Casablanca
Casablanca means white house in Spanish, and the reason for the city's name will become quite obvious as you explore the city's landscape. White houses and white office buildings are the norm here in Morocco's busiest city. The Hassan II mosque stands out above the white landscape, a green tiled edifice that catches your eye no matter where you are.
The city has a history of occupation, with many different rulers claiming the city as their own over the centuries. The Berbers traded at the Port of Anfa with Carthaginians and Phoenicians. Later on, the Portuguese came and destroyed Casa Branca, in retaliation for Berber pirate attacks. Sultan Mohammed Ibn Abdellah rebuilt the town, but it soon came under French control. It was only in 1956 that Morocco gained its independence from Spain and France. The evidence of this occupation is everywhere. French is as widely spoken as Arabic, and street names still carry the words rue and boulevard before them.
The drive along Morocco's western coast, from Rabat to Casablanca, is replete with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. This area, known as La Corniche, is truly exquisite, and is well worth the time it takes to get there. But if you are on a tight schedule, the bustling pace of Casablanca will offer you plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, shopping, and fine dining.
It's the people of Morocco who will make your time here memorable. The country stands where Europe and Africa meet, and a legacy of European imperialism has transformed Morocco into a unique combination of Eastern and Western worlds. Moroccans are proud of their country, and they will go out of their way to show you its best face.
Tortola/Virgin Gorda
The British Virgin Islands, located in the northeast
Caribbean, are a collection of gorgeous islands that used to be inhabited by
pirates and sailors. Lying 60 miles east of Puerto Rico, they are exquisite
tropical destinations, visited by tourists from all over the world. These
islands are comprised of hidden caves and fascinating inlets, and for the most
part they are incredibly small in size. Only Tortola and Virgin Gorda are of
reasonable stature in geographic terms. The colony of Tortola itself is only 24
square miles, and its capital, Road Town, has emerged as a haven for yacht
chartering. This came about after the development of Wickhams Cay, a 70-acre
marina and landfill. The southern coast of Tortola mainly consists of great
mountains, and the northern coast a fabulous white-sand beach with beautiful
bays and banana trees.
Virgin Gorda, only a 12-mile ferry ride away, is equally
glorious, with just as rich a history. Both Tortola and Virgin Gorda are
controlled by the British , but are controlled loosely, and they are basically
free to do as they please. They are governed well, and you will find yourself
safe and comfortable in both of these destinations. The locals are friendly and
eager to assist you, and for being such tiny locations, there are a wonderful
amount of activities to choose from, and plenty of tremendous sightseeing
locations and fun to be had.
A wonderful array of water sports is available to the
tourists of Tortola and Virgin Gorda, and the restaurants are quite pleasant as
well. Taking a ferry or motorboat to any of the other 40 islands in the vicinity
is also a great way to spend an afternoon. There are plenty of relatively
unexplored, uninhabited regions for you to jaunt around and see what you can
find. Taking guided island tours are very enjoyable, as they are both
informative and exciting.
The boulder-covered beach known as The Baths has made
Virgin Gorda famous with travelers. Christopher Columbus actually named the
island, translated to read "Fat Virgin." He thought that the mountain
framing of Virgin Gorda looked similar to a protruding stomach. One of the most
private and solitude tourist centers in all of the world, Virgin Gorda became
slightly more bustling after Little Dix Bay Hotel opened there and started to
thrive in the 1960?s. One thing for sure, Tortola and Virgin Gorda remain
tranquil yet lovely and are wonderful locations to visit.
San Juan
Puerto Rico has managed to combine its long storied history
with the status of a top-flight resort island, and has done so in a masterful
way. With approximately 300 miles of coastline, the island attracts beach lovers
from around the globe. And with over 500 years of history, there is so much to
see and do here besides soak in the tropical sun's rays.
The Taino Indians, who called the land Boriken, which means,
"the great land of the valiant and noble Lord", originally inhabited
Puerto Rico. When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, he was greeted by the
natives, who showed him all of the gold nuggets in the land and told Columbus he
was free to take as many as he wanted. Originally, the Spaniards named the
island San Juan after St. John the Baptist, and the city Puerto Rico, or
"rich port." The two names were eventually switched. In March 2, 1917,
President Woodrow Wilson signed a law stating that Puerto Rico was now a US
territory, organized but unincorporated, and all Puerto Ricans were thereby
American citizens.
San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital city, stands as a microcosm
of the islands rich duality. Old San Juan has buildings still standing from the
days of the early Spanish explorers. At the same time, gigantic hotel and casino
complexes, appealing to the high-rolling jet set, dot other parts of San Juan.
San Juan is easily broken up into several smaller sections,
each with its own character. Geographically, San Juan Island, which contains Old
San Juan and Santurce, bound Condado. South of Condado is Miramar, which is
located right on the lagoon. East of Old San Juan is Puerto de Tierra, and
finally there is Isla Verde, a little detached from the rest.
Remember that Puerto Rico is part of the United States, so
American citizens do not need passports to enter and exit the island. Another
advantage American travelers have is duty-free shopping, so feel free to hunt
for all the good values found in San Juan's many shops.
Casinos are almost as plentiful as beaches here. It could
take weeks to experience everything there is to do here. The beautiful beaches,
the exciting water sports, the fine dining, and the great shopping blend
effortlessly with the island's rich history to make Puerto Rico the shining
star of the Caribbean.
|