The green vervet monkey is native to Africa. It was brought to the Caribbean, specifically Barbados, St. Kitts, and Nevis along with slaves by the Europeans. One person’s pet is another person’s pest. The monkeys have been known to raid crops, and can be wasteful creatures. While on a hike on Nevis, our guide showed us a lime with just one bite out of it, the discarded remains of a monkey’s lunch. Despite this, the monkeys are loved by tourists. The monkeys pictured above are from a group of 47 (by our last count) spotted on the golf course at the Four Seasons Nevis. The trick is to go to…
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Lobsters in the Caribbean are quite different than their cousins found in the waters along the northeast coast of the United States. The first distinguishing feature is that the spiny lobsters of the Caribbean lack the pincher claws of the cold water lobsters, using their spiny exterior as their defense mechanism. The taste of the lobster meat is different too. The meat of a cold water lobster is a bit firmer and sweeter than its warm water counterpart, but they are both quite delicious. This beauty was my lunch at Pusser’s Marina Cay in the British Virgin Islands. For more about our visit to Marina Cay, read our trip report…
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Time to daydream a bit. When work gets a bit dull, it’s easy to glide over to Facebook or Twitter, and think about what you would rather be doing right now. If you really had to narrow it down to a list, and put them in order of priority, what makes your top ten? Here’s our list: #10 Cocktails and tapas at SandBar, Sandy Ground, Anguilla. The perfect combination of delicious food and great views. #9 Sip lemon grass water in a lounge chair at the Four Seasons Nevis. The flavored water of the day at the Four Seasons Nevis changes daily, but the lemon grass is the best.…
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Johnnycakes are common throughout the Caribbean, although there are quite a few variations. Typically, it is a fried or baked biscuit, traditionally served with breakfast. I’ve tasted many variations, but my favorites come from Rodney Elliott’s restaurant on Nevis, Rodney’s Cuisine. Her johnnycakes are fluffy like a biscuit inside with a crisp exterior. We were lucky enough to visit at a time when there were few other customers, and we had a chance to chat with Rodney. She comes from a large family, and was instrumental in raising many of her siblings. She clearly has a way with children, because she managed to convince our son, “the kid who won’t…
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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…
