The Quiet Neighbor: Anguilla
 |
 |
 |
Only five miles off St. Martin's Northern coast, the 35 square mile British island of Anguilla shares many cultural and family ties with its neighbor. Discovered in 1495 by Christopher Columbus, Anguilla's main source of income for many years was derived from its salt ponds until tourism and offshore investment became highly more lucrative businesses.
Anguilla is a land of soft rolling hills and picture perfect, expansive and empty beaches. In fact, it is said that the beaches of Anguilla are some of the best in the Caribbean, largely undeveloped and absolutely pristine. Several upscale resorts occasionally attract celebrities, who manage to relax on this quiet island without too much public attention.
The island with its 9,700 residents is again part of the United Kingdom, after it was made a separate British Dependent Territory in December of 1980, following years of negotiations to escape a politically undesirable union with the nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Anguilla uses the Eastern Caribbean Dollar although the US Dollar is widely accepted. Remember that cars drive on the left as they do in England!
A ferry leaves Marigot every half hour for the thirty-minute ride to Anguilla. The round-trip fare is around $20. Some of the day charter boats go to Anguilla as well, and to some of the uninhabited islets close by. There is also a ferry leaving from Philipsburg. If you prefer to fly, several daily flights take off and land again within 10 minutes! Don't forget to bring your passport.
