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Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Sorting Out The Caribbean, from the Bahamas, Belize and Bermuda to the US Virgin Island

 13 countries

We went on holiday from the USA to St Maarten/St Martin, the island which is half French and half Dutch. Double the experience of languages, food and culture. A chance to keep up my French. But learn another language.

I shall look at languages, food, and landmarks and religion.


LEARN LANGUAGES

Language[edit]

Spanish (64%), French (25%), English (14%), DutchHaitian Creole, and Papiamento are the predominant official languages of various countries in the region.

( Although a handful of unique creole languages or dialects can also be found in virtually every Caribbean country. Other languages such as Caribbean HindustaniChineseJavaneseArabicHmongAmerindian languages, other African languages, other European languages, and other Indian languages can also be found.)


FAVOURITE FOOD

Favourite or national dishes[edit]

Doubles, one of the national dishes of Trinidad and Tobago
Arroz con gandules, one of the national dishes of Puerto Rico

Goat water is a goat stew.

LANDMARKS & ACTIVITIES

one.

Countries and territories[edit]

Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti) and Puerto Rico, often grouped as the Greater Antilles, are by far the largest islands in the area and the most visited by travellers. The Caribbean also includes the Lucayan Archipelago to the north, which is comprised of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Lesser Antilles, a group of much smaller islands to the east.

Countries of the Caribbean
 Bahamas
Archipelago of islands and cays surrounded by coral reefs off the coasts of Florida. One of them was the first piece of American soil Columbus put his foot on.
 Bermuda (Outside of image map, see dynamic map)
Small and wealthy British overseas territory in the Atlantic, known for a type of shorts and the supposedly mysterious triangle.
 Cayman Islands
Known for offshore banking, and a great diving destination.
 Cuba
The largest Caribbean island-nation, marked by decades of socialist government.
 Jamaica
An island of tall mountains, birthplace of reggae and a Commonwealth Realm.
 Haiti
Founded by former slaves who won their freedom and then independence against the might of revolutionary and Napoleonic France. Today, having struggled against conflicts and natural disasters, Haiti has relative political stability and security, and is again becoming attractive for those seeking a road less traveled.
 Dominican Republic
A fast-growing economy with some of the oldest colonial cities in the hemisphere.
 Puerto Rico
A United States territory with bustling nightlife, as well as great inland sceneries.
 Lesser Antilles (AnguillaAntigua and BarbudaBritish Virgin IslandsGuadeloupeMontserratSabaSaint-BarthélemySaint MartinSaint Kitts and NevisSint EustatiusU.S. Virgin IslandsBarbadosDominicaMartiniqueSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesGrenadaTrinidad and Tobago)
Small islands facing the open Atlantic. Many of them are dependencies of other countries.
 Leeward Antilles (ArubaCuraçaoBonaire)
Also known as the ABC islands, these islands off the coast of Venezuela are associated with the Netherlands.
 Turks and Caicos Islands
Fabulous beaches and offshore banking.

Other areas include:

Mountains of St Lucia.

MUSIC

Religion[edit]

Havana Cathedral (Catholic) in Cuba completed in 1777
Haitian Vodou altar

Christianity is the predominant religion in the Caribbean (84.7%).[76] Other religions in the region are HinduismIslamJudaismRastafariBuddhismChinese folk religion (incl. Taoism and Confucianism), BaháʼíJainismSikhismKebatinanTraditional African religionsYoruba (incl. Trinidad Orisha), Afro-American religions, (incl. SanteríaPaloUmbandaBrujeríaHoodooCandombléQuimbandaOrisha, Xangô de Recife, Xangô do Nordeste, Comfa, EspiritismoSanto DaimeObeahCandombléAbakuáKuminaWinti, Sanse, Cuban VodúDominican VudúLouisiana VoodooHaitian Vodou, and Vodun).


Useful Websites

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/caribbean-countries.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean

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