It’s not always easy to see the connection between Ireland and the Caribbean. Danny Buoy’s, an Irish pub on the island of Providenciales, in the Turks & Caicos Islands, is a rarity in the islands, where the beach bar is the norm. However, the Irish are not strangers to the Caribbean, particularly on island of Montserrat, the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. Irish Catholics from St. Kitts colonized the island in the 1600’s. Currently celebrating its Irish heritage, Montserrat is celebrating its St. Patrick’s Festival, March 9-18, 2013. Today’s events include mass, an open air concert, and a Junior Calypso competition. For more on the island of Montserrat, explore…
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The Caribbean is loaded with history, having seen the influence of many people from different lands. Historical sites are quite accessible too. You won’t see a lot of glass cases or roped off areas here. It may be a bit of a challenge to find the sites, but many are open for you to explore. On our trip to Nevis we followed the Nevis Heritage Trail. Guided by a map and bright blue signs along the way, we made our way to many of the sites of significant events in the island’s history. Above you will see remains of the New River Estate, a sugar plantation established in the 1720’s.…
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GreenVI Glass Studio is a non-profit organization devoted to a greener, more environmentally sound British Virgin Islands. The studio recycles glass, largely beer and liquor bottles, which are used to make paperweights, jewelry, souvenirs, and other glass collectables. Mentors also provide training in the making of glass to educate others and promote the organization’s goals. Proceeds are used to fund other green projects in the islands. For more information on GreenVI, check them out on Facebook. You can see more images from our visit there by reading our report of our day in Tortola. You can also view video of the making of our glass turtle pendant during our stay…
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If you are visiting the island of Tortola, make a point of visiting Aragorn’s Studio, located in Trellis Bay and the adjoining Beef Island. Aragorn is best known for his brilliant metal sculptures called “fireballs.” Fireballs are made from large steel buoys that have reached their useful life on the ocean. The buoys are then carved by Aragorn with elaborate designs, filled with wood and paper, and then ignited for a spectacular display. The fireballs are central to monthly full moon parties on the island. Although we were not there during the full moon, at least one fireball was lit each night we visited. Stop in for a “Dark and…
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Eleuthera, one of the out islands of the Bahamas, is our next destination. In preparation for our trip, I have begun doing some research on the island, which includes reading a well-regarded history of the islands by Mrs. Everild Young, later known as Mrs. Everild Helweg-Larsen (1909-1992), a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Mrs. Larsen, a native of England, lived on Eleuthera nearly 20 years while researching the island’s history. Her book, “Eleuthera, An Island Called Freedom,” was originally published in 1966. My copy is from the third edition, published in 1996. Although there were many significant events which post-dated this book, including Bahamian independence in 1973, the book…
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No list of anything in the Caribbean is complete without a mention of Dune Preserve, Bankie Banx’s place on Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla, voted the #1 Beach Bar in the World. Perhaps it’s the great music, the gorgeous views of St. Martin, or the friendly people, but we never miss a visit there on our trips to the island. Click here to read more about why Dune Preserve is one of our favorites, and a favorite of beach bar connoisseurs around the world. For the whole series of “The Caribbean from A to Z,” click here!
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I cannot think of a better combination than our images and Tim Cotroneo’s words. Tim is the man behind Travel Dreams Magazine, and he featured our photos from our trip to Anegada in his piece. Read his great story about Anegada’s The Big Bamboo here! SaveSave
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There is no shortage of churches in the Caribbean. You will find houses of worship for many faiths in the islands, although Christianity predominates, likely due to the influences of the European explorers (or “invaders” depending upon your perspective). The mural above comes from the Marigot Catholic Church, which sits atop a hill on the road to Fort Louis on the French side of the island. The church was built in 1842 by Jacob and Benjamin Gumbs. The Gumbs family owned sugar plantations in Anguilla and Dutch Ste. Maarten. For more of the many churches we explored in the islands, read our journal entry, “Sunday Morning in the Caribbean.” For the…
