Joe Pyrat

Yes the uniform is based on the 1738 Spanish Marine uniform. There is a mural in a museum in Mexico City showing a scene from 1740 and there are numerous examples in it of this uniform. For the field, white gaiters were added.

There's always http://thepiratebay.org

Here's a better picture of my Triton which I live aboard.

I'll second these two. B.O.'s has my favorite conch fritters and Mama's has my fovorite cracked conch sandwich and an excellent key lime pie. And while I haven't made it yet I've heard El Siboney is the best Cuban food in town. EDIT: BTW if you like Mangrove Mama's you'll probably get a kick out of the song about the place by Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24. (Click LISTEN/PLAY on the link)

1937 Talbot Lago T150-C-SS 1962-63 Ferrari 250 GTO 1953 C-Type Jaguar 1954 D-Type Jaguar 1966 Ford GT40 MkV 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 La Mans Ok, this could go on forever... Never ask this question to a car guy. Guess I'll just settle for the one I've got.

Olive Oyl

Glad to hear they will be doing Captain Blood. To bad about Bloom though, after watching him in PotC I immediately thought he'd be an excellent choice for any Errol Flynn type parts as he definitely has "the look", which I think Jackman and Crow lack (although Jackman would be a better fit then Crow).

Thanks mates, this was a great find. We have just got authorized to start cooking at Fort Matanzas and are planning on replacing the existing Dutch oven with a new one. The question is what size oven? I was planning on a 2-quart one but it sounds like that might be a bit small.

September 8th 1565 Pedro Menendez de Aviles came ashore and founded the oldest continually populated settlement in the continental United States. Hope I look so good when I hit 444. While doing some research at Fort Matanzas I came across this document which I later found online and thought those here might enjoy. From the journals of Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales... 8 September 1565 On Saturday, the 8th, the general landed with many banners spread, to the sound of trumpets and salutes of artillery. As I had gone ashore the evening before, I took a cross and went to meet him, singing the hymn Te Deum laudamus. The general marched up to the cross, followed by all who accompanied him, and there they kneeled and embraced the cross. A large number of Indians watched these proceedings and imitated all they saw done. The same day the general took formal possession of the country in the name of his Majesty, and all the captains took the oath of allegiance to him, as their general and governor of the country. When this ceremony was ended, he offered to do everything in his power for them, especially for Captain Patino, who during the whole voyage had ardently served the cause of God and of the King, and, I think, will be rewarded for his assiduity and talents in constructing a fort in which to defend ourselves until the arrival of help from Santo Domingo and Havana. The French number about as many as we do, and perhaps more. My advice to the general was not to attack the enemy, but to let the troops rest all winter and wait for the assistance daily expected; and then we may hope to make a successful attack. More

Caveman

Aye, Happy Birthday mate!

Addressing the original thesis of this thread, the destruction of the Spanish Armada can't really be attributed to the British as it was Mother Nature who really did them in, just like the French fleet which left Fort Caroline to attack the Spanish at Saint Augustine in September of 1565. Castillo de San Marcos, constructed between 1672 and 1695. When active it was white, covered with a lime mixture and the guard towers were red as was some of the trim. According to the NPS the Castillo de San Marcos was attacked 15 times but never defeated. The largest of these attacks were the 1702 and 1740 attacks by the British. Following the 1740 attack the Spanish Governor of Saint Augustine realizing his weak spot was an inability to protect the Matanzas Inlet (about 15 nautical miles south of Saint Augustine through which Saint Augustine was resupplied during attacks) authorized the construction of Fort Matanzas, known then as the Tower at Matanzas. Fort Matanzas was constructed in 18 months immediately following the 1740 attack and during its operational life was also never defeated, firing on British (1742 when they probed the inlet in preparation for a second attack which due to the then new fort was called off), French and US ships at various times all of whom departed rather than engage due to the forts positioning and the difficulty an attack would represent. A very interesting place, Saint Augustine... I was lucky enough to recently acquire an English translation of portions of Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales' (the chaplain on Menendez's expedition) journal describing the period between August 25th and September 29th 1565 a fascinating read. I've also recently acquired a copy of The Enterprise of Florida; Pedro Menendez de Aviles and the Spanish Conquest of 1565 - 1568 by Eugene Lyon. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the early history of La Florida. Fort Matanzas as it appears today. Like the Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Matanzas was originally white with red guard tower and trim.

Still haven't found anything I like better than Pyrat XO Reserve. Cask 23 is as good, but ten times the price. I find Flor de Cana and El Dorado 15 to my liking as well.