Posts Tagged ‘historic’

Steve
Steve

Wish You Were Here

Fort Christiansvaern, St. Croix/SBPR

Exploring every nook and cranny of historic Fort Christiansvaern (est. circa 1749) with my kids in downtown Christiansted, St. Croix.

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Dec. 18th, 2011 | Tags: , , | No Comments »
Steve
Steve

On-Site Nevis: Checking Out The Golden Rock Inn

Golden Rock Inn, Nevis/SBPR

It’s been one full year since my romantic adventure trip to Nevis and I still find myself captivated by this tiny and amazing jewel of an island. There’s just so much to see, taste and experience over its scant 36 square miles that even the shortest of stays here (I was only there four days) sticks with you long after you’re gone.
One of my favorite things about Nevis is its collection of charming and historic plantation inns. As some of you may recall, my wife and I stayed at Nisbet Plantation, which holds the distinction of being the only historic plantation inn in the entire Caribbean that’s located on the beach.

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Jun. 30th, 2011 | Tags: , , | 2 Comments »
Steve
Steve

Vive Le Renaissance of the Historic Hotel L’Impératrice

L'Imperatrice Bed/SBPR

The Caribbean is rarely thought of as a prime destination for the type of city stay vacation so popular over in Europe, but it should be. Throughout the region, you can find a wide array of stylish and contemporary hotels located in the middle of bustling cosmopolitan areas rife with fine art galleries, museums, celebrated restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and other urban treasures. Among the main cities to seek out this type of vacation experience are Old San Juan, Santo Domingo, Kingston, Havana (someday), Port-of-Spain, and Fort-de-France, where last May I visited the Hotel L’Impératrice pictured above.
Located in the heart of Martinique‘s capital city, Hotel L’Impératrice was originally built in the 1950’s and named in honor of Empress Josephine, Napoleon’s wife and one of Martinique’s most famous figures.

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Jan. 18th, 2011 | Tags: , , | No Comments »
Steve
Steve

Saturday Video: The White Witch of Rose Hall, Jamaica

witch

With just over a week to go before Halloween, we’re sharing the story of one of the Caribbean’s most notoriously haunted attractions, the Rose Hall Great House in Jamaica.
Located about 10 miles east of my usual address in Montego Bay, Rose Hall dates back to the 1770′s and represents one of the finest, fully-restored examples of Georgian-era (1714-1830) construction in the Caribbean. Impressive, though it may be for its architecture, period furniture, art and other treasures, the main attraction at Rose Hall is undoubtedly the White Witch, aka: Annie Palmer, who lived here in the 1800′s.
Annie’s legend varies slightly depending on who’s telling it, but most agree that she was short (about 4-ft, 11-in), sexy, lustful and a murderous voodoo priestess.

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Oct. 23rd, 2010 | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment »
Steve
Steve

Uncommon Attraction: Capilla del Cristo Chapel, Old San Juan

Capilla del Cristo Chapel, Old San Juan/SBPR

Old San Juan is a treasure trove of historic sites, many of them steeped in religious traditions that date back hundreds of years. The majestic 16th century San Juan Cathedral, among the rarest of medieval structures over here in the New World, garners most of the attention, and rightfully so.
Architecture buffs revel in the Cathedral’s vaulted Gothic ceilings, while history lovers enjoy visiting the tomb of the legendary Spanish explorer, Ponce de León. It’s simply a magnificent attraction not to be missed.
Still, I like the humble little chapel pictured here better.
This is the Capilla del Santo Cristo de la Salud, otherwise known as the Cristo Chapel.

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Sep. 21st, 2010 | Tags: , | 3 Comments »
Steve
Steve

Deal of the Week: Sultry Summer Offer from Nisbet Plantation

Nisbet

There’s a lot to love about Nisbet Plantation in Nevis, especially for lovers. Don’t get me wrong – families can enjoy magical vacation experiences here too, but just look at this place. It doesn’t scream romance (that would be too bourgeois) so much as it whispers it, gently; a soft kiss sure to follow.
Classic properties like this are a real treat to me. Service and pampering here are born of an established tradition enjoyed by the traveling elite for generations. At the same time, all the modern amenities found at today’s newest resorts are readily available. Two of my favorites at Nisbet: free Wifi (not as widely available at Caribbean resorts as you might think) and complimentary use of a Flip digital video camera to capture vacation memories.

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Apr. 22nd, 2010 | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments »