Antigua and Barbuda is a simple spiritual Eden

Antigua and Barbuda, a beautiful Caribbean island. The long and winding coastline protects the crystal blue water, and the colorful sails on the sea bring infinite vitality and joy to tourists. The hundreds of Gothic churches on the island have listened to the vows of loyalty of many newlyweds. .

It is a simple country, without the domineering high-rise buildings, the luxury of famous brand hotels, and even every road has no name. It has been baptized by colonists, witnessed the blood and tears of black slaves, and has a heavy and unyielding history.

Antigua and Barbuda is a simple spiritual Garden of Eden.

365 beaches 365 flavors

Antigua and Barbuda is located in the northern Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. This small island country is mainly composed of three islands. In addition to Antigua and Barbuda, which are listed in the country's name, there is also an uninhabited island called Redonda.

It is said that Antigua and Barbuda has 365 beaches, each with its own unique taste and charm. You can go to a beach every day according to your mood, and you will be surprised and discovered every day of the year: Dixon Beach and Runaway Bay are the most suitable for couples to hold hands, whisper in the ear, and walk among the sand. ; Galley Bay, located on the northwest coast, is a paradise for surfers; Hoxby's Crescent Beach even has a famous nude beach?

Compared with Varadero, Cuba, and Cancun, Mexico Compared with the white as snow and fine silky beaches, the beaches in Amba are still a little rough and a bit gray in color. However, it is slightly less well-known, but it is less crowded with tourists and bustling with people, so you can fully enjoy the comfort and tranquility of taking a break from your busy schedule. Put on a beach skirt, put on a sun hat, hold a glass of drink, lean on the lounge chair, and watch the blue sea and sky with a smile and the ebb and flow of the tide.

If it’s a sunny and bright afternoon, take a boat out to sea. Don't worry that seasickness pills may make you drowsy, because the azure Caribbean Sea will give you a unique and exciting experience.

One afternoon, we boarded the cruise ship in Antigua and slowly sailed towards the deep sea. Gradually, the sea breeze, which was warm and gentle just now, became biting and made people's hair messy. As the cruise ship moves forward, the waves continue to stir up, and under the strong sunlight, they shine like crystal clear pearls into the sky, shining with dazzling light. From time to time, flying fish jump up on the sea, seabirds fly in groups, and the sea and sky meet in the distance, making tourists feel like they are in a beautiful dream world.

A big wave hit, and the cruise ship was quickly lifted up by this sudden huge force, and then fell down like a roller coaster, like driving over an arch bridge. The tourists on the boat suddenly staggered around, and some even felt weightless. Everyone hurriedly helped each other, and laughter and laughter continued immediately. The black sailor wearing a floral shirt and shorts did not panic. He looked at the near-miss comedy with a smile. Then he walked into the small bar in the cabin, mixed a cocktail, walked up to you barefoot, and handed it to you politely. in front of you.

Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and the vast majority of the population is of black African descent. The islanders inherited the joy and boldness of their African ancestors and the politeness of the British gentlemen, and quietly waited for this simple Garden of Eden.

Antigua's Sherry Heights was a colonial harbor post named after General Sherry, then governor of the Leeward Islands. Every Sunday, this former British military outpost becomes a paradise for local residents and tourists. Everyone enjoyed barbecue, held large glasses of beer, and sang and danced to the crisp and cheerful accompaniment of Caribbean steel drums, enjoying the beauty and comfort of life.

Profound History in the Dawn of Joy

I believe that all those who travel to Antigua and Barbuda will definitely not miss two attractions, namely the English Harbor and the Ghost Bridge. Because here, you will realize that in addition to the beautiful seaside scenery, Antigua and Barbuda also has a profound history.

English Harbor is located in Nelson Dockyard National Park.

During the heyday of sailing, it was regarded as a base for the British Navy and was the headquarters of the Leeward Islands Fleet in the late 18th century. The calm bays and intact coral reefs of English Harbor provide a natural barrier for the fleet.

Nowadays, the harbor that used to be filled with British Empire warships has become a paradise for yachts and sailing boats. Antigua holds a sailing festival every year, which gathers sailboats and yachts from all over the world, and English Harbor is the starting point of the competition. If you look at English Harbor from a high place, you can witness an intoxicating scene: on the dreamy blue water, white yachts and sailboats are dotted among them, the shore is lined with greenery, and the mountains in the distance are endless, like a picture A magnificent and lush painting.

The Nelson Dockyard, which matched the British Port, once reached its peak, but gradually declined in the 19th century, and was finally closed completely in 1889. I wonder if this symbolizes the gradual decline of the once mighty British Empire. . However, the people of Antigua and Barbuda have restored the Nelson Dockyard, making it the only remaining Georgian shipyard in the world.

In Antigua, there is also the Ghost Bridge located in the east of the island that can bring endless reverie to people.

The so-called "Ghost Bridge" is not a man-made bridge, but a natural arch formed on a piece of gray limestone after years of erosion by sea water, just like an arch bridge. If it is a rare windy day, the waves will be rolled up by the howling wind and slap on the cliffs. Thousands of waves will fly up for a while, like countless pearls rising out of the sea, which is very magnificent.

Are there really ghosts on the Ghost Bridge?

When you step on the Ghost Bridge, you will immediately feel a shudder, and a big wave will hit you. On the rocks not far away, cold water splashed down, making people shiver, and the rumble of the waves could not be heard, which made people jump with fear, so they had to retreat angrily.

