ANTIGUA, the heart of the Caribbean


	ANTIGUA, the heart of the Caribbean

Nearly everyone arrives by air or cruise liner. The islands of Antigua and Barbuda are located in the Leeward Islands, right in the heart of the Caribbean.Antigua stands out as a special gem in a chain of fantasy islands strung like pearls down the Eastern Caribbean coast. Antigua is ringed with white sand beaches, coral reefs, verdant shores and low range mountains. Its' temperature is comfortable, cooled by constant trade winds. Every effort is made by the islanders to make your stay a memorable one. I assure you. St. John's being the capital of Antigua, will make you feel welcome, day or night.

Outside the custom areas is a booth, where you can rent a car for touring the island at your own pace. It's very easy to find transportation on the spot, but if you are one of those people who prefer to arrange it ahead ,do so! I f your time is limited, I would suggest that you take a taxi. The driver will take you on a tour of the main attractions. A full day's tour, will cost approximately $40.00-$50.00 a day. Be sure to know and remember whether the price is in U.S . DOLLARS or EASTERN CARIBBEAN DOLLARS. US$ 1.00=E.C.$2.70 Car Rentals are about $40.00 to $50.00 a day. I f you wish to rent a car for a week,your cost will be approximately $150 .00 to $175 .00 U .S. dollars .

There are so many wonderful places to explore in Antigua. I am going to give you a list of some of these delightful places to visit :

Museum of Antigua/Barbuda
Provides a great historical background from 10,00 years ago. Find out how the island was formed and who lived there. Learn about the Arawaks and the Caribs as well as their culture.This museum is full of interesting displays. Plan on spending an hour or two.
Betty's Hope
Built in 1674 by Sir Christopher Codrington was the site of one of the first full scale sugar plantations on Antigua. It is now, one of the most beautiful attractions on the island. I recommend it highly. Every taxi driver on the island will take you there. Don't miss it !
Fig Tree Drive
One of the most beautiful drives on the island. I need to explain that "FIG" is the Antiguan name for bananas.( if it sounds confusing, don't feel bad I got confused too...) When you take this drive, have a camera and plenty of extra film. The road is lined with tropical fruit trees, such as : mangoes, oranges coconuts, guavas , bananas and pineapples. I can only describe these marvelous sights as a Garden of Eden...
Sugar Mills
You will notice a lot of these sugar mills. Mostly in ruins, but some with the outer structures still intact. In 1705 the island of Antigua was planted with sugar cane. It was a great industry at that time and 170 sugar cane mills were built for commerce. If you are a photography enthusiast, these sugar mills are great subjects.

There are so many places to visit, wether you drive or walk, keep an open mind and do what you like to do...

When it comes to shopping, you have come to the right place. Antigua is a delight for shoppers. The newest and most exciting development is called Heritage Quay.If you are a cruise or yacht passenger, it's very easy for you to just step onto the pier and simply walk into the wide and spacious area of Heritage Quay, where you will find a wide variety of goods available . You can shop for the finest quality items from Europe, North and South America and the Caribbean.You can even find the finest Swiss watches at :Little Switzerland. All merchandise is Duty Free...

St. John's , is not only charming , but totally fascinating. I for one, am ready to return...

You must not miss Redcliffe Quay ,which was once used as a slave compound, called a "barracoon. In 1834, slavery was abolished. " These buildings are housing merchants with fine wares. Exquisite dining and entertainment abounds. The islanders have retained most of the traditional architecture during the restoration of the area.

One more thing to mention: Antigua is famous for its' sailing. There are many day cruises to choose from. The weather conditions are idyllic, with warm temperatures cooled by gentle, constant breezes. I would like to suggest one day trip in particular, for those of you with the spirit of long ago adventures :

The Jolly Roger Pirate cruise, a spacious, two masted schooner, will take you back to pirate days( without the fighting...) It has lots of room for relaxation, exotic dining and dancing.Your spirit will soar with the calypso rhythm of the music, and incidentally, the barrel of rum is never empty....

For those of you with romance in your heart, there are lots of night cruise to choose from. Romance under the Caribbean stars, is guaranteed...

A lot more could be said about this exciting and beautiful island. If you run out of time, Antigua will receive you with open arms.Again and again..

By : Maryvonne C.M.Martin

Caribbean cruise and travel magazine