Transcript of Caribbean An Overview. Bahamas Language: English Culture: Lucayan Indian, European, and African...
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- Caribbean An Overview
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- Bahamas Language: English Culture: Lucayan Indian, European,
and African cultures. Some interesting aspects: Junkanoo, Rake 'n
Scrape, Exuma, the Obeah ManKalik, Gold Conch Salad, National
Family Island Regatta, Chickcharnies, Salt Ponds and Cascarilla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa5uX2TcrRo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa5uX2TcrRo
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- Physical: wild horses, donkeys, goats, pigs, iguanas,
flamingos, parrots, and a small native mammal called a hutia. There
are no poisonous snakes! Lots of caves everywhere.used to be used
for pirates Over 700 islands put together Population: 347,176
(2011)
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- Cuba Language: Spanish Culture: A communist country. Very poor
limited possession type of country. Old vintage cars are the norm.
Cuban music, cigars and dancing on the street part of the culture.
Physical: largest land mass in the Caribbean. Lots of lush palm
trees. Terrain is mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills
and mountains in the southeast. Population: 11,253,665 (2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4AA4KXIjT8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4AA4KXIjT8
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- Jamaica Language: English Physical: The Blue Mountains boasts
the worlds best coffee, try a cup in the century-old factory at
Mavis Bank. There are world-class reefs for diving including those
at Runaway Bay and Ocho Rios and great stretches of palm-fringed
sand at Treasure Beach or Frenchmans Cove near Port Antonio. There
are offbeat bush-medicine hiking tours, congenial fishing villages,
pristine waterfalls, cosmopolitan cities, wetlands harboring
endangered crocodiles and manatees, unforgettable sunsets in short,
enough variety to comprise many utterly distinct vacations.
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- Culture: Nowhere else in the Caribbean is the connection to
Africa as keenly felt as it is in Jamaica. Kingston was the major
nexus in the New World for the barbaric triangular trade that
brought slaves from Africa and carried sugar and rum to Europe, and
the Maroons (runaways who took to the hills of Cockpit Country and
the Blue Mountains) safeguarded many of the African traditions and
introduced jerk seasoning to Jamaicas singular cuisine. St Anns
Bays Marcus Garvey founded the back-to- Africa movement of the
1910s and 20s; Rastafarianism took up the call a decade later, and
reggae furnished the beat in the 1960s and 70s. Little wonder many
Jamaicans claim a stronger affinity for Africa than for neighboring
Caribbean islands. Population: 2,709,300 - 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVUa5BN0Je4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVUa5BN0Je4
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- Dominican Republic Language: Spanish Culture: Whether its
fishing villages where the shoreline is used for mooring boats,
indulgent tourist playgrounds with aquamarine waters, small towns
where the social glue is all-night merengue blasting from modest
corner stores, or cities like Santo Domingo, the Caribbeans
largest, the sea is the common denominator, symbolizing both limits
and escapes. Even with their glory days behind them, former engines
of industry like crumbling San Pedro de Macoris or Puerto Plata
still see waves crash over their Malecns. Some of the bays and
coves where pirates once roamed are the temporary home of thousands
of migrating humpback whales, and part of an extensive network of
parks and preserves safeguarding the countrys natural
patrimony.
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- Physical: The DRs hundreds of miles of coastline some of it
picturesque white-sand beaches shaded by rows of palm trees, other
parts lined dramatically with rocky cliffs or backed by wind-swept
dunes or serene mangrove lagoons define the country. Beyond the
capital, much of the DR is distinctly rural: driving in the vast
fertile interior, youll see cows and horses grazing alongside the
roads, tractors ploughing large fields, and trucks and burros
loaded down with produce. Further inland youll encounter vistas
reminiscent of the European Alps, rivers carving their way through
lush jungle and stunning waterfalls, small towns where life
revolves around the Parque Central, and villages ruled by the suns
rhythms. Four of the five highest peaks in the Caribbean rise above
the fertile lowlands surrounding Santiago and remote deserts extend
through the southwest, giving the DR a physical and cultural
complexity not found on other islands. Population: 10,056,181 -
2011
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- Bermuda Language: English 'You go to heaven if you want - I'd
rather stay here in Bermuda.' So gushed Mark Twain in the 19th
century, and Bermuda's promise of sun and sea still lures
vacationers to its shores. These days celebs like Michael Douglas
and Catherine Zeta-Jones call Bermuda home, and millionaire
executives pop over for a little R&R. The island makes for a
delightful getaway vacation. If you're looking for peace and quiet,
Bermuda has pampering resorts to soothe your soul. Romantics will
find atmospheric inns with four-poster beds and candlelight dining.
Or perhaps you want to really let loose. Jump on a motor scooter
and let the wind whip through your hair. Go out on the town and
dance the night away in the seaside capital, the City of
Hamilton.
