Happy Holidays!

I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  May this holiday season be a beautiful one, filled with much joy, love and peace and may the new year bring you good health and prosperity.

Thank you all for your support in 2011 and I look forward to sharing with you many more travel experiences.  In the meantime, be safe (especially should you be traveling during this season) and enjoy your holidays and we'll meet up again in 2012!

Peace,
Annie

Did Someone Say Party?



 In the summer of 1996 (August), I decided to venture out to the city that loves to party, New Orleans.  This is definitely an experience you would not want to miss.  The state of Louisiana is located in the southern region of the United States with a humid subtropical climate averaging in the mid 90s during the summer months.  It was definitely hot and it was definitely humid, and no rain.  I enjoyed my stay at the Sheraton Hotel and Resort on Canal Street located right in the heart of the famous French Quarter.  The location was perfect; everything was within walking distance and the hotel offered all the amenities you could need.  The ever popular Bourbon Street in the French Quarter was a mere couple of blocks away.  I found a great way to take in many of the local sites was by horse and carriage.  How fun!  The architecture is simply fascinating, the details absolutely spectacular.  As you travel along the city and depending on the time of day, you catch a scent of the various cuisines, from freshly made "beignets" for which New Orleans is known (they are a deep-fried dough much like doughnuts) and taste heavenly, to the very well known jambalaya.  Since there are a number of varieties of jambalaya, those of you who are seafood lovers will be happy to know that seafood jambalaya is a top seller.

New Orleans has a casino riverboat that remains docked in the Mississippi River for those interested in a little gambling.  You can also book a dinner cruise if you were so inclined.  In stark contrast, the city is relatively quiet during the day, but once evening falls upon the city, it comes to life.  The air is filled with jazz music - all different kinds, depending on the club you should wonder by.  Bourbon Street is filled with bars and clubs and the hospitality of the locals of New Orleans.

New Orleans is definitely a fun place to visit and a destination that should find its way onto your travel list.  So, go ahead and think outside the box, or in my case, outside of the Caribbean!  It's a big world out there and many very cool places to see!

I'll fill you in on my next travel destination ... soon.



A Change of Scenery

Hello and thank you for joining me once again on my varied 'adventures'. Since my last visit to Barbados in 1990, I had returned to my island paradise in 1991 where I stayed at the Rainbow Reef Beach Hotel situated in the St. Lawrence Gap on the south coast; 1992 for a 3 week stay at the Palm Beach Hotel now known as the Golden Palms along the west coast of the island; 1993 where I stayed at the St. Lawrence Beach Apartments, affordable apartments in the St. Lawrence Gap; and 1994 at the Southern Palms Beach Club known as the "Pink Palace" or the "Pink Pearl."  You guessed it - the resort is painted entirely pink.  A really pretty sight, especially when out on the water.  Makes for a perfect photograph with the beautiful blue skies and towering palms as a back drop. 

Each year it would get harder and harder to leave at the end of each vacation.  Especially since I became very good friends with Barbara and Nicholas, with whom I remain in regular contact to this day.  They are very gracious hosts every time I visit Barbados, making time in their schedules for me, taking me out to dinner, an evening of entertainment or visiting local sites.  They are a beautiful couple and I truly cherish their friendship. 

There is something to be said about the comfort level you gain over the years of visiting the same place knowing that you have an overall guaranteed vacation.  Of course, like most people, I also had the desire to visit new places no matter how much I love Barbados.

So there came a time when I was fortunate enough to become friends with Joy, with whom I had worked at a law firm in St. Catharines, Ontario.  Joy had since moved back to Santa Ana, California in 1993 and welcomed me for a visit.  So I took the opportunity to visit my friend in 1994 and had my first taste of California!  Loved it!  If there is one place I would love to live in the U.S., it is California.  Santa Ana (which is right in Orange County) is approximately 1 and 1/2 hours south of Los Angeles and approximately 2 hours north of San Diego.  Given it's close proximity, the weather in Orange County is pretty consistent with that of San Diego which is 72 degrees and sunny everyday.  Of course, their summer months are definitely hot, perfect for sunning or sporting at one of their many beautiful beaches.

