldout sofas, in sleeping bags, in the back seats of cars, or on cots laid out like circuitry in public-school gymnasiums. People who’d thought they were far enough inland to be safe, who’d had real belongings in their now ruined houses: things that were dear to them, and irreplaceable. The hardest-hit victims lost actual people—mates or friends or family members swept away and swallowed by floodwaters. Then again, this was something of a pattern for Hugh. So many of the houses he’d lived in growing up had been destroyed: in Beirut, in Mogadishu, in Kinshasa. He’s actually sort of bad luck that way. 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British Isles & Western Europe What is the best time to cruise to the British Isles & Western Europe Which cruise lines go to the British Isles & Western Europe you might have to stick with a UK-based cruise line like P&O but many mainstream American cruise lines -- including Princess and Celebrity -- offer combo British Isles and Western Europe sailings If you're interested in luxury cruises Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Crystal are among the options What are some things to do in the British Isles & Western Europe What should I pack for a cruise to the British Isles & Western Europe You'll want to pack for nearly any weather condition Many of the UK-based cruise lines are also more traditional than modern American lines so bringing along some formal (or at least semi-formal) attire is a good idea Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site Our partners who list cruise pricing on Cruise Critic are required to provide prices for cruise only or cruise packages and are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings Rates are in GBP and valid for UK and Ireland residents only please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site Cruise Critic is not responsible for content on external web sites Lowest pricing is based on our 3rd party pricing supplier and valid as of 6th May 2025 car-free archipelago off the Normandy coast offer a shifting and magical seascape It’s low tide in the Chausey Islands and our barefoot group are peering into a shallow rock pool stoops to investigate: it holds a green crab Bright green algae and clumps of darker seaweed cling to granite mounds – yet there’s something otherworldly about the scene Mud and sand squelch between our toes as we wander crossing cold rivulets of seawater and scrambling over boulders lobster pots and the wooden posts used for growing mussels Just 11 miles from Granville on the Normandy mainland the Chausey Islands claim to be northern Europe’s largest archipelago – at low tide These islands see some of the greatest tidal ranges in the world – up to 15 metres during a spring tide When the sea is out there are 365 islets – and with a guide you can walk between some of them – but that drops to just 52 at high tide so we head back to sandy Grande Grève beach (and our abandoned shoes) in plenty of time the islands appear in the form of rocks on the horizon Franck expertly navigates the hidden hazards (tales of shipwrecks are rife here) and we moor in the channel south of Grande-Île for a lunch of local oysters and whelks with chunks of baguette and white wine Grande-Île isn’t exactly grand – but it packs in a variety of landscapes: six sandy beaches These protected islands are rich in marine life Photograph: Hemis/AlamyFrom the mid-19th century until the 1950s mining the granite that went to build everything from Mont Saint-Michel’s abbey to the pavements of Paris Today it’s home to just a handful of permanent residents – although hordes of The islands’ history is one of rivalry between England and France: lying just south of the Channel islands they’ve often been a battleground over the centuries We wander past a fort built in 1859 by Napoleon In the first world war it housed 300 German and Austrian prisoners; today it’s home to a few fishing families one of the empty beaches is dominated by a 16th-century chateau bought and restored by car manufacturer Louis Renault in the 1920s White sand beaches ring the islands Photograph: Jane Dunford/The GuardianAfter a day on Grande-Île with its Christian Dior museum in the designer’s childhood home huge sandy beaches to the north and alluring cliff-backed resorts to the south But for full immersion in the Chauseys’ charm There are gites to rent – including the tiny schoolhouse, which closed in 1971 and a converted farm (email: la.ferme.chausey@orange.fr, the last farmer left in 1990) – but the island’s one hotel, the eight-bedroom Hôtel du Fort et des Îles when adventurer and sailor Lucien Ernouf fell in love with the Chauseys and bought the hotel (with help from his friend Renault) and started bringing visitors over by boat simple rooms in calm blue and white have a nautical theme It’s also a popular lunch spot for day-trippers Hotel du Fort et des Îles.The wood-panelled dining room has large windows on two sides dominates the menu: local blue lobster is a speciality There’s just one other restaurant and bar on the island: Sound where the vibe is a little hipper (it’s currently looking for a band for the summer season) but there’s something ethereal about the night The 19th-century chapel looks like a 2D cut-out the world beneath it a closely guarded secret plus either €39pp half-board or €59pp full-board Mont-Sant-Michel has been attracting tourists and pilgrims for centuries Climb up still further and you’ll reach the pinnacle of the rocky outcrop where the abbey and church loom over the sandbanks below the Mont emerges majestically out of the water A UNESCO World Heritage Site set in a bay shared by Normandy and Brittany it was founded as a religious sanctuary in 708 and in 966 Benedictine monks began work on the abbey it is an architectural wonder and its natural landscape plays host to a wealth of wildlife View at sunrise of the bay of Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, FranceGetty