Daily Archives: May 28, 2022

The coconut is called the tree of life, for it has been providing humans food and drink, materials for housing, fuel and medicine for thousands of years. One of the most important cultivated trees in the world, Cocos nucifera of the palm family, Palmaceae, is now present in all tropical regions on the planet and enjoys well deserved popularity among food lovers and industrial producers.

Yet the origin of the coconut tree is shrouded in mystery and speculation. Many scholars believe it originated in the tropical islands of the Pacific, from there spreading to other tropical areas in the Americas, India, South Asia and Oceania. One legend relates the coconuts origins to CocosIsland, now part of Costa Ricas world-famous national park system.

Located hundreds of miles off the countrys Pacific coast, the island was visited by 14th-century explorers who found coconut forests that seemed to them native and also ancient.

Revered by ancient cultures, the coconut played a dignified role in religion as well as in the nutrition and well-being of humankind.

In South Asia, coconuts are known as sriphala, or fruit of the gods, and symbolize usefulness, selfless service, prosperity and generosity.

The palms are believed to be the embodiment of the ancient Indian concept of kalpavriksha the tree that grants all wishes.

We have found ways to use every single part of this crop to our benefit: the trunks for timber, leaves for thatch, fibrous coir husks as base material for ropes and coconut matting, and nuts for food. Unripe, green nuts contain coconut water, a powerful thirst quencher known here as agua de pipa. The nutmeat can be eaten fresh or dried (as desiccated or flaked coconut) and is also available in blocks of creamed coconut.

Valuable coconut oil is extracted from the nutmeat and used in margarines, soaps and detergents, as well as for cooking.

Though high in saturated fat, every 100 grams of fresh coconut contains 3.2 grams of protein in addition to 36 grams of fat.

Desiccated coconut contains 5.6 grams of protein and 62 grams of fat, as well as some vital trace elements. About 50% of coconut oil is lauric acid one of the good fats.

Found in both mothers milk and coconut oil, lauric acid is a rare fatty acid in its monoglyceride form (monolaurin, or ML), which supports healthy metabolism and is being studied for its antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties. It is also a good source of manganese, selenium, copper, iron and dietary fiber.

From a culinary standpoint, coconut is present in the cuisines of many regions, particularly Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, southern India, tropical Africa and the Caribbean. Each culture has utilized the flesh and milk of the coconut in its own ways.

The coconuts path to the table is varied in forms and styles of cooking, ranging from baked goods, drinks, cocktails and desserts to more savory dishes such as soups, creams and sauces. Of course, the use of coconut milk is unforgettable in the hot and spicy curries of South Indian and Thai cuisines.

Not shy is one way to describe coconut milks presence in many Caribbean stews and dishes, such as the famous rondn, or rundown, a traditional Afro-Caribbean dish from the Caribbean province of Limn. Usually made for a large group, rondn is a seafood stew featuring local tubers such as yuca (cassava or manioc) and camote (a type of Caribbean sweet potato).

The stew is gently simmered and exquisitely spiced with cinnamon, allspice, ginger, coffee and hot chilies. The Caribbean version of curry, rondn is a must when visiting the southern Caribbean beaches of Puerto Viejo and Cahuita.

Another example of coconuts use is rice and beans, Limns delicious take on gallo pinto, made with refreshing coconut milk and a symphony of spices and peppers. Regularly accompanying baked chicken with coconut gravy, this is a staple dish of the Caribbean diet.

In other parts of Costa Rica, coconut is used in sweets and desserts. Look for classic cocadas or trtaras delicious coconut and caramel brittle baked in pastry sold near bus stops and at busy intersections. Another typical dessert is cajetas de coco, coconutand-brown-sugar sweets similar to cocadas but chewier.

Agua de pipa is usually sold anywhere the heat strikes. Ice-cold young coconuts are decapitated to reveal a hole seemingly made for a straw. Enjoy pure and delicious natures own electrolyte power booster, with no added sugar, sodium or artificial colorings. It even makes a good mixer for other concoctions.

