Virgin Gorda was given its name by Christopher Columbus, who believed the shape of the island looked like a well-rounded woman reclining, or a “fat virgin.” The island is the third largest, and second most populous island in the British Virgin Islands, home to approximately 3600 residents. The most famous attraction on Virgin Gorda, and perhaps all of the British Virgin Islands, is The Baths. The Baths came into being by volcanic activity from below the seabed, resulting in enormous granite boulders emerging from the sea. The boulders form a maze of tunnels and grottos open to the public as a national park. Taking the path through The Baths is…
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When I see photos of beaches in Hawaii, Florida or European beaches, I am always surprised by the number of people there. I have to say that I look for places where the crowds don’t go, where you can have a peaceful walk on the beach without dodging beach balls or sprawling bodies. This view of Pinney’s Beach in Nevis is no joke. You won’t be alone, because you can’t have a resort as spectacular as the Four Seasons Nevis without a few people noticing. Regardless, you will never have trouble finding a beach chair and umbrella to soak in the rays and the views of St. Kitts off in…
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“T” is for Ting! Ting is a delightfully refreshing grapefruit soda which has its roots on the island of Jamaica. It was named by the island pronunciation of “thing,” as in “Give me a ting.” When growing up as a kid in Wisconsin, I remember a soda called Ting which had a funky, 60’s retro logo. It came in bright colors, with flavors such as “blue” (I think it was blue raspberry, but we called it “blue”). Wikipedia suggests that there was a trademark dispute which caused the disappearance of Wisconsin’s version and the emergence of Jamaica’s. From my research, that does not appear to be accurate. There was…
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Sailing and the Caribbean go together like peas and carrots. Initially, solely a form of transportation, sailing is now primarily for recreation and sport. Some of my favorite Caribbean bloggers are people who have decided to see the Caribbean by sail. Their websites are filled with beautiful images of the islands, along with the nuts and bolts of this method of travel. Zero to Cruising is the site of Mike and Rebecca Sweeney, who left Kingston, Ontario, Canada on July 31, 2010. On their website they share how they keep themselves and their catamaran in shape as they travel through the islands. This couple is truly adventurous, climbing mountains, swimming,…
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If you scroll through our travel journal, you will find quite a few rum drinks we’ve had the pleasure of encountering on our trips through the islands. The most recent rum experience was the most unique of our encounters. Pictured above are three of the rums you will find at Callwood Distillery, located on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Rum has been distilled and blended by the Callwood family for more than 200 years on Tortola. Callwood produces sugar cane rum, aged in oak barrels. It claims to be the Caribbean’s oldest continuously operating pot distillery. If you visit between March and August, you will…
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The queen conch, the “strombus gigas,” is found in the warm waters of the Atlantic and the Caribbean from Florida to Brazil. Their shells are readily identifiable, with a bright colored pink lip. The conch, which grows to adulthood with its shell, uses its strong muscle to propel itself. Conch meat has a mild, sweet flavor, and resembles a scallop in texture. To celebrate the most important food product of the islands, the Turks & Caicos Islands organized the Turks & Caicos Conch Festival, held annually in November in the Blue Hills area of Providenciales. The festival showcases the conch with a “conch-e-tition” where local chefs compete for the honor of…
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When we think of the Caribbean, we think of tall palm trees, slightly curved, at the edge of a white sand beach. When we look a little closer, we realize that the palm family, botanical family Arecaceae or Palmaceae, consists of 2600 different species. Historically, palms have symbolized victory and triumph. The Romans celebrated victory in games and in war with an award of palms. Today, Palm Sunday, is the Christian celebration of the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on a path of palm boughs, the week before his death and resurrection. On Palm Sunday, the palms are blessed and distributed to the the faithful, sometimes woven into crosses, who then keep them in their homes…
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Some of my favorite food from the islands comes from a simple device, a grill made from discarded oil drums, cut in half and hinged. This row of beauties was found on the island of Anegada, in the British Virgin Islands. If you’re inspired to cook up some of your own, and are looking for a great grilled chicken recipe, visit our friend Chris’s site, Caribbean Pot. Here’s his recipe for Tamarind Grilled Chicken, just one of his delicious Caribbean and Caribbean-inspired dishes. You can also sign up for his email list and get a regular delivery of great recipes right to your desktop! If you’re not up for cooking,…
