by Bill Boudreau (Author)
In the 1990s and early years of my retirement that began in 2000, my wife, Dorothy, and I made frequent Caribbean Islands excursions with Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. In tall, three-mast sail ships we anchored at numerous exotic port-of-calls, many too small to accommodate large cruise ships. In addition to the pleasure of the sea, sand, and sun, we learned of cultures strongly tied to United States' early history - I'm referring to the conflict for dominance of the area and the slave-trade. The Caribbean Islands were a drop-off point for African slaves before being transported to the mainland American colonies, and continued after the United States became an independent nation. Memories of our voyages still tantalize our thoughts - the friendly, down-to-earth people, delicate, fine warm sand that soothed our bare feet. And shore bars, merchants, homemade crafts from hole-in-the-wall venders, and make-shift beach booths.