Chillin' on Man O'War Cay
Feb 28th, 2006, 04:41 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,607
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Chillin' on Man O'War Cay
I just returned from a week on Man O' War Cay. Here's how it went for us.
Who we are: Three friends from high school celebrating a big OH birthday. A friend loaned us his house in Man O'War Cay for a week.
How we went: We met in Charlotte and flew AA. The flight from CLT to MIA was delayed by over an hour. Apparently the crew arrived late the night before and had to be allowed sufficient time to rest. I don't have an issue with them getting the requisite break, but wish (particularly since I had to get up at 0500 to get to the airport on time ) AA might have noted that the flight was delayed. It was not showing on the flights when I checked before heading to the airport. I was not told at the ticket counter when I checked in nor was it posted on the departure schedule over the gate. It was announced over the pa system at the time the plane should have been boarding.
Arrived MIA and hustled through the airport to our gate only to learn the flight to MHH was being delayed. We figured since we were already there we would just hang out. Lucky, as AA then bumped up the departure time . We took a bus to our plane and sat on the tarmac for another twenty five minutes. The flight over to Marsh Harbor was uneventful and I really enjoyed seeing all the gorgeous colors of the Bahamaian waters below.
How we got to MOW: We hired a cab to take us to the liquor store (MOW is dry...a week without spirits would have been a very ugly picture),the grocery store (just staples as we had been told there were grocery stores on MOW), and then to the ferry. Charge $25.
The Albury ferry to MOW costs $16 one way/$22 round trip same day ticket and takes about twenty minutes.
What we found when we got there: We were met by the caretakers for our friend's house. We rode in golf carts (the primary transportation on the island) to the house which turned out to be two houses joined by a large gazebo/patio. Both houses were ours to enjoy for the week. We had a choice of seven bedrooms. What will it be; a bay of Abaco view or an ocean view? I like those kind of choices. The house was very nice with a large comfortable living area, a well equipped kitchen and a beautiful dock on the bay of Abaco (yes, I did the Otis Redding thing). It had no television, radio and only two cd's. It is OK with me if I don't hear ABBA for a while. Three women turning a big OH birthday dancing to "Dancing Queen, only 17...well, you get the idea.
Where we ate: There are three island restaurants,the Hibiscus Cafe, the Pavillon and Island Treats. They feature essentially the same kinds of food,emphasis on fried (conch fritters, fried plantain, fried potatoes, etc) and the unique conch in a bag. We did have some excellent conch salad but by and large found we did better to cook at the house. We did not find any fresh fish available at either grocery store nor was it on the menu of the restaurants. If you are going I suggest you contact David Albury on MOW and ask him if he or any other fishermen are going out and if they can bring some fish in for you. We got this suggestion too late to take advantage of it. A lady named Lola drives around the Settlement as the main town is called selling baked goods from her golf cart. The breads we tried were good but very sweet.
What we did: Other than the rides into town for Island Treats ice cream and the occasional restaurant or grocery run, we stayed at the house enjoying the beautiful sea colors, the peace of the island (the clearest nightsky with almost zero artificial light sources...magnificent), the incredible empty beaches and the pure sweet island breezes. This is the place to go to really relax, no bars, no casinos,
no crowds, no nada...perfectly blissful.
Who we are: Three friends from high school celebrating a big OH birthday. A friend loaned us his house in Man O'War Cay for a week.
How we went: We met in Charlotte and flew AA. The flight from CLT to MIA was delayed by over an hour. Apparently the crew arrived late the night before and had to be allowed sufficient time to rest. I don't have an issue with them getting the requisite break, but wish (particularly since I had to get up at 0500 to get to the airport on time ) AA might have noted that the flight was delayed. It was not showing on the flights when I checked before heading to the airport. I was not told at the ticket counter when I checked in nor was it posted on the departure schedule over the gate. It was announced over the pa system at the time the plane should have been boarding.
Arrived MIA and hustled through the airport to our gate only to learn the flight to MHH was being delayed. We figured since we were already there we would just hang out. Lucky, as AA then bumped up the departure time . We took a bus to our plane and sat on the tarmac for another twenty five minutes. The flight over to Marsh Harbor was uneventful and I really enjoyed seeing all the gorgeous colors of the Bahamaian waters below.