For this column, I offer a recipe for rice and beans with spiced coconut gravy, in honor of the coconut flair used in Caribbean cooking. Buen provecho!

In a wide skillet over medium heat, fry onions and peppers in oil for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add garlic and ginger and saut for one minute. Incorporate the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated.

Adjust flavors and reserve.

In a saucepan, bring coconut milk to a boil. Add curry, sugar, soy sauce and lemon juice, and simmer for two minutes. In a bowl, mix cornstarch and 1/4 cup water until no lumps are visible. Add to coconut-curry mixture and whisk until gravy thickens. To serve, make a bed of the hot rice and beans and pour the gravy on top.

Makes five servings.

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In Costa Rica, Coconut is Used Liberally in Caribbean Cooking : - The Tico Times

After what is going on with Johnny Depp, Disney will not count on Depp for the Pirates of the Caribbean project.

Dwayne Johnson will replace Johnny Depp's role as Captain Jack Sparrow.

The celebrated actor will no longer be part of the iconic film saga following Amber Heard's indirect accusations in the Washington Post.

Meanwhile, the company is already looking for possible replacements for this situation.

Rumor says that Margot Robbie could take on this role in the new Pirates of the Caribbean project. However, there are still doubts about Robbie's incursion.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed that they are working on two spin-offs. Specialized sources affirm that there could be a third with an unexpected protagonist.

According to Giant Freakin Robot, The Rock could be the main actor in the third spin-off.

Dwayne Johnson has a cordial relationship with Disney. The positive link was enough reason to advance Johnson as the new protagonist.

The Rock co-starred with Emily Blunt in Jungle Cruise, a film released in 2021.

Disney would like to include a makeover with one of Hollywood's most established stars.

Interestingly, Dwayne Johnson could relieve another actor in the spotlight in his recent career.

The performer would also replace Will Smith in the new Aladdin movie.

Obtaining Jack Sparrow's role would be another success for the Californian actor.

The Rock already knows to participate in films with great box-office returns such as Jumanji or The Fast & Furious saga.

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Is The Rock replacing Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in the new Pirates of the Caribbean project? - Marca

Scientists already knew that where the western Amazon rainforest sits today was once a vast wetland, almost four times the size of Texas and periodically flooded by pulses of seawater. Now, a new study posits that the source of these pulses was most likely the Caribbean Sea, and that there was another later and much more significant episode of marine incursions that contributed to the species richness of the region as we know it today, including its iconic river dolphins.

This new paper goes to great lengths to confirm this link between the Caribbean and the Amazon, Carina Hoorn, a researcher from the University of Amsterdam, who in the 1990s was the first to suggest the idea of marine incursions in the western Amazon, told Mongabay in a video call.

Previous research by Hoorn and other scientists dates these episodes to the early Miocene epoch (23 million to 16.3 million years ago) and the middle Miocene (14.9 million to 12.9 million years ago). Since then, these sea invasions have been the subject of several studies trying to delve into their timing, duration, intensity and origin.

The latest study, published in March by researchers from Brazil and the United States, makes the case for a much more intensive period of marine incursions during the late Miocene (11.1 million to 8.8 million years ago). It also uses fossil evidence to show that the source of this flooding was the Caribbean, with the water flowing down what is today the Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela.

Researchers talked about six possible routes to the marine incursions, lead author Lilian Leandro, a researcher at Unisinos University in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, told Mongabay in a video call. But now we have managed to hammer out that it came from the Caribbean Sea.

To get to the bottom of the mystery, Leandro and her colleagues compared microfossils from samples from three offshore cores in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans with six core samples taken from onshore sites in Brazils Solimoes River Basin. (The Solimes is the stretch of the Amazon River in the western Amazon that runs from the border with Peru to where it meets the Negro River in the city of Manaus, in Amazonas state.)

