Miami
A destination of vast diversity, Miami's year-round warm
weather attracts visitors from all over the world to its beautiful beaches,
modern architecture, and vibrant nightlife. Two million people call Miami home,
but another 10 million come to visit every year.
The Spanish were first to arrive, and it is understandable
that their influence should be felt first and foremost. Miami was colonized by
the Spanish in the 1500?s, then used as collateral in negotiations with the
English that ended the Seven Years War. Spain gained Havana back in exchange
for Florida. In 1783, England traded Florida back to Spain for the Bahamas, and
Spain ruled Florida as a colony until 1821, when Florida became a state.
Miami now is world famous for its beaches, 35 miles worth,
from South Beach to Sunny Isles. Whether you want to sunbathe, swim, or just
people watch, there are enough different beaches to suit your fancy.
But there is so much more to the city. A wide range of
museums and parks can be found here. They add a refined sense of culture to the
glitz and glamour of Miami's world-renowned nightlife.
Of course, if shopping is your main objective, Miami has more
than enough shops and boutiques to suit your needs. That's without even
mentioning the many upscale shopping malls and sidewalk stores that dot the map
What sets Miami apart from most other tourist destinations is
the blend of people who call it home. Nowhere else in the world will you see so
many people from so many different cultures. Large communities of Cubans and
Haitians mix with retired "snowbirds" from New York and Canada.
It's hard to take in all that Miami has to offer in one
day, but here are some of the highlights.
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.
St. John's
Surrounding a small but beautiful harbor, and east of the Avalon Peninsula, St. John's, the capital city of Newfoundland, is the easternmost city in all of North America. The heritage and history of St. John's are inspiring, and in the beginning of the 16th century, Europeans started to pay particular attention to the bustling harbor. Because of its seaside location and close proximity to lucrative fishing sites, St. John's soon became famous, and attracted Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese sailors and fishermen. Explorer John Cabot sailed into the harbor of St. John's on June 24, 1497, which is the feast day of St. John the Baptist. Cabot founded the city and named it in honor of his country's beloved saint. St. John's is officially recognized as being the oldest city in North America founded by Europeans, and is Newfoundland's major commercial and financial center.
Even with a modest population of 100,000, the attractions in St. John's are varied and vast. Great restaurants, shopping complexes, and lively pubs line the streets, making for spectacular evenings for those who partake in the active nightlife. Northgale and The Cellar are the two premier dining engagements in St. John's, featuring exquisite cuisine and lovely decor. Signal Hill is an incredible landmark that charms everyone who visits, and the Newfoundland Museum is pleasantly informative. The trees and trails of Pippy Park dazzle the young and old, and the accompanying Fluvarium is an enchanting ecological wonder. The actual harbor itself is quite working class, and collections of oil tankers and huge sea vessels are always nearby. St. John's is known as the most colorful city in the province, and the vibrant trees and flowers of the protected areas certainly convinced me.
Barbados
Barbados is a gorgeous tropical paradise set far away from
most other Caribbean islands. It is nearly 1000 miles east of the Netherlands
Antilles chain. In 1536, during a quest for fresh water, the Portuguese
"discovered" Barbados. They gave the island its current name, which
translates to "the bearded ones." This name was derived from their
observation of local fig trees that have roots resembling thick beards. Despite
the Spanish name, there is virtually no Spanish influence that remains. The
British landed a century later, and ruled the island until 1966. It was at that
time when Barbados claimed its independence. The English culture, however, is
alive and well, and this can be observed by the sport of choice on Barbados.
Cricket is the featured game, and, in per capita terms, there are more Barbados
born world-class cricket players than any other country in the world.
The capital, Bridgetown, is a marvelous city full of bustling
activity and breathtaking surroundings. The island itself is 21 miles long and
14 miles wide. Barbados is quite flat, and the highest point is Mount Hillaby at
1,115 feet. Sugarcane is the crop that has sustained Barbados for decades. The
valleys and hills are blanketed by acres of this sweet plant. The people in the
city of Bridgetown are especially friendly and hospitable, and they had better
be, because tourism is the island's most profitable industry. Unlike some of
the other Caribbean islands, the government of Barbados is stable and the
business community sophisticated. The population is 260,000, and a great number
of them live in or around Bridgetown. The perimeter of Barbados is gorgeous
white-sand beach, and the interior is comprised of exquisite rolling hills and
flat grasslands.
All of the facilities on Barbados, and particularly in
Bridgetown, are fabulous. The city of Bridgetown and all of the luxurious west
coast has been named the Platinum Coast by British vacationers. Fine dining,
scuba diving, sea excursions, and festivals are only the beginning of the
fabulous activities of Barbados. Museums and archaeological sights highlight the
rich heritage of the island, and so many of the locations combine education and
entertainment. The miles of exquisite beach offer every water sport imaginable,
and Barbados has a terrifically active nightlife. A combination of European and
strictly Caribbean influences create a diverse and fascinating ambiance
everywhere you go.
Basse-Terre
Guadeloupe belongs to the Leeward Islands, the island chain directly north of the Windward Islands, where Martinique is found. Dominica separates the two cousin islands, but they are often thought of as neighbors. Guadeloupe is actually comprised of two islands that are joined by a very narrow channel of water called the Riviere Salee. Basse-Terre, in the west, is more mountainous than its eastern sidekick, Grande-Terre.
The island was originally settled by the Arawak Indians. They met their end at the hands of the invading Carib Indians, for whom this entire region of the world is named. Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover Guadeloupe, on November 3, 1493. The Caribs resisted European settlement for centuries, but fighting and disease finally killed most of them off. The French eventually settled Guadeloupe in the 1600?s.
Guadeloupe is under the auspices of the French, which means that the French franc is the official currency here. French is the official language, although an influx of American tourism has allowed English to become more widely spoken in recent years.
The city of Basse-Terre is on the southwest corner of the island with the same name. It is the administrative capital of the island of Guadeloupe, if not its most popular destination (that honor goes to Pointe-a-Pitre).
Basse-Terre's main attraction is a pair of natural wonders. La Soufriere, is an active volcano east of Basse-Terre. Peaking at 4,800 feet, the volcano has not erupted since 1975, but the threat of another eruption looms over the region. Standing in stark contrast to La Soufriere is the Parc Naturel de Guadeloupe, a nature reserve covering around twenty percent of Basse-Terre, with native plants and animals finding sanctuary here.
Guadeloupe is not an island for the timid. The best attractions are hidden, and take time and effort to unearth. A day spent only in Basse-Terre will do little to educate you on Guadeloupe's beauty. If you take a ferry trip to Guadeloupe's smaller satellite islands, Iles des Saintes, you will be enchanted.
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