All good things must come to an end, as does our Caribbean “A” to “Z” series, with the letter “Z” for zymurgy, a word everyone should have in their Scrabble or Hangman vocabulary. Zymurgy is the science of brewing beer, the branch of applied chemistry dealing with the fermentation process. The Caribbean is home to some of our favorite brews including Carib, from Trinidad and Tobago, Red Stripe, from Jamaica, Kalik, from the Bahamas, Presidente, from the Dominican Republic, and a variety of brews from the new kids on the block, St. John Brewers, from St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. I have to admit that I love the…
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We generally travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, and at that time, preparations for the holidays has already begun in the Caribbean. If you travel to the Caribbean in December, you have your choice of festive events. Here are just a few links to places where you can learn more about Christmas traditions in Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique, Curacao, Trinidad, and throughout the islands. In addition to Christmas celebrations throughout the islands, you can enjoy several events in the islands which take place throughout the month of December, including St. Kitts & Nevis Carnival, St. Lucia National Day & Festival of Lights, Carnival in Montserrat, and Bahamas Junkanoo. For the whole series…
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I have to admit, “X” was a tough one. The only “X” words that came to mind were “x-ray” and “xylophone.” So I spent a bit of time on the internet looking through Scrabble guides for “X.” When I saw “xenophile,” I knew I had a winner. A xenophile is a person attracted to or has an interest in that which is foreign, foreign peoples, manners, language, and customs. At My Irie Time, we are undoubtedly xenophiles, particularly with respect to the Caribbean. Before each trip, we research the history of each country, the influences of other nations upon it, and the traditions and customs of each island, with respect…
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The Caribbean’s best attraction after the beach is the water that surrounds it. The region offers a variety of watersports for you to enjoy, including surfing, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, and stand-up paddleboarding. This shop in Trellis Bay on Beef Island, British Virgin Islands, just a few minutes from the airport, offers instruction in kiteboarding, surfing, kayak tours, and windsurfing. We were able to catch a few people enjoying the waves along Tortola during our visit there. For more on our visit to Tortola and Beef Island, read Part Three of our five-part trip report on the British Virgin Islands. For the whole series of “The Caribbean from A…
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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,…
