Slavery, in turn, played a central role in the political instability of the island. Slaves freed in the final days of Spanish rule, along with those who had run away from their plantations, established communities in the wild mountain interior and became known as the Maroons. Skirmishes with British troops eventually escalated into two separate wars, which led to the eventual deportation of many Maroons. Two slave rebellions, one in Morant Bay in 1760 and the Christmas Rebellion in St. James in 1831, combined with the growing antislavery movement in England, ended slavery in Jamaica. Chinese and East Indian indentured laborers were then brought to Jamaica, adding to the island's cultural mix. The early decades of the 20th century were marked by agitation for independence and social unrest among sugar plantation workers. After gaining greater sovereignty in the 1950s, Jamaica won full independence from Great Britain in 1962. It remains a member of the British Commonwealth. The island's social tensions have helped fuel its most famous export—reggae music. A potent mix of politics, religion and danceable rhythms, reggae rose to international popularity in the 1970s on the shoulders of Bob Marley and other Jamaican performers. In the 1970s, Jamaica veered toward socialism under charismatic premier Michael Manley. The resulting economic crisis spawned social unrest. Abetted by corrupt political leaders, criminal gangs evolved; the drug trade and politically partisan violence associated with it threatened to destabilize the nation. The economy has been relatively stable in recent decades, thanks to the growth of tourism and effective leadership. Geography Jamaica is the third-largest of the Caribbean islands—146 mi/234 km long and 51 mi/82 km wide—and the largest island in the English-speaking Caribbean. It lies some 90 mi/145 km south of Cuba. More than 100 rivers wind through the forested mountains of the island, and nearly half the island is more than 984 ft/300 m above sea level, so you can always see a hill or mountain, wherever you are. The largest city, Kingston, on the southeast side of the island, lies in the lee of the Blue Mountains. The northeast side of Jamaica receives trade winds and is extremely wet. By contrast, the southeast and south central coasts are arid, and cacti abound. The tourism industry is concentrated along the north coast, especially in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, and in Negril, on the western tip of Jamaica. Your own adventures are just a click away! Book your complimentary consultation with Debbie by clicking the button above and your dream luxury vacation will no longer be found only in your dreams! Talk to you soon!  Weather The best time to visit is November-April—Jamaica can be very crowded then. The temperature is fairly stable year-round, so it's possible to visit in other months as well. Winter coastal-area day temperatures are in the 70s-80s F/23-32 C. June-September is usually in the 80s-90s F/30-35 C. Nights tend to be 5-10 F/3-5 C degrees cooler everywhere. Temperatures in the hills and mountains are usually cooler than on the coasts—take a sweater for nights. Kingston, on the leeward (southern) side of the island, is drier, hotter and generally more uncomfortable than the windward (northern) shore. Always be prepared for rain showers in the Blue Mountains. The hottest time is July-October, when the humidity, heat and hurricane possibilities are the highest. Most rain falls May-October, but even then, it generally comes in brief showers and seldom ruins anyone's vacation. Hurricane season is June-November.  What to wear...
Lightweight tropical clothing is preferable, with a shawl or light jacket for cool evenings. Beachwear is appropriate only at the beach. You should wear a cover-up when strolling in town (men, too). Even the most casual restaurants expect shoes and a shirt, except those on the beach, where button-down and barefoot is the rule. Appropriate dinner dress is Caribbean chic. Formal resort restaurants require men to wear a jacket and tie. Be sure to take comfortable walking shoes for sightseeing. If a visit to a church is on the itinerary, be respectful of the modest dress-code requirements.
