Caribbean and Central America Travel

Trinidad and its sister island Tobago, is the perfect example of contrasts. While Tobago is a sleepy small town, Trinidad is just bursting with life. Known largely for its annual Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago can be deserted during the off season.

The carnival, which takes its roots from West African festivals, is celebrated a week before Ash Wednesday. The pre-lenten festival has been adapted in accordance to the Roman Catholic teaching of carne vale – farewell to the flesh. Carnival celebrates life, and Trinidadians & Tobagonians do so with music, extravagant costumes and dancing in the streets.

Calypso is one of the mainstays of the Carnival. This musical genre that originated in Trinidad was the African slaves’ way of communicating with each other, as speaking among slaves are prohibited. Over the years, it evolved as a means of spreading news around the island. It became the people’s medium for expressing their thoughts on island life, current events, and even politics. In recent years however, it was Soca, or soul calypso that has been taking precedent in the carnival. Originating from the calypso, Soca mixes the island beat of the steel pan and electronic percussion which blends into a rich dance music that’s perfect for the festivities of carnival.

Like most islands in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago’s economy is boosted by tourism. However, unlike the other Caribbean islands, the other pillar of their economy is petroleum, not agriculture.

Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot in Guadeloupe. He was on his second trip to the Americas, and set foot on the island, seeking fresh water. Columbus christened the island Santa Maria de Guadalupe de Extremadura, named after the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.

It was the French however, who were the first European settlers in the island. In the year 1635, the French landed in the island of Basse-Terre and claimed Guadeloupe for France. They drove the native Caribs off the island, established agriculture in the islands and soon, Guadeloupe had its first sugar mill. The island was officially annexed by France in 1674.

Britain made several attempts in invading Guadeloupe. They were able to develop Pointe-à-Pitre into a major harbor, which opened the island to trading with North America and Europe. It was also due to this that Guadeloupean businesses were able to import cheap raw materials and food from America. Guadeloupe reverted back to French rule in 1753 upon the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Guadeloupe is one of France’s 26 regions (as an overseas region). Guadeloupe’s currency is the euro, since it’s considered as part of the European Union. However, Guadeloupe is not part of the Schengen Agreement.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Emerald Isle in the Caribbean, Montserrat is so named due to the island’s resemblance to that of Ireland’s and its Irish population. Road littered with volcanic rocks, not one stoplight in the entire island and a handful of hotel and guesthouses, Montserrat offer its guests a different Caribbean experience.

The first settlers of Montserrat, the Caribs calls the island Alliouagana – Land of the Prickly Bush – due to its rough terrain. Christopher Columbus, when he claimed the island for Spain had the same idea – he named it Santa Maria de Montserrate. He named it after the Blessed Virgin of the Monastery of Montserrat that is perch on top of the Mountain of Montserrat.

Though majority of its early European settlers were Irish, it was the British who was able to take control of the island. At one point, the French (aided by the Irish), was able to seize control from the British. However, after the Treaty of Paris was signed, the island reverted back to British rule.
Read the rest of this entry »

It was Christopher Columbus who first sighted Grenada, but it was the French who was able to take control of it, and the British that eventually got them gave them their independence.

Grenada is an archipelago made up of islands called the Grenadines. The biggest island is Grenada itself, where most of the population lives. The smaller islands are Carriacou, Petit Martinique, Rhonde Island, Caille Island, Diamond Island, Large Island, Saline Island and Frigate Island.

Like the other Caribbean islands, Grenada’s islands are formed by volcanoes, are mountainous and have fertile soil. And like the other islands in the Caribbean, Grenada enjoys a tropical climate, with seasons alternating between rainy and dry. Grenada is on the southern edge of the hurricane belt, and usually suffers the worst when hurricane season hits.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti in eastern Caribbean. Blessed with spectacular whites and beaches, mountain ranges, different bodies of water including salt water lakes, bevy of exotic wildlife, and colorful culture, Dominican Republic have something for every tourist.

Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 for Spain, Hispaniola became the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. When the gold in Hispaniola ran out, it lost its prominence. When pirates ransacked the settlements in the western part of the island, the Spaniards relinquished control of what is now known as Haiti to the French.
Read the rest of this entry »