what do you call yourself?

Scharlooweg / Willemstad, Curaçao
A friendly ... There is no name for a person coming from Curaçao. How stupid is that? Someone from America is an American, someone from Venezuela is a Venezuelan, someone from Curaçao is, well, someone from Curaçao.

barrelful of.. rumbullion

Needham's Point / Bridgetown, Barbados
Within the walls of an old fortress were a number of barrels - I'd like to think a one point in time they had been full of some good casked Barbadian rum.

ka-boom

Barbados Hilton Hotel (Needham's Point) / Bridgetown, Barbados
Invading sailors, beware! The Barbados Hilton Hotel will take any means necessary to keep its azure oceanfront waters protected from limeys.

pick a peck of peppers

Wilhelmina Bridge / Willemstad, Curaçao
These Venezuelan growers load their boats full of produce very early every morning and travel the forty some miles from the Venezuela coast to Willemstad to sell their fruits and vegetables at the open air markets.

tiny people

Tobago Cays / Southern Grenadines
Big boat - tiny people. Embiggen (click to enlarge) to find the lil' ones.

hop in, hop out - shake it all about

Señor Frog's / Bahamas
Señor Frog's Caribbean chain bar/restaurant is the kind of place you need to visit at least once - though you may not remember the night so it's possible to end up there again by accident - as we more recently did in Aruba. It's loud and deceptively expensive. A party scene of binge drinking followed by the inebriated removal of clothing in public, typically by those who are better off keeping it on. The drinks are tall, frozen, colorful and gimmicky - and stronger than you realize. The food is so-so. Service can be pushy and spotty. This señor wants you drunk on his lily pad so he can take best advantage of you. Be warned of the sexy frog.

knot so fast

Royal Clipper / Caribbean
When you take your sailing certification tests, they make you demonstrate your ability to tie a series of intricate knots. The important skills required to successfully tie those knots will immediately vaporize from your brain minutes after the exam. The rabbit comes out of the hole and which way around the tree? Which one is the tree and which one is the rabbit?
Thankfully my sailing days are behind me. I'll just stick with this little piggy one or the classic granny knot. But that's as complicated as I get.

unchecked luggage

Carnival Cruise / Bahamas
With today's heightened security measures, you really have to be keep a close eye on your belongings at all times. This isn't exactly a business class upgrade, but it does come with a free x-ray exam.

la sandía

Carrera No. 4 / Santa Marta, Colombia
One of the best things about Latin America and the Caribbean is the abundance of fresh fruit year round. Though when in Costa Rica last week, while it seemed there was fresh picked watermelon (or la sandía) overflowing every roadside stand, it didn't taste nearly as sweet as what we get across the street at our local market. Perhaps ours are chemically-enhanced to improve that delicious watermelon flavor.

trippin' to the tropics

Centro Histórico, Palacio de la Inquisición / Cartagena, Colombia
Off again trippin' for the long Memorial Day weekend (plus a few more days) - this time to Costa Rica. We are going to the area around La Fortuna which is the Arenal Volcano district in the northern jungles. Forecast is very hot and very sticky - perfect volcano weather. Oh, and the Palacio de la Inquisición (photo was taken in the courtyard) was the site of over five hundred religious executions and was only closed late in the 18th century. It is now a museum and memorial to the victims of the Inquisición.

spotted fever

Highway 3B / Orchid World, Barbados
Another beautiful example of the multitude of orchids growing in their natural environment at Orchid World. There was a time not long ago when I had a fever for growing orchids - however, once I moved from upstate NY to NYC, they never seemed to do well. It's all about the microclimate.

leaving the nest

Somewhere in the Caribbean
Today is one of those days you wonder to yourself "will it ever happen". Well yes, it does - today Rebecca graduates from Alfred University with Honors. Hooray - she is officially leaving the comfort of the "nest".

full sail ahead

On the Waters of the Caribbean
What more needs to be said - the sheer beauty of sailing the Caribbean speaks for itself. While I'm not heading to the Caribbean, I am on my way back home to NYC!

colonial cartagena

Cartagena De Indias Cathedral / Cartagena, Colombia
Located on the Plaza de Bolívar, the main cathedral of Cartagena is a beautiful example of Latin American colonial architecture - having been built in the late 16th century. The city of Cartagena De Indias was discovered by the Spanish in the early 16th century and immediately grew into a strategically located port for shipping and slave trade.

innocence

Soufrière, St. Lucia
After finishing up an obviously stressful day at school, this little one just needed the comfort of her thumb to get her the rest of the way home. We could all use a good thumbsucking now and again, I suppose - if it were only that easy.

shades of blue

Turquoise House / Fort-de-France, Martinique

One of the things I love most about shooting in the Caribbean is the vibrancy of the colors in everyday life - whether it be clothing, food, nature, art or architecture.

grrrr-animals

Tobago Cays / Southern Grenadines

This piece of standing drift wood had the presence of a ferocious animal standing guard on the beach. Nevertheless, it did not keep me from wandering further into the center of the small cay.

wash day

Koningin Wilhelminastraat / Willemstad, Curaçao
Looks like no one is home - but at least the wash is getting hung out to dry.

colors of the caribbean

Kaya P. L. Brion / Karlendijk, Bonaire
The brilliant colors of the Caribbean - from the architecture to the flora to the aquamarine waters - are always stunning.

madonna monday

Kuekenstratt / Willemstad, Curaçao
Just like the real thing, this store in Willemstad was bold and brassy Madonna. I have no idea what commercial business is conducted here - there were silver mannequins in various stages of haute couture undress scattered across the front window on the second floor. Just like the real thing.