Having your own personal tour guide is a definite plus.  Who wouldn't want to check out Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and "window shop"; walk along the sidewalk of the stars and see the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre; have lunch in Pasadena; dinner in Malibu at a really cool little out of the way restaurant right on the beach where you might catch a glimpse of a celebrity?  Unfortunately, that wasn't the night for the "stars" to come out and play but I did get to hear some really cool stories from the wait staff at the restaurant.  I heard that Al Pacino is a very generous person and a great tipper having left the waitress a $100 tip for a cup of coffee!  Pretty nice!

For all those fashion aficionados like me, you'll never get your fill of all the shopping that is at your disposal; from the mega malls to quaint little boutiques.  I still can't believe that I shopped at the likes of Bloomingdale's, Nieman Marcus and Nordstroms!  Every girl's dream!



A really cool day trip I enjoyed was that into Tijuana, Mexico.  Given it's close proximity to San Diego, you can actually leave your car in California and walk across the border into Mexico.  That was definitely a trip worth taking, experiencing the authentic Mexican way of life and local fare.  I cannot forget the tasty lobster thermidor I had at a quaint 'lil restaurant.  It's always fun walking along the narrow streets and stopping along to take a peak at some of the local handmade crafts and jewelry.

I must not forget to mention a day at the famous Disneyland.  It was so much fun being a kid for a day.  Another road trip that I took was to Las Vegas for a weekend where I stayed at the Imperial Palace.  It was only approximately a 4 hour drive from Santa Ana and definitely worth the drive.

During my visit to California in 2000, I took a drive along the coast into Riverside and Laguna Beach.  Just breathtaking!  I loved browsing through some of the cute little shops they had.  Joy and I enjoyed a weekend stay at the prestigious Rancho Bernardo Inn Resort and Spa, San Diego's legendary inn.  What a way to get pampered! Absolutely exquisite.

California is a great place to visit.  There is so much to see and do; I just barely saw the "tip of the iceberg."  Places I've yet to see include a number of national parks, (I did get to wonder through Joshua Tree National Park.  I never saw anything like it!) San Francisco and its famous Lombardo Street with those hairpin turns and Napa Valley, to name a few.  I definitely hope to get back to California some day again ... soon.

I hope you enjoyed my story.  I'll be back with more!

Anticipated Return

It is now 1990, almost two years since my long-awaited return to Barbados.  I couldn't believe it when I landed at the Grantley Adams International Airport and stepped out onto the tarmac that I was feeling the warm tropical breeze again!  What a feeling.  There you are greeted by friendly Bajans as they direct you into the air-conditioned airport terminal for arrival processing.  It's not long before you find yourself outdoors again where you can smell that distinct warm tropical scent that was all too familiar to me ... like it was yesterday.  I felt like I was home - my second home.

As in 1988, I decided to stay at the Casuarina Beach Resort once again, now part of the Almond resort family and known as the Almond Casuarina Beach Resort where you are greeted by the friendly staff.  Casuarina is situated in the St. Lawrence Gap which is along the south coast of Barbados. 

The resort has one of the finest and expansive pink sand beaches.  The property is framed with lots of lush greenery, flora such as the ever-popular bougainvillea and towering palms.  In the evenings, you will find yourself listening to the melody of the whistling frogs that can be found around most all resorts.  They average approximately 1 inch in size and they like to rest high up on walls. 

As I walked about the resort, I still couldn't believe that I was back.  I was able to see my friends, Marva and Winston who I had the privilege of meeting on my first visit.  Winston was an exceptional bartender at the resort's restaurant and Marva was a member of their fine wait staff.  Some 23 years later and Marva and I remain very good friends, staying in regular contact to this day.  There is just something very genuine about many of the Bajans that you just cannot forget.  Their good-natured spirit is evident wherever you go on the island. 

Barbados offers as much as or as little as you need or want in a vacation destination.  For those seeking a more relaxing and quiet vacation, there are many beautiful hotels, particularly along the west coast of the island which would cater to that recipe.  On the other hand, for those seeking a more active, adventurous and fun-filled vacation, there is much to do and see.  I was able to experience the ever-popular Jolly Roger pirate ship cruise for a 4-hour early day cruise.  A definitely fun time, we couldn't ask for a more beautiful day; calm waters crystal clear, bright blue skies with not a cloud in the sky and that hot Caribbean sun tanning our bodies!  Oh yes, I cannot forget to mention all the "beverages" you can handle.  A popular amongst the tourists is partaking of their ever-famous rum punch!  Whew!  That's all I can say.  As part of the cruise, you experience swimming and feeding the sea turtles and you can test your courage and either walk off the pirate's plank or swing off a rope into the sea.  As I held the extra large knot in between my legs, I was trying to muster up my courage as I anxiously contemplated the swing.  I was this close to being pushed off when I finally swung off and screamed all the way down!  I have to admit, it was pretty exhilarating.  I remember how warm the waters felt when I finally made it in.

