Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/910090
B M & T ••• September/October 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 37 enslaved Africans working on sugar plantations where drum beating and dancing were forbidden by Danish law. The ingenious musicians formed percussion bands with homemade bamboo flutes, bass drums, steel triangles and dried gourds. Over years, the guitar, tambourine, tail pipe and ukulele were added to the mix. The town of Loiza, just east of San Juan, is called the African cultural center of Puerto Rico. It's listed by the website African Diaspora Tourism as a must-see attrac- tion. Another notable Black heritage attraction on the island is the Museum of Our African Roots in Old San Juan. On Curacao, the Museum Kura Hulanda in Willemstad showcases historical and art exhibits from Africa and the Caribbean. In the USVI, visitors can tour the Cruzan Rum Distillery on St. Croix, which has been making rum since the 1600s. St. Croix also is home to the Fort Christian Pub, the only microbrewery in the Virgin Islands. The Haagenson House museum on St. Thomas and Whim Museum on St. Croix dis- play works of local artisans, from mahogany pieces to linens. The Annaberg Plantation ruins in St. John's National Park are one of USVI's most notable sightseeing attrac- tions. Bridgetown, Barbados and its military posts have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its historical and cultural attractions are abundant. Housed in a former 19th century military prison, the Barbados Museum holds a collection of rare historical maps. Tyrol Cot Heritage Village features a historic Palladian-style home and a modern village displaying local crafts. The Nidhe Israel Museum sits next to the oldest continually oper- ating synagogue in the Western hemisphere, built in the 17th cen- tury. Sampling the culinary Caribbean is a cultural exploration all its own. Jamaica serves up its national dish of ackee and salt fish, along with other favorites like rice and peas and jerk chicken. For a taste of the local Bajan cuisine of Barbados, try the national dish, flying fish and cou-cou, the latter being an okra and corn- meal concoction. Eateries in U.S. Virgin Islands offer many local specialties among a multicultural array of dining choices. There's kallaloo, a spicy stew made from okra, greens, meat and seafood; pates, a fried meat pastry; and soursop ice cream, made from a native exotic fruit. Then there's this unexpected USVI culinary attraction: The Texas Society's annual Chili Cook-Off, held each September on St. Thomas. The natural beauty of Caribbean destinations is, of course, one of their biggest draws. Another is the wealth of outdoor activities available in these picturesque envi- ronments, from swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing in the Caribbean Sea to golfing, horseback riding, hiking, zip lining and simply sightseeing. While all of the above are available throughout the Caribbean, the USVI, Jamaica and The Bahamas will probably continue to garner the lion's share of the African- American travel market unless and until other destinations in the region aggressively reach out and make it known that they value this market segment and want their busi- ness. For U.S. travelers, a Caribbean meeting or vacation getaway is conveniently acces- sible, as many major airports stateside offer direct flights to some of the largest island cities. Remember, you'll need a passport unless you're traveling to the USVI or Puerto Rico. Above all, pack your spirit of adventure, your curiosity and your appetite for deli- cious food, dynamic cultures and dazzling natural scenery. For more information: US Virgin Islands: www.visitusvi.com or www.virgin-islands-hotels.com Jamaica: www.visitjamaica.com Bahamas: www.bahamas.com Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO): www.onecaribbean.org/ one of their biggest Traditional Bahamas Junkanoo Band