The similarity between microfossil assemblages of the Solimoes Basin and the Caribbean Sea, and evidence of increased runoff from the Orinoco River drainage system, strongly suggest the Caribbean Sea as the primary source area of the marine incursions, supporting a Venezuelan seaway, the study says.

Carlos DApolito, who studies fossilized spores and pollen at the Federal University of Mato Grosso but was not involved in the recent study, said the mix of freshwater and saltwater environments, nutrients washed down with from the Andes, and the tropical climate all combined to conjure up a melting pot ready to produce [this] spectacular [Amazonian] biodiversity.

Leandros study also helps flesh out what researchers now understand about the intensity and the timing of this phenomenon. Since 1993, when Hoorn found evidence of fossilized pollen from coastal mangrove trees during her fieldwork deep inland in northwestern Brazil, there has been a general consensus among researchers that the region received repeated marine incursions for at least two periods of time, in the early and middle Miocene.

The possibility of a third and more recent period of incursions, during the late Miocene, was already suggested by researchers like Ana Paula Linhares, from the Museu Paraense Emlio Goeldi, in 2017, and Bruno Espinosa, from the Federal University of Mato Grosso, in 2021. The new study, co-authored by Linhares, not only confirms this hypothesis, but also identifies this third episode as being far more intense than the previous ones.

During this time interval we saw a greater magnitude of this marine incursion, meaning that it lasted longer than in previous periods, Leandro said. We found shark scales from the late Miocene in the Amazon.

DApolito, a co-author on Espinosas 2021 study, said the new study confirms their previous research, and adds a much larger amount of data to the scientific record. What makes this third incursion so important, he said in a video call, is that it means the duration and impact of this event over the Amazon biodiversity formation is greater than we thought.

All the researchers interviewed by Mongabay agreed that the effects of this period of marine incursions are still visible in the rainforest, in the form of animals and plants that originated in the ocean but have over the course of millions of years adapted to the freshwater environment.

The river dolphins are part of that history, they are a relic of the connection with the ocean, Hoorn said. And there is a lot we dont know yet.

Leandros paper also raises the possibility of a fourth and even more recent period of marine incursions, during the early Pliocene (4.7 million to 3.8 million years ago), but she said this still needs to be confirmed through further investigation.

There are two plausible explanations for the marine incursions into the Amazon, experts say: a global warming period, which led to the melting of the glaciers and a corresponding rise in the sea level; and the formation of the Andes mountain range, which created a vast area of lowlands in the western Amazon.

It transformed the Amazon into a large drain, a lower area that became a channel for these marine incursions, Leandro said.

The precise characteristics of this landscape are still uncertain, but several studies point to a vast wetland, known as the Pebas Mega Wetland, that was permanently flooded with freshwater and that periodically received pulses of seawater.

This landscape has been shaped over the years, but the data indicate that the western Amazon was generally a lacustrine [lake] environment with occasional saline and brackish records, Linhares said .

This wetland was home to an impressive array of animals, DApolito said: There are records of a dinosaur-sized crocodile, almost 12 meters long [39 feet], and a turtle the size of a car. It was an incredible swamp system.

Studies show there were at least three periods marked by marine incursions, all of them coming from the Caribbean Sea. They took place during the Miocene epoch, from 23 million to 8.8 million years ago, bringing saltwater to the western Amazon, which at the time was a vast swamp called the Pebas Mega Wetland. Image by Lilian Leandro.

The same rise of the Andes that allowed seawater into the continent eventually led to the end of the marine incursions, according to the study; the surging of the last part of the mountain range around 1.8 million years ago, in todays Mrida region of Venezuela, closed off the coastal channel that had allowed the seawater to surge inland. And the accumulation of Andean sediment created new ground in the wetland basin, raising the altitude of much of the western Amazon and shrinking the giant lake of the Pliocene to the Amazon River as we know it today, according to the findings. A period of global cooling, which lowered the sea level further, also contributed to ending the linkage between the ocean and the forest, the researchers say.

