Caribbean:

The Lovely Caribbean Isles:  Highlights of the British Islands

Contrasts during our cruise, the British Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Antigua, Dominica to Nassau Bahamas.  Each of these lovely islands has distinctive architecture and diverse population from the colonial era with continuing ties to the UK.

The Lovely Isles:  Highlights of the French & Spanish Islands

Contrasts of  the French & Spanish heritage isles: St. Barthemy’s, still a French island & the nation of the Dominican Republic, with a discussion of Caribbean history and the very different development paths of these islands.

St. Maarten/Martin: the Bi-national Island:

This island is shared as overseas territory by the Netherlands and France.    The great bay at Phillipsburg features beaches off an old colonial town, sail racing and plenty of shopping, all convenient to the same on the French side of the hilly isle.

The Lovely Isles:

Turk and Caicos These 40 islands are renowned for their beauty unspoiled by large development.  This British Crown Colony was once known for salt ponds operations. Today the ponds are bird refuges while whales migrate through clear waters.

The Leeward Island of Antigua

The natural beauties of this volcanic island is contrasted with a historic heritage that includes a young Horatio Nelson stationed at the Royal Navy Dockyards.  The island boasts many beautiful harbors and classic plantation architecture.

Guadeloupe and the French Caribbean

These isles Terre de Bas and Terre de Haute island have a mixed heritage from French Normans and Bretons.   The quaint towns of Les Saintes and  Deshaies feature gingerbread adorned houses and lush botanical gardens.

The Grenadines:

These 40 small islands are low cays but have numerous bays and harbors for cruising sailors.  Our landing in Mayreaux is a gem where we may taste the easy life of a small isle.

The Enchanted Island of Barbados

The unusual history and contemporary culture of this scenic isle of rum and fun.  So naturally charming, even George Washington once vacationed here.

The Exclusive Isle of St. Barthelemy:

St. Bart’s is a former Swedish colony traded back and forth with France and now known as one of the most expensive yet still charming islands of the Caribbean.

The British Virgin Islands and Jost Van Dyke:

These many islets are a sailor’s paradise with few residents and easy anchorages, in contrast to the formerly Danish, now US Virgin Islands nearby.

The Dominican Republic and Hispaniola

Following the violent history of Hispaniola’s early Spanish settlements, the Dominican side of island is now vibrant and more prosperous in contrast to the  problems its neighbor, Haiti. This island of the Greater Antilles has the interests and problems of larger nations.

Haiti – The Tragic Island:

A inquiry into the history and society of this poorest and most beleaguered of Caribbean nations, once the richest colony of France.

Maya – The lost and living culture:

the land, architecture and original culture of Central America, still alive and revealing discoveries, with a people who have survived ecological collapse and conquest

Pirates of the Caribbean – Real and Imagined

True tales of the Caribbean sea rovers, including recent discoveries that make the cinematic myths seem tame.  Does piracy continue today is other forms?