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Monthly Archives: February 2016

Pictures of the First Week in March!!

A couple of Congolese dandy's who travel from village to village entertaining for barter. They sang danced and joked for food and a place to sleep!
A couple of Congolese dandy’s who travel from village to village entertaining for barter. They sang danced and joked for food and a place to sleep!

APtravelnews-Pictures of the week, rewind!  Images are all made on my 5-dollar Brownie Camera with Agfa B&W film!  This is from my past travels through Africa, particularly the Congo!! My book; “Africa on a Pin & a Prayer” has many images of our adventure into mostly a pre-history like setting and mind-set! See bottom of page to order a signed copy!!

The Mystery Door in Zanzibar! This door was the entrance to the slave chambers back in the 1800's. Inside the original shackles and chains could be seen where slaves were held before they were to be shipped to Europe and the U.S.
The Mystery Door in Zanzibar! This door was the entrance to the slave chambers back in the 1800’s. Inside the original shackles and chains could be seen where slaves were held before they were to be shipped to Europe and the U.S.
Hunting monkey's and small game for dinner on rubber plantation. The rifle borrowed from the plantation manager was deadly in my hands. Only thing I could not eat and would not were money's. They looked so much like little children when they were skinned. Snake was OK!!
Hunting monkey’s and small game for dinner on rubber plantation. The rifle borrowed from the plantation manager was deadly in my hands. Only thing I could not eat and would not, were monkey’s. They looked so much like little children when they were skinned and the meat had a gamy odor. Boa snake and Dik Dik little antelope was OK!!
Gene waits for me to take a picture with my little Brownie Camera. Our 55-Land Rover always attracted attention. Not to surprise anyone we had to paint that we were student from the U.S. in English and French, not military guys!
Gene waits for me to take a picture with my little Brownie Camera. Our 55-Land Rover always attracted attention. Not to surprise anyone we had to paint that we were student from the U.S. in English and French, not military guys!
First Pygmies we saw on our trip through the Ituri Rain Forest, in the Congo! The dogs wooden clacker bells scared snakes away from the path, ahead of the men. Also the men could keep track of the dogs as they ran through the forest. These dogs did not bark!!
First Pygmies we saw on our trip through the Ituri Rain Forest, in the Congo! The dogs wooden clacker bells scared snakes away from the path, ahead of the men. Also the men could keep track of the dogs as they ran through the forest. These dogs did not bark!! The taller fellow was not quite 4 and half feet tall. They took us to their village to drink palm wine!!

Stuart, Florida’s Importico’s Bakery Cafe, A Treat to Remember

The layout f a very excellent bakery and Cafe. We loved all of it from the quiche to the danishes and so much more of their goodies!!!
The layout of a very excellent bakery and Cafe. We loved all of it from the quiche to the danishes, and so much more of their goodies!!!
Quiche to call home about!
Quiche to call home about!

APtravelnews-Stuart, FL.-Feb. 29th,-Bob and Barb on The Road Again and Stopping to Smell the Goat Cheese!! We stopped in this morning and had some Kenya and also Colombian brewed coffee. The aroma made me swoon, Barb was lovin’ it too! We ordered quiche for breakfast I ordered goat cheese and Italian dried tomato and Barb ordered mushroom and asparagus. Along with fresh cut tomato slices and baguettes the order and accompaniments were generous in size, flavor and enticement of all the senses one often takes for granted. We really loved our breakfast, so as it was generous, we boxed half and then dove into an almond tart and a fruit tart-wowzer, wowzer!!!! Barb and I love great breakfasts and if you visit 555 S. Colorada, Ave. Stuart, FL. 34994 (there are two other locations, 1 in stuart and another in Fort Pierce, Stay tuned for more information on them) visit their website: www.importicosbakerycafe.com but more important to enjoy a true and excellent bakery full of so many great items, go for a drive and a taste!!

What a breakfast at Importico's!!!
What a breakfast at Importico’s!!!
Peering through the case window, I got so hungry, I nearly bit my tongue!
Peering through the case window, I got so hungry, I nearly bit my tongue!

