Take The Beach With You When You Go

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Which beach do you want to be on right now? The right answer would be any beach, but I'm sure you have a favorite. One that left an impression on you. One that your mind wanders to when you look up from your work computer and day dream out the window. The memory is so sweet, so deep that you can almost feel the sand under your feet right now. You would give anything to be on that beach wouldn't … [Read more...]

Meet Earl, The Rum Loving Egret

Beach Egret

Beaches are fantastic, they relax the soul and offer beautiful vistas. Another thing that makes beaches so wonderful is the wildlife that calls them home. The transition from sea to land is home to all sorts of critters; dolphins, crabs, sea birds, bait fish, pale-white tourists, all these things can be found on or around the beach. This story is about one particular bird, a friendly White Egret … [Read more...]

Video: Authentic Caribbean Conch Salad Recipe

Conch Salad Recipe

Conch, what a wonderful and delicious animal. You can steam it, have it cracked, frittered, turned into a burger, use it for gumbo or chowder and a host of other creative dishes. It reminds me of when Bubba educated Forrest on all the ways to prepare shrimp...fried shrimp, blackened shrimp, sauteed shrimp...you get the idea. One of my favorite ways to enjoy this mollusk is to have it prepared … [Read more...]

The Bimini Blunder

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Last weekend I took my first trip to Bimini in the Bahamas. It was a fantastic trip, but it was a trip that almost didn't happen. Two months prior to last weekend myself, Mike from RumConnection.com and Shawn from Coastlines & Tan Lines started planning a weekend trip to the Big Game Club on Bimini. We researched the hotel and we researched Bimini, and of course the excitement built as the … [Read more...]

The Seven Ton Calamity, By JC Perez

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Your mind is about ready to go on a little adventure. Smuggling, a daring low altitude flight across Cuba and some of Jamaica's finest home grown; a story that you have to read. This is a guest post by JC Perez, author of Heisting the Beard The Seven Ton Calamity It was a hot day in Bimini, the year was 1984. Jamaica was waiting, they had the plane, but a few things were missing, vital of … [Read more...]

Mishka, Beach Bars & Brothers In Crime

Mishka

Bloody Mary's and the salt air blowing over your face isn't a bad way to start the day. A weekend full of highlights was capped off with the sweet sweet sound of Mishka playing his smooth style of reggae in Ybor City Tampa. Where do I start? With rum. Slowing down just enough to let me jump in, Mike from RumConnection.com and Shawn, now with Coastlines & Tan Lines, picked me up and we head … [Read more...]

Top Caribbean Blogs of 2011 – Fun In The Sun With Some Rum

Where has the year gone? 2011 has come and gone like the relentless tide. I guess it's true what they say, time does fly when you're having fun rum. Part of my job as a Caribbean blogger is to constantly be on the look out for new Caribbean sites that I can learn from and in-turn tell you about. Reading other island sites/blogs is one of the best parts of this job. I love seeing what other … [Read more...]

Merry Christmas Castaways!

Merry Christmas everyone! I just want to say thank you very much for reading RumShopRyan.com and loving the island lifestyle so much. This site wouldn't be anything without all of you. Again, Merry Christmas, stay warm and enjoy a boat drink or two this holiday season. Cheers! RumShopRyan … [Read more...]

Conched in Key West – A Meeting of the Minds

Conched in Key West

The more and more I travel to the Florida Keys the more I think I could live there. It really wouldn't take all that much effort to pull the trigger, but I'll save this Havana daydream for another post. Last weekend was spent in Key West, participating in the Conched in Key West Bar Crawl. The event started out as just some online friends wanting to get together in a beautiful place like Key … [Read more...]

10 Years Ago and Today

10 years ago we stood frozen, not understanding, not believing the horrific events unfolding. We watched helplessly, while praying for the safety of strangers and a need to connect with loved ones. 10 years ago we were flooded with emotion, to many feelings happening all at one time it was impossible to contain. Sorrow, fear, hate, sympathy, love, desperation, unity, resolve and revenge. 10 … [Read more...]

Hurricane (Party) Preparations – How To Survive The Storm

When I lived in Kansas hurricanes were just something that we saw on the news and didn't think to much about. Now that my toes are firmly buried in the sand of southwest Florida they're a very real concern and something to prepare for. How does a Castaway prepare for a pending hurricane? A little differently than the common soul. I've experience a few storms since my move in 2001. Of course … [Read more...]