Fine sand, swaying palm trees, turquoise-blue lagoons, powder-puff clouds, and the gentle caress of the Trade Winds: the islands of the Caribbean are surely the last remaining paradise on earth. Wild mountains, impenetrable forests, shores that could still hide Robinson Crusoe; over the years tourism has left an increasing mark on the Greater and Lesser Antilles, but their distinctive charm and the appealing candour of their people remain intact.The attraction of these islands lies not only in their stunning natural beauty but in their unique history and culture. The brutal impact of European conquest on the lands of this 'New World' changed their indigenous face forever. The legacy of multiethnic settlement is evident in the Caribbean melting pot of today: every part of these islands is a piece of Europe transplanted in the tropics and subsequently infused with a strong dose of African traditions. As if by magic, these islands have succeeded in distilling the essence of Europe and mixing it with the exuberance of Africa and the voluptuous languor of the Tropics, and the effects of this intoxicating cocktail are seen in the impassioned, slightly run-down Spanish charm of Old Havana; evocative French chic in Martinique; the thoroughly Northern European taste of the pastel-painted houses of the Netherlands Antilles; and, the order and measured elegance of the former British colonies.