On the Trail of the Pirates
 

I'm going to be in Florida for Christmas this year, and was thinking of avoiding a return to desolate Rhode Island for January. My juvenile fascination with pirates has only slightly faded, so I thought I might build a trip around it. First stop would be Nassau in the Bahamas -- ordinarily wouldn't be on my must-see list but it was a very important center. Other contenders: Panama City and Portobelo Panama, Cartagena, Port Royal Jamaica and Veracruz Mexico. Perhaps Tortola and Norman Island in the British BVI. Most intriguing but difficult and dangerous the island of Tortuga off the northern coast of Haiti. The only way to get there is a ferry from the mainland. Don't think I'd risk it, these days, but it played an extremely important role in the history of piracy.

Any other ideas?

You may want to edit your post…🤦🏻😉

Too funny. And too late, alas.

Looks like a moderator edited it as I was typing. Damn that autocorrect, or was it TMI?

My info is extremely dated (like 1971) but a trip I did then took me to coastal North Carolina; Bimini; Puerto Cortez and Utila, Honduras; finally Kingston, Jamaica. I believe all have pirates in their history. We were supposed to go to coastal Nicaragua as well, but didn't make it there, long story. Also pirates. I'm sure Utila is developed beyond recognition to me, but the Honduras Bay Islands are an option. Possibly Guanaja is the least touristed, but I don't know.

I have a couple of pirate books in my "to-read eventually" list. Have not looked at them yet but somehow they made the list:
Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America's Most Notorious Pirates by Eric Jay Dolin
Enemy of All Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History's First Global Manhunt by Steven Johnson

Any good ones to recommend?

Hi Nelson -- I think this one is good: Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates by David Cordingly. Of course, there are the original sources, but they're for fanatics. What I'm looking for in the trip is architecture from the period, including forts, to get a feel for the time. Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks for the book recommendation, added to the list.

We did visit the fortress at Omoa, Honduras. I recall it as being a pretty short bus ride from Puerto Cortez, and thought it was really interesting. It was built out of blocks of coral (I believe) as a pirate deterrent.

Here are a few 1971 photos.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6c636e9521.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...517934431e.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...fd26edb27c.jpg

Looks like it is a UNESCO site now. Have fun planning and good luck.

Thanks for the pictures -- impressive fort!

An addition to your book list could be Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean. No kidding, they were for real, who knew? It's an interesting read.

If only Mel Brooks had known . . .