How we got to MOW: We hired a cab to take us to the liquor store (MOW is dry...a week without spirits would have been a very ugly picture),the grocery store (just staples as we had been told there were grocery stores on MOW), and then to the ferry. Charge $25.
The Albury ferry to MOW costs $16 one way/$22 round trip same day ticket and takes about twenty minutes.
What we found when we got there: We were met by the caretakers for our friend's house. We rode in golf carts (the primary transportation on the island) to the house which turned out to be two houses joined by a large gazebo/patio. Both houses were ours to enjoy for the week. We had a choice of seven bedrooms. What will it be; a bay of Abaco view or an ocean view? I like those kind of choices. The house was very nice with a large comfortable living area, a well equipped kitchen and a beautiful dock on the bay of Abaco (yes, I did the Otis Redding thing). It had no television, radio and only two cd's. It is OK with me if I don't hear ABBA for a while. Three women turning a big OH birthday dancing to "Dancing Queen, only 17...well, you get the idea.
Where we ate: There are three island restaurants,the Hibiscus Cafe, the Pavillon and Island Treats. They feature essentially the same kinds of food,emphasis on fried (conch fritters, fried plantain, fried potatoes, etc) and the unique conch in a bag. We did have some excellent conch salad but by and large found we did better to cook at the house. We did not find any fresh fish available at either grocery store nor was it on the menu of the restaurants. If you are going I suggest you contact David Albury on MOW and ask him if he or any other fishermen are going out and if they can bring some fish in for you. We got this suggestion too late to take advantage of it. A lady named Lola drives around the Settlement as the main town is called selling baked goods from her golf cart. The breads we tried were good but very sweet.
What we did: Other than the rides into town for Island Treats ice cream and the occasional restaurant or grocery run, we stayed at the house enjoying the beautiful sea colors, the peace of the island (the clearest nightsky with almost zero artificial light sources...magnificent), the incredible empty beaches and the pure sweet island breezes. This is the place to go to really relax, no bars, no casinos,
no crowds, no nada...perfectly blissful.
Mar 1st, 2006, 05:51 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the trip report. We stayed on Elbow cay couple of years ago and saw MOW cay from the water on a snorkelling trip. The water and beaches around MOW looked absolutley spectacular. Glad you had a good time.
Mar 1st, 2006, 07:06 AM
#3
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 4,296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Welcome home and Happy Birthday to you cmcfong, great report!
Geez, it sounds like it took you as long to get there, as it would have taken me from Mpls. I couldn't agree more, it sure would be nice sometimes if you knew these things in advance. And that whole sitting on the tarmac thing, pet peeve of many I am certain.
How wonderful, this choice of seven bedroom issue! Decisions, decisions.
When you spoke of the peacefulness, no noise, it was like music to my ears. DH and I love that kind of vacation. How simply delightful! I could feel those ocean breezes!
Thanks for the great trip report!
Tiff
Geez, it sounds like it took you as long to get there, as it would have taken me from Mpls. I couldn't agree more, it sure would be nice sometimes if you knew these things in advance. And that whole sitting on the tarmac thing, pet peeve of many I am certain.
How wonderful, this choice of seven bedroom issue! Decisions, decisions.
When you spoke of the peacefulness, no noise, it was like music to my ears. DH and I love that kind of vacation. How simply delightful! I could feel those ocean breezes!
Thanks for the great trip report!
Tiff
Mar 1st, 2006, 02:06 PM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,607
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What a nice thing to say, Tiff! My actual birthday isn't until August but since it is a Big OH year, I am celebrating all year long. MOW is a very romantic place. I wish DH would join me there.
MNAG, the beaches were spectacular and empty even though we were there over Presidents Birthday week. We had both the bay side and the ocean side to ourselves. It was just lovely.
MNAG, the beaches were spectacular and empty even though we were there over Presidents Birthday week. We had both the bay side and the ocean side to ourselves. It was just lovely.
