hurricane

The idea that water carried disease wasn't really known about until the mid 19thC when some chappie in London, who's name I forget, logged the cases of cholera on a map and noticed that they centred on a communal pump. The miasma smell basically is where folks though sickness came from hence pomanders to sniff to ward off disease and the strange beaky costumes of plague doctors At least in Port Royal (late 17th century), it was believed that the drinking water in the town carried the flux. "Relatively good water was fetched by wherry and canoe in great casks from the mouth of the Rio Cobre, but this too was suspect, at least to Dr. Trapham. "Many of the inhabitants of Port Royal in fact never touched the stuff, preferring to quench their thirst among the wide variety of stronger drinks available in town. Wines were abundant and relatively cheap, especially those from Madeira; there is also a wide range of beers. George Ellwood wrote that "our drink is chiefly Madeira wine, lemmonadoes, punch and brandy; for cool drinks moddy wee have made of potatoes, cocao-drink, sugar drinke and rap made of molassis." So the people of Port Royal certainly suspected the water as newcomers who drank the water often had the flux. It was a newcomer's disease and the people thought it to be from the water. Oh, and this book is finally available for a wider audience. If you ever wanted to know about Port Royal, this is the best work I've ever found and is cross referenced well. Covers the topography, the life of residents, shipping, commerce, layout of the town, and later the town's second life as a Navy installation. This is where the quote from above comes: http://books.google.com/books?id=X8w-nDevIfAC&lpg=PP1&ots=TDSzZsxyw8&dq=port%20royal%20jamaica%2C%20pawson%20and%20buisseret&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false Beats paying the $40 I shelled out for it. :)

I agree Hawkyns with the eye tainted by modern times. For example, that much cider would be nothing to someone in Port Royal in the late 17th Century. Even the children in town drank beer instead of the water because 1), it had to all be ferried in from the rivers across the bay and 2), it was believed that some of the maladies were caused by the water. So imagine the tolerance levels of alcohol in such an environment. Just to get a buzz would take a fairly good intake of alcohol. And, as we know, when vast amounts of alcohol are introduced, crazy things start to happen, even today. And even today (at least in the places I've been over the years), I've seen more than my share of fights, all out brawls, breasts and penises exposed, vomiting, sex in the bathrooms and several times in the bar itself, and chairs and bottles broken. Why would we think it would be any different back then? Come to think of it, man I've been to some great taverns in my time.

Best of the community festivals is Bodden Town. The supposed pirate caves nearby are kind of cheeky. And you can't go to Cayman without going to Hell.

No, it's Key West. The non-discrimination capital of the world. Let it all hang out at the Garden of Eden... wait, that didn't come out right.

Thank you for sharing these with us. It is greatly appreciated.

I actually just found the perfect flag for that about two minute ago. Got it from a brewery up in Seattle years ago. A skull and crossbones wearing a santa hat.

Wow! That is one cool statistic. Thanks for sharing that. It is truly becoming "the" event to go to domestically, and now it looks increasingly, internationally.

The Garden of Eden is a clothing optional bar above the Bull & Whistle. http://www.bullkeywest.com/ Approximately 150 to 200 pirates of all sizes and types, from historical to hysterical. The public - egad, there's never been an official, official count. But over the week of PiP, thousands. Depends on the day and the event. At the fort, Friday is slow compared to Saturday and Sunday. Add in a cruise ship, and things can get crazy fast. The new Pirates Village on the Truman Annex will add a lot of visibility to arriving cruise ships and the shuttle will certainly make it convenient to come over to the fort. Plus it has the best beach in KW. So, never know. Last count I heard there was about a 100 re-enactors in the fort, then the rest of spread throughout the festival and either love hotels or are more loose on their interpretations of piracy. All are welcome, as I said. My own crewe, I think we have 12 in attendance this year.

It will be good to see you again. Haven't sailed with the likes of you since Peanut Island if I recall. A couple of my mates press ganged me, so I will be there in all my former glory. Woohoo, I mean, Aye!

Foxe, I have resources that there were Irish in Jamaica. And there were Catholics. But I don't have any primary documentation there were Irish Catholics or even Catholic Irish.

Aye, I do agree with the yer statement, sir. 'tis one of the best times to bid farewell to the season that sends those dreaded winds our way. 'course, I remember the year we were burning the flag as Oscar was whirling around in the seas just offshore. We almost had an unwelcomed guest.

It is a grand event. Been there many times and still have good friends there. It just never makes it on the horizon any longer due to PiP, though I have invites outstanding. Have a great time sir. The people there are great and it won't take but moments to make friends. --

Oh, yes. That is one of the Key's most beautiful gardens. So many wonderous things in bloom and some of the garden's delights are simply overflowing.

Willie covered the basics quite well - alcohol during the event is verboten on the park grounds. But most of us can scare up a good swagger while staying hydrated. Lots of water, gatorade or other drink is highly recommended. It's very easy to get dehydrated. Especially if you're in the heat of the day in the fort in gear. The festival will be providing the gatorade and water. No worries there. Fayma let me know we will have five photographers on the grounds this year to cover everything you don't shoot. We all benefit from their tremendous gift to us and the photos are always amazing from this band of professional photogs. They will be at the fort and at the annex as well as the events in town. So don't worry, you'll be in photos this year. Keep the questions coming. If you're interested in entering the National Walk the Plank Championships this year and taking a leap off the WOLF, let me know and I'll sign you up!