Another fun yet relaxing spot to visit is the Barbados Wildlife Reserve.  There it allows you to stroll freely in the natural habitat of various animals and observe them at close range.  I loved watching the many Barbados Green Monkeys frolick in their own habitat, swinging from tree to tree, chasing one another or just simply sitting under some shade, posing for onlookers as we took their pictures.  Depending on the day, I also saw an armadillo, deer and tortoise.  I really enjoyed seeing the various species of birds that are maintained in a caged area, including peacocks and parrots.  I remember laughing so hard when I heard the peacocks repeatedly yelp because it actually sounded like they were saying "help"!  It was so funny. 

The Island Safari Tour is also great fun and an interesting way to see a good part of the interior of the island.  Riding on the back of a Land Rover, you get to experience some of the island's less traveled roads and a stop at a sugar cane field where you get to taste fresh sugar cane and its fresh sweet nectar first hand. 

Let's not forget a trip into Bridgetown is a must.  A great financial district, it offers a variety of shops from large department stores to smaller boutiques, offering anywhere from toiletries to electronics and everything in between.

I had some great Italian food at Luigi's Ristorante located in the St. Lawrence Gap.  Another favorite located in "The Gap" is the St. Lawrence Pizza Hut for some great, inexpensive pizza.  Perfect for one of those lighter meals.  For a more intimate dinner, I loved visiting The Steak House for some mouth-watering steak and lobster.  Excellent!

Before I close for today, I would like to give a special mention to a lovely couple who I also had the privilege of meeting on my first visit to Barbados in 1988 and that is Alison and Roger of England.  In my newly founded excitement of blogging, it was definitely a valuable detail that I overlooked and worth mentioning.  Alison and Roger were newly married and since that time, have had two beautiful daughters who are now all grown up!  Alison and I have also remained in touch over all these years and I am thrilled to say that I was able to see both Alison and Roger again in 2006 in Florida after 18 years during which visit I was able to meet their lovely daughters. 

Barbados attracts a great number of tourists from Europe in addition to Canadians, for whom it's a favorite as well as Americans.  What a great way to meet new people from all over the world and develop life-long friendships!

Ciao for now.  Stay tuned for more ...

Let's talk travel

Fast-forwarding a few years to 1988, I ventured on what was called an island-hopping vacation and had the privilege of experiencing for the first time the lovely island of Barbados followed by a second week on the lush and scenic island of St. Lucia.  In stark contrast, Barbados was quite a diverse island from relaxation, peace and tranquility to an active partying scene while St. Lucia was a very quiet, subdued island. 

ST. LUCIA

Let me begin with my experience in St. Lucia first.  Another beautiful, extremely lush and unspoiled island, St. Lucia resonates nature in its most splendid glory.  Powdery white sand beaches frame this relatively small island and like most other islands in the Caribbean, you can count on lots of sun, bright blue skies and crystal clear waters.  My stay was a very comfortable one at the nicely-maintained St. Lucian Hotel and Resort.  After a rather busy and exciting first week in Barbados, it was refreshing to find myself in St.Lucia, where life was so much simpler and relaxing. 

Life in St. Lucia at that time was even somewhat primitive.  I actually saw a number of locals using large machetes to cut down sugarcane that grows so abundantly on the island.  That's how unspoiled and simple it was.  Of course, as most other islands, when tourism is the primary source of revenue for the country, there will always be the amenities and luxuries available for island guests. 

My memories include a day trip to see and experience the twin volcanic mountains, Grand Piton and Petit Piton.  Since St. Lucia is an extremely mountainous island, it was really quite something driving up around and down around each mountain.  However, the condition of the roads is definitely something to be desired!  The views, which included those of Marigot Bay, were absolutely spectacular and breathtaking. 

           

A day trip into the capital city of Castries provided for a lot of shopping where one can find a variety of duty free shopping.  Some 23 years later, I can't even begin to imagine how much more developed and advanced the island has become today.