The Amazons history, however, still holds many mysteries.

The greatest difficulty in studying the Amazon is to obtain sediments, Leandro said. Many of these sediments we can only get on the riverbanks during the dry season. But even these outcrops dont reach very old ages.

Most of the time, the only way out is to analyze samples drilled for commercial purposes, especially mining, as Leandro and her colleagues had to rely on for their study.

To address this gap, an international group of scientists will begin the largest sampling project ever in the Amazon, drilling rock cores from three Brazilian sites: in the Acre, Solimes and Maraj basins. Hoorn, who is participating in the project, said the start of drilling was delayed because of the pandemic, but should begin by the end of this year.

The aim is to drill some key locations to get new sediment samples capable of offering much more precise information about the past, so we can see how the forest responded to climate change, for instance, she said.

Scientists say that understanding what happened in the Amazon in the distant past can give us a clue to what may happen in the near future, especially when it comes to climate change. The Miocene saw average temperatures around 14 Celsius (25.2 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels much higher than the 2C (3.6F) increase that the international community is trying to avoid with the Paris Agreement.

The difference is that the current rate of global warming is taking place much faster than during the Miocene, DApolito said.

These are very different time scales. In our studies, we analyzed changes that occurred over hundreds of thousands of years. What we are seeing now is a process of decades, he said.

The result, he added, is a higher risk of mass extinction. In hundreds and thousands or millions of years, species have time to adapt, he said. In a few tens of years, they do not.

In the Amazon, this process is being intensified by record rates of fire and deforestation.

The unbridled actions of the human species harm other species, mainly through the destruction of their natural habitats and further undermining the coping with environmental variations that already exist, Linhares said.

By cutting forest, Hoorn said, you change the landscape in a much more problematic way than with climate change. It changes the surface, it creates erosional processes that make it impossible for the forest to go back.

Citations:

Leandro,L.M., Linhares,A.P., De Lira Mota,M.A., Fauth,G., Santos,A., Villegas-Martn,J., Ramos,M.I. (2022). Multi-proxy evidence of Caribbean-sourced marine incursions in the Neogene of Western Amazonia, Brazil.Geology,50(4), 465-469. doi:10.1130/g49544.1

Hoorn,C. (1993). Marine incursions and the influence of Andean tectonics on the Miocene depositional history of northwestern Amazonia: Results of a palynostratigraphic study.Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology,105(3-4), 267-309. doi:10.1016/0031-0182(93)90087-y

Linhares,A.P., Gaia,V.D., & Ramos,M.I. (2017). The significance of marine microfossils for paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Solimes Formation (Miocene), western Amazonia, Brazil.Journal of South American Earth Sciences,79, 57-66. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2017.07.007

Espinosa,B.S., DApolito,C., & Da Silva-Caminha,S.A. (2021). Marine influence in western Amazonia during the late Miocene.Global and Planetary Change,205, 103600. doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2021.103600

Banner image: A frog in Peruvian Amazon. Scientists say there is still a strong marine influence over the forest that created a melting pot ready to produce spectacular biodiversity. Image by Rhett A. Butler.

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Caribbean incursion into Amazon sparked a flurry of life, with lessons for the future - Mongabay.com

The Caribbeanmight be best known for its beryl-blue lagoons and palm-stooped beaches, its honeymoon hotels and reggae-echoing jerk towns, but it's also something of an undiscovered surfing mecca.

The Caribbean Sea is on just one side of most islands with the wide, wrathful Atlantic on the other. That's why the region can offer all sorts, from the bombing barrel waves right down to the whitecap rollers for the beginners.Here are the best places to surf in the Caribbean.

It should hardly come as a surprise that the whole island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas is littered with fantastic breaks. Just check the map. It bends like a laid-in hammock to face the whole open Atlantic on its eastern side. An eastern side, by the way, that's virtually completely lined by talcum sands with a fringing of ocean reef.