Some more updates on this event. Just in case you ever wanted to sample other period weapons, they added a selection for ya! Conch Republic Admirals Finbar & Bill Grosscup invite qualified marksmen to join them for this rare opportunity to sail out past the reef in open water and shoot a variety of historic weapons, including a, including a Queen Anne flintlock pistol, 45 caliber percussion pistol, Civil War era 44 cap and ball revolver, WWI German Mauser pistol, WWI German Lugar pistol and WWII M1 Garand rifle. Participants are also welcome to bring along their own weapons, which will be inspected prior departure. Departing promptly at Noon, the four hour Conch Republic Shoot & Sail aboard the WOLF will begin boarding at 11:30am. The WOLF is docked at the Truman Waterfront Commons, end of Southard Street in Old Town Key West. Cost for the 4 hour trip is $75 per person. Ice, water and soft drinks are provided and everyone is welcome to bring along a snack. For reservations and information, visit PiratesInParadise.com, email Info@PiratesinParadise.com or call 305.296.9694.

It'd be nice to hear who's doing what. Since I will be over at the Annex stage, I would like to let those there know what's happening at the fort and when besides the battles so I can share in in announcements.

On Tuesday you'll find all the pirates down at the Truman Annex Waterfront celebrating the End of Hurricane Season with a ceremony, the traditional burning of the pirate flags and entertainment. That's a great place to introduce yourself and get to know some of us. Just ask where the USS Mowhawk is or just head toward the fort (on Whitehead go westish from the Green Parrot Bar at Southard and then bear right after leaving the Truman Annex) if you're hoofing it. Be in costume, we all will be. We're there from 3 until 9ish partying and enjoying the entertainment. And yes, the Mercury folks (as is everyone else) are absolutely terrific and will make you feel right at home.

Exactly, Lily. Once you step off the plane, everyone will be taking care of you. It truly is the land of pirate love and all are welcome and all are cared for. All of us involved are ready to "hit this year out of the park" and make it the pirate event to come to. So book your flight, let us know your plans so someone can pick you up at the airport and take you wherever you want and get ready for the time of your life. You're about to meet 200+ of the most amazing pirates - from hysterical to historical - you'll ever meet in your life. As Fayma always says you have your real family and then you have your pirate family, and they're all waiting for you in Key West. There are plenty of helping hands to be had. Just extend yours (sans cutlass) and one of us are here to help. That's one of the great things about Pirates in Paradise). Think of it as PyrateStock, my friend. All good, all the time.

I hope we can find the time for this dialogue there. It's very intriguing. Dry cleaning? Isn't that when you drag your shirt through the dust to soak up all the ale you spilled on it? Fabreeze is the magic mix for today's dirty looking rogue. Allows me to be authentic while still being able to slip close to the wench at night. :) -

That is such a welcome addition to the festival. It will be nice tying the fort, Annex and downtown together. Perhaps we can do what we did a few years ago and deploy pirates near where the cruise ship folks disembark so we can tell them about the festival. We did this with great success a few years back and probably ended up in lots of their photos at the same time. Since the fort has one of the best beaches it was a natural cross sell to talk about the festival and to tell them it's the best beach, so they could easily do both during their visit. Having the shuttle really promotes this as well.

Hey Fayma, Good talking to you, today as always. As for locations for pick up, is there a space to load and unload near Mel Fisher's, the Wrecker's Museum or the Government House? I know the Conch Train has a lot of that space to themselves, but something near there or even pulling through near Mallory Square could work. Just trying to figure out something fairly centrally located since Pirate Soul is gone.

Fayma, I think you misunderstood what I wrote. I only wrote that a shuttle was not part of the PiP side of the event (as far as I knew). I never said that Fort Fest wasn't. The Fort Fest has taken PiP to a whole other level and I would never ever say that that they were separate or apart. It was simply a reference to the shuttle question, which I was referring to. I apologize for the confusion and there was certainly no sleight intended at all. That is exciting news about the shuttle. Woohoo! I will add that to the website schedule for PiP. I PM'd you the hotel information so others can get the festival rate there.

Actually, Mission, Pirates in Paradise is the entire 10-day festival, which includes the Fort Fest and the Pirates Village and Thieve's Market at Truman Annex on the final weekend. It also includes events during the week in town, including the lectures, historic and ghost walks, artist and author's series, dinners, sails aboard the WOLF, antique weapons expo, lectures, tryal of Anne and Mary, and the National Walk the Plank Championships. As a newcomer Beowoulf you will find many things going on from Wednesday until the Fort Fest opens on Friday. In fact, you should be there in plenty of time for the Most Buxom Wench and Bad Ass Pirate Contest at the Schooner Bar, which is at the Historic Seaport, Wednesday night and on Thursday at 3:30 (time change) it's the walk the plank championships aboard the Schooner WOLF. All the non period vending and food have been moved over to the annex to accommodate the space needs of the re-enactors in the fort. The entertainment stage is also over there now, along with a pub that is open all day. Lectures, the tryal and other events in the fort in previous years have been moved to the annex as well. I have not heard of any shuttle running back and forth between the fort and town this year. That would be cool! Perhaps Fayma or Lily knows more about this than I as it is not part of the Pirates in Paradise Festival but may be offered by the Fort Fest planners.

The Doubletree is on the other side of the island, that was my orignal reference. It has a shuttle all day until midnight to and from Old Town and the Seaport. While I certainly don't speak for anyone else here, our own crewe tries to support the major Pirates in Paradise sponsors whenever possible and they knocked off almost 50% of their nightly rate for participants as the official headquarters. So we default to supporting our fellow sponsors.

No, no it's not. But with the discount I get a much nicer hotel for the same price and have a shuttle. And it is the event's (PiP) headquarters and major sponsor. Again, there are all sort so choices. But this one isn't any cheaper, just closer. Always tradeoffs. I always err on the side of comfort these days.