Riverboat Cruises In Jensen Beach, FL. Enjoyed by All Aboard

Captain Tommu Pearson handled his huge boat masterfully!
Captain Tommy Pearson handled his huge, comfortable boat masterfully!
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Photo memories of our trip! These two images are from Mike Malone, Photographer on the Riverboat!

APtravelnews-Feb. 26th,-Jensen Beach, FL.  Bob and Barb on the Intracoastal  Waterway on a paddleboat! We had a great time on a Riverboat Cruise, ate a fine lunch and met folks from Kent, England, Montreal, Canada and Pennsylvania. So, we wanted to tell all my readers all about it!IMG_5232

The dolphin were rolling, and they were on to a smorgasbord of mullet, to the WOW’s of the 20 or so folks on the 3-hour riverboat lunch cruise. The Riverboat Cruises Paddle Wheeler was a safe and comfortable platform, Captained by Tommy Pearson and assisted by his family and friends.  We met Mike Malone, a photographer for 20-years, who took your picture as you entered the boat and later sold it all framed-up and edited, to the customer-cruisers.

This cruise experience was comfortable, we barely noticed a rocking motion except for a few passing boats that slightly caused a wake push on our boat. Captain Tommy told us where the “real McCoy”  (original owner of Sowell’s Point property) comment came from. Seems this guy,  Philip McCoy, during rum runner days of prohibition brought in rum from the Bahamas. He, although so many other booze pushers watered down their bottles of rum, never did this. He sold the real thing always and was trusted to do this, thus the term “Real McCoy” was born and some other companies asked him if they could use his name on their real unadulterated booze too! So much history, so much water down the river here!

Chow time on the Riverboat! Barbecue, and salads, Carrot cake , all manner of soft drinks!
Chow time on the Riverboat! Barbecue, and salads, Carrot cake , all manner of soft drinks!

Do we recommend this tour, you bet we do!  The Riverboat Cruises departs from downtown Jensen Beach across from Mulligans at 3281 NE Indian River Drive Jensen Beach, FL 34957 You get an all you can eat lunch or dinner buffet, dinner dances with a DJ music man, all while enjoying a 3-hour cruise on the beautiful St. Lucie and Indian Rivers. Wine and beer or cocktails are available too!  The Captain and crew are very friendly!  The prices are very reasonable as well! We like that. You can book online @ www.stuartriverboat.com  or call 772-678-1176

From the Travel Insider, Louisiana Crawfish!

Virginia Beach and the Seafood is easy! And, very, very fresh and good! Crawfish are not seafood, they are freshwater crustaceans that freshwater predators such as bass love as well as people too!
Virginia Beach and the Seafood is easy! And, very, very fresh and good! Crawfish are not seafood, they are freshwater crustaceans that freshwater predators such as bass love as well as people too!

APtravelnews-February 22nd,– The following is from the Inside Traveler:  In Louisiana, crawfish is more than a local delicacy—it’s a dedicated food group. It is the centerpiece of springtime birthday parties, graduation celebrations and family gatherings and it is the culinary highlight for many visitors. To experience a crawfish boil is to experience everything that makes Louisiana a traveler’s delight: the authenticity of the culture, the joie de vivre, or joy of life, of the locals and the most delicious and exotic food to be found without crossing an ocean.

The history of crawfish intersects with Louisiana’s agriculture and religion, both integral parts of the state’s identity. Crawfish were first harvested from the deepwater of the Atchafalaya Basin and later became a farmed commodity when farmers turned their flooded rice fields into crawfish ponds to meet demand. The crustacean is the gastronomic anchor of the Lenten season during which Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays.

Crawfish season generally peaks in April but depending on weather, it can start as early as November and last through the following June. Restaurants across the state serve up the backyard boil experience. Crawfish is offered by the pound—three pounds is a good starting serving size—with the customary sides of corn on the cob, potatoes and maybe sausage or mushrooms which are boiled with the crawfish to soak up the flavor.

If you prefer your crawfish served with a side of music, check out the many crawfish festivals throughout the state—including the largest in Breaux Bridge, the Crawfish Capital of the World. To get the full bayou-to-table experience, take an airboat, kayak or canoe, or even go crawfishing yourself.

Louisiana is waiting to welcome you and pass a good time. Visit LouisianaTravel.com to plan your culinary adventure.