Tag: Caribbean Sea

Jamaica, in four perfect days

On By bratislavIn Food & Drink, Travel1 Comment

That sliver of land I’ve just spotted is in fact Cuba. Cabo Cruz on its southwestern tip, as the flight map confirms. With only 200-odd kms to go, we’ve begun our initial descent, and my choice of window seat has already paid off. Jamaica’s majestic Blue Mountains make up a third of the country’s landform and practically dominate the country’s eastern half. So far only the summits have been visible – some over 7000-ft high – but as we drop below the clouds, Kingston’s sprawl reveals itself. On what is undoubtedly a spectacular approach, we fly over its bustling harbor, then the airport itself, making a generous loop further east before eventually touching down at Norman Manley International.

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Many Faces, One Republic

On By bratislavIn TravelLeave a comment

My departure gate has a familiar buzz to it. An air of bonhomie, bordering on the raucous, and Spanish that’s too fast to follow along or understand. DL 1943 is a locals-only flight, and I’m the lone outsider amongst the diaspora queuing up to board it. I might as well be at 175th street, waiting for an uptown A train! Much like the A, running express between 59th and 125th streets, the flight to Santo Domingo is a blur, and it’s well past everyone’s bedtime by the time I make it to Casa Sánchez.

I awake to that unmistakable tropical feeling. Moisture-laden air, a scorching sun amidst a dazzling blue sky, a colorful courtyard full of fruit-bearing trees, and a hearty desayuno to look forward to.

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Giving Thanks, in the Spanish Virgin Islands

On By bratislavIn Food & Drink, Travel2 Comments

One year on, quite a bit has changed in Vieques. Cellular service is a shade better. Electric supply is a lot less erratic. Street lights, where they exist, are now in working order. The Malecón has been patched up. Credit card acceptance has gone up considerably. Who would’ve thought, but ferry tickets can now be booked online. And the most prominent group visiting the island these days are young Chinese couples. Other than that, Vieques remains as laid back as ever. El Blok feels like a second home; Mojitos flowing at its ground floor bar, and sunset from its rooftop as remarkable as I can recall.P1160124 Continue reading “Giving Thanks, in the Spanish Virgin Islands” →

Basking in Barbados

On By bratislavIn Food & Drink, Trains, Travel2 Comments

Barbados, much like Argentina, was not a destination I chose. And although I was there for a very short amount of time, it’s a country I grew to like very quickly. So much so that I wish I could’ve stayed longer. And while eight days might seem too long for an island nation less than two hundred square miles in size, it is, in fact, barely sufficient to do it any justice. Barbados, as it turned out, had a lot more to offer than its renowned coastline, and these are some of my most memorable experiences on the island.

Café at the Garrison

My Airbnb was located just off Carlisle Bay, in the Bayville section of Barbados, a stone’s throw away from the historic Garrison area. A World Heritage Site today, The Garrison, as the name would suggest, was home to British troops for much of their occupation of Barbados. Surrounded by barracks and officers quarters, a lush parade ground known as the Garrison Savanah formed the centerpiece of the area, as it does to this day. The military parades are long gone, of course, suitably replaced by horse-racing, and fittingly, it was on this very patch of green that the Barbadian flag was raised for the first time in 1966.   
P1130690 Continue reading “Basking in Barbados” →

Isla bonita

On By bratislavIn Food & Drink, Travel, Wildlife4 Comments

The BN-2 Islander is a nifty little aircraft. Probably one of the smallest I’ve flown in. Over five decades in production, its been the light utility aircraft of choice for militaries and police forces alike. In the Caribbean particularly, its found favor amongst civilian operators too. The airstrip at Ceiba, a tiny coastal town on the eastern edge of the Puerto Rican mainland, is home to over a dozen of these, flying regular eight-minute sorties to the little island of Vieques… P1080228

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Provo, and then some

On By bratislavIn Travel1 Comment

Providenciales, or Provo, is where you’ll typically fly into, if you’re visiting Turks and Caicos. And chances are, you’ll probably end up staying in the Grace Bay area, home to a namesake beach, which more often than not finds itself at the top of worldwide rankings. That is, of course, if you have the resources, and are willing to shell out top dollar. Most people traveling here, it seems, do have the means necessary. But what if your pockets don’t run so deep? The good news is, a visit here is still feasible, and, as it turns out, a lot more exciting…IMG_0567

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Paraíso en Providencia

On By bratislavIn Food & Drink, Travel1 Comment

A blast of warm, salty air greets us as we step off the plane at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport. Breathing is suddenly a lot easier, and my track jacket feels quite redundant in 29C (84F) weather. After a night spent in Bogotá, San Andrés certainly feels like the sea change we needed.

Armando has already spotted us at the left-luggage area, and is quick to offer his services. We negotiate with him for 20,000 COP (~$7) for the 20-minute ride down to San Luis, a little village on the southeast of the island. Filing into his dated Chevrolet, we follow the coastal road south, past many colorful homes, a smattering of Baptist Churches, and several vendors hawking coconuts.

Buggies line the narrow lane leading to Donde Francesca, a popular seafood eatery located on San Luis‘s sprawling beach. Lunch hour is busy here, and aptly so. Far removed from the commercial hustle of the island’s main town, the food here is excellent, and the setting is hard to beat…
Donde Francesca

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