The Beautiful Caribbean
Jamaica man, it doesn't
get any better, with Kingston as its capital and biggest city, with
the world's biggest natural harbor and some of the most gorgeous
waterfalls anywhere. The climate is hot and humid, like Florida,
although the higher inland areas are somewhat more temperate.
It also is located in the hurricane belt, so the summer probably
isn't the best time to go or be there. This is one of the
best islands in the Caribbean for different kinds of music, and
a culture that is as rich and diverse as is the population.
It is famous for many things, including its Red Stripe beer, bamboo
rafting trips started by Errol Flynn in the 1950s, Jamaican Blue
Mountain coffee and the excellent Jamaican jerk spice that has become
a favorite flavor all over. The sights, sounds and aromas
of this excellent destination will astound you as much as the national
bird which just happens to be the doctor bird, or to us, the red-billed
streamtail hummingbird, one of the most beautiful and interesting
birds in the world. As is the case with the other Caribbean
islands, this country is dependent on its tourism trade, although
their agriculture and mining is just as important. Also famous
for its Jamaican rum, the country is the second biggest exporter
of bauxite in the world, as well as many other important exports
like coffee, yams, sugar and bananas. Other great cities of
destination include Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril and Mandeville,
with gorgeous beaches all along the shores, fishing and diving opportunities
galore, with a variety of hikes, boat trips, fishing trips, snorkeling
or scuba diving, relaxing or sunbathing. The Montego Bay area
is filled with the luxurious villas of the rich and famous that
have been coming here for many years, beautiful turquoise waters
slowly leaching into dark blues and blue skies. Ocho Rios
is another favorite, with more white sandy beaches, interesting
shops and boutiques, and many cruise ships coming here for a variety
of reasons. The smells, sights and sounds of the countryside
assail your senses when you get here, and the exotic foods will
keep you warm and happy with some of the best rum in the world to
keep you just on the edge of exploding in ecstasy. Negril
is the biggest resort area on the island, especially since the 1960s,
when the hippies came here and started that easy laid back kind
of living that still goes on today, with miles of magnificent beaches,
stretching as far as the eye can see, as well as marvelous diving
and water sports that will keep you more than busy and happy.
The adventures will almost be the end of you, but then you smell
the deep aromas of the food cooking and head to the nearest restaurant.
The cuisine is exceptional and varied, with both international and
local culinary delights that will renew your energies and spirits.
Since the residents that live here have come from all over the globe,
the cuisine is extremely exceptional and varied, with each group
adding their own special spices, recipes and cooking techniques
to the bountiful foods of this tropical paradise and creating such
a melting pot of flavor that you might stay. The national
breakfast here is ackee and saltfish, with ackee tasting almost
like our scrambled eggs, but they can't be exported since they are
really poisonous until ripe. Bammy bread is another favorite
that you should try, as well as blue drawers, bulla, bun Christmas
cake, coco bread, corn pone, cowcod soup, escovitch, gizzada, grater
cake and so many others that it would take pages to convey the plentiful
and scrumptious varieties of food that abounds here.
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands
are located in the western Caribbean, laying south of Cuba and northwest
of Jamaica, a British overseas territory and large offshore financial
center for the Caribbean. The islands are the tops of the
huge underwater ridge called the Cayman Trench, created by enormous
coral heads, with a tropical marine climate having wet rainy and
warm summers and dry cooler months during the winter. Water
is a major concern, but that doesn't seem to deter the tourists
that come here for the magnificent beaches and abundant supplies
of fish; as well as having the highest standard of living in the
Caribbean. One of the main attractions is the 7 mile beach,
with variations of brilliant blue waters, perfectly clear for the
excellent scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities that await the
visitor, with fantastic coral reefs and magical fish locations;
including a marvelous chance to swim with the stingrays. The
Mastic Trail is a wonderful chance to explore the island, the 23
acre marine theme park called Boatswain's Beach and home of the
Cayman turtle farm; as well as a place for the production for gourmet
salt. There are two endemic subspecies of Amazona parrots,
and the endangered blue iguana which make for some interesting photo
opportunities and marvelous memories for home. In Batabano,
on the north sound, the fishermen bring in their daily catch which
is a wonderful sight to watch and to get some of the freshest fish
in the Caribbean, with lobster, conch and a multitude of fish, with
the added chance for visitors to try sport fishing since it is one
of the best places in the islands to do it. On the east end
are the famous blowholes, that everyone enjoys watching or throwing
something in just to see it explode into the air like a geyser.
