Stretching from the bottom of Florida to the top of South America
is a group of islands famous for warm beaches, clear
blue waters, and gently swaying palm trees.
The Caribbean is a tropical paradise where the year-round
average temperature rests comfortably between 75 and
90 degrees.
But there is more to these islands beyond the surf and sand.
Volcanic mountains have shaped the landscape.
Rainforests still teem with exotic wildlife.
And cities, towns and villages are rich in
history and alive with the spirit of the people.
Come on a journey that explores the beauty and diversity
of the Caribbean.
It would take a lifetime of island hopping to experience all the
Caribbean has to offer. With its wide range of tropical
landscapes, the region is also an extraordinary melting
pot of cultures. A rich mix of African,
European, American, and Asian populations
has influenced its dozens of inhabited islands.
Today, the Caribbean is coming to terms with its long history of
colonization. Many of the islands struggle politically and
financially to stay afloat. Tourism has definitely become the
region's lifeblood. Visitors by the millions flock to
these islands year after year to relax on the white sand
beaches. It's easy to understand the attraction.
Our journey highlights 4 islands that are short plane rides from each other
but worlds apart in character. The easygoing island
of Jamaica, the exotic French islands of Guadalupe and
Martinique, and the largest and least commercial island in the
Caribbean, Cuba and its famous city, Havana.
Just 90 miles south of Miami, Cuba stretches around
750 miles from east to west.
Christopher Columbus first spotted the island in 1492
and declared it the most beautiful land human eyes have ever seen.
Today it's the Caribbean's fastest growing vacation destination.
The jewel of the island is its capital city, Havana, home
to roughly 1/5 of the country's 11 million people,
situated on a coastal bay in the northwest part of the island. Spanish
built Havana is considered the center of all things Cuban.
At one point it was even the richest city in the Caribbean. But
the revolution that began in the 1950s gradually took its
toll. One of
Cuba's most infamous and corrupt leaders was a ruthless
dictator named Fulgencia Batista. In the face
of extreme poverty, his riches and brutal reign
eventually alienated even his supporters.
Following a three year struggle against Batista, Fidel Castro came
to power in 1959 and eventually led the country into
communism. Castro announced the victory of the
revolution in this ornate presidential palace located
in the section of town known as Old Havana.
Decorated by the famous Tiffany's of New York, it now houses the
Museum of the Revolution.
Castro was joined in his fight by an Argentinian doctor named Che
Guevara. When he died for the cause, he became a symbol of
liberty for millions. His popularity hasn't
diminished over the years. Brightly colored artwork that celebrates the
revolution can be seen throughout Cuba, and so can the
effects of this political change.
In some ways life for the average Cuban improved after the
revolution. Health care and education became available to
everyone starvation was virtually eliminated and
athletics and the arts were finally recognized and supported.
Today government sponsored theaters and art schools can be found throughout
Havana. One of the most ornate, the Garcia
Lorrica Theater, offers a breathtaking setting to take in an
opera or ballet.
Like many revolutionary governments, Cuba has also invested in its
athletes for reasons of international prestige and patriotic
pride. Baseball is the Cuban national sport
and its players are among the best in the world.
But not everything has changed for the better. Over the years,
the US embargo of Castro and his communist dictatorship has
crippled Cuba's economy, and the absence of American tourists
has been felt. Ironically, some believe it
was a good thing that the lack of dollar yielding tourists ultimately
preserved Havana's character.
One place where time seems frozen is a section of the city known
as Old Havana. This square mile of quaint alleys,
Spanish colonial palaces, and cobbled streets provides a welcome
departure from the city's high-rise hotels.
Spanish settlers first arrived here in 1511 and
gradually transformed this town into one of the prized jewels of the crown.
Today, many of its crumbling buildings are in desperate need of repair
and restoration efforts are underway.
Its very name tells you that the Plaza Vieja is one of the oldest squares
in this area lined with elegant buildings from the 18th century.
For many years it was the site of a popular city market. Now
the real owners are the children who've made it their own playground.
North of the Plaza Vieja is another aptly named square.
Here in the Plaza de Armas, one can visit Cuba's oldest surviving
fortress, the Castillo de la Fuerza.
Dating from the 1500s, its tower carries the symbol of
Havana, a woman holding a cross called the
Hilala. Recently excavated cannons now surround
the fortress.
West of the square is the Paseo de Marti, also
known as the Prado. This wide avenue built in the 18th
century quickly became the most popular promenade in the city.
