Tuesday, March 20, 2012

A SHORT LIST OF PIRATE THINGS

Written for GBE2 week #44




This is my short list of pirate facts and other things:

1.  Yes the flag in the picture is hanging outside my house on an unusually warm day in March in New England.

2.  Pirates are often shown with parrots because in the 1600's, 1700's etc., these were considered "exotic" and were therefore somewhat valuable.  Never accuse a pirate of not wanting to make a quick buck.

3.  In my pirate reading I have found that it was not really known for pirates to use "walking the plank" as a punishment.  More usual punishments for wayward pirates that upset their captains were the wonderful practice of leaving them on an uninhabited island to die or the warm thought of tying them to the mast to starve.

4.  This is for my fellow rum lovers.  Yes, Captain Morgan was a real pirate named Captain Henry Morgan, who was actually the British Governor of Jamaica for a time during the 1600's.  I prefer Gosling's rum, especially the Dark Rum which makes a great Dark and Stormy.

5.  A Dark and Stormy is the world's best drink mixing Dark Rum (preferably Goslings) with Ginger Beer (not ginger ale).  This drink came to popularity in Bermuda and I'm sure all good pirates drink it.

6.  Rhode Island was considered a great place for pirates in the 1600's and 1700's because of vagaries of its coastline with many safe inlets and the corruptibility of the government.  i.e. the term "Rogue's Island".  Some things never change.

All you readers join this blog for it's A-Z of Jimmy Buffett songs starting April 1, or I'll have to tie you to the mast.

18 comments:

  1. Great that you do the challenge, can't wait!

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  2. Sounds like a great theme for the challenge!

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  3. I can now say I've successfully learned something today. (: Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Interesting facts. I'd heard the one about walking the plank. I wonder how that got started because they actually did not make their enemies do that.

    Catch My Words
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2012/03/wordless-wednesday-harry-potter.html

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  5. I'll be stopping by to read the A-Z posts during April.

    Have you ever visited the Dry Tortugas, off Key West? I
    think certain pirates used to regroup there.

    DG Hudson - Rainforest Writing

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    1. I've never been further south than St. Augustine, FL but would so love to go to Key West and the Tortugas. Thanks for dropping by.

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  6. Interesting facts, Pam. Love the one about the corrupt government in Rhode Island. That got passed down directly through the ages. Now we have pirates in our State House. BTW, did you know Julius Caesar was once kidnapped by pirates?

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    1. No, did not know that about Julius Caesar. Which pirates were they?

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  7. I'm glad you're a nontraditional pirate.

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  8. Those crazy Pirate Stories! I have been to the Tortuga Islands off Key West and it is absolutely lovely there. A little bit of the Caribbean right here in the good ole US of A. I also love Key West, one of my favorite vaca locations.

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  9. Very interesting stuff!!

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

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  10. I love dark rum - the darker the better - and will be drinking a tankard of "dark and stormy" before you can say "shiver me timbers"....sounds good, never heard of it before, bound to be my next new favourite.

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  11. New follower here. I’m getting a head start on visiting my fellow “A to Z”ers and I'm really enjoying your blog. I didn't know about #6. I look forward to visiting again.

    Sylvia
    http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/

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  12. ahoy there me hearty! i like pirates too, got hooked on our first trip to Aruba! i have a funny (IMHO) shirt that has all these pirate sayings about walking the plank and stuff. wanna see it?

    i also have a sign that i used to keep at the front door till the fam vehemently vetoed. It was an angry pirate that said "GO AWAY WE DONT WANT ANY! Which, if you know me is completely ironic cuz i'm a sucker for a little kid at my door peddling cookies. and popcorn and can i shovel your snow.

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  13. New follower, attempting to get on track for A-Z.

    I've had a fondness for pirates ever since I found an ancient book of my father's called "Pirates and Privateers". Still have it, still read it, still get shivers from reading about Nau D'Olnay.

    http://dramadiceanddamsons.blogspot.co.uk/

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  14. Ato Z, Buffett and pirates, I'll be back.

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