| Nevis
Nevis and its larger "sister" island of St. Kitts are perfect examples
of the "true" Caribbean character-unhurried, quaint, friendly, beautiful,
lush and uncomplicated. Nevis is a mere 36 square miles, of volcanic origin and
dominated by Nevis Peak, a mountain whose 3,200-foot crown is almost always shrouded
by a white collar of clouds. The range is surrounded by dense rainforests flush
with monkeys, tropical birds and colorful flora.
The
stunning scenery is complemented by the crystalline sea that hugs its occasional
rugged coastline. The waters are a snorkeling and diving heaven, dotted with reefs,
shipwrecks and underwater nurseries that harbor fish and mollusks of every size
and description. The
capital of Charlestown is small, with charming buildings that enhance its 18th-century
flavor. There are other historic structures: weathered sugar factories and windmills;
the remains of forts and beautifully restored plantation inns, like the Hermitage,
that all add to the island's glamour and prompt some to call Nevis the "Queen
of the Caribees." Curaçao
 Gabled,
European-style rowhouses colored in deliciously vibrant hues of gold, pink, peach
and mustard, and set against the bluest of Caribbean sky is the most notable first
impression about this island in the Netherlands Antilles near Venezuela. European
settlers may have built the structures, but surely Fisher-Price painted them.
They are impossible to resist photographing and make any rank amateur photographer
look good. The sight of them makes you feel immediately that you are definitely
in the Caribbean.
Curaçao
is also an island that really hasn't changed much over the years, and somehow,
that's comforting. I've visited three times in eight years, and for the most part,
the most inviting sights have not lost their luster. When I returned last year,
I had the pleasure of touring the new Museum Kura Hulanda in the capital of Wilemstad,
a museum devoted to a thorough examination of the trans-Atlantic slave trade brought
to the Caribbean in the 17th to 19th centuries, as well as other non-Western cultures.
The museum is packed with artifacts from West Africa, but without question, the
most compelling exhibit is the re-created hold of a slave ship that demonstrates
the appalling conditions under which slaves were transported to the New World.
On a more upbeat note, the Underwater Park, an awesome 12-mile stretch of protected
coral and coastline, is said to be one of the most romantic places on earth. (CONTINUE...)
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