The highlight sits somewhere between Gregory Town and Alice Town, up some sand-doused tracks by a wide point. Cue Surfer's Beach. It's named for the consistent wintertime shorebreaks that roll in up and down its length. Depending on swell size and period, they can be bombing overheads or ankle-burning small waves, but are almost never busy.

Drop into Rebecca's Beach Shop en route to meet local ledge Surfer Pete. He has tips, does lessons, and even sells his own conch salad and chili sauce from the haberdashery shack.

Getting to Eleuthera: This one's off-radar and you'll need a car. It's about half an hour from North Eleuthera Airport.

Encuentro Beach (en-quen-tro) is an 800m-or-so (2625ft) squiggle on the north Dominican Republic coast. Spilling out into a shallow reef shelf from groves of twisted coralillo trees and pencil-straight palms, it's a shaded, secret spot that might as well be advertised as a theme park for board-touting travelers.

The reason? There are sections here for all levels. To the east, there's a designated beginner playground on stomach-deep reef that connects the beach to the outer breaks. When you're ready, paddle back a little to find Bobo's Point a consistent left-right reef break that loves head-on northerlies or Main Peak a relatively deep reef that attracts a cluster of chatting regulars. Experts can chase the right-hander barrel of Coco Pipe or hit the shallow-bottomed Destroyer at the far west end of the bay.

Spreading the lineup along different parts of the shore helps to keep Encuentro nice and chilled. That said, there has been a boom in surf schools in the last decade or so, although Bobo's is still the pick of the bunch. The crowd is very international, and gatherings in the hammock-strewn palms by the beginner area, cerveza welcome, are the norm once a session is done.

Getting to Encuentro Beach: Public buses run the main 5 highway out of Cabarete, but most people get a private transfer in from the airport in Puerto Plata.

No list of the top surf spots in the Caribbean could possibly skip out on Puerto Rico'sRincn. Hailed as the surfing capital of the whole region, it's home to about seven truly fantastic breaks that do Oahu impressions when the winter swells turn on the goods from November to March. And it's not just barrels. It's big, beefy, slabby overheads with XXL credentials.

The headline acts are the frothing walls at Dogman's and Tres Palmas. This is the duo that churns out the hollow lines, but they are unforgiving beasts that peel off shallow reefs and not for the faint of heart. Intermediates shouldn't despair options include Domes, an A-frame reef with a peeling right that's beloved of loggers in the late season, or Maria's, a small-swell crumbler that's downright fun.

Not to be confused with its Ventura-Santa Barbara namesake, Puerto Rico's Rincn backs up the action with a spread of bisque-colored beaches bathed in tropical air. The time to surf matches the Caribbean high season, so expect dry days in the 20Cs (70Fs) and cooling offshore trade winds throughout.

Getting to Rincn: Access from the air is into San Juan, from where it's a 2.5- to 3-hour drive. There's also the Rafael Hernndez Marn International Airport much closer, but not many flight links just yet.

There was a time not so long ago when even whispering about the existence of Palmetto Point would have been a serious breach of surfers' code. That all changed when plans were drawn up to develop the beaches here with lux hotels and matching golf courses. That prompted some of the quiet, in-the-know few to go public to corral the resistance.

Thankfully, this far-flung corner of Barbuda is so hard to reach that lineups are probably not going to be an issue (although the resorts would be!). The wave is something special, peeling in rows of perfect right-hand tubes off a sandbank into long, frothing rides where you can see the pink-tinged powder glisten in the water overhead. Paradise.

Getting to Palmetto Point: This is not easy. Private charter planes or ferries connect in from Antigua, then you'll need a 4WD to navigate tracks to the point.

Don't just take our word for the quality of the Bajan Soup Bowl eight-time Pipe Master champ and 11-time WSL champ Kelly Slater hails this as one of the most entertaining waves on the planet.

The muse to his lyrical waxing? A break that works like clockwork in the winter Atlantic swell season to offer a right-hander with an inviting C-shaped face. It's like a tailor-made performance wave that's just asking to be ripped with all sorts of turns and twists and airs.

