17-Day Windward Islands Holiday

Bonnaire is one of the ABC islands in the Netherland Antilles of the Caribbean Sea. Excellent diving is found here in the clear waters.

The British are still coming!

They discovered her natural beauty in the 1620’s, and they’ve been here ever since. Although the island became independent in 1966, life here till retains a strong British accent.

With a climate that is considered among the kindest in the West Indies, and spectacular natural beauty, Barbados is truly one of the gems of the Caribbean.

They called it worthless. That’s right-the Spanish explorer Alonzo de Ojeda, who claimed Aruba for Spain in 1499, said the island wasn’t worth colonizing. What could he have been thinking? With beautiful beaches, fine snorkeling and watersports, today’s visitors to Aruba enjoy fabulous nightlife, delicious local seafood, and the genuine friendliness of Aruba’s unique population.

The Spanish may not have been impressed, but the Dutch were. Arriving in force in 1634, they’ve entwined their culture, language and cuisine with that of the natives, giving the island a flavor all its own.

The island is now home to fabulous resorts, a golf course, a casino and outstanding shopping. The scuba and snorkeling in the clear waters is world famous.

Guadeloupe’s major center is Pointe-à-Pitre, a conglomeration of old and new buildings clustered around the bustling harbourside market. Pointe-a-Pitre is Gudeloupe’s most popular city–explore the beaches of Grand-Terre and the French fort ruins and volcanic mountaintop of Basse-Terre.

Home to the oldest botanical garden in the Americas, St. Vincent is energized by rushing rivers and waterfalls and is fast becoming an “in” resort area. Volcanic in origin, St. Vincent features an active volcano, mountainous terrain, and a rainforest.

Rostock – Hanseatic City and Northern Gateway

Make friends with Rostock, one of Germany’s most beautiful Hanseatic cities – where the Baltic Sea laps the shores of Mecklenburg/Western Pomerania and the air tastes slightly salty, where old-fashioned sailboats provoke nostalgic longings, and where brick gables reach into the sky.

Eight hundred years of history have shaped this “Gateway to the North”. Rostock has preserved much of the charm that it once possessed as the most important member of the Hanseatic League. The gabled houses dominating the skyline attest to this, as well as the imposing brick warehouses, massive gates and fortifications, and awe-inspiring churches such as St. Peter’s with its Gothic tower 117 meters high. They all bear eloquent witness to the wealth of the city’s medieval merchants. Rostock has kept its importance as a trade center to this day, as well as its status as a university town. Its University, founded in 1419, is the oldest in Northern Europe.

And don’t forget Rostock’s shore: the seaside spa town of Warnemünde.

Our recommendations:
Go on the city tour devoted to the “History of the Hanseatic League.” And after enjoying so much culture, sample Mecklenburg roast ribs with Rostock caraway seed schnapps.

Some of Martinique’s best beaches and resorts are found on the island’s south coast, around the pretty village of Trois Ilets.