Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mhuxd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!mhuxd!dthk From: dthk@mhuxd.UUCP (hawkins) Newsgroups: net.travel Subject: Re: Antigua Message-ID: <1279@mhuxd.UUCP> Date: Wed, 21-Mar-84 15:27:55 EST Article-I.D.: mhuxd.1279 Posted: Wed Mar 21 15:27:55 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 22-Mar-84 01:34:49 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 25 Antigua is delightful! We were there in February and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The beaches are outstanding, and they say there are 365 of them-- one for each day of the year. That's not an exaggeration--every cove has a beautiful beach. Many of them are totally deserted. The island scenery is not spectacular, except for the southern portion where they have a restored 18th century dockyard (the only real "tourist trap" on the island). The views from the heights above the dockyard are outstanding. The people are friendly and enjoy a reasonably good standard of living for the Caribbean. Antigua is an ex-British colony and has been independent since 1981. There is still a lot of British influence there, and so the government is quite stable. Tourism is a major industry. The capital, St. Johns, is a typical Caribbean town of about 30,000 people (total island population is ~70,000). Main things to purchase are local handicrafts, duty-free liquor, perfume, etc. Cuisine is mainly local fish which is delicious. (Try the Cockleshell Restaurant for excellent fresh fish dinners. The Sunday brunch at the Blue Waters Hotel is expensive--U.S.$16/person--but you can stuff yourself with as much of the delicious food as you can hold.) Since the island is fairly small (108 square miles), there isn't a lot of driving around possible, and many people spend most of their time on the beach. The roads are full of potholes, very narrow, and clogged with vehicles, animals, and people. In summmary, Antigua is a beautiful island and well worth a visit if you like beaches, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, etc. Don Hawkins AT&T-BL mhuxd!dthk (201)-582-6517