LR
Travel Report
Anguilla Literary Festival 2015 Words, Waves, & Wonderful Inspiration
25 LuxuryReportMagazine.com
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I
was so sad to see such a wonderful week come to a close recently as we wrapped up an incredible experience on the idyllic island of Anguilla. First, my accommodations were out of this world. I stayed CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa to attend the 4th annual Anguilla Literary Festival, which was held minutes away at Paradise Cove Resort. It was the ultimate in barefoot luxury and my deluxe room was steps away from its heartbreakingly beautiful beach, cresting a surreal aqua sea. The LitFest was themed around “Jollification,” which means gathering people together for a common cause and then celebrating afterward when the work is done. It did indeed draw people from around the globe toward a common cause: a love for the written word. Celebrity guests included big names in the publishing world as well as local Caribbean authors and poets, and also journalists and best-selling authors. Many inspiring presentations were held in an intimate outdoor setting where everyone could mingle and party together afterward. It was one of the best business events I’ve ever attended, and the fact that it was held in such a stunning setting made it all the better. It wasn’t all about books and beaches either. We also explored Anguilla’s best restaurants and participated in activities like snorkeling and horseback riding in the sea with Seaside Stables. Some highlights also included a night out at the Dune Preserve, often listed as one of the best beach bars in
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the tropics, owned by entertainer Bankie Banx – a talented troubadour sometimes called the “Bob Dylan of the Caribbean”. And a visit to tiny Sandy Island – a pristine spit of blindingly white sand with one sole lobster and rib shack on its shores was also a real treat. The event was open to the public and I highly recommend attending next year. I know I will be back. But you really don’t need a specific reason to visit Anguilla; a stay at the delightful destination on its own is a life recharging experience with surreal scenery and super friendly locals. It is indeed as they say, “Tranquility Wrapped in Blue.” Visit: www.anguillalitfest.com and www. ivisitanguilla.com SUSAN CAMPBELL Twitter: @suectravel