The Best Authentic Caribbean Gifts and Souvenirs

Adopt a Turtle - Want to make someone feel good at the holidays, and feel like you did something good yourself? Adopt an endangered sea turtle on behalf of the person you love.

Angostura Bitters from Trinidad - a secret mix of herbs and spices used as a cocktail mixer and cure-all for a variety of ailments.

Batik from St. Kitts or Andros - The Caribelle Batik Factory on St. Kitts, located in an old sugar plantation, is bursting with colorfully dyed fabrics and clothing, from sarongs to dresses to pillow covers and wall hangings.

Caribbean Gift Baskets - Caribbean Tastes can put together a custom gift basket stuffed with Caribbean goods like rum, spices, fruit, and more.

Caribbean Rum - Other than sunshine, the Caribbean's most famous export is rum, and this liquor distilled from molasses (a byproduct of sugarcane cultivation) remains the most popular souvenir for Caribbean travelers.

Curacao Liqueur - Made from the peels of the laraha fruit grown on Curacao (a type of bitter orange), this liqueur is famous for giving color to drinks like the Blue Hawaiian and the blue margaritas you'll find at many bars.

Guava Cheese - Guava cheese doesn't actually contain any cheese -- it's the quirky name for an authentic treat found in Caribbean islands like Trinidad and Nevis and made of fresh guava and cane sugar, plus flavorings like cinnamon or lime juice.

Guavaberry from St. Maarten - The Guavaberry shop in Philipsburg, St. Maarten is one of the island's most popular tourist destinations and the best place to pick up a bottle of St. Maarten's folk liqueur, made from a rare and bitter local berry found in the island's interior. In addition to rum blended with guavaberries, the shop stocks guavaberry honey, hot sauces, and other products.

Island Charms Jewelry - Island Charms produces original jewelry crafted in the shape of islands like Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Grand Cayman, St. Croix, St. Martin, and St. Thomas, with more on the way. Made of sterling silver or 14k gold, the islands are adorned with Swarovski crystals denoting the location of capitals or major attractions.

Jimmy Buffett's Christmas CD - Singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett is the personification of laid-back Caribbean cool, and his "Christmas Island" CD will warm up even the chilliest winter day.

• Model Ships from Bequia
• Spices from Grenada
• St. Croix Cookbook
• St. Croix Hook Bracelet
• DVD on the History of Montserrat
• Tortuga Rum Cake

Tulum

Tulum is the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city serving as a major port for Coba.  The ruins are situated on 12-meter  tall cliffs, along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula on the Carribian Sea  in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited and built by the Mayans, it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers appear to have been the cause of its demise. One of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, Tulum is today a popular site for tourists.

Extinction of Carribean Coral Reefs

Coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea due to global warming are losing their structure, becoming more flat. This process continues for the past 40 years, can lead to the extinction of many species of coral reef ecosystems.

"The complex structures of reefs provide shelter for many organisms from predators. The destruction of " architecture " leads to a fall of biodiversity, which in turn, negatively affect the coastal communities earning with fishing. The destruction of the structure of reefs also reduces the natural protection of the coast from erosion.

Previous studies have shown that corals in the area undergo degradation, but scientists at the University of East Anglia University in Canada for the first time demonstrated how changes the "architecture" reefs and how it might affect the species living there.

The authors analyzed the changes in the 200 coral reefs in the period from 1969 to 2008. They showed two episodes of strong "flattening" of corals. The first of these occurred in the late 1970's and was associated with the spread of the disease, which destroyed 90% of the two types of coral polyps. The second period of vertical structures of coral reefs is happening today. Scientists associate this process with global warming and rising sea surface temperatures.

Best World Places for Diving

Forbes Traveller magazine compiled a list of the world's best places for diving. the world's best places for diving. In the first place in the list turned out to be Phi Phi Island in Thailand. These islands are 2 limestone monolith, one of whom, Phi Phi Don, continues to grow. The best place for diving is near the reef Hing-Klang. Here is an abundance of soft corals and bright tropical fish.

In second place is the resort zone Safaga in Egypt, which consists of several sandy beaches located on the shores of a large bay with many coral reefs. To dive the divers are taken to a sandy island, also located in a quiet bay Soma. Here, on the shallow reef, the most common arelions-fish and clown fish, are also encountered morays and Ocellaris fish, cuttlefish and octopuses.

The list continues the Panamanian Island of San Blas, also known as Kuna Yala. The reefs of San Blas impress by its length, reaching 320 kilometers. Here divers are waiting for immersion with numerous corals and sponges. In the western part of the archipelago are uninhabited islands, where you can see not only corals but also wrecked ships.

In the list is also included the island of Culebra (Puerto Rico). Tourists well know the Flamenco Beach, located on the north coast of Culebra - the largest island in the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. Secluded beach Carlos Rosario - one of the most popular places for diving in the Caribbean Sea. During the dive you can see many corals and reef fish.

In the waters of the Salt Cay Island (Turks and Caicos Islands) divers will see the typical inhabitants of these places: sharks-nurses, skats and colonies of coral reefs in the form of antlers. From neighboring islets it is possible to watch fish schools, here on the 12-meter depth lies the British Royal Navy frigate Endymion, crashed into a coral reef. Winter gives divers an additional opportunity to swim among humpback whales.

Sixth place in the list is taken by the island St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands). Its coastline is richly protected from the waves in some places to dive. Since almost the entire island is national park, there are not many sedimentary rocks, which damage the corals and make the water turbid.