Along the avenue you can relax in the pleasant Park Centro.
Here stands a monument dedicated to Jose Marti. This
famous poet, a national hero, led a revolt against Spanish rule and
died in the fight in 1895.
Just a few years later, the United States took control of the island until
Cuba established its independence in 1902.
On the Prado stands a small scale copy of the Capitol building in
Washington DC. Completed in
1929, the Capitolio Nacional was once a
symbol of American influence on the island. Its large dome and
rotunda, interior walls and staircases are all exquisitely
decorated.
Old Havana is a great place to see some of the most surprising leftovers from
the pre-revolution days. American cars of the
1950s. When gas is available, Cubans
still drive these chrome-tailed relics, evoking the roaring
atmosphere of an era gone by.
The charm of these cars mixes well with many of the restaurants and bars
that remain almost unchanged since before the revolution.
Two of the most famous were frequented by author Ernest Hemingway, who lived
in Cuba during the 1940s and 1950s.
The Floredita is known for its daiquiris, a cocktail of rum, lemon,
sugar, and crushed ice, often described in Hemingway's stories.
Um And the boisterous
Bodeguita del Medio serves its own mojito, another
rum drink with lemon juice, soda, and mint.
Oh
Along the seafront to the north, Old Havana is bordered by a
spectacular 2 mile boulevard called the Melecon.
Gigantic waves often crash along the seawall, adding adventure to the
journey. Large hotels, famous nightclubs,
local bars, and taverns lie along this street that leads west to the
more modern districts of the city.
Anyone who visits Havana will quickly realize that music and dance
are essential parts of Cuban life. During the 16th
and 17th centuries, Spanish colonials brought African slaves to
the island to provide the labor force. African
rhythms mixed with Spanish guitar have created a distinctly
Cuban sound. The mambo, rumba,
bolero, and cha cha cha were after all invented
on this island. These dances are still performed at
the legendary Tropicana, the most luxurious cabaret in the
city.
Like other Caribbean islands, Cuba also celebrates Carnival, a
raucous few days before the Catholic season of Lent that explodes with
music and movement. Colorful parades and wild dance
marathons mark the occasion.
West of Havana lies the province of Pinard del Rio, the
island's largest protected forest reserve where Cuba's finest
tobacco is grown. Those rich aromatic
cigars coveted by connoisseurs worldwide are made from the
leaves grown in this area.
At local factories, visitors can watch cigars being rolled and assembled
by hand. There is even a museum of tobacco
for the true aficionado.
While Cuban cigars are definitely popular, the largest export
is actually sugar cane grown in fertile flatlands throughout
the country.
About 2.5 hours east of Havana, Cuba's finest resort
town, Barradeo offers a relaxing change of pace.
It's 12 mile long beach known as Icacos Peninsula, is a
great launching point for almost any water sport.
Foreigners, even Americans who get to visit, are welcome here and treated
with respect. The country is as breathtaking and rich in
culture as any of the Caribbean islands.
90 miles south of Cuba lies the island Jamaica,
the 3rd largest in the Caribbean. At 146
miles long and 50 miles wide, it boasts a mountain range that
peaks 7400 ft above sea level.
Some honey. Most
visitors prefer to stay along the north coast in the resort towns of
Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, or Negril.
Here the beaches are white, sandy, and inviting.
Each year the blue waters, lush green landscape,
and crimson sunsets attract people by the thousands.
Most come to relax and enjoy modern Jamaica's great cultural
force. It's reggae music. Reggae was born here,
linked to the beliefs of the religious Rastafarians and to the
legendary songwriter Bob Marley.
But the music often speaks of a different side of Jamaica, one that's
trying to escape a somber history. Most of the island
natives are descendants of African slaves who were brought to this island to
cultivate sugar cane.
In 1962, Jamaica gained independence from British
rule, but striking out on its own hasn't been easy.
The island continues to struggle against poverty and occasional
political unrest. Some
of this unrest can be felt in the densely populated capital of Kingston
on the southern shore of the island. Huge economic
disparities are evident here, but it's still an interesting place to
visit. Those who do will experience the true vibrant
Jamaican culture.
Most Jamaicans are quick to welcome visitors to this land of tranquil
beaches and varied topography. Their motto, Out of
many, one people seems to apply to everyone.
For a touch of France in the tropics, head east and further south to the
French islands of Guadalupe and Martinique.