The locals on the island of Antigua will not run to the Ghost Bridge carelessly like tourists. This is not because there are devil’s eyes staring above their heads, but because of the cold The sea breeze can make people dizzy, the roar of the waves can make people palpitate, and the rocks are slippery, which can easily lead to danger. Once you fall into the turbulent sea water, with a "plop", a living life will no longer survive. possible.

The Ghost Bridge got its name because it was the place where black slaves committed suicide during the colonial period. Sammy Smith, a famous Antigua patriotic writer, gave a detailed explanation of the origin of the name of Ghost Bridge in his book: The famous Ghost Bridge is located on the east coast of Antigua. It got its name because of the large number of unbearable ghosts. Tortured black slaves ran here from nearby plantations and jumped into the sea. As more and more people commit suicide, people begin to believe that the God of Death must be standing on the bridge. The water under the Ghost Bridge is very turbulent, and those who fall have no chance of survival. ?

Why did the black slaves choose Ghost Bridge as the place to end their lives? This is also a topic that historians have been studying. In addition to the dangerous water and dangerous waves, there is another reason: Ghost Bridge and the There was no land between the west coast of Africa, and the black slaves believed that the rough waves of the Atlantic Ocean would send their tortured bodies back to their haunted hometown.

This reminds me of the famous line in the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin": Even the most humble creature has his indelible dignity and value. ?The Ghost Bridge is the end of the lives and sufferings of the black slaves, but it is also the starting point for their souls to return to their hometown.

Experience a simple and warm state banquet

As a famous tourist island in the Caribbean, many tourists choose to spend the most warm and sweet moments of their lives in Antigua and Barbuda. Many newlyweds from Europe and the United States choose to spend their honeymoon here. Some couples walk into the Gothic church with stained glass in Antigua and get married in the solemn and loving voice of the black priest, making this beautiful island a Witness to the beginning of their happy life.

Not only that, the Sanders Luxury Resort Hotel in Dickson Bay only provides couples rooms.

According to regulations, the hotel only provides rooms for couples or couples over the age of 18, and does not accept single tourists or tourists with children.

Saunders Hotel regards "serving only couples" as the foundation and first principle of the establishment of the hotel, which can be said to be unshakable. Some embassies or companies received foreign delegations and hoped to book the Sanders Hotel with the best conditions on the island. They tried their best and even invited the respected Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Spencer as a lobbyist, but in the end they could only return in frustration. . It is this kind of touching stubbornness and persistence that has made Sanders Luxury Resort Hotel rated as the "World's Top Honeymoon Resort Hotel" for four consecutive years.

However, the government’s renting of hotel banquet halls is a different matter. I had the honor to enjoy a state banquet at the Sanders Hotel. The Governor of Antigua and Barbuda entertained distinguished guests from China. Enter the white and elegant main building of the hotel, pass through a long corridor, and enter the elegant and luxurious lobby.

Go through the corridor with Roman dome of Sanders Hotel and enter the elegant and luxurious lobby. This banquet hall is decorated in a European style. There is an exquisite podium at the end, and next to it is a long table covered with a snow-white tablecloth. There is an wrought iron table sign on the table, with the words "Ms. Governor" and "Ms. Governor" written on it in Chinese and English. Name of the guest of honor.

In front of the long table are a dozen round tables, also covered with white and clean tablecloths, with flowers placed in the center of the tables. I was seated at a table with several Antigua and Barbuda foreign ministry officials. I sat in my seat and looked around, and I found that all the men who came to the banquet were in suits and leather shoes, and looked gentlemanly, while the women were also surrounded by green beads and beautifully dressed. After a while, diplomats from Antigua and Barbuda also arrived one after another. They nodded to me very politely, and some even handed me their business cards. The atmosphere was harmonious and cordial.

About five minutes later, the elegant Governor-General and the Chinese guest of honor walked into the banquet hall together, and everyone stood up to welcome them. After the Governor's lady gave a welcome speech, elegant waiters wearing white shirts, suit vests and bow ties came in carrying dinner plates.

In fact, the state banquet in Antigua and Barbuda is very simple, with only three courses: appetizer, main course and dessert. The starter is lettuce, which is commonly used in Western food. It is very crisp, but if you cut it with a table knife, if you use a little force, it will make a clang, clang, knocking sound on the plate. Many people may disagree with lettuce, but what everyone doesn’t know is that in island countries like Antigua and Barbuda, there are many tropical fruits, but the variety of vegetables is very limited. Most of the vegetables on the market are imported and expensive. For us, lobster seafood is a delicacy, but for the islanders, the real treasure is the vegetables.

There are two choices for the main course, one is grilled fish and the other is steak. The steak is only about the size of a palm, but very thick. It is served with the local specialty sweet and spicy sauce, which makes it a delicious dish. After finishing the main course, the waiter brought ice cream for dessert, which naturally relieved the greasiness of the big fish and meat.

It turns out that even an unattainable state banquet can be made so simple and considerate, just like home-cooked food in an ordinary family, making the guests forget their restraints and feel at home. In order to show respect to the guests, the Antigua and Barbuda government also attaches great importance to details other than meals. It not only uses colorful flowers and wonderful music to create an atmosphere, but also invites famous local singers to present the famous song "" by the British musical master Andrew Webber. "Chapter of the Flower of Night" pushed the atmosphere of the banquet to a climax.

In Antigua and Barbuda, the state banquet is just a form of expressing friendship, without any extravagance or pomp. Although it was not the delicacies of the mountains and seas that were served at the state banquet for the first time, the elegant and warm atmosphere created by the host was equally intoxicating. The state banquet with only three dishes showed a spirit of diligence and frugality, which made me, a reporter from an ancient Eastern country where frugality was a virtue, have endless aftertaste.