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 Have you ever had the pleasure of visiting the Caribbean? So much to see and do but, if all you're thinking of is beaches--you're in for a surprise! There are far more opportunities beyond the crystal blue waters and white soft sands...try Antigua for instance! Antigua is situated in the Caribbean east, southeast of St. Kitts and north of Guadeloupe and Dominica. It is a picturesque island that people dream of visiting when they fantasize about a Caribbean getaway. Antigua is categorized by its beautiful ocean views and turquoise blue waters. What most people don't realize is that there is a lot more to this island than just the beaches.  There are beautiful beaches of places like Half Moon Bay, Dickenson Bay, Galley Bay, and Valley Church. These are just the right places to enjoy sunbathing, water sports with the family, swimming, and snorkeling fun, but there is so much more to do. Betty’s Hope Betty's Hope was the first and the most abundant sugar plantation on the island of Antigua. It stands as a reminder of the role that Antigua played in the British Colonial Era. It was a plantation that helped Britain generate considerable wealth in the Caribbean. Established in 1674, it was named for the daughter of one of the former owners. The comprehensive visitor’s center and museum educate tourists on the daily lives of slaves on this plantation. It also offers a way to step back into the past and understand Antigua’s rich history. St. John’s Saturday Morning Market St. John is the capital of Antigua and is the center of island life on Saturday mornings. This market draws in vendors from all over the island and provides a wonderful place for tourists to spend time. This market is a beautiful reflection of Antigua. You can get in touch with the locals, their incredible culture, and their fun way of life. Nelson’s Dockyard National Park and Shirley Heights
Nelson's Dockyard, located in English Harbor, served the British Naval Fleet during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). It also served as the headquarters for Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson from 1784-1787. The area is filled with shops, restaurants, cafes, shops, and even a museum where you can spend a fantastic day out in Antigua. Shirley Heights is a great hike that you can take from the Dockyard. Shirley Heights is just under 500 feet above sea level, and the summit of this hike allows for views of Guadeloupe island and the active volcanic island of Montserrat, both located just to the south. It is also a prime spot for a great Sunday night party at the Shirley Heights Lookout Bar and Restaurant. For more nightlife fun head to Falmouth and English Harbors. With a wide selection of markets, shops, and restaurants to tour while in Antigua, this island filled with rich colonial history offers plenty of activities away from the beach. When you're ready to stop dreaming and make your plan for adventure, history, great food and incredible memories--call me! Or book a consultation by clicking the button below.  St. Lucia island in the Caribbean holds a wealth of natural beauty—lush mountains, a steaming sulfur volcano, 19,000 acres of rainforest, charming black-and-white-sand beaches, stunning rare colorful foliage and exotic wildlife. When you add the pleasant St. Lucia weather and the nice beaches, you understand why it is a popular Caribbean destination. There's much to do on this little island, although given it's rise as a high-end resort, you will need your wallet handy if you wish to take advantage of much of it. The rainforest is an ideal place for hiking, mountain biking, bird-watching or just enjoy standing near a waterfall to soak up the mist from its spray. And there's also whale-and dolphin-watching, snorkeling, kite-sailing, fishing and diving. Vacationers going to St. Lucia travel there generally for two distinct reasons: either to enjoy its charm and undeveloped feel, still found in some places, or to luxuriate in five-star waterfront luxury. Whether staying in a deluxe, all-inclusive resort or a local inn or hotel, St. Lucia and its residents extend a warm welcome. An avocado-shaped island 14 mi/23 km wide by 27 mi/43 km long, St. Lucia is one of the greenest and lushest areas in the Caribbean. The island is mountainous, except for the northern area around Gros Islet and Rodney Bay. Most of the resorts and towns are located right along the shore. The twin volcanic peaks, Petit Piton and Gros Piton—probably the most-photographed mountains in the Caribbean as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site—are on the southwestern side of the island. If you are planning to visit St. Lucia, there are "must sees" that you may want to add to your itinerary during your stay. Typical excursions include tours of historic buildings and a sugar mill or more rigorous adventures such as horseback riding, hiking, rain-forest canopy tours, snorkeling or flightseeing. The most popular tours include an opportunity to view and photograph the Piton mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and those visiting by boat have the option of snorkeling in the marine reserve at the base of the twin peaks. Island-wide tours often include a drive through Castries with stops at the open-air markets, a visit to a working plantation and a refreshment break in one of the fishing villages to sample local foods. Adventure tours focus on watersports, such as diving, or land activities, such as zipline or tram rides through the rain forest. A photo tour combines sights with insights into capturing their memories. Other options include a visit to the drive-in volcano, a walk though one of the botanical gardens, or a tour of Pigeon Point National Park.  