AnguillaMorrela Kenisha Findlay

Barbados is a very beautiful island. There are many tourist attractions in Barbados, such as Harrison’s

Cave, Graeme Hall Sanctuary, Barbados Museum, and the Wildlife Reserve. Harrison’s Cave is situated

in the parish of St. Thomas. It is very beautiful with many stalagmites and stalactites.

If you want to know the history of this beautiful island you can take a visit to the Barbados Museum, situ-

ated in St. Michael. There, you can view the very first utensils to the bones of extinct animals. The Atlantis

Submarine is one of the most popular water adventures. One of the things that

can be enjoyed is that you get a spectacular view of nature’s creatures living in

their natural habitats and a real sunken ship. You can see the ragged parts of the

country and enjoy a thrilling ride in a four by four safari Jeep. You experience

an enjoyable ride through muddy patches, going up and down steep hills and

around sharp corners.

Our Bajan cuisine is delightful, tempting, and mouthwatering. We have excel-

lent restaurants serving from regular foods to exotic dishes from different cul-

tures. You can never have enough of our cou-cou and flying fish, pudding and

souse and finger licking fish cakes. Chefette and K.F.C. are popular for fast

foods but if you want a romantic night on the town, with a more elegant setting

and fine dining, there is Lord Willoughby’s Tavern, Champers, Coach House,

Blue Monkey, Brown Sugar, The Cliff and many more to choose from. Our nightlife really heats up from the

middle of the week. There is something for everyone, from the young at heart to the not so young at heart.

We have various nightclubs such as After Dark, Club Extreme, Boatyard, Baku and Harbour Lights. This

beautiful island of friendly people is truly a paradise on earth.

“Our nightlife really heats up from the middle of the week. There is something for everyone, from the young at heart to the not so young at heart. ”

BarbadosAshley Harris

“Imagine that you are a travel journalist and have been assigned to write a story about your country for Condé Nast Traveler. Remember that our motto is Truth in Travel, and we like to go beneath the surface to show people more than just the usual tourist spots.”

My CaribbeanE s s a y C o n t e s t

in cooperation with the Caribbean Tourism Organization

14th annual

AnguillaMorrela Kenisha Findlay

In a world of polluted air and water, one place that remains clean and pure is “Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret,” Belize. Accompany me as we discover Belize.

Let’s start in the North, which is home to the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve. There, you can get up close and personal views of stingrays, parrotfish, angelfish and much exotic marine life. One of my favorite family adventures is to take a slow boat cruise down the New River. Along the way you may see exotic birds, fierce crocodiles, and queer, cute Howler Monkeys swinging from the trees. After the exciting ninety-minute cruise, you will behold the magnificent Ancient Maya ruin, Lamanai, which means the “submerged crocodile.” This ruin displays the artistic work of the ancient Maya.

Now moving to the Eastern part of our country, home to the largest city, Belize City. In Belize City we’re proud of our historic Swing Bridge, which is the only manually operated Bridge in the world. Belize City is also home to the oldest Anglican Cathedral in Central America, the St. Johns Cathedral, which was built in 1812. Other Historic buildings include the Supreme Court House and the Government House, which was built in 1814 and is now the House of Culture. The Belize Museum, formally the Old Jail, is a must see. The displays are spectacular.

From Belize City you can take a water taxi to any of our many islands, including La Isla Bonita, San Pedro, which is my favorite holiday getaway. In San Pedro we prefer to ride in golf carts instead of cars, and, if you feel really relaxed and want to feel close to nature, feel free to throw those shoes off, we won’t mind.

Now on to the West. If you happen to come to Belize in March, you must go west and experience the spectacular La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge. It is the longest canoe race in Central America. It is 170 miles and it takes four days to complete. Another activity you can enjoy all year long is exploring the Archaeological Maya Ruins of Canal Pech and Xunantunich. If caving, tubing, zip lining or canoeing are your favorite pastimes, then I suggest Cayo, and your dreams shall be granted.

The unspoiled Southern Belize is home to small exotic islands, sleepy fishing villages, long sandy beaches, spectacular waterfalls, and National Parks. If you are lucky, you might see all five varieties of Belizean wildcats - the jaguar, the jaguarundi, the margay, the ocelot, and the puma. You may find them at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a 128,000-acre jungle. In June, the village of Placencia celebrates their Lobster Fest. During that time you can enjoy lobsters cooked to your delight. The village of San Antonio in Toledo is home to the largest Mopan Maya community. If you ever wanted to know how a Maya lives, you could actually live with a family for a couple of days. Having explored the various attractions of this peaceful country, why don’t you visit your travel agent now and make necessary travel arrangements for a visit. It is an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life. Don’t forget your camera, Belize awaits you.

“If you feel really relaxed and want to feel close to nature, feel free to throw those shoes off, we won’t mind.”

BelizeVivian Courtenay

“Imagine that you are a travel journalist and have been assigned to write a story about your country for Condé Nast Traveler. Remember that our motto is Truth in Travel, and we like to go beneath the surface to show people more than just the usual tourist spots.”

My CaribbeanE s s a y C o n t e s t

in cooperation with the Caribbean Tourism Organization

14th annual

AnguillaMorrela Kenisha Findlay

Have you ever wanted to do something out of the ordinary? Then impress your friends and pay a visit to the beautiful island of Bermuda to visit some of the spectacular tourist destinations.