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- The island is surrounded by a fantastic coral reef that harbors
colorful fish and has ensnared scores of shipwrecks, making for
memorable diving and snorkelling at spots like Elbow Beach in Paget
Parish. Elsewhere, the crystal- clear waters of Southampton Parish
provide perfect conditions for kayaking and yachting. The offerings
on land are splendid as well. You can play a round at a world-class
golf course, hike peaceful trails and sunbathe on glorious
pink-sand beaches. Or stroll the crooked streets of the colonial
settlement of the Town of St George, Britain's oldest surviving
town in the New World, which is so well preserved it's been made a
World Heritage site. Population: 64,700 - 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jfILNAPZkI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jfILNAPZkI
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- Barbados Language: English Many Caribbean islands have beaches,
but where Barbados differs is what lies behind the surf and sand.
No matter your budget or style, you can find a place to stay that
suits you, whether cheap, funky, restful or posh. All the comforts
of home are close at hand if you want them as Barbados is one of
the most developed islands in the region. The literacy rate
approaches 98% and the capital Bridgetown and its surrounds are
booming.
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- Away from the luxury resorts of the west coast and the
well-developed south coast, however, is where youll find what makes
the island special. Central Barbados has a rolling terrain of
limestone hills and amid this lush scenery are fascinating
survivors of the colonial past. Vast plantation homes show the
wealth of these settlers and face up to the brutality of the slave
trade. Museums document this engrossing history while several
botanic gardens exploit the beauty possible from the perfect
growing conditions.
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- The wild Atlantic-battered east coast is a legend with surfers;
those looking for action will find wind-surfing, hiking, diving and
more. Barbados is a great package, and despite its popularity,
youll have no trouble making it your own. Away from the glitz, its
still a place of classic calypso rhythms, an island-time vibe and
world- famous rums. Population: 273,925 - 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOFJQ 3hKmco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOFJQ 3hKmco
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- St Lucia Language: Locals speak English Physical: Famous for
the Pittons mountain peaks Formed because of volcanoes (still
active with hot springs) Rainforests meets the ocean Natural sand
is black because of volcano ash Lots of banana plantations Culture:
Population: 176,000 (2011) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk6oe
EbX7Ss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk6oe EbX7Ss
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- Martinique Language: French Martinique is for (beach) lovers.
And foodies. And divers. And hikers. And, especially, Francophiles.
A marriage of Gallic culture and Caribbean customs, this overseas
department of France is a sunnier, slightly less crowded version of
the motherland. People looking for the more sophisticated
pleasures, whether they be the kind you put on your plate or the
kind you put on a credit card, will be happy to know that good food
and the latest fashions arent optional here, but a mandatory
fixture wherever visitors congregate - especially in its
harbourside capital, Fort-de-France.
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- Volcanic in origin, the island is crowned by the
still-smoldering Mont Pele, which wiped out Martiniques former
capital of St- Pierre in 1902. Theres plenty of hiking and
nature-watching on the slopes of the volcano. And since this is
often called the Isle of Flowers there are botanical gardens tucked
into the rugged landscape.
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- Long luscious beaches and loads of diving are the main
attractions in the south. Fishing villages dot the coasts; most of
them have managed to hang on their seafaring soul while offering
plenty for visitors to see and do. Theres a lot going on here, but
it all happens on Caribbean time. Except for the mountainous north,
its an exceptionally easy island to drive around. One can surf at
Presqule de Caravelle in the morning and make it back to
Fort-de-France in time (avoiding rush hour) to sample the citys
budding nightlife. Food: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lvWKM7QmDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lvWKM7QmDs Population: 412,305
(2012)
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- Virgin Islands Language: English Physical: St John is the
greenest island, literally and figuratively. It cloaks two-thirds
of its area in parkland and sublime beaches, ripe for hiking and
snorkeling. It also leads the way in environmental preservation,
with limited development and several low-impact tent-resorts for
lodging. Dizzying cruise-ship traffic and big resorts nibbling its
edges make St Thomas the most commercialized island. St Croix is
the odd island out, located far from its siblings and offering a
mix of rainforest, sugar plantations, old forts and great scuba
diving. Its economy is not based on tourism, which makes it feel
even more off-the-beaten path.
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- Cultural: While the islands are American territories (and a
favorite of American tourists since they dont require a passport),
West Indian culture remains their strongest influence. Calypso and
reggae rhythms swirl through the air, and curried meats, callaloo
soup and mango- sweetened microbrews fill the tables. Population:
109,666 - 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIuVoYjXyAQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIuVoYjXyAQ
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- St Thomas Most visitors arrive to the USVIs via St Thomas, and
the place knows how to strike a first impression. Jungly cliffs
poke high in the sky, red-hipped roofs blossom over the hills, and
all around the turquoise, yacht-dotted sea laps. Unfortunately,
once you disembark from your plane or boat, youll find youre
sharing this scene with 20, 000 tourists whove just piled off the
seven cruise ships docked in the harbor.
