6. Antigua & Barbuda

_”Land of 365 Beaches”_

For the twin islands nation which has been nicknamed “Land of 365 Beaches”, as it boasts one beach for every day of the year, tourism accounts for more than half of the Gross Domestic Product.

Antigua and Barbuda lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is made up of the two main Islands, which give the country its name, and a number of smaller islands. The capital and largest port and city is St. John’s, on Antigua. Its government, language, and culture are strongly influenced by the British Empire, of which the country was formerly a part.

image: Wikipedia

I am really struggling to turn my gaze away from those idyllic beaches!

This week I could cover the lovely church of St. John’s, or the cricket ground (although of no great architectural value, an important and major part of the culture of the islands), but I’m not. It is the stunning natural landscape which dominates. Here you will see paradisiac images of the sandy beaches and their inviting waters, and the beach structures which only serve to make me imagine being there, under the shade of the umbrella, or sitting at the end of the jetty with my feet dipped into the water ….

I am in no way diminishing the value of the local colonial vernacular, simply being pulled to the shore, to the idyllic beaches which brings the tourists to the islands every year in search of paradise and exclusivity.

Pigeon Point Jetty, Antigua_photo: John Basset

Beach hut with mandatory inclined palm tree on North Beach, Barbuda_photo: Vanessa Hall

North Beach hut, Barbuda_photo: Isabel Choat

Beach hut, Antigua_photo: Alicia Hernandez

Sun umbrellas & advertising_photo: Alicia Hernandez

And perhaps my favourite, the double shaded beach bar below:

photo: Loimere

For those of you with a little extra cash, Antigua and Barbuda are selling citizenships for $250 k.

I’m off …..

Top image: David Stanley