The unique sounds these holes produce is something else, almost
like the roar of a lion, but less dangerous. There are a couple
of wrecks around for you to dive or to just imagine, with the water
constantly inviting you in for a quick or long swim. There
are numerous shops and boutiques that will invite you to peruse
the marvelous gifts that you need to bring home for family and friends,
or to adorn your own abode. There are many areas for ecotours
and fantastic hikes, that will soon have you craving some local
delicacies that always include fish or other seafood. Since
much of the foods have to be imported, meals can be a bit expensive,
but by sticking with the local cuisine and the abundant fish or
turtle specials, you won't go hungry. Conch here is also a
favorite with various ways to prepare it and even better to spice
it up. There are many open air or beachside dining opportunities
here, with magnificent views and gorgeous weather, with some international
chefs coming here to increase the menus or to try their new gourmet
delights. Jamaican jerked chicken or English pasties are considered
to be two of the best culinary foods, but it all depends on your
tastes, and the aromas that will certainly help you decide what
to enjoy, and enjoy you will at this marvelous destination in the
Caribbean.
Antigua
Although there are many more
interesting and exciting island destinations, Antigua is
fast becoming one of the newest and brightest stars in the
Caribbean, with magnificent beaches and brilliant blue waters
rolling up on the white sandy beaches that glisten in the
sun like mirages in the stark deserts of the mainland's.
There are still quiet and serene bays and hidden coves where
the romance of the moment and your companion will flow like
the waters of the sea, there are also outstanding golf courses
and tennis courts to keep you busy when you aren't in the
ocean diving for coral or wrecks, but always intent on the
beautiful and exotic fish and colors that abound in the
waters. Hiking is still growing in this island, although
the emphasis has been on the beauty of the beaches, but
now the government is realizing that many visitors want
to see the island beauty and smell the pungent aromas of
the earth in an exotic location that is filled with mystery
and the unknown. The weather here is perfect, with
the friendliness and warmth of the islanders infectious
and homey. There are great nightclubs where you can
dance the night away, sail boarding, snorkeling in the hidden
bays and coves, walking along palm tree lined beaches and
balmy breezes feeling ever so wonderful on your skin and
blowing through your hair, as the salt air permeates your
mind and brings you back to the moment and that special
person that is beside you. English Harbor on the southeastern
coast is famous for its protected harbor, and a wonderfully
restored British colonial naval station called Nelson's
Dockyard is a great place to visit and learn a bit about
the island's history, and today are also famous for the
yachts that come here for the world class regatta during
Antigua Sailing Week in the end of April and start of May.
Their main source of income is the tourists that visit and
almost everything is catered towards making their visiting
guests feel at home and at ease. Some of the outstanding
foods grown here include the famous black pineapple, sweet
potatoes, corn, mangos, tobacco, cotton, guava and chilies
which certainly help for that excellent meal you will need
after spending the day in the water, swimming, fishing,
diving or just relaxing on the gorgeous beaches. The
island was named by Christopher Columbus, and was the site
of Lord Horatio Nelson in the early 18th century, using
it as a base to chase down pirates and to keep the power
of Britain afloat, and keep those darn Americans from coming
here to trade; which made him quite unpopular with the natives.
Because of the history of the island, there are many historical
attractions and sights, with marvelous old buildings and
structures. The local cuisine does have Euro-American
dishes, but the food of this island paradise is also very
good and quite tasty. There are many restaurants that
belong to hotels and won't cater to visitors if they aren't
staying in their resorts, but the local places are just
as good if not better when wanting to try out the local
cuisine with its rich flavors of the Caribbean and the many
diverse nationalities that have created many marvelous dishes.
The island's own fruits and vegetables also give your meal
a special significance, with those black pineapples that
are extra sweet, the green figs or bananas, breadfruit,
goat water, BBQ chicken, roast suckling pig, mangoes, papayas,
melons, oranges, grapefruits, soursop, coconuts, bananas,
cockles, and christophene. Salted codfish is one of
the island's staples, usually served with tomato sauce,
as is saltfish, and other fresh catches from the sea, that
are served blackened, and include shrimp, spiny lobster,
red snapper, mahi mahi, shark, conch and octopus.
Other local delicacies include ducana, a grated sweet potato
mixed with coconut, sugar and spices steamed in a banana
leaf; pepperpot stew is a mix of salted beef and pork with
squash, pumpkin, okra, spinach, aubergine and cornmeal dumplings;
fungi is a cornmeal and okra pudding; souse is pork
marinated in lime juice, onions, hot and sweet peppers and
spices and callaloo, a spinach soup flavored with cloves
or crab. It is a meal fit for any visitor or their
own special tastes, with that Antigua home grown flavor.
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