ImagesSee a mysterious skullMont-Saint-Michel, originally known as Mont Tombe, is said to have been founded after Archangel Michael appeared in a dream to Aubert, bishop of Avranches, ordering him to build an oratory on the nearby island It seemed like an impossible request so Aubert chose to ignore him The archangel appeared again – Aubert was still not to be persuaded the exasperated archangel poked the bishop in the head Saint Aubert’s skull is normally kept in Avranches but this year it will be on display at the Mont as part of the 1000th year anniversary of the abbey’s church including the exhibition The Archangel’s Home architecture and devotion in the Mont-Saint-Michel abbey’s church (1023-2023) which takes place from 20 May to 5 November The skull is a mystery – some say it is that of a man who had been subjected to trepanning The tides in the bay make quite a spectacle… the difference between low and high tide can be up to 15 metres and is at its most dramatic during a ‘spring’ tide just after every full and new moon the sea withdraws by around 15 kilometres from the coast and then rises rapidly The saying goes that the tide races in at the speed of a galloping horse – not quite FranceGetty ImagesThe bay can be a dangerous place You can book an official guide to walk the bay safely see some quicksand and follow in the footsteps of pilgrims Don’t miss the ‘the tidal bore’ where a small but wide flood wave is formed when the incoming tide meets tidal waters from that of the rivers Couesnon Robben… Mont-Saint-Michel… the latter is not as famous for being a prison island but the harsh and unforgiving aspect made it particularly appealing when Napoleon I wanted somewhere to house those who opposed him Some 14,000 prisoners passed through this “Bastille of the Seas” until it was closed in 1863 Victor Hugo was deeply affected by the horror of the Mont’s prison I have never felt so strongly as here the cruel antithesis which man sometimes makes with nature.” Reef of honeycomb worms in the bay of Le Mont-Saint-MichelAlamyYou can admire a reef of worm housesScattered across the bay, you’ll see rocky-looking mounds covered in tiny holes. These are the work of honeycomb worms, which have made weird homes out of sand and shell. Le Banc des Hermelles, as the reef area is known, stretches for more than 100 hectares and is the most extensive animal-made construction in Europe The area is once again home to a colony of seals – they had been a presence for centuries but were hunted for their meat They came back some 40 years ago and there are now around 80 seals in the bay Their welfare is carefully monitored… if a mother is disturbed during birth she flees and leaves the pup so a team of volunteers is in place to rescue any stragglers The pups are then cared for until they are ready to be re-released Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, FranceGetty ImagesThe island has more businesses than peopleWhile not short on visitors (some 2.5 million a year, making it the most visited place in France outside of Paris) the number of actual permanent inhabitants is only around 40 Residents include the monks and nuns from the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem You can get a really good feel for the place at night when the day-trippers have departed. Or go in the evening in summer when the abbey is open late and there is a light and sound show you’ll find the Maritime Museum and the Historical Museum which has a reconstruction of the prison cells which was once the home of knight Bertrand du Guesclin and his astrologer wife Tiphaine de Raguenel: he had it built for her while he was away fighting during the Hundred Years’ War with the Mont seen as the safest place to be she would predict the fate of the world in the stars Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, FranceGetty ImagesThe Mont gave rise to a soufflé omelette In the late 1800s, young cook Annette Poulard would whip up an omelette over an open fire for hungry pilgrims coming to Mont-Saint-Michel. The soufflé-style egg dish became legendary, as did her hospitality, and her restaurant attracted royals She would often ask her famous visitors for their autographs or a drawing: she barely left the Mont and this would be her link to the outside world She is buried on the island with her husband Their grave reads: “Here rest Victor and Anne Poulard faithful husband and wife and excellent innkeepers May the Lord receive them as they have always received their visitors.” Later patrons of the restaurant included Ernest Hemingway who pitched up there to refuel before covering the Normandy Landings Tourists still dine at the restaurant today and the brand has become huge – you can pick up a pack of La Mère Poulard's 'pure butter' biscuits in stores around the world A build-up of silt and the 19th-century causeway were stopping the water flowing freely so much so that Mont-Saint-Michel was in danger of losing its characteristic of being an island – some studies suggested that by 2040 it would become permanently connected to the mainland if nothing was done Work took place between 2005 and 2015 to preserve its maritime aspect Water now completely surrounds the island at particularly high tides The restoration project included building a new footbridge or if you don’t fancy the walk, you can take a 10-minute ride across in one of the free shuttle buses. At one time you could take a train a railway line linked Pontorson to the Mont but the tracks were dismantled in World War II St Michael's Mount in Penzance, Cornwall, EnglandAlamyThe Mont has a UK siblingSt Michael’s Mount in Cornwall is Mont-Saint-Michel’s UK counterpart and they have quite remarkable similarities – both have an Archangel Michael origin story – in Cornwall’s case he is said to have appeared to fishermen to keep them away from danger and the archangel popped up in Normandy to demand the building of Mont-Saint-Michel St Michael’s Mount