2021 Travel the World - Week 6

I started a 50-week series in 2019 that I called Travel the World. Each week of the series I visited a randomly-selected country, sharing bits of information about that country. I then chose one tidbit of information about that week's country as inspiration for a card. As I explored those 50 countries in 2019, I knew I would continue on until I've visited every one of the 195 countries in the world, so I continued the series in 2020 and here I am in 2021, the third year of traveling the world. 

This week's country is...

Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a collection of 2 small islands (Antigua and Barbuda) and 35 tiny islands in the Caribbean. It is bordered by Anguilla to the northwest, Guadeloupe and Dominica to the south, Montserrat to the southwest and Saint Kitts and Nevis to the west. Both islands also have coastlines along the Caribbean Sea.

The total land area of Antigua and Barbuda is 171 square miles.

The country is about 710 times smaller than Poland.

The residents here are known as Antiguans or Barbudans, depending on which island they are from.

The country's official language is English.

Antigua and Barbuda grows fruits, cotton, bananas and vegetables; they also rear livestock.

Its industry consists of tourism, construction and light manufacturing.

According to the World Tourism Organization, as much as 269 million tourists visited the islands in 2018. Because of the continuous influx of visitors, tourism contributes to more than half of the nation’s gross domestic product.

Antigua and Barbuda is one of the Caribbean’s most prosperous nations, thanks to its tourism industry and offshore financial services.

The main exports consist of petroleum products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, food and live animals.

The country is nicknamed the "Land of 365 Beaches" due to the many beaches surrounding the islands. 

The tiny island of Barbuda is a coral island and so is its beach. From Spanish point to Palmetto point, you can walk 8 uninterrupted miles of deserted oceanfront where the champagne color of the sand is mixed with crushed corals, which is what gives the rose glows.

Both islands are mostly low lying and made from coral and limestone, although there are some higher volcanic areas.

St. John’s is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda, located on the northwest coast of Antigua. It is the commercial center of the nation and the country’s main port.

With its winding coast line and many different ports and docking facilities, Antigua has become one of the ideal destinations for sailing. 

Antigua sailing week is a premier annual event that attracts professional sailors from all over the world to participate in yacht racing, but it’s also an occasion to party and enjoy the island vibes.

Barbuda was one of the islands that were ravaged by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. It suffered a direct hit – destroying as much as 95% of the island. 

There are no freshwater lakes or permanent rivers on any of the islands, and Antigua is the only island to have 3 streams.

Drinking water is created by the desalination of water from the ocean.

The highest point on the island of Antigua is a mere 1,319 feet high. Located in a range of high hills called the Shekerley Mountains, it was known for years and years as Boggy Peak. It’s in southwestern Antigua, not far from Jolly Harbour. Boggy Peak is a good name, but in 2009 the Antigua government renamed it in honor of the then president of the United States. It’s now known as Mount Obama, and there’s also a Mount Obama National Park. 

Antigua and Barbuda doesn’t boast a wide range of wildlife, but it is possible to spot wild deer, boar, donkeys, sea turtles, mongoose and racer snakes, amongst many migratory birds.

Twenty-one percent of the country is covered by forests.

Barbuda is home to the largest Frigate Bird colony in the western hemisphere. Located at the Codrington Lagoon, in Barbuda, this amazing birdwatchers paradise, is only accessible by a short boat trip with a knowledgeable tour guide.

The country has its own currency. While US dollars are commonly accepted everywhere, the local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar.

The national sport of Antigua and Barbuda is cricket.

Carnivals are a popular pastime in the country.

The people of Antigua and Barbuda love their food and make a big deal about food preparation. Sunday is a big day for food and family. The national dish is called "Fungie' and is mostly made up of cornmeal. The "Jerk" style of cooking is also popular, with jerk sauces marinated on main many meat and fish dishes.

There is no need to leave a tip when eating out - because the tip is automatically added to the bill.

My inspiration for this week's card is based on this fact about Antigua & Barbuda... The country boasts having the sweetest pineapples in the world - the black pineapple.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp/Die Set: Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Paper: Cougar 110# White and SU Daffodil Delight and Wild Wasabi CS and DP from my scrap file

Dies: My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangle and Stampin' UP In the Tropics (pineapple)

Embossing Folder: Stampin' UP! Coastal Weave

Ink (for Blending): Lawn Fawn Freshly Cut Grass, Narwhal, and Sunflower

Embellishments: Brads from an unknown vendor