The Island of Anguilla

If you had any doubt that Anguilla is absolutely beautiful, then you have to check out this website…. http://www.anguilla-vacation.com/

Oh My Gosh! I can’t believe I get to be there in 7 days. I’m super excited. Anguilla is full of culture, pristine beaches and great cuisine.

Where to start!
The island has been inhabited for over 4,000 years! Its first inhabitants were people from South America, and then the English came in 1650. The French occupied it for about year, but the English got the island back in the Treaty of Breda. Typical… the English love their treaties (that’s about all I remember them all from high school history).

Anguilla was originally named “Malliouhana,” meaning arrow-shaped sea serpent! Then the island was renamed Anguilla by the Europeans, for its long eel shape (Guess Anguilla was easier to say!). Malliouhana (Anguilla) is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. The island is about 35 square miles, made up of coral and limestone. It is mostly rock with some scrub oak trees and salt ponds.

Cool Culture!
The Arawak people believe that there are two sacred caverns, from where all mankind originated (Big Springs at Island Harbor and The Fountain at Shoal Bay). The Fountain is the Eastern Caribbean’s most intact ceremonial site and features petrogylphs, offering bowls and a stalagmite carved in the likeness of Jocahu, their Supreme Deity.

BEACHES!
Holy Cow, there are a lot of beaches to choose from on Anguilla. I think we could spend two weeks here and never see all of them. The coolest thing for me is that the island has seven marine parks, including Dog Island and Prickly Pear Cays! The island is known for its drift, wreck and reef diving… not to mention the snorkeling next to its white sand beaches.

Well, I don’t want to spoil everything… I just know these pictures don’t do the island justice. Guess we’ll have to see it for ourselves on February 14th!