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- Years ago, St Thomas made a bargain with the devil: provide us
with a good and steady source of income and well give you our
innocence and our environment. And so it became the darling of the
cruise- ship industry and its two million passengers. In 2007 St
Thomas ranked last in the worlds most beautiful islands survey by
National Geographic, which called it totally spoiled and one big
ugly jewelry store.
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- Thats trueto an extent. Most of the mob-fest happens in
Charlotte. Visitors who make the effort to move deeper into the
30-sq-mile island will find opportunities for surfing, kayaking
through mangrove swamps and getting face-to-face with sea turtles.
Population: 51,181 (2000)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lFBQaWtb-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lFBQaWtb-M
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- St Kitts Language: English and French Near-perfect packages
thats how you might think of St Kitts and Nevis after a visit. The
two-island nation combines beaches with the beauty of the
mountains, plenty of activities to engage your body and some rich
history to engage your mind. The legacies of the sugar industry
have been recycled into pleasant plantation estates good for lunch
or just a stay. And the local culture is almost a Caribbean clich:
mellow, friendly, familiar and with a pulsing soca beat.
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- But if the pair offer much thats similar, they also differ in
the details. St Kitts is the larger and feels that way, from the
hustle of intriguing Basseterre to the resort enclave of Frigate
Bay. You could spend a few days exploring all of its beaches, with
their cool bars, water activities and pure vacation vibe. Circling
the main part of the island, theres plenty to see: the languid
charms of the plantations and the astonishing bulk of Brimstone
Fortress.
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- Nevis is a neater package. It has one volcanic mountain rather
than a range and its one main road is a circle that takes you
around the island in under two hours. Theres a handful of beaches
with the usual fun, and Charleston, the charming main town, can be
walked end to end in 15 minutes. History here centers on the big
names of Horatio Nelson and Alexander Hamilton. Nature walks take
you into the verdant upper reaches of the peak. Population: 53,051
(2011) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ft-w7vddrA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ft-w7vddrA
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- St Vincent Language: English St Vincent is the largest island
and the hub that most travelers will pass through on their visit to
SVG. Though not uninspiring, the allure of the Grenadines pulls
most visitors away from here quickly. The beaches are sadly on the
average side and the frenetic pace of Kingstown tends to put off
those in search of the quiet life. The lush green, rainforested
interior has some pleasant hiking options. Vast banana plantations
and other agricultural pursuits form the mainstay of farming in the
region.
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- There are also opportunities to get an insight into traditional
Vincy life as the towns and villages are unspoiled by tourism
unlike the resorts around the island that, for the most part, do
their best to insulate guests from the realities of life on St
Vincent, preferring to bathe them in rum punch and lull them to
sleep with incessant steel-pan serenades. Population: 109,365
(2011) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JsVK-PSTmU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JsVK-PSTmU
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- Trinidad and Tebaggo
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- Language: Spanish ts Carnival in Port of Spain. Soca music
throbs in the streets, and a woman furrows her brow, shaking and
gyrating as the beads on her bikini seem close to flying off. She
is Trinidad and Tobago. An East Indian couple serves pungent
curried doubles at lightning speed on the street corner, fishermen
plunk their catch on splintering docks as the new morning spreads
over an azure ocean, an oil-industry businessman walks from
crumbling streets into a modern air-conditioned building where he
navigates the global economy for his nation, and a crazy-haired
steel-pan player lays into an oil drum reaching a seventh-level of
ecstasy they are all Trinidad and Tobago.
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- National pride, a sordid history of slavery and indenture, and
the love of music and limin unite the myriad colors, ethnicities
and cultures that make up the dual-island nation of Trinidad and
Tobago. Dive in. Be prepared to experience beaches so mesmerizing
youll forget your name, first-class diving through coral
wonderlands, a Carnival to end all Carnivals, and luxuriant
rainforests prime for bird-watching, hiking, and cycling. Of the
two islands, Tobago is the laidback pleasure center, while
hard-working Trinidad has less of a tourist infrastructure...but
plenty of natural and nocturnal attractions.
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- But dont expect anyone to hold your hand. The oil and gas
industry leaves tourism low down on the priority list. Upscale
resorts and hotels are out there, and more so on Tobago, but
generally you jump in the mix and accept the services that
facilitate a sun-drenched ball, whether it be peaceful,
sand-filled, rollicking, or all of the above. Population: 1,346,350
- 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezetgv HIHpc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezetgv HIHpc