LIGHT HOUSE

Bermuda is recognized as one of the most elegant of the Caribbean islands. It has a strong British influence, and you can still find many places that serve traditional afternoon tea. Cricket matches are also easy to find. Bermuda is also a great destination for golfers, as the island has many world class courses. This island is extremely convenient to reach from the Eastern U.S. Flights from New York to Bermuda are only two hours.

Gibbs Hill Lighthouse is one of Bermudas main sightseeing attractions, standing on the hill of the Southampton parish. The base of the lighthouse is 245 feet above the sea level. The lighthouse is a historical landmark as it is one of the oldest cast iron lighthouses in the world and was built in 1846.

Would you like a panoramic view of Bermuda and its shoreline, then there is no better place than seeing it from the balcony at the top of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. But, you need to climb 185 steps to fulfill this desire. The picture below shows the stairs of the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse. The climb however is not as difficult as it might appear. You need to take it easy and move up slowly with enough pauses in between. 

The perfect place to be for a breath taking adventure!!

The view is worth the climb!!

WOW!!!

Anguilla

Anguilla is most famous for its white beaches, and there are more than 30 of these to choose from. It’s one of the Caribbean’s smaller islands, so you can easily see the whole island if you’re there for a few days.

Alluring and unassuming, Anguilla is a Caribbean gem. Upscale serenity seekers come here to sprawl on the island's silky strands, swim in luminous water and snorkel or dive the fish-filled reefs and wrecks. Many other attractions such as fine restaurants, art galleries, birding tours, and museums enhance Anguilla's appeal. In the summer, peaceful Anguilla comes alive during the Anguilla Summer Festival with boat races, dancing, beauty pageants, and parades.

The Caribbean island of Anguilla kicks off its annual Summer Festival as early as July with its pre-carnival celebrations. This is just the beginning of a few weeks of fun and excitement on the small island. The anticipation has been building up fort weeks until it finally comes about for a week long celebration which starts on J’Ouvert morning featuring the J’Ouvert morning dance festival.

White Sandy Beaches, Alluring Blue Waters.....

Why sit there and wish to be basking under the golden sun while takong a dip in the tempting waters??

MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

Boat Race 

Carnival 

Its tempting right?? Would you visit? 

Beautiful Aruba

Aruba offers a diverse number of activities for people of all ages. On the one hand, it’s extremely family friendly, with many resorts catering to families with kids. On the other hand, you can find many adult-centered activities, such as nightlife and a wide assortment of casinos. Aruba also has a slightly different landscape from many Caribbean islands, having more of a desert appearance rather than forests.

Oranjestad is a charming city and the capital and cruise port of this tiny island. The most striking feature is the Dutch colonial architecture. Pastel-hued buildings with a Spanish and Caribbean twist jostle along the tidy streets, and tourists will find many shops, restaurants, museums, galleries, and entertainment options. Well-maintained Wilhelmina Park, on the waterfront, is one of the city's main attractions, particularly in June, September, and October when many of the plants are in bloom. 

Beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder!! Aruba is definitely breath taking.

Doesn't this look like a fairy tale ? 

Perfect for a romantic walk or picnic?? 

Goat Soup??

Goat soup?? Has anyone in our beautiful twin isle ever heard of such a dish? Is it really a dish? Many questions may be prodding in your minds. I can only imagine the disgusted look on some of your faces on hearing about goat soup. Let me clear up all your misconceptions. Goat soup is a meal!! It is a very important part of the daily diet of many Jamaicans'.

Mannish water is made from the offal of the goat -head, legs, intestines, and testicles etc. which are normally combined with green banana, coco, yam, dumplings and scotch bonnet pepper. White rum is sometimes added.

Mannish water is served at feasts and other large gatherings such as funerals. Its name is believed to be related to its aphrodisiac properties (served to men on their wedding day)  White rum may also be added
The earliest reference to mannish water was found in 1968 which has lead to the assumption that it is a recent dish. It is a Jamaican favorite. If goat isn't available i can be substituted for lamb. 

Would you be so daring to try this scrumptious dish??

Grenada- Spice Isle of the Caribbean

Grenada, an island that is well known to all in the Caribbean for their wide variety of spices which are grown on the island itself. If you are visiting Grenada on vacation, it trying the different spices is a must. The Spices are available for purchasing from market stalls and supermarkets located on the island itself.  Grenada is attained the name “spice isle” due to its most famous spice NUTMEG. Nutmeg and mace production has been part of Grenada’s history for over 100 years. The island was the second major international exporter in the world, after Indonesia. Grenada has its own Nutmeg Spice Festival, such is its importance in culture and industry here. The nutmeg is used as symbol on the national flag and many other promotional materials. Nutmeg is widely used in ice creams, biscuits and cakes,  confectionery soaps, medicines, herbal remedies and essential oils, syrups, sauces and ketchup  jams and jellies, and liquors. Other spices such as turmeric, clove and cinnamon are a few a midst the many different spices available in Grenada.

What is your must have spice in the kitchen? 

