Manaus
Manaus is a fascinating region of Brazil that is a must see for all nature enthusiasts. The city is set amongst the trees of the Brazilian Amazon, and dense jungle surrounds it on all sides. The Rio Negro lines Manaus, and this city is home to one million inhabitants. It is the Amazonas state capital, and a marvelous region to explore. You have likely never visited a city quite like Manaus. The Manao tribe named the city, which means Mother of the Gods.
The rubber boom meant Manaus's entire existence was based on rubber production and shipment for decades. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 90% of the world's rubber came from Manaus. Unfortunately, the resulting wealth was realized by only a few rubber barons, who exploited the local workers and brought in Indian slaves from all over South America. Northeast Brazil was extremely overcrowded and severely depressed economically, so many Brazilians welcomed the opportunity to find work down in Manaus. Once they got there, however, they were forced to work for hours on end in terrible conditions for low wages. Whenever the barons were displeased with production, they took to slaughtering some of the Indians to get their point across. This went on for many years until Asian rubber manufacturers ended the monopoly in Manaus. Once the Asians began to produce large amounts of rubber, Manaus suffered an economic depression that lasted for decades.
Finally, in 1967, Manaus was made a free-trade zone, and since that time the economy has really been bolstered. In under twenty years, the population has catapulted from 200,000 to 900,000. Present-day Manaus is a picturesque town filled with interesting sights and fabulous hiking trails. The jungle may be mysterious and daunting, but the city itself is friendly and inviting.
Devil's Island
French Guiana stands out among South American countries as the only member of the European Union. Long a French colony, today French Guiana is an overseas department of France. Like Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, the 150,000 citizens of French Guiana have the same rights as a Parisian. In addition, French francs are the official currency and the language of love is the official tongue.
To help develop the colony, the French government decided to build penal colonies on French Guiana in the mid-19th Century. Convicts would serve their time in prison, then be sent here to live for a time equal to their original sentences. This was done with the dual purposes of castigation and to help increase the population. This strategy was thwarted, however, when the majority of prisoners died of tropical diseases while on the island. The last penal colony closed in the 1950?s.
French Guiana is trying to transform itself into a popular tourist destination. The French have even tried to expunge the name Devil's Island from its maps, choosing instead to group the island with two of its neighbors, Ile Royale and Ile St. Joseph, under the name Iles du Salut, or Islands of Salvation. Today, Devil's Island is used for tracking shuttles as they ascend from the Kourou Space Center, which has launched the majority of all European satellites now in orbit. But, for as much as they try to ignore their ignoble past, the three islands continue to achieve most of their notoriety from their penal colony past.
Devil's Island is the most notorious of the three. The penal colony here housed falsely accused French spy Alfred Dreyfuss, and was the setting for Henri Charriere's novel, Papillon, which was later made into a film starring Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen.
Port of Spain
Lying 9 miles off the coast of Venezuela, Trinidad is a
Caribbean paradise and the southernmost link in the Antillean chain of islands.
Trinidad is part of the two-island nation known as Trinidad & Tobago. Yet,
although these two islands are linked in their government and geographical
proximity, they are quite varied.
Trinidad's recorded history is thousands of years old, but
the region became known to Europeans in the 15th century, when
Columbus sailed around its southern bay. Sighting three large mountain peaks on
the island, he named the land La Trinidad, in reverence to the Holy Trinity. In
1797, the British Empire captured Trinidad from the Spanish, ending more than
300 years of Spanish rule.
In more modern times, Trinidad has grown into a major tourist
destination in part because of its success in the oil industry. The booming
petroleum business in the area made Trinidad into an ideal location for upscale
business travelers. Therefore, an entire industry unfolded which catered to
these foreign travelers. Today, Trinidad remains a prosperous island that
welcomes cruise ships from all over the world to dock at its picturesque
capital, Port of Spain.
Port of Spain is a cultural and visual highlight of any
cruise excursion. A city of just over 50,000, it is known throughout the world
for its vibrant and colorful festivals, including the annual Carnival
celebration. It is a great melting pot of cultures, featuring prominent African,
European, Indian, and Asian dining, architecture, and language.
