MSC CRUISE – LESSER ANTILLES
Antigua and Barbuda are two Caribbean islands, the modern day view of a small Caribbean destination. Tourism dominates the local economy of both islands. Antigua and Barbuda are nicknamed “Land of 365 beaches” due to the stunning white sand beaches that surround the two islands, and on Antigua many high-end resorts. Barbuda still has the beaches but little tourism-based infrastructure.
Investment banking and financial services are important with many major foreign banks taking advantage of the nation’s liberal banking laws.
Cricket is a huge sport here and this tiny nation has produced several genuine all-time world greats of the game. Cricket fans will certainly not be short of locals to chat with.
Capital: St John’s
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD) “$” or “EC$” (XCD). US$1 ≈ EC$2.7 (pegged).
Population: 101,000
Language. English (official) and local dialects + an expanding Spanish-speaking migrant population.
Country Code: +1268
Visa. Most western countries don’t require a visa.
Climate. Tropical marine with little seasonal temperature variation. The islands experience hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October), and periodic droughts.
Electricity. Outlets are the standard British type and non-grounded North American outlets.
Get In. By plane. V.C. Bird International, (ANU) has flights to United States, Canada, Europe and other Caribbean islands.
Get Around
Car or scooter rentals. The nicest spots are only reached by your own transport. There are various car rental agencies and if you stay a week or more, rates improve.
By bus. Inexpensive but slow. 15 Nomad Mania sites, mostly on Antigua, all separated.
Ferry to Barbuda. Barbuda Express runs ferries between Barbuda and Antigua from the ferry dock in St. John’s Harbour at the bottom of High St. The Barbuda Express is an innovative wave-piercing catamaran giving maximum passenger comfort at high speed and a journey time of 90 minutes in nearly all weather conditions
See
Frigate birds on Barbuda
Mount Obama, previously known as “Boggy Peak” the nation’s highest point and a national park named for U.S. President Barack Obama on his 48th birthday in 2009.
ANTIGUA The main island and a major Caribbean resort destination
Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites. World Heritage Sites. A group of Georgian-style naval buildings and structures, set within a walled enclosure. The natural environment of this side of the island of Antigua, with its deep, narrow bays surrounded by highlands on which defensive fortifications were constructed, and that offered shelter from hurricanes and was ideal for repairing ships. The construction of the Dockyard by the British navy would not have been possible without the labour of generations of enslaved Africans since the end of the 18th century. Its aim was to protect the interests of sugar cane planters at a time when European powers were competing for control of the Eastern Caribbean. Antigua’s location as a front-line naval dockyard facility gave the British navy a strategic advantage over its rivals at a crucial point in history.
English Georgian architecture was modified to suit the hot tropical climate to a distinctly colonial Caribbean Georgian architecture with the addition of features such as storm shutters and verandas.
Antigua Airport (ANU)
Dockyard Museum, English Harbour
Greencastle Hill
Betty’s Hope Mills, Betty’s Hope. Windmill
Beaches
17-Mile Beach
Darkwood Beach
Shoal Bay (Sight)
Christian Valley Waterfall
Pillar of Hercules via Shirley Heights Trail. Trails 2 – Hikes:
Festivals
A & B International Kite Festival
Antigua Sailing Week
Wadadli Day
SAINT JOHN’S
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda
Fort James
St. John’s Cathedral
VC Bird Statue
Redonda. M@P, XL, Tiny uninhabited island
==============
BARBUDA Few people, even fewer facilities, magnificent beaches
Codrington Lagoon (Frigate Bird Sanctuary)
Two Foot Bay Caves
