Let’s move on down the coast to the state of Georgia. In a previous post, we explored the history and sights of Jekyll Island. Jekyll is one of the so called ‘Golden Isles’ of Georgia, to which Sea Island, St. Simons Island and Little St. Simons Island also belong. But first, a little bit about some of the islands near the stately city of Savannah. Tybee Island, is a part of the Savannah metropolitan area and for a time…
The coastal islands of South Carolina include Atlantic barrier islands as well as inland islands formed by surrounding marshes, rivers, estuaries and inlets. Some lie within the city limits of Charleston and Beaufort and have an urban character. Some have been developed with tourism in mind, while others remain private gated communities. The group known as the Sea Islands begins north of Charleston with Bull’s Island, which is part of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Bull’s Island is undeveloped, but…
In November of the year 1910, six men boarded a private train car in New Jersey using only their first names and rode by night for hundreds of miles. Their official story was that they were going on a duck hunting trip. After they arrived in Georgia, they boarded a private launch. Their destination was Jekyll Island. This group of men included Senator Nelson Aldrich, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee , A.P. Andrews, the Assistant Secretary of the…
If you go to the city market in Charleston, South Carolina on any given day, it is likely that you will notice women selling or making sweetgrass baskets. You may also find them on King Street or elsewhere in town sitting on folding chairs, displaying their beautiful baskets on blankets on the sidewalk. These baskets are a tradition of the Gullah culture. The men and women who weave them also harvest the grass and dry it as they have for…
This month we move on to the Sea Islands, a chain of coastal barrier islands lining the Southeastern Atlantic Coast from South Carolina to the northern tip of Florida. By the way, Island Profiles is celebrating its first birthday, having explored 12 exciting island destinations over the last year. We started with Montréal and the islands of Quebec last May. I am very excited about the Sea Islands. There is an incredible amount of history, culture and beauty to explore. …
Estonian cuisine has been formed and influenced by the various powers that have controlled its territory. The Scandinavian countries, Germany, Poland and Russia have all influenced what goes on the table in Estonia and its islands. In Estonian cuisine, meat and potatoes dominate, but fish is very prevalent on the islands and coastal regions. Pork is the most common meat and one of the most popular main dishes is composed of pork, sauerkraut, apples, onions and barley. The Estonians use…
Vormsi Vormsi is the fourth largest of the Estonian islands and is located between the mainland and Hiiumaa. It is called Ormsö in Swedish and Worms in German, but translates to ‘Snake Island’. I haven’t been able to find out exactly why, but I am sure that this would not be such a popular holiday destination if it were like the Snake Island off the coast of Sao Paolo, Brazil, to which travel is forbidden. Vormsi and its 14 villages…
Hiiumaa is Estonia’s second largest island and lies to the north of Saaremaa and Muhu. This heavily forested island is as unspoiled as it gets. The fresh pine scented air, sea breezes and overall serenity continue to lure many visitors to the island and have helped to establish its reputation as a retreat for artists and musicians. Hiiumaa’s history goes back to 4,000 BC when the island was mainly populated by nomadic Germanic tribes. The Swedes took over in 1300…
Saaremaa is the largest island in the Estonian Archipelago. It is connected to the smaller island of Muhu by a 1.5 mile causeway. The islands’ milder climate and strategic location are two of the reasons that these islands have been seized and fought over by so many powers. If you have been reading some of the history posts on this website, you will no doubt know that this is common as regards islands. History There have been inhabitants on Saaremaa…
This month we remain in Europe, exploring the quiet and serenity of the Estonian islands. The islands of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormsi and hundreds of smaller islands are located in the eastern Baltic Sea off the west coast of Estonia. Wide expanses of juniper forest, windmills, lighthouses and quaint farmhouses characterize these islands. An idyllic escape from the stresses of our modern world, crime and pollution are virtually nonexistent. Instead, fresh, pine-scented air, ocean breezes, rural unspoiled landscapes and friendly…