Island views

[urbpan]

This is the view out of the cabana where Alexis and I have been sleeping.




It's rained every day that we've been here--but I really don't mind.


That makes for lots of rainbows.


And the rest of each day has been delightful.

Comments

[seaweedgirle.livejournal.com]

Unbelievably breathtaking!

[roaming.livejournal.com]

hmmm, I think I am now revising my former anti-carribbean vacation stance.

[(Anonymous)]

Interesting to hear someone else has an "anti-Caribbean vacation stance". I went to Aruba once; it was okay, not really my cup o' tea.

Remind us where you are, again?

~Flaneuse

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

We're in Antigua (see tags).

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

What's the basis for your anti-Caribbean stance?

(I kind of understand: I have a self-imposed lifelong ban on any place with the word "Disney" in it's name.)

[roaming.livejournal.com]

I'd been told that the very rich parts lie shoulder-to-shoulder with the very poor parts, and that tourists are told not to wander into "bad" territories. I guess the notion of "flaunting" my privilege right next to shanty-towns felt uncomfy.

Or am I confusing the Carribbean with other places? Happens to me all the time. :-

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I have very limited experience, but I think that's more or less true in a lot of the Caribbean and Central and South America. I haven't been anywhere in Antigua that has felt unsafe. Everyone drives everywhere so you go by a variety of different income neighborhoods as you go from place to place--but this island's economy is driven by beach tourism, so the residents kind of expect to see outsiders all around.

[uneko.livejournal.com]

*butts in* Personally? my rule of thumb when traveling anywhere is to not flaunt, to be as polite as possible, be nice, and friendly, etc. As stated, many of these places live through tourism, so you're helping them by being there. just do your best to make sure you and your companions are being good visitors.

I stil lremember when my family went to the carribean.. had a wondreful time.. we got local drivers at every port and generally looked for the 'best deal' as far as that went (there were about 20 of us! looking for a deal's not optional.. ^^;) ... I'll always remmeber the one driver who took us off to his friend's place up in the mountains where they ran a little fruit stand with lots of good tropical fruit... only there was no charge. Just a gord hanging nearby with a sign saying something like "it's between you and god when you put in" or something.

And there was also the driver who's name was "skippy" and spent the whole time chatting with us like we were family. Made us feel really good to be there and made us wish we could stay there longer.

of course, in return, we welcomed him, thanked him and talked with him about the local place--not dumb tourist questions but .. well.. I liek to think that we were, for the most part, good visitors. and we got treated wonderfully in return. :)

[roaming.livejournal.com]

All good advice, thanks for remindingus.

"I'll always remmeber the one driver who took us off to his friend's place up in the mountains where they ran a little fruit stand with lots of good tropical fruit..."

I'm glad you had a positive experience. Because there are stories that go the other way, where tourists are taken off the beaten path and robbed, beaten, or murdered. No matter where you go, in our country or in others, there are criminals who will take advantage of trust and naivete.

[bellelvsbeast.livejournal.com]

That first pic is GORGEOUS...:)