Last month I had a lovely couple come by who I got the chance to dress up as pirates.  I discovered that they be from a Caribbean island called Saint Martin, a half Dutch, half French island.  They just opened up a place called The Rusty Parrot.

They told me that arrived on the island 8 years n' imagined what life was like during the Golden Age.  Their goal originally was to build a Pirate Museum, but it evolved into a immersive multi-media experience that tells the story of Jack Rackham.  They be very brave souls opening up this venture during the black plague, so if ye be in the area, go board them!

Take a virtual tour of arrr grand store. Just posted a Google 360 panoramic tour. Discover the treasure that wait ye, yarrr!  C

The sky be falling, as we be cursed with the installation in arrr new ceiling has been coming down.  So we be forced to move our entire showroom out and redo the installation to the ceiling so that we can have a cool place amidst the summer heat.  This be be the very first time we have closed on an entire weekend since we opened 9 years ago. So remember to take a brake the last week of July n' have some rum! 

Part 2 of Tiger trip to Asia. Nepal be one of the most holy places in the world.  There be a temple on every other block you walk by.  The temples can be small or huge with dozen of different gods and goddess.  The hand craft designs of each temple arr amazing. The richness of this world would make any pirate think he hit the motherload of riches.  However, Nepal is ranked as one of the poorest nations in the world.

I was told that you must be formally introduced by another Nepali to a business and slowly build a relationship to be able to do business with a Nepali company. They had traditions that must be observed. As a pirate, I don't really follow all the rules. I discovered a Women's Coop that employs 80 women who are victims of abuse, violence or poverty.  They are shunned by traditional society and must deal with dirty foreigners fer their livelihood.  Sounds perfect to me.  

They be dyeing beatufitully colored threads from Swiss-made dyes (because the Europeans they sell to have sensitive skin).  They had a number of hand loom in production.  I met a French girl who be apprenticing there to learn the secrets of the olde world, as everything is done by automatic machine in the new world. They were having a ceremony of peace and prosperity when I arrive, so they invited me into it. We discussed arrr first project together.

Walking about the streets of Kathmandu, I stumbled across a Fair Trade Store that represents 65 different tribes making local handy crafts. I made an appointment to meet with their productions staff.  They showed me their fabric stock, and production area of sewers, knitter, and felter. We discussed the design and production of pirate sashes woven of silk and nettle, a local fiber stronger than hemp. It will be a few months to get the sample for approval.

Feast yar eyes on the Pirate Fashions Blunderbuss! The ideal weapon for clearing a deck o' enemy sailors, sometimes it be called a Musketoon. This basically be a short, carbine-like musket with a flared barrel. While we discuss the blunderbuss we can bust a few myths!

Because o' its flared barrel-end it is assumed that its primary purpose was that it was a shotgun style weapon, in reality the flared barrel allows the shooter to easily load a weapon with shot. While at sea or on horseback it made loading the weapon much easier because ye could dump your ammo into the barrel without worrying about precision. They were shortened muskets essentially so that also helped with loading. They were indeed great compact weapons for close quarters, but their shotgun status should be regarded with some skepticism. If the barrel's flare had an effect on the shotgun's spread we would see more flared barrels today.

We also have a false perception that "anything" could be loaded into a blunderbuss, but the barrel would not last long firing silverware or debris- ye would destroy it internally. With most blackpowder weapons ye could actually load multiple rounds o' shot into the muzzle (two was recommended if ye were to do so.) Ye could fire multiple metal balls with a musket, pistol or blunderbuss. Ye could also load buckshot (numerous small balls) into a weapon n' use it in a shotgun capacity, similar to how a ship's guns could fire Grapeshot.

Arrr Armory has Firing Blunderbusses from most of the Colonial powers in the Spanish Main, n' we also have non-firing replicas- less expensive, but purely for prop usage. Browse Arrr Selection, we've for English, French, Dutch n' Spanish! http://bit.ly/2raJ4vK

If webe plannin' an outfit from the top we recommend assemblin' the following.

Frock coatsfer the high caliber pirate lookin' to strike the most dashing figure.

Waist coatsfer a hot sunny day at sea, essentialfer any semblance of piratical clout.

Simple or Fancy shirts to convey that ye be a sailin' man (or woman,) we have many options dependin' on the look ye be goin'fer!

Slops n' Knee Breeches, ye have the options to go historically accurate or a little more Hollywood look dependin' onyar preference!

Sashes, Bandanas n' Socks. All o' which should contrast with the rest ofyargarb n' show ye mean business.

Tricorn Hatsfer obvious reasons! They certainly go a long way to protectyar skin from the harsh Caribbean Sun.

Leather Gear to carryyar weapons n' supplies. A baldricbe the most important part o' this so that ye can carryyar blades n' pistol. 

Footgear which could take the form o' authentic buckle shoes n' rope sandals. Or go the badass route n' getyarself some goodol' fashion leather boots!

We also recommend ye get a pouch to store all ofyar treasures, as well asyar wallet, phone n' keys!

Learn more about the propergarb o' Buccaneers on Arrr Website!

http://bit.ly/2pla3Ry

Arrrgh! We constantly be bringin' in new clothing, gear n' weapons from Arrr adventures across the Seven Seas! Arrr Fresh Plunder section be the place we stock all of arrr ill gotten loot that we bring into port. 

Recently we have added authentic new Buckle Shoes, n' the Ducks Foot Percussion Pistol! 

Don't forget to also submit pictures o' yar new garb to Pirate Fashions so we can see yar adventures. http://bit.ly/2oXPmNT

The easiest way to build a Pirate Fashions Outfit is by simply goin' through arrr pre-arranged combinations of arrr various garb n' gear! Fer Example: Take a look at the Port Royal Lady Captain Outfit!

Like all of Arrr outfits the Lady Captain neatly lists all of the recommendations we make when assembling yar clothing. Ye could literally scroll down the list n' add each item to yar cart o' loot on one page. Everythin' we recommend comes from arrr own experimentation aboard arrr ship n' workshop.

The Port Royal Outfit consists o' the Godiva Coat, a Buxom Bodice, a Thick Leather Pirate Belt, a Reversible Tortuga Skirt paired with a Lacy Duchess Skirt, Lady Buccaneer Boots, n' a Tortuga Blouse.

The only part that requires thought be the colors n' sizes o' what ye be choosin', but yar safe bet be contrasts with flashy colors! Ye will also need to choose yar accessories, but most of Arrr Outfits come with visual inspiration so ye will not be left alone at sea!

Browse all o' arrr outfits n' see how easy it is to assemble your Buccaneer Regalia!

http://bit.ly/2oRgzjX