One of the best places for diving is in U.S. Virgin Islands - the water near the beaches of U.S. Virgin Islands, which are located on the leeward side of the island of U.S. Virgin Islands. Visibility is up to 30 meters or more. Whether diving near the beach or at a remote reefs, divers will meet many fish, sponges, corals, and if you're lucky - stingrays, bracken and green sea turtles weighing up to 180 kilograms. However, the winter swimming and diving at the beach Macs can prevent a strong surf.

Also the list of Forbes Traveller includes such places for diving, as the Indonesian National Marine Park Bunaken in northern U.S. Virgin Islands, the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Rurutu island in French Polynesia, underwater cave systems in Florida, the Fiji Islands and the island of Bimini.

Dominican Republic Food

Columbus, who discovered this volcanic island on Sunday, November 3, 1493, called it Dominicano. The territory of the Dominican Republic has 1600 km of sea coast - in the north Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea to the south. Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean. History of the Dominican Republic - is the story of an Indian Island Kiskeya, whose name translates as "mother of all lands". The natives who inhabited the island before the arrival of the Spanish sailors, were descended from tribes that came from the tropical forests of Venezuela and from the banks of the Orinoco River. They called themselves "Taíno". Official language is Spanish. In tourist centers and speak in English, French, German and Italian. And in the hotels of the Dominican Republic you will understood in any language. The historical part of the city of Santo Domingo, recognized by UNESCO cultural heritage.

Many people think that Latin American and Caribbean cuisine doesn't differ from country to country. However, ways of cooking food in the Dominican Republic are really unique. History tells us that the Dominican Republic experienced the influence of both France and Spain. In addition, Aboriginal foods and ways of its preparation also helped create a remarkable and delicious dishes.

Dominican cuisine is simple to prepare and very healthy. Are used only natural ingredients. The main feature of it - the extensive use of legumes, bananas and other vegetables (including exotics) in the original, combined with meat products and fish. This abundance of spices used in cooking, at first glance is huge, but it is not so - all the spices are consumed in the measure, and almost do not spoil the original flavor. For cooking use only a certain kind of bananas "Platano" - Green and quite hard, do not eat them raw. Side dish usually served on rice, red beans, cassava, mashed bananas from the forest with a bow "manga" and various salads.

National dishes that use local people on a daily basis are: a thick soup with meat, rice and vegetables "asopao", stew meat, beans, rice, salad and fried bananas " Bandera", baked in banana leaves, meat and vegetable" bed-en - Ohashi, roast pork "puerko al-Puja" or "puerko-Assado", vegetables and meat ragout "sankocho", pork served with fried bananas, and certainly exotic - whole braised pig carcass in a pit, stewed with vegetables and herb chicken, tripe on-Dominican "monfongo" etc. As a side dish using rice and red beans in all sorts of combinations, cassava, mashed bananas from the forest with a bow "manga" and various salads.

Continuing on the table there are cakes of cassava, "Kasaba" (as usual, and with various fillings) and "tostones" - fried bananas. Fish and seafood, despite their abundance and diversity, almost non-existent in the traditional Dominican cuisine, but recently they have been in larger numbers appear in the menus of cafes and restaurants. The most popular fish, roasted on a spit or a lattice, grilled fish with coconut crumbs, fish in a sauce of coconut milk "Pescado con coco", a variety of seafood, "mariskos" crabs in a sauce "Cangrejo gisado" etc.

And, of course, have the widest distribution of a variety of tropical fruits - bananas, coconuts, pineapples, arable land, guava, mango, green lemon Zest and other exotic fruits. Their use in natural form, in the form of juices and fruit cocktails. Everywhere brew good coffee, especially good grade "Santo Domingo".

Rum is the national alcoholic beverage of the Dominican Republic, which does not manage any festival anywhere in the country. Rum is widely popular among the local population of the Dominican Republic, along with local brands of beer "Quisqueya", "Presidente" and "Bohemia". Rum varying quality and spills can be purchased at any store or tent.

Among the 15 varieties of rum, manufactured in the country, the main positions occupied by "Brugal", "Barselo" and "Bermudes". Produce dark rum (with a classic golden hue) and light (white, often with the addition of lemon, which gives the drink a delicious taste).

Rum drink alone or added to cocktails. For example, "Piña Colada" (Rum, often 3 species, coconut milk and pineapple juice, ice), Daiquiri (rum, lemon juice, ice chips) and, of course, the famous and the most popular "Free Cuba" (rum Coca-Cola and ice).

Interest of local alcoholic beverage "pru" (a product of fermentation of juice plants of the same name). Coffee is brewed everywhere.

Island of Jamaica...

Jamaica - it is a lush nature, rivers and waterfalls, fabulous, emerald meadows and mysterious woods, picturesque bays and coves, golden beaches ...

Island of Jamaica is located in the northern part of the Caribbean Sea 144 kilometers south of Cuba. The island - is 1.424 square. km, length - 235 km and maximum width - 82 km. Half of its territory consists of mountains, the highest of the tops - Blue Peak reaches 2,220 m. In Jamaica, more than 120 rivers, numerous waterfalls of unparalleled beauty, mineral springs. Here, fertile soil, and scenic landscapes, breathtaking coastline with sandy beaches, coves, bays and coastal reefs.

Many hotels operate on the All Inclusive system, which means you will not pay for the pleasure: tennis and minigolf, discotheque, daily show, yachts, catamarans, water skiing and even diving equipment - everything is already included in the price. This choice of hotels "interest" on the island is large enough. Some couples just relax, there are hotels for families with children, hotels for a honeymoon, etc.

However, the main thing in Jamaica not only comfort and excellent service, but also very unique, relaxed atmosphere, which is characteristic only for the Caribbean islands. The fact that you have time to see and feel here will always return to you, you have only to hear the languid, rhythmic songs by Bob Marley or just the sounds of reggae ...