was actually handed over to the monks of Mont-Saint-Michel They both have their fair share of ghosts. Mont-Saint-Michel is considered one of the most haunted places in France and ghosts include military captain Louis d’Estouteville who defended Mont-Saint-Michel during the Hundred Years’ War and killed many. St Michael’s Mount has, among its apparitions, a Lady in Grey. And they are both hugely photogenic – Mont-Saint-Michel inspired Minas Tirith in The Lord of the Rings films and the kingdom of Corona in Disney’s Tangled; St Michael’s Mount starred in Dracula and in the Game of Thrones prequel as the setting for Driftmark. The islands were named “Channel Islands” by the Royal Navy around 1830. Since these islands are Crown Dependencies, they do not form a part of the European Union nor the Commonwealth of Nations The Bailiwick of Jersey comprises the principal island of Jersey along with the uninhabited small island groups of the Les Minquiers and the southernmost of the Channel Islands The island reaches a maximum elevation of 143 m above sea level Jersey island is administratively divided into 12 parishes which are further subdivided into Vingtaines There are numerous valleys on the island including the Grands Vaux Les Platons is the island’s highest point which rises to an elevation of 136 m Saint Helier is the capital and the largest settlement of Jersey island. It serves as the island’s financial center and its central business district. Some mammalian species that are native to the Jersey Islands include the Jersey bank vole, the French shrew, the wood mouse, and the Lesser white-toothed shrew. The agile frog (Rana dalmatina) is endemic to Jersey Island The Bailiwick of Guernsey comprises the islands of Guernsey the island of Guernsey is the second-largest and the westernmost of the Channel Islands Guernsey Island is administratively divided into 10 parishes Located on the eastern coast of Guernsey island is St Peter Port which serves as the island’s capital as well as its principal port and islets are present in the offshore waters of the island which makes navigation a dangerous activity in this region Covering an area of only 5.45 km2, Sark island is the fourth-most populous island in the Channel Islands archipelago. It consists of two parts, the Greater Sark and the Little Sark, which are connected by the narrow La Coupée isthmus It is also the highest point in the Bailiwick of Guernsey which is also a part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey is the fifth-most populous island in the Channel Islands archipelago The economy of the Channel Islands is dominated by tourism The island offers an attractive offshore tax haven for several companies and therefore boasts of a thriving financial industry The islands are famous for their exports of locally grown flowers and tomatoes as well as their prized breeds of Guernsey cattle photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com La Fresa Francesa is fantastic. The Hialeah French restaurant (yes, you read that correctly) has become a neighborhood staple with its delectable dishes and friendly faces, and the latest venture from its owners is poised for the same success. Normandy Isle’s Silverlake Bistro, which gets its name from the owners’ time in Southern California, is fairly different from its sister eatery but shares one big similarity: quality. Unlike the French selections you’d find at La Fresa, the items at Silverlake Bistro skew a bit more American. Small plates like an Avocado Green Goddess Salad and Mac and Cheese might not excite you by name, but don’t be deceived; Chef Benoit Rablat infuses these plates with flavors that tantalize. For example, that normal-sounding mac and cheese is actually duck fat seared gnocchi with smoked gouda cheese sauce and pork belly. Can we get a HELL YEAH? With so many delicious options to choose from, it’s easy to skip over things like Silverlake’s vegetables — don’t. Baby Carrots and Pan-Fried Okra were two of our favorite items of the night, and we’re not exactly the biggest fans of veggies. Seriously, the former’s mix of honey, pistachios, ricotta and basil will make your taste buds break out in dance. Same goes for the tasty Napa Grilled Cheese, which gave us some good croque madame vibes. Not in the mood to hate yourself? There are other options like Steak Frites and Roasted Half Chicken, but we couldn’t eat anything else … except dessert. We finished our experience with a Cheesecake Parfait and some Pot de Creme and then immediately passed out back at home. If you love La Fresa Francesa, then you’ll love Silverlake Bistro. The food may be different, but the quality is consistent. Plus, you have the nicest couple in town running the place: Chef Rablat and Sandy Sanchez. It’s only a matter of time before this Normandy Isle restaurant is as slammed as its Hialeah counterpart. Silverlake Bistro is located at 1211 71st St in Normandy Isles. For more information, call 786-803-8113. Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed. a precious commodity has been harvested from the shores of Noirmoutier but something far more essential: sea salt.Dylan Petitgas' family salt marsh in Noirmoutier Why Guillaume wants us to travel (and eat) along the French Atlantic Guillaume’s French Atlantic on SBS | Episode guide Guillaume Brahimi's five favourite foods to cook at home It had to be. After last week's news about the fiercely insular tribe guarding North Sentinel Island comes word that the tasty left off its southern shore - which we assumed had never been surfed - has hosted a boatload of sponsored surfers a fella who's pioneered many waves around the world though the wave in question isn't one of them The story was told to John, yet it's also been been verified by the photographer on board who has been from the northern tip of North Andaman Island to the southern tip of Great Nicobar Island at Indira Point I have knowledge of perhaps the only time North Sentinel