BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Caribbean Culture Anyone visited any of these islands?

I went to Barbados about 8 years ago....actually it's been 9 years, went a month after the 9/11 tragedy. When I have a chance I'll look up some of the pics I took when I was there. I've got to hit the sack, 3 am comes very quick.

I'll be heading to one of those in January (on a cruise...haven't decided which ones yet...but more than likely St Thomas for sure)

Haven�t been too any of those places yet, but maybe one day.

I've been to several of those islands, Barbados, St. Maarteen,Antigua,Martenique, US Virgins, I was there however 22 years ago and I know they are different today~many resorts, tourist traps, and hotel strips as well as restaurant and casinos and roads were built since my visits I'd like to think that I went went the islands were truly islands of pure peace and full with nature. Crystal warm waters, untouched rain forests and actual untraveled areas of interest.

I have always wanted to return, perhaps I will some day.

When I visited Barbados I was amazed at the contradictions. Some big beautiful homes, fancy shopping malls...and the poverty of the natives. Oh yes...and how narrow the sidewalks were and how fast the cars went. My favorite thing in the evenings, Thelma and I would go to the cabana like restaurant in the mall parking lot for the fresh catch of the day and those scrumptous grilled veggies. Never had pumpkin as a veggie until that trip..always in a pie. They even cut corn cobs in slices and grilled them mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Thelma and I stayed in a cottage owned by a woman I met online. It was her and her hubbys first home. They built a bigger house on the property and rented the cottage. I was surprised that all the water from washing dishes, clothes and bathing ran into the streets. commode water was contained some where, I don't know where though.

I remember waking up to the monkies playing in the trees outside!

I also was amazed at how pricey food was. We shopped in the local markets and cooked a lot at the cottage to save money. A real experience!

Yes I have visited 90% of them. I have also lived and worked in several and remain fascinated with how incredibly diverse they are.

Some cultural values are similiar but the terrain, food, language and attitudes serve as the unique discinction of each. It's quite exciting to discover these differences, especially to have to negotiate similiar situations differently in every destination.