A Tropical Island

The Tropical Island of Maui Hawaii. I have longed to go back there. I was there many years ago, 1974 was the year. At that time I visited two of the Tropical Islands, Oahu and Maui. I could probably say with certainty it has changed immensely. I can remember a little waiter at a restaurant saying if you come back 5 years from now, nothing will be the same. So I can only imagine it today. My plans when I return will be to go to the Islands of Maui and Kauai.

There is not allot that I remember about Hawaii since it was so many years ago. However, the one thing I do remember is the Beauty of it. So clean and fresh is the only way I can describe it. They had the best tasting Pineapple I had ever eaten. The chi chi drinks and blue Hawaii drinks were incredible.

The other thing I remember is trying to get someone to go with me. Being from small town USA, everyone thought I was totally nuts. They said Hawaii was for the rich folks. I may not of been rich, but I was a dreamer. (more…)

Flores and Corvo are the last two of the western group of Islands.

FLORES ISLAND

The island of Flores is the westernmost point of the Archipelago and of Europe. Flores is about 15 miles from Corvo. These two islands make up the western group of the archipelago. The area is about 55 sq miles (143Km2). The island has more or less 4000 inhabitants. The main municipalities are Santa Cruz and Lajes.

The island of Flores has deep valleys and high peaks, lakes bordered by hydrangeas, cliffs carved with grottoes, hot springs and the remains of old volcanoes. The fields are divided by hydrangea hedges.

There is a great profusion of wild flowers and small sized botanical species, many of which have come from the original flora. Permanent pastures and farm areas, including vineyards, complete the vegetal landscape of the islands.

The melodious sound produced by water-mills next to crystal-clear streams of Flores. The long, dense clumps of hydrangeas winding over hills and dales. The basalt petrified in eternal threads. The refreshing tranquillity of the lagoons. The musical creaking of an ox drawn cart. Picturesque old customs. White houses perched on green slopes. The harmony of Flores, a garden floating on the foam of the sea. (more…)

Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial are the central group of Azores Islands. With all the beauty each of these Islands has to offer and limited time to visit, we may have to return more then once to appreciate it all.

TERCEIRA ISLAND

Terceira Island is located approximately 90 miles off Sao Miguel and 66 miles off Faial, and has a surface area of 148 sq. miles (382 km2). The international airport, located in “Lajes”, about 2 miles from the city of “Praia da Vitoria”, serves both civilian and military needs, and includes both the Military Command for the Azores as well as an important American Air Force Base. Terceira is the second most populated Azorean island with 58000 inhabitants.

After a violent earthquaque in 1980 and the subsequent reconstruction of the city, a large portion of Angra’s historical center has been classified Public Interest, and is included in the UNESCO’s list of World Patrimony since 1986.
Angra has one of the best public libraries and archives in the country which also retains some important private art collections.

The network of streets of a town that is a monument in itself. The colourful “impérios” or chapels that bear witness to popular devotion. The walls of a castle that was a royal prison. The constant presence of history. The gentle ondulation of a green countryside. The white triangle of the typical chimneys. Sides of the attractive and colourful prism that is Terceira.

GRACIOSA ISLAND

Graciosa Island is Approximately 31 miles from Terceira. It has a surface area of 24 sq miles (61 km2). It is called the white island due to the landscape and the names given to certain places like “Pedras Brancas” or White Stones, “Serra Branca” or White Mountain, and “Barro Branco” or White Clay. The island has about 4600 inhabitants. The main municipalities are “Santa Cruz” and “Lajes”.

The islets along the coast of Graciosa add a peculiar beauty to the islands. The “Praia” Islet, totally covered by vegetation, and the “Baleia” Islet, named this way because of it has shape of a whale.

