Eye on Travel

Radio Guest List — Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Anguilla in the British West Indies — September 7, 2019

This week, Eye on Travel broadcasts from the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Anguilla in the British West Indies. Peter has an extended conversation with Tim Foy, the Governor of Anguilla, and a discussion about what an independent British overseas territory really means. Alex Guarnaschelli, Food Network Star and Executive Chef at New York City’s Butter, discusses the evolution of the celebrity chef. Melinda Blanchard, American Expat, Restaurateur and Co-Author of A Trip to the Beach, talks about why she moved to Anguilla, and perhaps most important, why she stays. And Kenn Banks, from the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society, expands on the island’s hidden archaeological history and the current special projects to protect and preserve it. Plus, Anguilla Musician Bankie Banks, AKA the “Anguilla Bob Dylan,” performs a song that was an offering to the island after Hurricane Irma. There’s all this and more as Eye on Travel with Peter Greenberg broadcasts from the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Anguilla in the British West Indies.

Click here to listen to the show streaming live from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 6, 2019.

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Tim Foy, Governor of Anguilla, joins the show and explains what a British independent territory means. He speaks about working around the world and what it was like moving to Anguilla. Governor Foy then speaks about taking the brunt of Hurricane Irma: the damage, the support system and the spirit of the Anguillians. Then, he shares why he stays here and some of the territory’s biggest challenges.

Shannon Kircher, American Expat, Founder and Writer at The Wanderlust Effect, speaks about moving down to Anguilla from Sacramento, the transition and how she’s made the island her home. She speaks about getting involved with the community, creating resources and why engaging with the local community is at the heart of immersion. She then speaks about the minimalist lifestyle and her favorite grub spots on the island. Shannon also reveals her special spot off the island that feels “untouched” and what surprises her about the lifestyle.

Melinda Blanchard, American Expat, Restaurateur and Co-Author of A Trip to the Beach, talks about moving to the island and why Anguilla became her favorite Caribbean island. Melinda chats about the lifestyle change, taking a huge risk on the island and what makes her little restaurant on the beach unique. She speaks about why she calls Anguilla home and how it has changed in the last few years. She also talks about recovering from the hurricane and how she feels like a part of the community, not just foreigners operating a business.

Louise Soanes, Research Associate at the Anguilla National Trust, chats about how she moved to the island from Britain and the brave new world of biodiversity in Anguilla. She shares some insight into the surprising species that can only be found on the island. She speaks about the small and important population of turtles and an upcoming challenge that the turtles are facing. Louise then chats about the artificial coral reefs and how they attract marine life. And she also discusses the island bird populations and why Anguilla is called, “the Galapagos of the Caribbean.”

Kenn Banks, Vice President of the Anguilla Archaeological and Historical Society, expands on the island’s hidden archaeological history and the current projects that have been embarked on to protect and preserve it. He shares the story of the heritage trail and the ceremonial worship cavern – a truly special location and one of the only in the Caribbean — and the written stories on the walls inside the cavern. Since Anguilla is a British territory, Kenn explains the British and French invasions and the marks they’ve left on the island.

Alex Guarnaschelli, Food Network Star and Executive Chef at New York City’s Butter, discusses the evolution of the celebrity chef. She says that cooking and standing at the stove for 14 hours is the opposite of celebrity. She talks about her upbringing and growing up with two intellectuals for parents. Her mom edited cookbooks. Alex shares that she always wanted to be on Iron Chef. She also talks about surrounding herself with people who were better than her. As it turns out, her restaurant Butter was an accident. She was teaching cooking and taking a break from being a full-time chef when it happened.

Joan Richardson, Co-Founder of Anguilla Life Magazine, speaks about Anguilla as one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, and why she thinks it’s still a secret for many people. Joan also talks about the biggest surprises regarding the island and the latest hurricanes. She explains why Irma was a little different and how it has managed a good recovery. She then speaks about secluded beaches (none of them are private) as well as her favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner spots in town and on the beach.

José Adames, General Manager at the Four Seasons Resort & Residences Anguilla, shares more on the resort on the “sleepy island” and its resilient staff that showed up on day one after Hurricane Irma. He’ll also detail more on the hurricane including lessons learned, reconstruction and preparing for the future. He assures that Anguilla is in much better shape going forward. José speaks about what makes the hotel special, some of the challenges it encounters, and what surprised him the most when he arrived.

Bankie Banks, Anguilla Musician, AKA the “Anguilla Bob Dylan” and Owner of The Dune Preserve, discusses living in the U.S. and Europe and still sourcing inspiration from his home: Anguilla. He speaks about his musical influences in the 1950s and 1960s as well as the political revolution that contributed to his music. Bankie then performs a song that was an offering to the island after Hurricane Irma.

By Alessandra Taryn Bea for PeterGreenberg.com