BARBADOS

You will soon come to know that Barbados is my first love.  Barbados is a very special island with a contagious feeling.  From the very moment I set foot again on American soil following my trip, I knew that I would be returning to Barbados again.  Barbados has the ability to draw you in and for many, and I do mean many, it has definitely had that affect.  In total, I have visited Barbados 16 times over the course of the last 23 years.  I would like to try and share with you as many of those experiences as I can, as every visit to Barbados is unique in it of itself and better everytime!  There is not one time that I can say my vacation was not enjoyable, exciting, relaxing and fun.  So follow me, if you will, on my journey with my first love ... Barbados!

Barbados is the most easterly island in the Caribbean and I bet you didn't realize that because of its geographical location, the island is virtually untouched by hurricanes.  In fact, the last hurricane that hit Barbados was in 1955!  I'd say those are some pretty good odds.  Of course, it doesn't mean that Barbados hasn't experienced some collateral effects such as high winds, rain and at times, power outage as a result of neighboring hurricanes, but still successfully escaped unscathed.  

Barbados boasts approximately 350 days of sunshine per year.  Temperatures are fairly consistent all year long so it really doesn't matter what time of year you go, it will be hot.  The island is divided into parishes (similar to counties or regions).  Barbados has its own currency referred to as "Barbados Dollars."  In an effort to limit the fluctuation in currency exchange, Barbados holds a steady $1.98 to the U.S. Dollar.  That means the American dollar is essentially worth double.  Banks and ATMs are plentiful so there's really no need to travel much with Travelers Checks anymore.

The Atlantic side of the island which features Bathsheba (located in the parish of St. Andrew) is well known for the incredibly oversized boulders that washed up along the east coast of the island over thousands of years ago that are often featured in commercials for Barbados.  The locals who are far more familiar and experienced with the rougher Atlantic Ocean are known for spending weekends at Bathsheba's beaches.  Some of the island's best waves and surf can be found in Bathsheba which attracts many experienced surfers.  This is also where they hold the Annual International Reef Surfing Competition.

Then there is the west coast of Barbados formerly known as the "Gold Coast" now upgraded to the "Platinum Coast" (located in the parish of St. James).  There you will find some of the most amazing residential and resort properties which boast luxury in its full glory!  Many wealthy people, including a number of celebrities, own some of the most beautiful homes on the island, many of which can be found along or near the west coast of Barbados.  The west coast sits along the Caribbean Sea and as a result, you have much calmer waters with few small waves.  Sandy Lane Resort has been named the most prestigious resort in all of the Caribbean.  Known for its beautiful and luxurious construction, there was no scrimping when it came to the use of marble.  It is also renowned for its spectacular full-service luxury spa!  Believe me when I tell you there are not enough adjectives to describe this property.  Perhaps if I were to tell you that this is the resort that Tiger Woods leased for a whopping $3 million for his wedding to Elin Nordegren, might just put things in better perspective for you.  Without any question, Sandy Lane is truly an amazing place to stay ... if it were to fall within our more modest budgets!  We can always dream!

The west coast is also home to the Almond Beach Club and Spa and the Almond Beach Village which are all-inclusive sister hotels with reciprocating privileges.  For all my Canadian friends and family who might have or still listen to "Roger, Rick and Marilyn" on Toronto's 104.5 CHUM FM radio station, not only is Barbados the choice destination for their yearly "Breakfast in Barbados" contest, but this resort has been a favorite for a number of years.

The south coast of Barbados (located in the parish of Christ Church) is really where it all happens.  You have a blend of the Atlantic Ocean meets Caribbean Sea thus giving you a nice balance of waves for your frolicking pleasure!  Barbados is lined with beautiful, powdery soft, pink sand beaches where you can walk along for miles without any disruption, many of which are lined with towering palm trees swaying in the gentle tropical breezes.  You will find the south coast is lined with many hotels and resorts offering a variety of accommodations from long-stay rental apartments to 5 star hotels.  Booking accommodations in or around the central part of the south coast enables you to have relatively quick and easy access to many sights, restaurants and shopping.  The capital city of Bridgetown is approximately 10 to 15 minutes from almost anywhere along the south coast.  There you will find a very large shopping district, including many duty free stores such as department store Cave Sheppard and Tiffany's, to name a couple, along with a variety of local businesses.  The one really great thing about Barbados is that transportation is extremely accessible and inexpensive, if you so choose.  Obviously, taxis are plentiful with such fares that, at most times, can be negotiated (if you have such skills as I do!).  They have city buses which are government owned and operated, actually keep with a particular schedule (which time-related schedules of any sort in the Caribbean are hard to come by) and the fare is only $1.50 BDS.  There are also locally run vans which are intimately referred to as "ZRs" (pronounced zed-rs like the Canadians!).