The undulating wheat-fields, green and purple vineyards. The vanes of windmills revolving in the wind. The colour of the vineyards. The mirror formed by a lagoon hidden in the depth of the earth. The peace and quiet of country life. The nectar of delicious wines. Pastoral attractions of Graciosa, which also offers, in dramatic beauty, the rainbow colours of underwater life. (more…)

Although my blog is mostly about Tropical Islands. There will be other Islands, like the Azores, that are just worth writing about! Who ever heard of the Azores Islands? Where is the Azores Islands? Wow, one evening while watching Anthony Bourdain filming his show in the Azores. I wondered where is this place. It looked amazing.  So we immediately looked it up and found it be the most perfect place to meet up with our kids that live in Germany. So my research began and the more I leaned about these Islands the more I said we are going there in 2011. These Islands are not really what you would call typical Tropical Islands. They are very different. This will be a trip like no other that we have taken.

The Islands

The Azores, an outline of garden-like islands on the horizons of the Atlantic ocean. Peace and quiet, flowers in the fields, in the villages, in the houses. The blue and green of dreamy lagoons. A pace of life in which there is time to stop and appreciate living. Art treasures that recall pages of a centuries-long history. Nature in its original splendor. A meeting with the past involved in everyday life. An invitation to discover and experience a different world, repeated on each of the nine islands of the Azores.

Origins

The origin of the name Azores was derived from the archaic Portuguese word “azures” the plural of the word blue. Some say that it was named after the goshawk bird (Açor in Portuguese). However, since such bird never existed in the Azores, most historians have concluded that this the least probable explanation.

Location

The Azores Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, about two hours flying time and 930 miles (1500 Km) from Lisbon, and about five hours flying time and 2422 miles (3900 Km) from the eastern coast of North America. The Azores have a total area of 910 square miles (2355 Km2). Their individual areas vary between S. Miguel’s 290 square miles (747 Km2) and Corvo’s 7 square miles (17 Km2). Its nine island archipelago extends over the parallel that runs through Lisbon (39º43′/39º55′ north latitude), giving it a moderate climate with mild annual temperature oscillation. (more…)

Although Bradenton is not a Tropical Island per say, it is with in a few minutes drive from Anna Maria Island, Long Boat Key and Bradenton Beach, which are some awesome Islands. Bradenton has been my home since 1986. One of the best moves I have ever made thus far. That is, till I find my perfect Tropical Island to live on, this will remain home. If Florida had mountains, I would probably never desire the need to move. Well maybe!

Bradenton is located just south of the Greater Tampa Bay, Bradenton is the seat of Manatee County and a fabulous place to live and visit. Incorporated May 19, 1903, the area now called the City of Bradenton (approximate population: 53,823 as of April 2010; size: 14.44 square miles) was discovered in 1539 by Hernando DeSoto when he landed on Shaw’s Point to begin his 4,000 mile trek in search of El Dorado, “the lost city of gold.” Formerly known as the Town of Manatee, this area merged with Bradenton in the 1940s and now comprises the city’s eastern half.

Bradenton is on US 41 between Tampa and Sarasota. The area is surrounded by waterways, both fresh and saltwater. Along the Gulf of Mexico and into Tampa Bay are over 20 miles of Florida beaches – many which are shaded by Australian pines. Bordered on the north by the Manatee River, Bradenton is located on the mainland and is separated from the outer barrier islands of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key by the Intracoastal Waterway. Anna Maria Bayfront Park located on the north end of Anna Maria island is a park overlooking Tampa Bay. The business district and community of Bradenton Beach on the southern end of Anna Maria island is oriented toward vacationers who come to enjoy the surrounding beaches. Longboat Key, the next barrier island south, is popular with shell hunters along its beaches. (more…)

Out Of The Ordinary! I tend to stay away from the “traditional” Hotel type places. I like something a litte different and more private. That is exactly what I found at the Ti Kaye Village. Nestled on the hillside of St Lucia sits just 33 cottages. I can’t say enough good things about this place. The staff was as friendly and as helpful as they could be. They made you feel so at home. You would of thought you were the only guests there. As we observed other guests coming and going, they treated everyone with same hospitality. The place is very remote, however, it is very convenient to get a taxi and a tour to see all other parts of this Tropical Island. The staff will book any of your tours right from this Hotel. I do have to mention that they are very prompt at picking you up. I found that to be very surprising.