The butterfly shape of Guadalupe is comprised of two strikingly different
volcanic halves divided by a narrow strait. The
Boss Tire lies to the west and the Grand Terre to the east.
Most travelers arrive in the main city of Puenteit near the middle
of the island. Colonial buildings with their wrought iron balconies are
steps away from the bustling harbors.
A stop at the wharf markets just after dawn provides a chance to sample
a variety of vegetables and exotic fruits grown here.
A worthwhile site in the city is the Schulzer Museum dedicated to
slavery abolitionist Victor Schulzer, who lived on the island in the
19th century.
The Saint Jean Per's traces the life of the local Nobel Prize
winning poet Alexis Saint.
From here we travel east through the flat coral-based terrain of
the Gran Terre side of Guadalupe. While the street signs
can be tricky, a breathtaking route weaves along the white beaches of
the southern coast to the very eastern tip called Point de
Chateau. This is a place to admire the strong winds and
waves of the moody Atlantic Ocean.
But the most dramatic view can be found at the northernmost Puente de la Grande
Vigy, where cliffs rise 250 ft above sea
level.
Along the coast we head back west to the Grand Cul de Sac Marin,
a nature reserve with hundreds of acres of mangrove swamp and marine
life.
On the western half of Guadalupe, the scene drastically changes. The
Bastare side is dominated by the dormant Soufriere volcano and
a dense rainforest that covers the volcanic ridge.
Most visitors like to explore these sites on foot, while some trails are
for experts only, all offer spectacular views and lush
vegetation.
Some minor yet stunning islands to the south also form part of
Guadeloupe. They can easily be reached by ferry. The
largest, Marie Galant, was once famous for its mills and
sugar cane.
Another group of tiny islands called the Saints is known for its
quiet beaches, scuba diving, and wonderful vistas of the
surrounding area. They date back to Christopher Columbus,
who came here in 1493 and dedicated them to the feast
day of All Saints. All of the
islands of Guadalupe remain virtually unspoiled and rarely
crowded. It's a place to peek into a French colonial world
at a leisurely pace.
Our last stop takes us 200 miles south of Guadalupe. The tiny
volcanic island of Martinique is one of the most exotic French-speaking
destinations in the Caribbean. Most people come here for the
beaches, but it's towns, rainforests, and remote east
coast shouldn't be missed.
Martinique prospered until the late 19th century thanks to the sugar and
rum production that was vitally important to the French. The
landscape carries reminders of that time with its elegant manners,
factories, and cane fields.
Today the cultivation of pineapples and bananas has been added to sugar cane.
Bananas are now the main source of agricultural income and employment.
The island's capital, Port au France, is a chic port town of
100,000 people. On the waterfront, a large park
called the Savan makes a good first stop with fountains, gardens,
and an occasional open air concert. The main public
buildings in the city, including the Sholser Library, stand in the
immediate vicinity.
Just outside of the capital, be sure to visit the Balata Botanical Gardens,
home to countless tropical species. The indigenous Carib
Indians once called Martinique Maddanina or land of
flowers, and it's easy to see why.
Heading north along the coast by car or bus, you will find the old capital of
Saint Pierre, once known as the Little Paris of the West Indies.
In 1902, a nearby volcano completely destroyed this
cosmopolitan place, killing all but one of its inhabitants.
The survivor was a convict saved by the depth of his cell
which protected him from the ashes. Further
north, Mont Paille continues to cast its shadow on the
rebuilt town.
The southern coast of the island is covered with tiny coves of coconut grove
and small sandy beaches known as ons. The
village La Diamman offers a good view of one of the island's best known
oddities. The diamond rock is sometimes called
the Gibraltar of the Caribbean.
To take in a truly local spectacle, head a little further east to the
town of Rivier Pelo. Although they're not for
everyone, cockfighting matches are still very popular on the island.
Locals bet on the birds, then release them into a circular ring called the
pit. May the best bird win.
Or you can head to the waterfront where the traditional boats of the island
called yalls race and colorful regattas. These
y'alls with their huge square sails are often assembled on the spot by
crews of 11 or 12 men. The month of July is the
best time to catch a regatta.
Blessed with an excellent year-round climate, there is really no bad
time to visit the Caribbean. People call this
stretch of islands the 8th continent of the world.
The Caribbean is more than beautiful beaches and blue waters.
It's a place of diverse landscapes and cultures that continues to