In and around the Port of Spain and Trinidad itself, you will
be treated to a land that has been spared from the massive over-development that
has troubled other notable ports of call. Instead, you will find ample beaches
that have remained in their pristine states, casual and elegant dining in
friendly local restaurants, and a great assortment of activities and events that
will allow you and your family to explore this magical island and all it has to
offer.
St. Barts
Whether you call it St. Barts, St. Barths, or St. Barthelemy, there is no
disputing that this tiny island in the French Antilles is one of the most ritzy
and luxurious cruise destinations in all the world. You will not find a land rich
in architecture, bargain shopping, and enormous hotels and resorts. Instead, you
will find an island that is tremendously popular with the world's rich and
famous, due to the fact that you will enjoy beautiful, tranquil beaches,
world-class dining, and unrivaled relaxation and comfort.
St. Barthelemy was discovered in 1493 by the explorer
Christopher Columbus. Its descendents are a mix of French and Swedish. The
island hosts a very small local population; numbering just over 3,000, they
inhabit a land that is merely 8 square miles in area.
St. Barthelemy gained its popularity as an elite tourist
destination partly in response to the modern nobles of the 20th
century who made this land their winter getaway. You can visit the home of David
Rockefeller, who inhabited the northwest corner of the island. Edmond de
Rothschild and other members of his famed family used to come here frequently as
well. Today, stars such as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and the late John F. Kennedy
Jr. have come here to unwind from the "rigors" of their everyday
lives.
St. Barts only town is the tiny capital of Gustavia. Here,
you will feel as if you are strolling through a miniature fantasyland, with tiny
European homes and businesses dotting the capital's landscape. Here in
Gustavia, you will find many fabulous restaurants serving a variety of world
cuisines, as well as ritzy shopping venues to satisfy your desire for exotic
clothes, jewelry, and much more.
Yet above all, , the main draw of St. Barts is still its
glorious beaches. Enjoy your day on this island by relaxing on one of 14 public
beaches (all the beaches in St. Barts are public). Clothing is optional, and the
scenery is spectacular.
Ft. Lauderdale
The Seminole Indians were the original inhabitants of the
area now known as Fort Lauderdale. The city itself was named for Major William
Lauderdale, who led a group known as the Tennessee Volunteers into the area
during the Seminole War.
Fort Lauderdale began as an agricultural community, full of
citrus groves. By the 1960?s, the city took on a new identity as the place for
college students to come for spring break. Hedonism and public drunkenness
became the norm for much of the next twenty years, but the residents of the once
sleepy town decided to take it back from the rowdy youngsters. The police began
to make their presence known a little more, and soon Fort Lauderdale was off the
list of top Spring Break destinations.
Today, Fort Lauderdale is a little closer to its roots, with
a gentle breezy demeanor to it. You can still have a good time here, exploring
the 300 miles of waterways that led to the labeling of Fort Lauderdale as
"the Venice of America." There are places to rent boats, and plenty of
opportunities to take a boat tour around the city. Or, get really acquainted
with the water by snorkeling or diving in the Atlantic.
There is still plenty to do in and around Fort Lauderdale.
Take a water taxi to some of the area's best restaurants and bars. Stroll
along busy Las Olas and visit the eclectic shops and art galleries.
The sports enthusiast will get his fill here. Tennis courts
and golf courses are everywhere in Fort Lauderdale. It's just a matter of
deciding which one to play on. Choose from baseball, football, or jai alai. You
can even place a bet at the greyhound racetrack.
The nature lover can check out over 500,000 acres of Florida
Everglades, which are part of the Greater Ft. Lauderdale area. The Everglades,
which were formed by the constant overflow of nearby Lake Okeechobee, are home
to flamingos and alligators, among others.
Of course, if you're visiting Florida, chances are that you
will want to hit the beach, and there is ample space for everybody along Ft.
Lauderdale's beautiful coastline. There are over 3,000 hours of sunshine here
every year, so enjoy!
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