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The Bars in BA were mostley on the Viente Cinco de Mayo,
Lighthouse, Texas, Marina, May Sullivans. she was a Liverpool lady and was always good for a sub if you were broke, but if you didnt pay back you were Dead. All the Bars there are now all gone, Not one left
the next lot of Bars were, and are , still there. in the La Boca area, with the same mad women,
I was there again many years later in 2009,
That is too bad.
I loved a run ashore in BA.
Think it was my favourite port.
Money and rate of exchange.
In a small Red Sea port the story goes some yanks brought with them a load of confederate dollars.
Apparently at that time, mid 60's, you could buy them as souveniers, did well until a few of the locals understood what was going on.
Did 3 trips Curaçao to BA 1958/9. We went into the Dock Sud . The Shell tanker Hadra was a bad feeding ship so the first port of call was a Resturant called the palace of the fried potato (in Spanish) where us apprentices had T bone steak egg and chips for the price of a couple of packets of washing powder or some nylons brought in Curaçao and which were in short supply in the Argentine. Then we went into the Centre, can’t remember the name of the dance place we favored. One time two of us were to late to get the ferry back across the dock at about 1am so sat in a shelter near the big meat plant until invited aboard a Russian freighter loading canned meat. Had a few vodkas and got back on board at 6 am. On the second trip when we came to sail the bosun was missing and after the agent had contacted all the hospitals and lock ups without any joy we sailed. He was still missing when we returned on the third voyage which was the most interesting one as we part discharged in Montevideo and on the way back North went up the Amazon to suck in fresh water for the power station on Curaçao. When we arrived the bosun was waiting on the jetty having been deported from Argentina where he had been in a police cell. Apparently he had had a bit to much to drink and Ben persuaded to carry a banner at the front of a protest March which didn’t end well. He as banned from Argentina and his far was paid by Shell as he was a company man, he also lost about 5 stone whilst in prison. Luckily for him our nest trip was to Accra and Lagos and I never went to S. America again.
I well remember the bars of BA. I was on the RMS Arlanza between 1964 and 1966 so every 8 weeks we spent about 10 days in BA and La Plata. The main bar area was on the Avenida 25 de Mayo and that was where you were educated in the life and all its constituent parts. I must say that I always found the Argentines friendly and pro British. The one bar I do remember clearly was the Night and Day it usually had a good Tango band and receptive staff, the downside was that the bars all stayed open until 4am so if you had arranged a tete-a-tete you had a long wait!!
Never went to BA. They were the bloody enemy when we sailed for Port Stanley with the task force. But much better was the West Coast from Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Natives (especially the females) far more friendly. Though it could get a bit tense in Valparaiso when the Greatcoated brigade with machine pistols walked into the bars asking for ID.
A much better atmosphere in Mombassa.....notably The Sunshine Bar. Though the blonde wigs couldn't hide their tell tale Kenyan traits......Great times.
Though for home grown fun, there was always The Jungle (Northumberland Arms Pleese!!) in North Shields and Monty's in Sydney. Oh and The Norseman (Bootle, Liverpool).
The jungle in North Shields , and take your pick from the pubs around the market in South Shields .JS
Bloody hell, the memories come flooding back.........Bugis St in Singers.....frightening to see how "nice" the Billy Boys looked. Nice food if you didn't mind the rats running under the tables. Also the impromptu show sometimes when the Navy was in town.....Dance of the flaming _ _ _ _ holes on top of the toilet block.
And finally for a quiet drink with a lovely family owned bar......The Hong Kong Bar in Penang. You could check out the photo albums dating back to the 40's. We were there on the Birchbank and after discharging a full cargo of Aussie sugar made frequent visits. On leaving we all checked the albums and counted that we had the most photos from any one ship dating back as far as we could search. I heard they had a fire there and many albums were lost. Must try and get back there before I die.
[QUOTE=Rod Nissen;387462t. Must try and get back there before I die.[/QUOTE]
Live on your memories Rod, visiting many of these places in current times will only lead to disappointment.
:dream:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rod Nissen
Oh Boy that was one good place The Sunshine! was if i recall in Kilindini Road Mombassa!
Many a good time there! Loved those East African Ports !