Ti Kaye Village is in Anse Cochon – approximately 80 minute ride from Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in Vieux Fort at the southern tip of the island, and 40 minutes from George F Charles Airport (SLU) in the north near Castries. They will arrange transfers from either airport to and from Ti Kaye Village. We found all the drivers to be very friendly, helpful and really good drivers. A word of caution.  (more…)

We are back from our Christmas Island adventure. The Perfect Christmas Song. We spent Christmas at Ti Kaye Village on the beautiful Tropical Island of St. Lucia. I have to say it is quite the place. We found the people there to be very friendly and helpful. Although it is a small Island, 14 miles wide and 27 miles long. It does take quite awhile to get any where because of the bumpy winding roads. Kind of reminded me of a roller coaster and tilt a whirl ride combined. I have never gotten car sick, but I did a little on this trip. Also prepare yourself for allot of walking and allot of stair climbing. Before we go again, I would do some stair climbing exercises so the muscles don’t get so sore. It also has to do a little with our age! The beauty of this Island made it all worth it! Although it rained allot, we still got some pretty good pictures. I have to admit. We are not professional photographers. I share with you a few tips for getting there. (more…)

Key West is just a short and picturesque drive from Miami, Florida down US 1. Really great for us Floridians that want a days drive and feel like you have gone far away from life on planet earth. On a good day with the sun shining  just right on the water, this drive can be more beautiful then you can imagine. Being the Southernmost point in the US, you not only feel like you are going to the end of the earth, you are. What a unique, awesome place when you get there. It really is like being in a different world. The Florida Keys is a very laid back Tropical Island life style.

Key West has many attractions, places to stay and things to do. If you would like to experience Key West and stay at a place that is “Not” a Hotel. We have found what I would call a Hidden Treasure. (more…)

Well we got off the 7 day cruise and I was not leaving Tahiti without staying in an over the water Bungalow!  So we decided to stay a few more days and booked the Intercontinental Hotel on Papeete. Intercontinental Tahiti is a delightful oceanfront resort on the west coast of Tahiti with the nicest overwater bungalows on the main island and several pleasant artificial beach settings and lagoonarium.  There is nothing like staying in an over the water bungalow. The sound of the water splashing against the pillars of the bungalow all day and all night was awesome. Beautiful colored fish just swimming right there in the most crystal clear blue water ever. There was also a few steps going down into the water from the bungalow where you could go for a swim. Then a shower right there so you could shower when you could came out of the water. The most unusual thing about this place was the pool. They had a sand bottom pool, which I had never heard of or scene before. It was set up so you could swim up for cocktails. The hotel boasts one of the best Polynesian dance performances in French Polynesia, and there are two restaurants, one under the main reception and a small intimate dining experience in an overwater setting. The service was good, the food was good, just a really really nice place that I would return to.

Now I have to tell you the Best thing that happened from staying at this wonderful place. It was our second to the last day there. (more…)

After a few days of recuperating in Papeete from the long flight. We boarded the 7 Day Paul Gauguin Cruise Ship for our trip around these Tropical Islands. What made this Cruise so awesome, was the ship stayed parked most of the time at all the different Islands. Great for folks like me that don’t like being out in the open sea much. You can see by the map below how close all the Islands are, so it takes little time to get from one to another. The view from the ship was beyond anything I could of imagined. Every day surrounded by the bluest water ever, and the mountains in the background. The Clouds and the Blue sky’s made it even more awesome.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering the six-star m/s Paul Gauguin ship for Tahiti cruise vacations. It is the only cruise ship to offer year-round Tahiti cruises and the only ship purposely built to cruise French Polynesia.

At the turn of the century, impressionist Paul Gauguin travelled to the tropical shores of French Polynesia to create some of his most renowned (more…)