Fodor's Exploring Caribbean, 4th Edition - Couverture souple

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0679004742 ISBN 13 : 9780679004745

Synopsis

Book by Fodors

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Extrait

The Caribbean Is... Landscapes

With its endless beaches, swaying palm trees and a warm turquoise sea, the Caribbean does, surprisingly, live up to its idyllic image. But the landscapes extend far beyond the travel agent's clichés -- from sheer volcanic mountains and lush rain forests to inhospitable deserts; and Caribbean life has been changed beyond recognition within a reltively short space of time.

Stretching in an arc from the bottom of Florida to the top of South America, the Caribbean archipelago is as varied as it is beautiful. Islands range in size from Cuba (4,124 square miles) to tiny Saba (3 square miles); mountains soar to over 2 miles high in the Dominican Republic, and flat sand-spits barely reach sea level. There are extensive rain forests in Puerto Rico and Dominica, and barren cactus-filled wildernesses in Haiti and Aruba. The landscape may change around each corner, as mangrove swamp gives way to pasture land and pine forests replace palm trees. Intensive agriculture and tourist development are gradually altering the Caribbean's contours and climate. Blessed with warm weather all the year round and cooled by the Trade Winds, the region is also occasionally cursed by violent rainstorms and hurricanes.

Known for its coral reefs and its beaches (every island claims the best), the Caribbean also boasts waterfalls, hot springs, and caves. Two bizarre geological attractions are Trinidad's Pitch Lake, a seemingly inexhaustible pool of hot black tar, and Jamaica's Cockpit Country, an inhospitable area of limestone hills and hollows, still populated by descendants of runaway slaves.

Different Worlds

The past has shaped the look of the Caribbean through a variety of influences. Cities, towns, and villages bear the unmistakable imprint of former colonial powers. Spanish-built Havana, with its colonnades and plazas, seems a different world from British-built Bridgetown, with its statue of Admiral Nelson in Trafalgar Square and its "tropical Anglican" cathedral.

Differing histories have also molded the countryside itself. In the formerly Spanish colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, sugar plantations stretch to the horizon as they have for 500 years. In Haiti, however, where a slave revolution expelled the French at the beginning of the 19th century, precarious smallholdings have replaced the hated plantations.

Despite the proximity of the U.S., European influence is still keenly felt. In the French départements d'outre-mer of Martinique and Guadeloupe you can buy baguettes, drink pastis, and see policemen in képis. There is no mistaking the Dutch style of Curaçao or Aruba, where gabled pastel warehouses lining the canal and port conjure up a tropical Amsterdam. And Britain has left much of the paraphernalia of colonial rule in its former possessions: red mailboxes, English place-names, and cricket fields.

Présentation de l'éditeur

Fodor's Exploring The CaribbeanPraise for Fodor's Exploring Guides

"Authoritatively written and superbly presented...Worthy reading before, during, or after a trip." -- Philadelphia Inquirer

"Absolutely gorgeous. Fun, colorful, and sophisticated."  --  Chicago Tribune

Fodor's Exploring Guides are the most up-to-date, full-color guidebooks available. Covering destinations around the world, these guides are loaded with photos, essays on culture and history, descriptions of sights, and practical information.  Full-color photos make these great guides to buy if you're still planning your itinerary (let the photos help you choose!) and they are perfect companions to general guidebooks, like Fodor's Gold Guides.

What to SeeExtraordinary coverage of history and culture
Itineraries, walks and excursions, on and off the beaten path
Architecture and art
Where to StayQuick tips in every price range
Where to EatSavvy picks for all budgets
The BasicsGetting there and getting around
When to go, what to pack

Détails de l'édition

• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0679004742
• ISBN 13: 9780679004745
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 288
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible