Anguilla
We left St. John’s, Antigua, at 10PM and reached our destination of Anguilla at 8AM. The seas were gentle during our sail. Sunrise was at 6:30 AM and by 7 it was 72 degrees Fahrenheit. We anchored off Anguilla at 8:30 and the seas though having a little chop were for the most part forgiving. The Spanish explorers gave the island its name because its low-lying sinuous shape reminded them of an eel. The island is comprised of coral and is one of the few non-volcanic islands we will visit. But we came here to explore the beautiful beaches and sample the snorkeling. Mike Greenfelder provided a snorkel practice session on the Lido deck at 9:30 and shortly afterwards we disembarked. Our destination was the beautiful white sandy beach of Cove Bay.
Today the island of Anguilla, unlike the majority of the Leeward Islands, remains a dependent territory of Britain. The island as a result is proud of its British heritage and the flavor is evident in the lilt of the language of the islanders and their culture. The island depends almost entirely for its economy on tourism. For example, the all year round population of 8 thousand receives more than 60 thousand visitors annually. The Caribbean islands while blessed with the most wonderful climates have always had a single economy, whether an agricultural product like sugar or today tourism. There are obvious disadvantages to such a focused economy and many of these small nations are trying to diversify their economies. Anguilla has attracted a significant banking economy. The government has greatly limited the taxes these largely off shore banks pay and hence there are more than 45 major world banks represented here.
We began Zodiacs at 9:30 and had our first opportunity to get wet at the landing! The beach sand was blindingly white and the water inviting. Many went snorkeling searching for the common parrotfish and the other beautiful denizens of these turquoise waters. If one swims slowly the fish are undisturbed and go about their unending task of feeding. We retuned to the Sea Cloud II after a successful snorkeling expedition to a scrumptious barbecue lunch on the Lido deck.
Tonight, being New Years Eve, we had a wonderful cocktail party and a gala five-course dinner. After dinner a number of us returned to the Lido Deck and the captain using the ship's bridge clock counted down the last 10 seconds before 2008. We broke out the champagne and the noisemakers and everyone hugged wishing each other well for the New Year. Off to bed after a wonderful day.
We left St. John’s, Antigua, at 10PM and reached our destination of Anguilla at 8AM. The seas were gentle during our sail. Sunrise was at 6:30 AM and by 7 it was 72 degrees Fahrenheit. We anchored off Anguilla at 8:30 and the seas though having a little chop were for the most part forgiving. The Spanish explorers gave the island its name because its low-lying sinuous shape reminded them of an eel. The island is comprised of coral and is one of the few non-volcanic islands we will visit. But we came here to explore the beautiful beaches and sample the snorkeling. Mike Greenfelder provided a snorkel practice session on the Lido deck at 9:30 and shortly afterwards we disembarked. Our destination was the beautiful white sandy beach of Cove Bay.
Today the island of Anguilla, unlike the majority of the Leeward Islands, remains a dependent territory of Britain. The island as a result is proud of its British heritage and the flavor is evident in the lilt of the language of the islanders and their culture. The island depends almost entirely for its economy on tourism. For example, the all year round population of 8 thousand receives more than 60 thousand visitors annually. The Caribbean islands while blessed with the most wonderful climates have always had a single economy, whether an agricultural product like sugar or today tourism. There are obvious disadvantages to such a focused economy and many of these small nations are trying to diversify their economies. Anguilla has attracted a significant banking economy. The government has greatly limited the taxes these largely off shore banks pay and hence there are more than 45 major world banks represented here.
We began Zodiacs at 9:30 and had our first opportunity to get wet at the landing! The beach sand was blindingly white and the water inviting. Many went snorkeling searching for the common parrotfish and the other beautiful denizens of these turquoise waters. If one swims slowly the fish are undisturbed and go about their unending task of feeding. We retuned to the Sea Cloud II after a successful snorkeling expedition to a scrumptious barbecue lunch on the Lido deck.
Tonight, being New Years Eve, we had a wonderful cocktail party and a gala five-course dinner. After dinner a number of us returned to the Lido Deck and the captain using the ship's bridge clock counted down the last 10 seconds before 2008. We broke out the champagne and the noisemakers and everyone hugged wishing each other well for the New Year. Off to bed after a wonderful day.