Island has ever been surfed after our first trip to the Andamans ex-Phuket for some info how he could send a crew of surfers to the Andamans I gave him the name and contact of the company we had used in Phuket for the boat charter and some tips on where to look for waves I also specifically said not to try to go to North Sentinel as it was off limits to everyone as the tribal people were well documented to be hostile and known to attack any visitors with spears and poisoned arrows From what the captain of the boat told me after the trip - a UK fellow and the same captain we had used for our trip to Little Andaman in 1998 - they did go to North Sentinel and they surfed the same pass in the satellite image with the left on one side and the right on the other the surfers and the photographer on the trip knew nothing of North Sentinel Some of them were so clueless they thought they were in Indonesia The captain said they left Port Blair - the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands - and anchored in the area around Hobday Island with the idea of pulling the anchor at 3am and making a pre-dawn run the short distance to North Sentinel to avoid any possible early morning Indian Navy helicopter patrols Everything went well and at dawn they dropped the pick on the inside of the bay with a view of both the lefthander and the right No-one surfing of course and no-one on the beach The crew had a quick coffee and toast breakfast and got in the dinghy with two to three people on the right and three people on the left I don't know why they were not all on the same wave The captain said there were only two people on the boat - himself and Nong The captain was in the wheelhouse and Nong in the galley preparing the late breakfast of scrambled eggs The captain said he had the binoculars out and had been scanning the beach of this most mysterious island every few minutes for any sign of the tribals and had seen nothing.  a group of six to eight men emerged from the forest They dropped it at the shoreline and returned to the forest which the captain said he could see clearly through the binoculars The captain called Nong into the wheelhouse and said something along the lines of Bring the anchor up to three metres of chain" and Nong went forward and turned on the anchor hoist and the rattling noise of the chain began the captain said they ignored the surfers and were headed straight for the boat.  Nong returned to the wheelhouse and asked who the locals were - he didn't know they were some of the world's last uncontacted pre-neolithic tribal people and considered to be extremely fragile - and extremely dangerous The canoe full of warriors continued to paddle with intent towards the boat Boat drifting slightly with three metere of chain out on the anchor but little current present and no significant wind The canoe was now within fifty metres of the boat The captain was watching through the binoculars ready to engage the engine if anyone stopped paddling to launch arrows or chuck a spear Gliding towards the boat they looked transfixed the captain said they could hear the music from the sound system on the boat living in complete isolation for perhaps 50,000 years or more on a single island in the Indian Ocean you have never heard any form of recorded music The captain said he reached for the knob and slowly turned up the volume on the music - specifically the opening keyboard riff from 'La Femme 'd'Argent' from Air it's a compelling piece of instrumental music and if you have never heard any recorded music before in your life as a pre-neolithic tribal warrior...well more than six or seven metres away.  the captain had pulled the shotgun out from under the bench and loaded it with two shells with two more shells ready - with Plan A being to fire a warning shot overhead or into the water if they got too close Plan B was if they tried to board the boat "We could see them clearly and they could see us," the captain told me "Nong now knew they could throw spears or shoot poisoned arrows at any time and was scared shitless After three slow circles around the boat they paddled in the direction of the beach carried their canoe up past the treeline and disappeared into the forest" oblivious to this encounter with one of the last uncontacted groups of tribal people anywhere on earth had breakfast and a second surf and did not see any of tribals again They pulled the anchor after lunch and headed off in the direction of Little Andaman If only Air was around when Germany invaded France in WW2 If La Femme 'd'Argent was the first song I ever heard I would be tranfixed also Sounds like the natives liked what they heard....epic tale Any chance one of these pros was Jack Johnson Holes to Heaven is about surfing the Andamans and was written in the early 2000’s No - Jack was on our first trip to the Andamans in 1998 He brought an acoustic guitar and wrote the basics of several tracks on that project that later appeared on his first release Thicker than Water was a Surf Movie featuring Nicobar Andaman areas Yes - Little Andaman Island was in "Thicker then Water" with Jack Johnson shooting the footage If they didn't watch the guys surfing or pay much attention to them maybe they had seen surfers before...otherwise you would have thought the act of surfing would have blown them away Maybe they had seen surfers before - maybe they hadn't Everyone should just leave them alone i reckon Their right to not engage with the modern complex fast world should be respected - and sure as hell beats any surfers rights to a few waves If people come at you with spears and arrows the message is not really ambiguous If you know this and still go - then its just a modern version of good old white colonialism We want something - you don't - well we know better so we will still take it anyway ESPECIALLY if you are like that recent missionary trying to convert them to Christianity wouldn't mind putting a resort on it though I guess