Antigua & Barbuda

wtorek, 22 października 2013

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of two major inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands (including Great Bird, Green, Guinea, Long, Maiden and York Islands and further south, the island of Redonda). The permanent population numbers approximately 81,800 (at the 2011 Census) and the capital and largest port and city is St. John's, on Antigua.

Did you know that:
1. Despite having a small population, Antigua has produced some of the world’s best cricketers including Viv Richards, Richie Richardson, Andy Roberts and Curtly Ambrose. Many of them still live there - maybe attracted by the fact that Antigua collects no personal taxes.
2. A sport for the very, very lazy, crab-racing is held once a week.
3. Antigua and Barbuda are best visited during the cool and dry winter months (mid-December to mid-April), the peak tourist season. In January and February, the coolest months, the average daily high temperature is 81°F (27°C).
4. The islands get even hotter in the summer. In July and August, the warmest months, the average daily high is 86°F (30°C). It's less dry in the autumn (September to November), during the rainy season, though Antigua's fairly dry year-round.
5. Carnival, Antigua's big annual festival, is held from the end of July and culminates in a parade on the first Tuesday in August. Most Carnival activity takes place in St John's. Calypso music, steel bands, masqueraders, floats and street 'jump-ups' are all part of the celebrations. If you have enough energy by the last day to be up and dancing in the streets at 4am you can jump up during J'Overt, the climax of Carnival. The other major musical event is the annual Antiguan Jazz Festival, which takes place in October.
6. National Bird od Antigua & Barbuda, (Fregata magnificens L) is also known as Man-o'-War or Weather bird. Relatives of the pelicans, the male is glossy black. To attract females, he blows up his scarlet throat. The females have white breasts. Frigates weigh about three pounds, have a wing span of 8 feet, a deeply forked tail and fly about 22 (mph).