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The Yanks are coming over there

4th January 20244th January 2024 funtime65

Send the word, send the word over there, that the Yanks are coming… the Yanks are coming over there.

Bringing us 107 years up to date from George Cohan’s rousing American First World War rallying song.

And two World Wars and two Cold Wars later and the Yanks are still saving our skin.

Which is why I, for one, always stop to say hello and thank them for coming to visit as holidaymakers and ancestral researchers.

That and the fact that for My Dear Old Irish Mammy America was always the Promised Land.

And half my family went on to make their lives and fortunes there.

Welcome to all Americans

It seems that America empties around Edinburgh Festival time, any royal occasion in England and St Paddy’s Day in Ireland.

But while we get an awesomeness of Americans (the official collective word) paying top dollar on our shores.

It is Italy (and whisper that around the French) which is the biggest draw for Americans at this time of year according to wall art creator StoryBoards.

The study zoned in on keywords such as ‘flights’, ‘restaurants’ ‘ski facilities’ and more next to 43 popular destinations.

Italian Americans

And found Italy has 93,000 average searches from September to December.

Of course the food, culture and history is a draw year-round.

But it’s the winter markets and the great skiing facilities and high-altitude luxury in the Italian Alps which brings the Yanks back.

Now Japan is going through its climactic challenges jus now but it’s as popular as ever with Yanks.

With 33,275.49 average searches.

It’s the blend of ancient traditions and modern festivities, serene winter landscapes and vibrant city lights that does the job.

Thailand, a sunny winter destination with 88F average temperatures garners 23,000 average searches.

And it’s not just the beaches Americans flock to with the tropics and the temples high on the agenda too.

All Greek to us

Classical Greece and its islands where culture and the pace of life feels unchanged over millennia is fourth with 12,293.11.

While the Caribbean because of its proximity and its party vibe is understandably also in the top 5.

With Aruba claiming 11,096.67 average searches.

And so because we love a top ten here’s a blisticle listicle of where the Yanks are coming over there.

Blisticle listicle

Border force: The German and Austrian border

Italy: 92,969,

Japan: 33,275

Thailand: 22,933

Greece: 12,293

Aruba: 11,097

Hawaii: 8,868

Germany: 8,094

Jamaica:?7,320

Cuba: 6,885

Mexico: 6,536

Caribbean, Countries, Culture, UK

Elsa heroes in Bim half-shell

3rd July 20213rd July 2021 funtime65

Barbados is a blessed island not least because it escapes the hurricane season… but today we bring you Elsa Bim heroes in half-shell.

Bim, as it’s affectionately known, last had to brave a hurricane, Janet, in 1955.

Until now with Elsa deciding to swoop to the southern islands.

My old West Indian pal Jevan has posted images from Barbados of Elsa at her fiercest.

Thankfully though Elsa has not been too vengeful to Bim.

With Jevan reporting that his only loss is some banana trees and potted plants.

While best and most surprising of all was a new appearance when Jevan braved the storms to check on his tortoises.

And discovered that one Mother Tortoises of his had given birth in the Hurricane.

Shell Superstars

West Indians proudly value their heroes in a half-shell, both tortoises and turtles.

And I even had to return to Bim to find me the swimming turtles I had missed the year before.

Probably because they were taking shelter from my boozy rum breath.

Tortoises and turtles are made for the Caribbean, moving at a slow, casual place. Irie!

And they have a natural homing instinct as you all know from me having flagged up Aruban nesting turtles.

While, of course all our favourite small islands look out for their visitors.

And few more passionately than Mother Turtle in the Maldives.

What’s the difference?

Of course, the question that has been racking our brains as we replay Jevan’s video is…

What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?

The Scary One won’t be convinced… a tortoise is more a landlubber while turtles prefer to give you the runaround in the sea.

Elsa Bim heroes in half-shell

I’m beginning to think this is her plan to get me to take her out to Bim.

Barbados and much of the Caribbean is on the UK green list so what’s keeping you.

And Tropical Sky will look after you.

So welcome to Jevan’s menagerie… here’s to Elsa Bim heroes in half-shell.

Caribbean, Countries, Culture

Aruba and Mother Turtle

14th May 202114th May 2021 funtime65

Arriba, arriba Aruba and Mother Turtle…. we’re joining the countdown to the hatching of their chicks.

Now I’m indebted to my old friend (less of the old, Bandanaman) and award-winning Travel blogger and Caribbeanophile Tara Povey for showing me the marvel that is a turtle march.

Tara videod her turtles under the cover of darkness in Barbados, waddling out of the sea and onto the hatching beaches.

While the rest of us went snorkelling (translation: swallowing) off our catamaran on our expedition.

Although I did get to see me my turtles when I returned to Bim the next year.

Heroes in a half-shell

Now because we like to share the love in good old Caribbean style I’m shining the spotlight now on Aruba, off the coast of Venezuela.

Our Aruban friends have invited us to join them in counting down to their turtle hatches this summer and autumn on Eagle Beach.

Some of their breeds have in fact started early… with the first Leatherback nest laid this season for Bucuti & Tara resort.

Not Our Tara though… or is it?

Don’t worry that you might have missed out, the Green, Loggerhead and Hawksbill sea turtles are still to pop their heads up.

The turtle package

Now we’ve trodden the turtle path here before in our occasional Travel Pack series but make no apologies for going turtley overboard here again.

So pay attention at the back, there will be questions later…

Now our heroes in a half-shell really, really love Aruba which is a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Because they travel 1,350 miles every year from Canada to the warmer beaches of Aruba to hatch.

So what’s our excuse?

Mother Turtle

Well, it is their own birthplace and they obviously want their little ones to be Arubans too.

Mother Turtle lays an average of seven nests in one season with each averaging 80 viable eggs.

After an incubation period of 55 to 75 days, hatchings emerge from the sand and make their way to the sea.

And little scene-stealers them they often use their moonlight as their guide.

Now Buculi & Tara know their turtles and their hatching habits and they help their visitors witness the turtle trail.

They will call, or text, you when a turtle shows signs of hatching so you can get out and see it for yourself.

Now Modern Man is told that witnessing his offspring being born is beautiful.

But hands up, squeamish old me found it a challenge… the Scary One should have been in my shoes.

A nice clean turtle hatch is more for feardies like me.

Godmother Turtle

Now every Mother Turtle needs a Godmother Turtle.

And in Kuramathi and Kandolhu in the Maldives that was German carer Vanessa and who, admission time here, did have her favourite… Selma.

Vanessa, and anyone who devotes their life to turtles, will tell you exactly what you need to do to protect them.

Godmother Turtle II: Vanessa in the Maldives

In Aruba, that would be Edith, president of Turtugaruba, who teaches visitors about the life cycle of sea turtles in Aruba.

And how best to protest them.

So Arriba, arriba Aruba and Mother Turtle.

MEET YOU BY THE BEACH