it can't be to specail or we would all know by now What worries me is that some dick-headed missionary full of evangelist zeal is going to read this and follow his corpse of a friend to North Sentinel but this time armed with a bluetooth speaker and an iPhone full of Air and other music from the same genre it's only 50,000 years of uninterrupted culture I thought about not publishing it but not for that reason I don't think what happens on a niche surf site is going to influence a wilful missionary fuelled on by higher powers it appears the Sentinelese can look after themselves The issue I had to think through was that left becoming a sought after wave The original party can at least claim some ignorance as in 1999 the internet was still the domain of commerce and nerds Modern surfers can't hide behind that defence so anyone looking to surf it as a trophy wave - if they got past the Indian Government defences - would be condenmed by the wider community as both insensitive fuckwits and cavalier risk-takers https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-26/police-struggling-to-remove-body-... "Modern surfers can't hide behind that defence so anyone looking to surf it as a trophy wave - if they got past the Indian Government defences - would be condenmed by the wider community as both insensitive fuckwits and cavalier risk-takers." Are you suggesting that the Madhuey's are gonna surf it Spot on....I reckon its only a matter of time before someone tries again Based on the media around the last missionary I cant help but feel it was self promoting narcissism not the divine light leading him on...."guess I'll go and convert people who dont want to be converted and post in on Instagram...how divine of me..." Interesting how music has the capacity to transcend The only feelings that come up for me when listening to that track is a sense of calmness & beauty I can't envisage any other naturally occurring response I wonder what extent the calmness and beauty of the music changed the course of the interaction/intervention of the tribe Fair point surf starved- But I'd reckon that music/technology would already be well known in the missionaries brainwashing bag of tricks Hopefully the illegality of it and the poisoned arrow talk is enough for them to pull their heads out of their arses It would have been a blood bath if it was boy band music The sea has stories ...and this one is a good un No froggy electro noise would put these guys off a tourist kill "After three slow circles around the boat...... the tribesmen proceed to pull out a Ghetto-Blaster and play ABC's "Poison Arrow" from 1982.. Glad they weren't playing Barry Manilow or something....good reason to be speared ! Isn,t this the place where The Phantom lives Even looks a bit like skull cave covered in overgrowth in that original pic with the natives out front You can't blame the Ghost who walks ,man who cannot die trying to keep those perfect waves to himself https://au.news.yahoo.com/search-missionary-killed-remote-island-may-aba... What happens if a boat load of refugees wants to seek sanctuary at North Sentinel island They are actually a bunch of surfers who have taken localism a bit far When they see a boat coming they head to makeup and get dressed up then head out and scare the crap out of visitors Everyone racks off and they go back into the bush where they wax up their latest boards for the next session with their favorite album "moon safari" pumping through the trees they only let them off cause they liked their taste in music In the previous article about this location I thought I may have been a little harsh in my comments There're bunch of religios idiots on facebook with group name Mission to Bring the Gospel of Jesus to North Sentinel Island are hopping to bring their stupid religion to the island, what the f@rking muppets Did they do 3 circles around the boat so as to get more inspiration from the tunes or were they contemplating whether the double barrel shotgun would 'out-gun' their spears I hope they keep attacking and killing any arsehole that steps foot on their island Why not have simply sauteed him in a mild coconut curry and enjoyed him with a fruity pinot gris And plenty of willful ignorance from the boat captain that's why he snuck in overight to evade the Indian authorities and why he was always scanning the beach for hostiles And it is not plausible he sailed the Andamans a year before and in the year intervening learned nothing of the North Sentinelese tribe's reputation self-serving and reckless surf safari of all time with the easy potential to wipe out the entire surf crew and one of the last remaining non-contact tribes on earth Had deeper contact with the tribesmen been made either via hostile or peaceful means any number of viruses could have readily been transferred to them by the Euro-Caucasian surfers If you think I am sounding sour or like a party pooper you know nothing about the history of this tribe and ongoing efforts to forbid all contact and was even ready to blast two holes through natives who might be trying to protect their people from foreign contact/extermination (such as the preceeding British colonisers had brought them) And why am I not surprised that John Callahan the proud king of spot and culture exploitation He will stop at nothing to get his surf photos with his name attached and like two face will play both sides of the coin (surf promotion in undeveloped areas / protecting undeveloped areas from exploitation) depending upon the group of people or tenor of magazine he is pandering to My suggestion: send him to North Sentinal Island to start a local surf team to coach for the Japanese Olympics like he promotes in other lesser known developing countries in the name of cultural "progress." He will need to bring his own shovel I am certain Tha waves and surf that far away from the roaring forties and dry season is our summer...not very consistent id imagine...leave it to