Thanksgiving in Nevis: Pirates, wenches and rum, oh my

November 9, 1:26 PMCaribbean Travel ExaminerLea Ann Fessenden

Previous Next

12 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Caribbean Travel Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Pickled Pepper Pirate Party Time in Nevis
courtesy of Jim Johnson, head pirate

Thanksgiving means Pickled Pepper Pirate Party Time in Nevis

You've got a nice long holiday approaching near the end of November. You have two choices. Stay home and eat the typical turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie OR grab your eye patch, parrot, plastic sword and mom’s jewelry and head to the Pickled Pepper Pirate Party Time (PPPPT) in Nevis. Take it from one who knows, go for the eye patch and get your scurvy body to Nevis for the time of your life.

I just returned from the First Annual PPPPT on the beautiful and charming island of Nevis and it was a blast. Most of us secretly love bad boys as well as bad girls, and this is your chance to actually be “pirate bad” and actually get away with it. The whole island takes part in the swashbuckling activities.

Miss June’s Murder Mystery Dinner
Our first night on the charming island, we were whisked off to Miss June’s for a Murder Mystery Dinner. We were greeted by fantastic decorations and plenty of rum punch. As the evening’s guests arrived, I knew we were in for a fun time. Everyone had the obligatory Johnny Depp bandana on their heads as well as some finery dangling from their ears and necks that could only mean Mom’s jewelry boxes had been invaded by these scallywags. Skulls and crossbones were hanging from the rafters as well as a giant treasure chest overflowing with chocolate gold coins.

We were all assigned “characters” for the evening. I happened to be the famous female pirate, Anne Bonney who, I am told, was a real pirate who escaped death by managing to become pregnant year after year. Clever lady! We drank, we socialized, we murdered, we ate and finally voted on who the real killer was. It was a great evening and I highly encourage you to take part in this very entertaining PPPPT event.

Jim Johnson
By day, the instigator of the PPPPT, Jim Johnson, led nature hikes, pirate invasions, sea kayaking as well as sand castle building for anyone who wanted to participate. Jim is an amazingly brilliant guy with enough energy for everyone and his guided tours of the island are fascinating. To find out more about Jim or to contact him for a journey check out his website, Walk Nevis. Rumor even has it that a certain tall, blond British rocker has been seen hiking these cloud- covered mountains as if they were some kind of stairway to heaven.

Nisbet Plantation and Resort
My lodgings in Nevis were at Nisbet Plantation and Resort on the very north end of the island. This stunning property was once the home of Fanny Nisbet, who married Britain’s Admiral Nelson. Nisbet is the only plantation resort in the Caribbean that is located directly on a beach, and oh what a beautiful stretch of beach it is. This is not your ordinary resort for many reasons, one is that there is no “hotel” structure but rather 36 individual cottages strategically placed throughout the 30 acres of property, and another is that you will be treated more as a family member rather than a guest at this very hospitable lodge. No wonder Nisbet was named the Best Luxury Hotel in the Caribbean and Latin America in the 2008 Trip Advisor Traveler's Choice Awards.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a cool moist towel and a refreshing fruit punch – your choice with or without rum. Naturally, I was ready for the rum! It was a divine way to start my stay! And while I was getting to know the staff at reception, my luggage was magically whisked away to my beachfront, West Indian cottage which was beautifully appointed and had an oversized bathroom that would make any wench want to soak her aching sea legs in a bubble bath. Thursday night is the night to be seen at Nisbet’s Beach Party. General Manager, Jamie Holmes pulls out all the stops with a feast for those pirates who have been at sea way too long. Dinner was exceptional with grilled pork, beef, chicken, tilapia and salmon as well as a huge assortment of salads, side dishes and desserts. Following dinner, a local band played as we all danced and drank rum to the hard island beats. If only Prince Charles, a former guest, could have seen us doing that grind and wind!

Typically, dinner is a little more conservative the remaining 6 nights of the week in the plantation’s beautifully-restored 1778 Great House. This is one of the finest restaurants on the island so whether you are staying at Nisbet or not, don’t miss an evening at this elegant feast.

The Hermitage
Wednesday night is the P Party at the lovable Hermitage Plantation Inn. Now I thought P stood for Pirate, and it could, but it really stands for Pig! Yes, the owners of The Hermitage roast a whole pig for the evening’s menu right on property and it is outstanding. Served family buffet style, the menu offered local Nevisian delicacies (which all started with a P) such as pan seared Mahi Mahi with creole sauce, pumpkin, plantains, passion fruit dressed salad, Pann Fruita, sweet potatoes, and peas and rice. Perfect for the princess palate!

The Hermitage Main House is legendary as the oldest remaining wooden structure in the Caribbean, built sometime between 1680 and 1740. The current owners, Richard and Maureen Lupinacci have lovingly restored the original buildings as well as moved numerous West Indian cottages to their property and renovated them into guest houses filled with antiques and delicate floral fabrics. The grounds are lush and calming with colorful tropical flowers and native trees. Enjoy a stroll through their beautiful gardens or relax in their library filled with interesting books before dinner. Another ‘don’t miss” evening in Nevis! And please say hello to the host Richie, the Lupinacci’s son, for me. If you tell him I sent you he might even make you a watermelon margarita, mmmmm luscious.

Many other locations in Nevis hold great pirate events during the week of the Pickled Pepper Pirate Party Time, including a Crew Carousel Supper at the gorgeous Golden Rock Estate, pepper contests at the birthplace of our own Alexander Hamilton, snorkeling with the delightful marine biologist Barbara Whitman, lunch at the Yachtsmen Club, West Indian Night at Mount Nevis Hotel, Admiral's Dinner at Montpelier Plantation Inn with Fancy Dress, dart blowing using blowguns, a real treasure hunt, and there’s even a pirate invasion on the beach at Oualie.

This was one of the most entertaining trips I’ve had to a Caribbean island in a long time, I assure you – you will have a blast! As this was the very first time for the event, I expect it to grow and just get better and better over time. November 21 – 28, 2009 is the next party, book your reservations now or we may just have to send you to Davy Jones’ locker via the gangplank, matey!

For more information see the official website, Pirates of Nevis. As always, please feel free to add comments, ask questions or email me personally at caribbeanmuse@gmail.com.