Welcome to the enchanting islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua is affectionately known as the heart of the Caribbean. It has been, and still continues to be, at the centre of things in the Lesser Antilles. Antigua (pronounced An-tee'ga) and Barbuda are located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. To the south are the islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe, and to the north and west are Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts, and St. Martin. Temperatures normally range from the mid 70’s – 80’s. Antigua, the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands, is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing 108 square miles. Its highest point is Boggy Peak (1319 ft.), located in the southwestern corner of the island. Barbuda, a flat coral island with an area of only 68 square miles, lies approximately 30 miles due north. The current population for the nation is approximately 68,000 and its capital is St. John's in Antigua.

LANGUAGE
The official language of the country is English, although natives speak a local dialect know as Creole.

TOURISM
Antigua has the largest tourist sector in the Leeward and Windward Islands. Tourism has been the main contributor to the economy, accounting for about sixty percent (60%) of the Gross Domestic Product. Antigua is a major yachting center and every year hosts one of the world's major yachting competitions. The annual Antigua Sailing Week Competition, which is held at the end of April each year, attracts hundreds of yachts and is a major source of revenue for the tourism industry.

FESTIVALS
Antiguan Carnival is a ten-day festival of colorful costumes, beauty pageants, talent shows, and especially good music. The festivities, which celebrate emancipation, are exciting and extensive, ranging from the Party Monarch and Calypso Monarch competitions of Calypsonians, the Panorama steel band competition, and the spectacular Parade of Bands to the Miss Antigua Pageant and the Caribbean Queen's Competition. In addition to these major events, the nonstop revelry of this eleven-day carnival includes innumerable smaller festivities, including local concerts, food fairs, parades, and cultural shows.

MUSIC
There are several different musical forms featured during Carnival. Calypso, the oldest, has its roots in slavery; a common explanation of its origins is that it began as a way for slaves, who were forbidden to speak in the fields, to communicate with each other. It is a polyglot, improvisational form that depends largely upon the skill of a soloist, (the calypsonian) who weaves the sounds of many cultures into a lyrical whole. Calypso competitions have long been a highlight of Carnival

Today Antigua is a popular destination for visitors. Antigua's tourist office boasts that the island has 365 beaches, 'one for each day of the year'. This is also said to be the beach with an island in the center. This spacious island, with its rolling hills and ageless scenery, has maintained a priceless ambiance to add to the sensation of its eternal beauty. So if your desire is to visit an island full of splendor, experience “The heart of the Caribbean.”

By Melissa Hunte