Islands Above the Wind, where the hairstyle should be on point THE Eastern CARIBBEAN

They are situated over the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, all islands have a rugged and rocky eastern coast shaped by the Atlantic, while the western coast is more gentle with extraordinary sandy beaches.

Up to 80% of the population here is of African descent, many of whom are reggae enthusiasts.

Due to colonization, in the 16th century, almost the entire endemic population, namely the Arawaks and the Caribs, was exterminated. The colonizers brought West African slaves primarily for the white gold of sugarcane plantations. Although the French Convention abolished slavery in 1794, the implementation took almost 80 years in places like Martinique 🇲🇶, where Josephine, Napoleon's wife at the time, owned several sugarcane plantations that needed to be maintained.

The tourism industry replaced the sugar industry and banana production as the primary economic factor in the 1990s, led by cruise tourism.

The climate on the islands is dominated by Atlantic hurricanes, which can rage from June to November. The island of Dominica 🇩🇲 is the most affected. In 2017, Hurricane Maria, classified as category 5, stripped the rainforest bare.

The rainy season runs from May to October.

The eastern Caribbean is also expected to experience volcanic eruptions due to increased hotspot activity, as the North and South American plates are pushing beneath the Caribbean plate.

In 1902, Mount Pelée claimed 30,000 lives on the island of Martinique 🇲🇶.

It is recommended to travel to the small islands by ship to gain a good overall impression. The Caribbean sun should not be underestimated, and it is essential to always carry water.

The locals are very religious, traditional, and fashion-conscious.

There are natural phenomena such as the Pitons in St. Lucia,

the Trafalgar waterfalls and swimmable Titou gorge in Dominica 🇩🇲.

a wonderful botanical garden below Mount Pelée in Martinique 🇲🇶.

extraordinary rock formations on Virgin Gorda near Tortola,

extremes like Maho Beach in Sint Maarten. Sint Maarten has been part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands since 2010.

My conclusion: All in all, here unfolds a colorful world of contrasts, strong traditional ties, people living a modest, religious life, subjected to weather and volcanic activities yet remaining grateful, which greatly impressed me.

Spa and sea

Loco-Coco😎

Mini-Dino😉

Antigua

Cats and chickens are not allowed to be hunted.

Street Art: Birds and marine life are protected.

Rum punch is always served with grated nutmeg 🍹

Photogenic sunsets and a phone booth on the beach.