Bermuda is an archipelago (a large group or chain of islands) consisting of seven main islands and about 130 smaller islands. A British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Islands of the Bermuda are located approximately 1000 miles northeast of Miami Florida. The uninhabited island was discovered around the year 1505, some 500 years ago, by Spanish explorer, Juan de Bermudez, after whom the islands are named. While the discovery was made there was no attempt to land or settle the islands until 1609. In 1609 nine ships owned by the Virginia Company of London leave England with more colonists and supplies for the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia. The fleet is commanded by Sir George Somers whose ship is separated from the fleet during a storm at sea. The ship becomes lodged on one of Bermuda’s reefs. The crew and colonists are able to make it to shore.... Read the Rest →
Belize lies on the eastern or Caribbean coast of Central America and is bordered by Mexico to the north and (partly) to the west. The remainder of the west and the south of Belize is bordered by Guatemala. Belize is the least populated country in Central America. Belize is a diverse society that was the only nation in the region with a British colonial heritage that also has cultural ties to the Caribbean and Latin American countries. Territorial disputes between the United Kingdom and Guatemala held up Belize’s independence until 1981. The history of Belize predates European influence as it was originally populated by the Amerindians (Caribs, Arawaks and Mayas). Mayan civilization spread from the Yucatan Peninsula, to the north, down to Belize. Mayan civilization flourish in Belize from around 200-800AD and begins to decline in the late 800’s to 1000AD. The first Europeans arrived in 1511 when shipwrecked Spanish... Read the Rest →
On a cold winter night, when you have guests visiting, this is the perfect meal to linger around the table eating. With your family and guests seated at the table, red wine poured in their glasses, hardy Italian bread sliced and at the waiting your diners will ooh and ahh as you approach the table with a steaming hot platter of spicy, seafood fra diavolo. Incidentally, Fra diavolo (literally “brother devil”) was the nickname given to Michele Pezza (April 7, 1771–November 11, 1806), a famous Neapolitan guerrilla leader who resisted the French occupation of Naples. Pezza’s nickname was given to him when he was a child. According to local custom, when youngsters recovered from an illness they were dressed as monks for a procession in honor of St. Francis of Paola, patron saint of sick children. On one such occasion young Pezza, who was not well behaved, was called “fra... Read the Rest →
On a cold winter night, when you have guests visiting, this is the perfect meal to linger around the table eating. With your family and guests seated at the table, red wine poured in their glasses, hardy Italian bread sliced and at the waiting your diners will ooh and ahh as you approach the table with a steaming hot platter of spicy, seafood fra diavolo. Incidentally, Fra diavolo (literally “brother devil”) was the nickname given to Michele Pezza (April 7, 1771–November 11, 1806), a famous Neapolitan guerrilla leader who resisted the French occupation of Naples. Pezza’s nickname was given to him when he was a child. According to local custom, when youngsters recovered from an illness they were dressed as monks for a procession in honor of St. Francis of Paola, patron saint of sick children. On one such occasion young Pezza, who was not well behaved, was called “fra... Read the Rest →
