Did You Know?…
Nestled among 3 volcanoes, the Antigua region produces
the best coffee Guatemala has to offer.
Antiguan Music:
There are several different musical forms featured during
the Carnival. Calypso, the oldest, has its roots in
slavery; a common explanation of its origins is that
it began as a way for slaves, who were forbidden to
speak in the fields, to communicate with each other.
Calypso competitions have long been a highlight of Carnival.
The Islands:
Located southeast of Puerto Rico, in the eastern Caribbean
at the southern end of the Leeward Islands. Antigua
covers an area of 108 square miles. Barbuda covers an
area of 62 square miles. Antigua can be described in
three ways. The northern part consists of small scrub
covered rolling hills, the central area is a fertile
plain, while the southwest has formation of volcanos
and tropical valleys. Barbuda is a very flat island
and its foundation consists of coral and limestone.
Sailing:
Sailing is Antigua's blood, and has been a central part
of The Island's culture for centuries, ever since the
British under Horatio Nelson made English Harbour their
Caribbean base to fight the French.
Dickenson Bay:
The centre of all windsurfing activity on Antigua. In
January and July, the annual Windsurfing Antigua events
are held there.
Diving
and Snorkelling: Antigua & Barbuda has hundreds
of wrecks to explore and good shelf diving. You can
normally arrange for diving and snorkel equipment through
your hotel or guest house.
Did
You Know?... Most Antiguans are of African lineage,
descendants of slaves brought to the island centuries
ago to labor in the sugarcane fields.
Barbuda:
Antigua's sister island Barbuda feels a world
apart from its increasingly developed neighbour, even
though it's just fifteen minutes away by plane. Despite
its spectacular beaches and coral reefs, tourism is
very low-key. Even if you can only manage a day trip,
you'll find it thoroughly repays the effort involved
in organizing a tour.
Food:
Antiguan specialities include the fabulous ducana (a
solid hunk of grated sweet potato mixed with coconut
and spices and steamed in a banana leaf), pepperpot
stew with salt beef, pumpkin and okra, often served
with a cornmeal pudding known as fungi , various types
of curry, salted codfish, and souse - cuts of pork marinated
in lime juice, onions, hot and sweetpeppers and spices.
Devils
Bridge: At the north-eastern point of Antigua
there is a remote wild area known as Indian Town Point.
Why it was named thus, is unknown as to date no Indian
archaeological remains have been found on this peninsula.
The area was legally constituted a National Park in
the 1950's.
ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL:
Two St. John's Anglican
Churches have already stood on the site of the present
cathedral. The first was built of wood as early as 1681
and was said to be "totally destitute of beauty
or comfort". The second was constructed with English
brick about 1720 when the first fell in disrepair and
became too small.
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