In Barbados, there is something for everyone, all depending on your preference and the type of vacation you are seeking.  Barbados boasts some of the finest cuisine in the Caribbean.  It is known for having some of the best chefs from around the world.  Since dining is one of Barbados’ finest experiences, your choices are plentiful.  There is a wide variety of places to eat from quaint locally-run cafes for breakfast and lunch, pizzerias, burger places to fine dining restaurants.

Notably, there is a fishing village named Oistins where the locals celebrate their catch every Friday and Saturday evening under the stars by hosting cookouts of fish and chicken, macaroni pie, rice and peas and other local fare.  Barbadians, also known as Bajans, love to party and so the cookouts are accompanied by music and drink as well.  It's a great time and should definitely be on your list of things to do.

The people of Barbados are very friendly.  They are very easy to talk to and many enjoy offering suggestions on must-see things to do. 

I was a bit long-winded this time, but it must be pretty apparent to you that the island of Barbados definitely made an impression on me.  Of course, much of the information I shared with you today was obtained over the years as I got to know the island.  Needless to say, it was quite a memorable vacation for me in 1988 which was a vacation that kept on going, and going, and going ....

Come back for more!

It's finally here

Hello, my name is Annie and welcome to my travel blog.  It's been long awaiting but it's finally here.  In my blog, I hope to share with you my experiences obtained through my travels in the hope that you may find some useful information or simply for your reading pleasure.

Perhaps my passion for travel began early on in life when my parents took my older sister and me to Italy in '69.  Of course, I was just a very young and impressionable child at the time (did I mention I was young!) but it strikes me how much of that trip is stored in my memory.  The memories were obviously very fond and worthy of retaining.



However, let's fast forward a few years to 1982 when I first traveled on my own as an adult.  I visited the island of Jamaica.  Purely speculative, but I have a pretty good sense that the island has evolved since my visit.  You have to remember that one of Jamaica's biggest icons was Bob Marley whom the people of Jamaica loved and my visit to the island was only one year afer Bob Marley's passing in 1981.  It was as though he had just passed yesterday.  The people continued to mourn his death and this was displayed through all the paraphernalia for sale in the name of Bob Marley.  Everywhere you went, you would hear his music.  I purchased some Jamaican memorial postage stamps of Bob Marley as mementos. 

My memories of the island of Jamaica take me to a very lush and tropical place. You can smell it in the air. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Montego Bay now known as the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Montego Bay.  Beautifully landscaped gardens and a well-maintained resort.  The food was excellent and of course my most memorable dish was the lobster thermidor.

My day trips consisted of a trip to the local Farmer's Market where you find a large selection of handmade crafts, clothing and jewelry as well as a trip to downtown Montego Bay where you will find a wide array of duty free shops; a stark contrast to the Farmer's Market.  Unfortunately and how this happened I will never  know, but I never did manage a trip to Dunn's River Falls which, if you're going to do anything, you must see and experience the Falls.  I have not yet returned to Jamaica, but if I do, I will be sure to visit and experience Dunn's River Falls.

I remember the people of Jamaica to be very friendly.  Jamaica, however, as a whole is an unbalanced island when it comes to the class of people.  The ratio of the poor class to the rich class is extremely high.  As a result, there is present a dissention of the classes creating visible conflict.  It would sadden me to see locals standing outside of my resort "compound" waiting for a glimpse of a hotel guest in an effort to sell some handmade craft, jewelry or healing concoction so they would have money for food.  Many would also resort to begging for clothes, shoes and toiletries, all of which I learned were extremely expensive for them to purchase on the island.  Therefore, on my day of departure, I was sure to hand over all of my remaining toiletries to the nearby locals for which they were extremely grateful.

Overall, my memories of Jamaica are fond even today, some 29 years later.

As you follow me on my travels, you will see how I gradually became a seasoned traveler; learning more about each destination, places to go and things to see.

For example, as an inexperienced traveler, I regret today not taking the opportunity when I could to see the many other sights of Jamaica such as the Old Tavern Estate where the best of the best blue mountain coffee is produced, the Appleton Rum Factory and a ride on the cable car up Mystic Mountain.

Be sure to check back with me soon.  Feel free to share your travel talk!

Annie