the tribe(s that)live there imo https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/us-man-arrested-for-entering-restricted-... Left a coconut and a can of Diet Coke on the beach - The always dignified younger brother of Eddie Aikau loses his battle with cancer Steph accepts a wildcard and goes up against her own replacement wildcard Six crazy weeks culminates in an Easter spectacle for the ages yet have you ever stopped and wondered why A dire sand situation at Snapper forces the WSL's hand ...and surfers cross their fingers for banks Fifteen minutes of effortless style and awesome power Julian Wilson turns back the clock with a teenage display of varied airs An entertaining return to the sunshine and cupped-out waves of Burleigh On the edge of the continental shelf lies a wave You're using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience The Brotherhood of Man struck a hitch last week when an unarmed American was killed on an idyllic Indian Ocean island John Allen Chau was trying to "reach out" to the locals of North Sentinel Island but they were having none of it and shot Chau with arrows The ABC is reporting that Chau had a strong desire to to meet the Sentinelese and preach the word of God The Sentinelese are believed to be the last pre-Neolithic tribe in the world they've repeatedly resisted outsiders and attack anyone who comes near their island it brings more attention to the bolshie Sentinelese Being a non-believer I fall into the latter group Google Earth shows the southern coast of North Sentinel Island is open to the Indian Ocean and gets much the same swell as Banda Aceh and the western Indonesian provinces At the very southern tip is a reef pass with what appears to be a genuinely good lefthander on one side and a right that may need a bit of swell to tick over just a short paddle away Historical searches show enough consistency for it to be considered a good A workable left on one side of the channel plus a smaller right just a short paddle away But let's consider the logistics. Those aforementioned attacks include the deaths of two fishermen whose boat accidentally drifted too close to the island when they were fishing for mud crabs the Indian Governernment flew a helicopter overhead to check the islanders welfare A list of similarly heavy-handed encounters can be found here. Sentinelese stand guard on their home beach Tourists who've paddled out at Lennox Head may appreciate the image So despite the quality of the reef pass left surfing on North Sentinel Island is off limits for a while yet Truth be told it's good to know that even with the omniscience of Google Earth there are some waves that we can't reach And god help any silly bastard that tries Saw that in the news this morning Stu and thought you would be on to it Equal parts bravery and stupidity is usually a fatal mix This is Lifty’s poster tribe for peaceful natives Have yet to be exposed to the violence that White people invented and carry in their veins like a virus it turns out they’re ......Murderous savages That is why the big change in language over the last 1-2 years (if you had not noticed) from using the term Indigenous - to "First People" The very notion someone has special rights and privileges because they were here first is outrageous RACISM Besides there might have already been another people here first and the invading Indians (Aboriginals) wiped them out,.....who would know This was as poorly written as you are informed.. close one eye and shut some of your brain down you can sort of see where you are coming from with regards to no-one being "first" - otherwise you go back endlessly until the dawn of humanity in Africa But for god sakes get into the 21st century and don't use disparaging and derogatory terms like "Abo"....its not the first grade school yard in the 1980s You keep on telling yourself that because no one else will get on board with you Sooner or later people with outdated thoughts and beliefs will die out Yeh they saw what happened to their nearby neighbors who didn’t resist good ‘ol colonialism 60,000 years or so of success without good ‘ol advanced science scientific world (mind you just a few probs but.. and that’s not counting the epidemics) should teach them about plastic and stuff Looks like they’ve figured the war shit out on their own Portman addressed a meeting of the Royal Geographic Society in London where he described his interactions with the Adamanese He admitted that “their association with outsiders has brought them nothing but harm and it is a matter of great regret to me that such a pleasant race are so rapidly becoming extinct I'll leave your edited add on out (surprise surprise) I never said anything like that about the North Sentinel Islanders he’s all about respecting the wishes of the locals Hahaha first thing I did when I read this today too straight on google maps looking for setups Reassuring there are still places like this on earth Clearly they understand the true cost of god bothering I have a Word doc on my work laptop that has a series of Google maps screenshots and coordinates to waves I’ve scoured in North Sentinel and Somalia that all look like they have potential to me That’s what a slow day at work will do to you Here’s hoping the aforementioned countries become friendly and welcoming to tourism… I bet they have a killer wave pool hidden in the jungle that runs on banana leaves If you just want to surf you might be right I think the unknown is part of the adventure As a teenager in the mid 1970’s Dad took me on diving and surfing trips sailing around between islands in the Pacifc Ocean On a surf trip with my daughter to Fiji about 25 years later we found ourselves surfing a couple of the same places near Namotu that Dad and his mates had taken me all those years before Funny how I didn’t even know I’d surfed there and got to share it again with my daughter He certainly wasn’t the first to surf there Arguabley extended discovery