In the Eastern Parishes, there is the historical town of St. George. The town itself is twinned with Lyme Regis in South West England, and it used to be the capital of Bermuda. In the town square, there are many shops and photo opportunities, and in the winter, the town crier will happily give you a tour of St. George. He will also give you many facts about Bermuda that you wouldn’t otherwise find out about St. George. At some stage in the day, make sure you get to St. Peters Church, which is the oldest church in the Americas still in use today.

The original church was made entirely out of Bermuda Cedar. When you enter, inhale deeply as Bermuda Cedar has a very distinctive smell.

Another must see in the East is Nonsuch Island. The island is a natural park, and special permission is required. However, it is well worth the trouble. A few years ago, several endemic Bermuda Cahow chicks were relocated to Nonsuch to pro-vide a new, safer nesting colony. Cahows spend the first few months of their life in a burrow, being fed by their parents and then leave the nest. Five years later, the chick returns to breed at the exact same burrow it hatched in. It is hoped that the Cahows will return to Nonsuch Island to nest, rather than the one they actu-ally hatched in. Maybe you will be there when the first Cahow returns…

Surprisingly, it was the Cahow noises that gave Bermuda the nickname of “The Isle of Devils.” Their call sounds like a devil cackling.

In the Central and Western parishes, you could enjoy a romantic meal of Bermuda’s finest cuisine in one of Bermuda’s luxurious restaurants or on a sailboat cruising around the Great Sound, watching the sunset over the sea.

If you enjoy diving and swimming, they why not book a spot on a dive trip that will take you out to one of Bermuda’s many shipwrecks. The shipwrecks vary in age and style, ranging from fifteenth century wooden boats to the steam vessels of the twentieth century. The ships are encrusted with coral and other organisms, and surrounded by all types of fish and turtles. There may even be a small shark. If you are really lucky, then you might find some treasure or historical artifacts.

One night during your stay, make sure that you spend some time looking at the stars. Bermuda is a good place to look at the stars as there are no strong streetlights.

Three days after full moon, head down to a nearby jetty soon after sundown. Look out for glowworms, who are mating and putting on a fabulous display of green phosphorescent colour.

Thank you for reading this, and we hope to see you on our small, sunny island sometime in the future.

“It was the Cahow noises that gave Bermuda the nickname of “The Isle of Devils.” Their call sounds like a devil cackling.”

BermudaSarah Hopkin

“Imagine that you are a travel journalist and have been assigned to write a story about your country for Condé Nast Traveler. Remember that our motto is Truth in Travel, and we like to go beneath the surface to show people more than just the usual tourist spots.”

My CaribbeanE s s a y C o n t e s t

in cooperation with the Caribbean Tourism Organization

14th annual

AnguillaMorrela Kenisha Findlay

H ere at CNT we are always eager to satisfy our readers and keep them up to date about foreign affairs. I am Joey Archibald-Bowers reporting from the beautiful island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. As our motto is ‘Truth in Travel,’ it is my pleasure to take you beneath the surface to show you more

than just usual tourist spots.

I like my stomach so we shall begin with a hotspot for food. Midtown Restaurant in the middle of Road Town is the best place for a juicy hamburger with everything on it with a big plate of French fries. I know you’ve had hamburgers where you’ve come from, but I’m telling you, Gloria, the owner, has a secret ingredient that gives her hamburgers a Tortolan twist. You can enjoy your hamburgers with a refreshing drink of tama-rind, soursop, guava, or passion fruit juice, all freshly made local drinks.

After a filling meal, we visit the Jewelry Box on Main Street, owned by Tracy and Cromwell Smith. They can design made-to-order jewelry pieces, living up to their motto ‘the status is not the price but the jewelry.’ They make lovely designs and their specialty is sterling silver.

After we have filled our stomachs and our goody bags with gifts to take back to family and friends, we hit the beach at long Bay Beef Island. This beach is unique because it’s right next to the airport but far away from beach vendors, restaurants, and beach toys. Here, swimmers can view airplanes overhead. They might have the beach to themselves or even see a whale, depending on the time of year. Pack a picnic bas-ket with your favorite goodies, lots of water, a beach towel, and some suntan lotion and you will have a great day in store.

Another stop that you might consider is at the Legislative Council while it is in session. This is a great oppor-tunity for visitors to see and hear how laws are made and problems solved in the B.V.I. Here you will be able to see close up the Chief Minister of the territory and the first female Speaker of the House.

One last stop I would recommend is a visit to the studio of Joseph Hodge, a famous local painter. He really paints beautiful pictures. His paintings are bright and colorful. You can learn a lot about the B.V.I. from his paintings. Things that I never knew about living in small villages, traveling by horse and donkey, and ladies wearing broad straw hats all seem new to me. Mr. Hodge can really tell a story with his paintings.

Wow! What a trip! Food, shopping, sunbathing, famous local people and stories with paintings. A trip you will enjoy and that’s just one of the many islands of the British Virgin Islands.

“One last stop I would recommend is a visit to the studio of Joseph Hodge, a famous local painter. You can learn a lot about

the B.V.I. from his paintings.”

British Virgin IslandsJoseph Archibald-Bowers

“Imagine that you are a travel journalist and have been assigned to write a story about your country for Condé Nast Traveler. Remember that our motto is Truth in Travel, and we like to go beneath the surface to show people more than just the usual tourist spots.”

My CaribbeanE s s a y C o n t e s t

in cooperation with the Caribbean Tourism Organization

14th annual