Nelsons Dockyard

Fully restored to its original splendor, the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century buildings of the Dockyard house modern amenities such as gift shops, art galleries, and restaurants, hotels, and marina businesses. These demonstrate how the park preserves the area’s unique cultural heritage while meeting modern needs. The Copper and Lumber Store Hotel offers five-star accommodations and is a magnificent venue for special occasions.  Outside the dockyard, historic forts dot the landscape of the park accessible by hiking trails which allow visitors to enjoy the park’s scenic and natural beauty. Today, Nelson’s Dockyard provides many sites and activities for visitors to explore and enjoy. The Dockyard Museum, located in the former Admiral’s House, presents visitors with exhibits regarding the Dockyard’s history and current archaeological research on the island.

There is endless opportunity to capture the beauty of the parks. With many glorious boats in the dockyard, the beautiful harbour, the historic sites and the unforgettable views from places such as Shirley Heights, bring your camera or have regrets that you didn’t. Interested in a bit of history? Nelsons Dockyard is the place to be.

The Biggest Show on Earth

As the title states, indeed it is the biggest show on earth! Carnival is a vibrant expression of freedom and colors where persons from through out the world travel to our very own twin island Trinidad and Tobago to participate in our much anticipated  festivities.

It is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Carnival is highly anticipated through out the year, as perpetration in terms of costume making starts around September.

Carnival is deemed the most significant even on the islands' cultural and tourism calendar. Leading up to the actual parade on the streets, there are many events such as "band launch fetes".

It is said that if the islanders are not celebrating it, then they are preparing for it, while reminiscing about the past year's festivals.

As tradition holds it, the festival is associated with calypso music, however, in recent times Soca music has replaced calypso as the most celebrated type of music. Exuberant costumes, stick-fighting and limbo competitions are also important aspects of the festival.

Street Parades on Carnival Monday and Tuesday

Kiddies Carnival Parade 

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Pigeon Island St Lucia

Pigeon Island is located to the north of Rodney Bay and is one of St Lucia’s national landmarks. It was a 44 acre islet until it was joined to the Island in 1972 via a causeway. This is one of the locations where the 14 battles between the French and the British were fought. There are many ruins from those battles up to today. This heritage site is protected under the umbrella of the ST Lucia National Trust.

Pigeon Island is of monumental importance to the Island. It holds a vast amount of St Lucia’s history. A visit to the museum will give you valuable information on the Island’s history.

There are nature trails leading up to Fort Rodney which was the spot used by the British to spy on the French during the battle. A view of the neighboring Island of Martinique can be seen from the fort on clear days as evidence of this. Pigeon Island St Lucia is an exotic get away especially for couples. The beaches are an alluring blue, nestles under the warmth of the Caribbean sun, it is perfect for a walk on the beach as well as picnics.

After your walk to the Fort, a bath at those beaches will definitely refresh you. In fact it is one of St Lucia’s most beautiful secluded beaches. Many people get married there every year because of its picturesque surroundings.

This is also one of the main venues for St Lucia Jazz, a festival that has become popular among both visitors to our Island and the local community.

Buccoo Reef

 

The coastal waters of Trinidad and Tobago abound with coral reefs. Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals. There are about 735 species of reef-building or hermatypic corals throughout the world, 39 are known to exist in the waters around Trinidad and Tobago. Tobago’s spectacular underwater world is undoubtedly one of the treasures of this beautiful tropical island.

The reefs are as fragile as they are beautiful and visitors must take care not to break off bits of coral as they pass by as coral reefs are truly breathtaking monuments to life’s almost infinite variety and complexity. Coral reefs are not just beautiful natural wonders designed to provide people with a relaxing distraction while bobbing around on a boat or with a snorkel. They are a vital part of the ecological fabric and economic activities of small Caribbean islands. They are the backbone of Tobago’s two largest industries; tourism and fishing, providing both jobs and food. They also protect the coastline from erosion by breaking ocean swells.

Tobagos’ coral reef is a must when visiting the island. Glass-bottom-boat tours of Buccoo Reef typically include a stop at Coral Gardens, where the boat anchors on sand adjacent to the coral formations to allow passengers to snorkel over the Coral Gardens. Start at the sandy shores of Pigeon Point and board a glass bottom boat to travel gracefully to the Buccoo Reef. Swim in the crystal clear waters of the nylon pool, snorkel amongst the beautiful fish and view the enchanting coral gardens.

The Caribbean: Relaxation in Paradise

Welcome to the Caribbean 

A multicultural, melody of colors dancing under the sun, fringed by the alluring beaches and soaked in rum- the Caribbean exemplifies a  joyous fusion of islands beckoning paradise-hunters. Rocked by music, wrapped in change, enclosed by turquoise waters and blown by the kisses of hurricanes- never a dull moment, this paradise is constantly on the move.

It's picturesque, lively and intoxicating profusion of people and places dispersed over 7000 islands. Each island is unique and exploits its mesmerizing beauty in various ways. Azure seas, white beaches, lush green forests, it will leave you wanting more.

Take a swim and you're in for a treat of darting fishes and corals. The colors are infectious- the Caribbean will color your life in ways never imagined. Seeking an adventure, the Caribbean is the place to be with many islands, beaches, cultures, flavors and waves to choose from. It is impossible to visit only once.