type trips like that come at a cost financially and to career They certainly waste a lot of time but the experiences and memories are magic If not park a yacht in the middle of that reef pass and go for it If the Sentenelese stand on the reef taking pot shots at you - it's added incentive to stay in the barrel longer or do more turns to reduce their chances but I say rocking up with a bunch AK47s and a crew of GIJoes to let them know who’s boss then building a 6 star resort and employing the remaining locals that weren’t killed sounds like a great idea to make sure the island meets its full potential The aboriginies have been here more than 50,000 years not 200 yet they have no right to their ancestors land I heard the last time missionarys went to these islands they introduced disease and heaps died so the natives didnt want anyone else coming ashore and have done a fine job keeping people away Why the fk would they want to know about some bloke called jesus who lived a few thousand years ago in the middle east when they have their own traditions dating back tens of thousands of years and a beautiful tropical island to live on Bloody missionaries those bastards destroyed half our planet with their imaginary friend bs I know people who have surfed the area but its hard work as the navy does regular patrols trying to keep people away https://www.instagram.com/johnachau/ I can't claim to be A surf exploration guru but have flown over a number of places that looked like this Later from a boat they have been fat and gutless The view from above and behind can be deceptive can't it I think its nice the young guy wanted to share his love of God with people You really have to know God wants you there though otherwise it can turn bad quick if your going on your own steam These people have decided that they don't want to know anything new and that's their right as fellow humans It would have been better for them to just kick him off rather than kill him as he meant them no harm The love of Jesus has transformed the globe into a better place regardless of some of the misinformed efforts of some early missionaries The main message from Jesus the Christ is .."Love the Lord your God with all your Heart Mind and Soul,..and to love your neighbour as yourself." If we do these things we will accomplish all the things we desire deep down hate and violence will be a distant memory the professor from gilligans island could help these folk Obviously no natural resources worth plundering on or around the island or we all know what the outcome would be if there was all i can say that tribe is smart of all other tribes in the world fuck missions and their bullshit with the jesus Leave them alone and let ehm enjoy their crabs and reefbreaks No traide for empty paper dollars or gold Never speak to the facking incoming fackers and kill them Dear @TonyAbbottMHR the people of North Sentinel Island in the Andaman Sea are yearning for a heroic Christian envoy to bring them the Gospels and teach them their catechism He should be available after the next election there is enough time before the next election I saw that set up for the Sentinel Island back in 1997 before Google Earth I spent weeks going through NASA Photos taken from the space shuttle hoping to get a glimpse through the clouds of some land and a surf break I found the photos to make me go to the Andaman Islands I couldn't get to the Sentinel Island but got lucky as they opened up another Island to visitors while I was there arrived on the Island after a small inter island boat trip We had to stay down stairs as the decks were too narrow to sleep on Arrived early morning to police wanting to know what we were doing on the Island They hadn't been informed the Island was now open to tourist The wharf was nearly cleared when a lot of shouting started we looked around and saw a large group of small 5 feet or less men women and children getting off the boat They had been kept in a section under where we had been They were the Local Indigenous people of the Island We were told to go to the police station to register to be on the Island We were put in a bus on a dirt road which went by a port filled with giant rainforest trees cut from the forest The forest on the Island went down to the Ocean with buttress roots showing just metres from the shore In the police station there was a board which number the people on the island We went down to the village by the port and had a chai and just watched endless logging trucks go by This fate awaits the Sentinel Island people and my guess is they see what has happened to the locals on the other Islands and want nothing to do with it Can we just for once leave it be let them have a life tuned to nature That is why nothing much happen to them with any tsunami it's in their folk law to head to higher ground when this happens This had been documented in research books from other native islands In the wake of the recent tragedy on North Sentinel Island I'm asking my friends if they would consider contributing a small donation to my gofund campaign localism on Cocos island is only slightly better Knew an American guy who surfed that area more than 20 years ago Without a good boat and the necessary permits it was/is impossible What this post highlighted to me is how many people in this thread seem to care more about surfing and hating people who hold a different worldview than about the fact that someone was murdered for trespassing onto someone’s property If this incident happened in Australia there would be an outrage Why is there not an outrage just because it happened in another country I fear some in this thread would kill me if Australian law (which largely stems from a Christian worldview) didn’t say otherwise everyone believes in something or someone whether that be themselves or something else its just that some are more aware of what they believe and can articulate this more than others If you didn’t believe then you