Barbuda, April 13-15, 2006

Sailboat | Voyages | Log

Cocoa Beach, the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean Sand like fine powder Cocoa Beach extends for miles Notice the air sock for the grass air strip Bringing Two Pie Ashore Fantasy become reality The dark areas in the water are coral reefs Private air Strip for Cocoa Beach Resort The dirt road crosses the grass air strip For the crispiest of the upper crust Yachtee's are not allowed in Full Circle is the second boat from the right With only 1200 inhabitants, Barbuda is more than just remote; it is a shimmering island of powdery sand, protected by dense coral reefs, making it one of the most dangerous areas in the Caribbean. Its waters are littered with hundreds of ship wrecks. Barbuda is part of the country of Antigua, but culturally, it is a country of its own. They have one paved road, one restaurant, and one grocery store, with mostly empty, dust covered shelves. Once again, we find beauty embedded in poverty. However, with Barbuda, it seems to be a conscious choice. They don’t seem to like tourists and do little to encourage outsiders from entering their sacred space. Only natives are allowed to own land, the two resorts on the island rent their land. Life is slow, oh so slow, and that is the way they like it. With the world in such turmoil, that is not such a bad idea. Having such vivid memories from a previous, trip, Karen and I felt compelled to return to beaches of Barbuda. The sand is so fine it is more like powder; it is white like snow. The coral reefs trap the water, allowing the sun to heat it to a point that it is actually warmer than the air. Gentle waves cause ripples in the sandy bottom; the sun radiating through the water, creates a kaleidoscope on the ocean floor. We lay spread eagled on the shore, half submerged, allowing the warm water to wash over our bodies. We have found paradise. Previous | Next