The Church Of The Immaculate Conception, Castries, St. Lucia   Castries, Saint Lucia  Pigeon Island , St. Lucia Be sure to include at least a few of these great natural attractions!Sights—The mineral baths at Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens; views of the Piton mountains; touring the sulphur springs at La Soufriere Volcano, which is called "the drive-in volcano"; spotting the endangered parrot, the Amazona versicolor; the black-sand beaches on the south end of the island; a zipline ride or tram trip through the treetops in the 19,000-acre/7,690-hectare rain forest. Museums—The history and culture of growing sugar at La Sikwi Historical Sugar Mill and Plantation; multimedia displays at Pigeon Island Interpretation Centre. Memorable Meals—Pumpkin soup at The Coal Pot; green fig and saltfish at Ladera Hotel's Dasheene Restaurant; little plates at Orlando's; savory creme brulee at La Terrasse; cocktails made with local rum Bounty, or Piton Shandys (a blend of beer, spices and fruit juice) after a day on the beach. Late Night—Counting nesting leatherback turtles; dancing to soca music during Friday-night street parties (Gros Islet's Jump-Up and Anse La Raye's Fish Fry); mingling with yachters and expatriates at The Lime in Rodney Bay. Walks—A hike on the Edmund Forest Reserve Rain Forest Trail; a challenging climb up Gros Piton; a stroll through tropical forest to a sandy beach. Especially for Kids—Climbing over the ruins and cannons at Fort Rodney at Pigeon Point National Park; snorkeling along shallow reefs at Anse Chastanet Resort and enjoying watersports on Reduit (pronounced red-wee) Beach; watching pools of furiously bubbling mud at La Soufriere—an active volcano.  And for you Casino go-ers, casino gambling is not a major draw on St. Lucia, but for those who love it, there is a decent one. The minimum age is 18, and complimentary membership is required. Treasure Bay Casino St. Lucia's first casino has 260 slot machines and 22 table games (including three poker tables). There also is a full bar and snack areas, and the casino itself is in a 60-store enclosed shopping mall. Patrons must be at least 18 years old and must obtain a complimentary membership to enter. Open Sunday-Thursday 10 am-3 am, Friday and Saturday until 4 am. U.S. currency is used. Baywalk Mall, Rodney Bay (Gros Islet), St. Lucia. Phone 459-2901. http://www.treasurebaystlucia.com. Whatever your pleasure, we can make just about anything you can dream up--happen! I'm eager to help you make those dreams come true so let's talk--and let's get your bucket list out. I'm sure we can check off a box or two with a trip to your favorite luxury destination!
Cheers!
Columbus was the first European to arrive, in 1493. He sent his men ashore on St. Croix and claimed the islands for Spain. Because of the strategic location of the islands on the eastern rim of the Caribbean, they were popular hideouts for pirates in the late 1500s. (Sir Francis Drake perched on a high hilltop on St. Thomas at what is now called Drake's Seat and peered through his spyglass at the Spanish Armada.) Permanent European settlements didn't grow until the early 1600s, when the Danes began to arrive on St. Thomas and St. John. On St. Croix, settlers flew seven different flags, including that of the Knights of Malta, until Denmark finally prevailed. In 1917, the U.S., fearful of German expansion and eager for a naval base to help protect the Panama Canal, bought the islands from Denmark for US$25 million. The territory experienced economic hardship until the early 1960s, when tourism became lucrative. Today, the islands are the easternmost possession of the U.S. in the Western Hemisphere. Facts and StatsPassport/Visa Requirements: Because the U.S. Virgin Islands is an American possession, U.S. citizens do not need a passport to enter. All U.S. citizens must have a passport when traveling by air to or from Bermuda, Canada, and most of the Caribbean, as well as Central and South America and Mexico.Citizens of Canada, Mexico and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda also must have a passport or other designated secure document to enter the U.S. Passports are required for land crossings at the Canadian and Mexican borders with the U.S. and for cruise passengers returning to the U.S. from Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada or Bermuda. Reconfirm travel-document requirements with your carrier prior to departure. Population: 104,914. Languages: English, Spanish, Patois (a local dialect). Predominant Religions: Christian. Time Zone: 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed. Voltage Requirements: 120 Volts. Telephone Codes: 1, country code for the U.S.; 340,area code for the U.S. Virgin Islands;  |
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