wouldn’t do what you do because what you believe determines how you act Do with it what you like in the privacy of your own home and don't go trying to force it down other's throats (particularly children) If he got there he must have known what happens to unwanted visitors Self righteous wanker got what he deserved or he should have done a bit more homework it was the fella's second trip to the island The first ended when the tribesman shot him with an arrow surviving that only because the arrow hit his notebook Hard to feel much sympathy for a guy who walks straight back into that but not for someone who wants to be a martyr I love it for the fact that the world hasn’t been utterly ‘ globilised ‘ into the monoculture that some assume is the beneficial endpoint of a slew of trade deals The “ multicultural “ endgame for globalists is so monochromatic and dull that life has nothing to offer the adventurous Fuck your monoculture in the name of diversity Anyerson with an inkling of free spirit seees that the push for globalisation is an adjunct to a life with any reservations about authority Christian missionaries have destroyed or distorted hundreds of ancient cultures in the name of the newish cult of Jesus Even if indigenous migrated from SE Asia they navigated Australia over let say Though anyone who’s passed primary school Knows this isn’t being a local at most locations around Australia is having being born or lived at that location for a extended period of time With being a local a various locations across aus typically see locals taking ownership or local hierarchy of their wave Aboriginals still have thousands of years of localism at all locations across Australia The true protectors of surf locations across aus Nothing certainly was exploited .So next time t you paddle out and some grumpy old prick who is death starring you down for paddle out at his wave don’t feel so bad for stealing a few waves If there is any finger pointing it should be at the church Slightly more hardcore version of the bra boys Yeah the North Sentinelese call the Bra boys the' Nancy boys' no surfer would in the remotest bit care - small picture always That is unfortunately the future unless the government steps in and creates a reserve of some type to keep Australian/American/Brazilian camp owners at bay We don't like it when boats turn up to our country announced (ironically) We don't like it when foreigners disrespect our surf breaks no matter how trivial we think it is could have extreme impacts on these peoples culture I was looking for surf spots here - but it also looks like there might be some good single track - so send in the Mountain bikers first! “Pauline Hanson praises Sentinelese tribe for 'keeping borders closed'” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/pauline-hanson-praises-sentinelese-tribe-for... If the missionaries were honest with them selves they would see that they are not enlightened souls If they were enlightened they wouldn't be imposing themselves on others especially a tribe living a sustained life at one with universe Crusoe who was described as the "true prototype of the British colonist" by writer James Joyce saves a native man — who he names Friday — from his "savage" existence by exposing him to Western culture this world that clearly inspired the imagination of Chau no longer exists says professor of American studies and international affairs at George Washington University who describes Chau's actions as a kind of "performative fantasy" "It's breathtakingly naive — he is showing up and talking about Jesus in a language these people don't even speak," she tells the ABC "This guy seems to me to be enacting a fantasy of first contact that is almost impossible to have anywhere in the world anymore." The Christians who won't take no for an answer on ABC I have heard a story of missionaries arriving at an island to save the savages with the word of Christ As they weighed anchor three natives walked off the beach and across the water to greet them Fascinating docco on the whole area from 1974 including attempted contact at North Sentinel Island (towards the end) https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/05/world/asia/anthropologist-india-andam... Great account of the destructive hand of civilized man Looks these guys have been fucked over by tourists before and I,m guessing it's over more than just waves Australia had its own version of this with the Pintupi Nine in 1984 They chose to meet the outside world though and didn't need their souls saved by evil fundamentalists from Evangelistan Commemorations of D-Day took place across the world last Friday and it was on June 10 1944 the Manx Regiment landed on “Gold” beach in Normandy Arriving just four days after the invasion director of the Manx Aviation and Military Museum says it was an eventful landing for the local men: You are in: Jersey > My Island > Talking Jersey > Ma Normandie The States are looking for an official Jersey anthem and are looking for you to make suggestions At the moment the semi-official song for Jersey (the one that would have been played at the medal ceremony if Jersey had won a gold at the Commonwealth Games) is called Ma Normandie Although the song is traditionally sung in Jerriase the English translation is as follows: When everything is reborn in hope And winter flees far from us It’s the country where I saw the light of day I told myself that no stay Is finer than my Normandy A time when the restful spirit Needs to remember When my chilled muse Makes its way back to the past Should the lyrics be changed to better suit our needs or should it stay as it is because of the islands historic links with Normandie Or do you prefer Island Home by Gerard le Feuvre - the track selected as the 'official' choice for Jersey's new National Anthem last updated: 20/06/2008 at 10:28created: 28/04/2006 The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted Help playing audio/video