https://www.stkittstourism.kn/ Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

America, Caribbean, Countries, Flying, UK

Dominica where tall is her body

26th January 202226th January 2022 funtime65

What does your country mean… and surely it isn’t as lyrical as Dominica where tall is her body?

The good people of Dominica came-a-calling yesterday as part of our Caribbean Tourism Organisation conference.

And we kicked off, of course, with their biggest calling card, the Waitukubuli Trail.

At 115 miles long, in 14 segments, it is the longest trail in the West Indies and will take you ten to 14 days to compete.

Named by the indigenous Kalinago people it showcases the 29.2 miles high north-south island.

With peaks as high as 4,747ft.

What’s in a name?

And Waitukubuli is, of course, where the poetic Kalinago came up with the name.

There are other appealing place names and attractions across the island such as Boiling Lake, Champagne Reef, Trafalgar Falls…

And wellness, spas and warming springs aplenty.

Our friendly smiling Dominicans put up with good grace when people mistake them for the Dominican Republic.

Which is about 600 miles from Roseau, the capital of Dominica!

Your best way (and what a way) is by a short boat ride from Guadeloupe where Death In Paradise is filmed.

And Guadeloupe is served by American Airlines from Puerto Rico.

Then Nevis

Our friends in Nevis, a twin island with St Kitts & Nevis, has to field similar calls.

With mountaineers mistaking this island in the sun with my island in the snow and its largest mountain, Ben Nevis.

And Hamilton, of course

Scotland and Nevis, of course, have a very topical association through a son they both share.

And he spawned the most famous opening lines in the history of musicals when Alexander Hamilton’s nemesis Aaron Burr sang:

How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a
Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten
Spot in the Caribbean by Providence, impoverished, in squalor
Grow up to be a hero and a scholar?

Of course it is forgotten no more and not just because of its association with the Founding Father and hero of New York, but it all helps.

And his birthplace on Nevis is a must-see for fans of Hamilton.

A better Montpelier

Holiday hopefuls too get a pleasant surprise when they go looking for Montpelier in France…

And find the luxury Montpelier Plantation & Beach hotel in Charlestown set on a 300-year-old sugar plantation.

While Restaurant 750 offers diners views of St Kitts.

And yes, we’ll meet you on the road.

And reveal more of these lyrical islands.

Such as Dominica where tall is her body.

Caribbean, Countries, Culture

Yeah Mon Jamaican Independence Day

6th August 20216th August 2021 funtime65

Yeah Mon Jamaican Independence Day is in full swing and naturally will last a week.

It’s 59 years since the Jamaicans led the way by becoming the first Caribbean country to break from the UK.

Following the experiment of the West Indies Federation between 1958 and 1962.

Where Jamaica led (and leads) its Caribbean neighbours followed.

More independence

And Trinidad & Tobago also took the plunge that magical year of 1962.

Barbados followed in 1966 before there was a rush of freedom in the Seventies.

With the Bahamas in 1973, Granada in 1974, Dominica 1978 and St Lucia and St Vincent in 1979.

And Antigua & Barbuda in 1981 and St Kitts & Nevis joining the gang in 1983.

All of which means that there will be a landmark every year to keep us all going for the next few years.

Jamaican jewels

Now where once Britain left its footprint on the Caribbean,West Indians have transformed British life.

In the years since we put out the call to come here to help rebuild the post-war UK.

So we probably all think we know the Windies well by now, and Jamaica, and Jamaicans, in particular.

And its British, and more specifically Scottish and Irish links.

Jammin’

But did you know?

That Jamaica is more than reggae, though there’s plenty of Marley which is good for me.

Try out the ska, mento, dancehall, ragga, dub and rocksteady. And soca, although there’s more of that in the southern Caribbean.

And it’s not just Usain Bolt though who has ripped up the sporting world, though he’s plenty good for us too.

Usain follows in the spikesteps of the marvellous Marlene Ottey and the Don, Don Quarry.

Other kings and queens of sport

While Elaine Thompson-Herah led a Jamaican 1-2-3 in this month’s Olympics ahead of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson.

Mikey Holding, Courtney Walsh and Chris Gayle are just three of the calypso cricketers; Mike McCallum and Trevor Berbick are Caribbean kings of the ring.

While who can forget the Winter Olympics bobsleigh team who gave us Cool Runnings and the Jamaica football team who reached the World Cup.

Thank God for Jamaica

That the island has more than 100 Christian denominations may come as a surprise.

And more churches, 2.75 per square mile, than any other country in the world.

And, of course, a morning in church (and it will be a morning) and a gospel choir should be on your must-do list when you visit.

And rum

As should the rum bars where for hardened rummies this is what you should order…

Jancraw Batty, which translates as ‘vulture’s ass’ and is under the rum bar counter.

There will be plenty Jancraw Batty raised today.

Yeah Mon Jamaican Independence Day.

Caribbean, Countries, Deals, Europe

Newsday Tuesday – Green for more go

1st June 20211st June 2021 funtime65

Don’t fret Bandanini and Bandanettes I’m incorporating Cruiseday Tuesday into a new feature as things are moving quickly…. here’s Newsday Tuesday – Green for more go.

We’ve long lobbied for Greece, and particularly its islands to be first off the block with a UK green light and now we’re pushing Cyprus.

Hype for Cyprus

My friend Diomedous in Aegeanworld has good news for us.

Pafos on the southwest coast is reporting a 0.000 rate of positive cases!

And in Cyprus as a whole there are 0.1 positive cases which is prompting the Athena Beach Hotel to open up again on June 9.

Seven nights with free half-board upgrade for July departures from £689pp, flying from Gatwick, with other airports available on request.

More ports in the storm

Obrigado: With the Scary One in Portugal Centro

Now wouldn’t it be a treat if we could all broaden our horizons from our current Green List go-to countries of Portugal, Gibraltar and Iceland?

The UK Government will be releasing their Travel review on Thursday, June 3, with the new destinations to come in on June 10.

We’re hearing on the grapevine that these ten are mooted because they’re leading the way on vaccinations and Covid rates.

And no, Cyprus, isn’t on it but I know Boris Johnson and Grant Shapps are ardent readers… imagine them in Bandanas.

The perfect ten

So let’s look at some of the ten that could get the green light.

Malta has long held a special place in our heart while we need little invitation to flag up the Caribbean.

Each have their individual merits.

Anguilla and the Caribbean

But on alphabetical order, and because their Minister got off the beach and put down his rum punch to talk to us… let’s headline Anguilla.

Antigua and Barbuda (one country),

The British Virgin Islands, The Cayman Islands, St Kitts and Nevis (again a oner) and the Turks and Caicos Islands (you get the picture) complete the Caribbean comeback.

Fiji or there would be a mutiny

Exotic islands you say? Fiji is being championed too and why not as it has been voted Happiest Place on Earth.

And I put their patience to the test when I tried going native with my Dad Dancing when they brought their show to Dublin.

The big Finnish

Let’s finish our list of contenders with, well with a big Finnish, where we all know they love a sauna and cutting ice circles in lakes to jump into.

And we suspect there will be a mass dunking if they get the nod.

It’s Newsday Tuesday – more Green for go. Go, go, go.

And Bye Bye Love Boat cap’n

And for most of us Fiftysomethings our first insight into the magical world of cruising wax The Love Boat.

So it was only natural that Princess Cruises should get Captain Stubing on board to serve as their Global Ambassador for 35 years.

May heaven be a calm sea, Cptn Gavin MacLeod.