You'll find Soup Bowl lipping into the bay at Bathsheba, east Barbados. It's very much the stomping ground of pros when it's in season (November to March), but mellows down to intermediate level in the summer. There are also some nearby breaks that are way less fought-over, Parlours especially, which fragments into multiple peaks to spread the crowds.

Getting to Soup Bowl: Head to Bathsheba, which is just about as far from Bridgetown as you can go. A hire car is your best bet.

If jostling with the crowds of Cabarete and Encuentro isn't really your idea of surfing in paradise, then scoot down the northern coast to Playa Preciosa. Enfolded by jungle-topped headlands and girdled by just a sliver of silvery sand, it's like something out of the marketing brochures.

Okay, so the waves dip in quality a little compared to its compadres. They are mainly wedgy little fingers to cut right and left on for 2050m (65164ft) or so. But it's the peace, the quiet, and the empty lineup that will entertain you here, not to mention the clutch of uber-luxurious villas with infinity pools that hide just through the orchid-filled coast jungles.

Getting to Playa Preciosa: Get to Puerto Jimenez first. From there, it's a 15-minute drive or private transfer.

Boston Bay is the top surf spot in Jamaica and for good reason. It's virtually the only location on the island that gets a little punch of the stronger winter systems from the open Atlantic, all thanks to a nice swell gap between Cuba and the island of Hispaniola to the northeast.

November to March is high time to catch it, when you'll get a refracting A-frame that peels into Lynches Bay. The right is softer and beginner-friendly. The left is cleaner and better for intermediates, but be ready to pump the front of the board to drag out the rides, as powerful days are rare. Surf aside, Boston Bay is a foodie mecca with some of the best jerk on the island.

Getting to Boston Bay: Try to fly to the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and then do the three-hour trip from there. It's four hours or more from Montego Bay.

Rincn might steal the headlines in this unincorporated territory of the USA, but Aguadilla is worth a look in if you're cruising down the north-coast highways from Arecibo and San Juan. It's got competition pedigree and some quality waves

Chief among them is simply named Surfer's Beach, a reef break that rolls into pebbly sand and lines of wind-blasted date palms, offering fast rights and a lippy little left. The XL conditions will power up Wilderness, too, a wave that's remote and heavy. Bridges and Jobos are the options that suit all levels.

PR Surf Adventures run tailor-made trips in this part of the island. It's headed up by Pig, a qualified surf judge with intimate knowledge of the regional breaks both secret and named. If in doubt stay in Playa Jobos, where there's a palm-ringed beach, a break on the doorstep, and lots of seafood.

Getting to Aguadilla: Fly to the Rafael Hernndez Marn International Airport. There aren't many flights going there (yet), but it's a stone's throw from the main surf points.

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8 of the best surf spots in the Caribbean: turquoise waves and paradise beach breaks - Lonely Planet Travel News

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During the past few weeks, weather experts have been alerting the population about hurricane season in the Atlantic. Now, the Government of the United States has issued a warning for American citizens in regions that can be affected.

The information has been published by the Department of State on the page of the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS. Authorities stated: Hurricane Season in the Atlantic begins June 1 and runs through November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center expects the 2022 season to be above average for the seventh consecutive year.

Those considering traveling near the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea during the season, must stay aware and up to date. NOAA predicted that this hurricane season 2022 in the Atlantic will produce 14 to 21 storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes, and 3 to 6 major hurricanes.

There is a 65% chance of an above-normal season. Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, said: Early preparation and understanding your risk is key to being hurricane resilient and climate-ready.

Raimondo also added: Throughout the hurricane season, NOAA experts will work around-the-clock to provide early and accurate forecasts and warnings that communities in the path of storms can depend on to stay informed.

There are several climate factors related to the increasing amount of hurricanes, tropical cyclones, and storms, including the atmospheric phenomenon La Nia. Travelers can look up more scientific details on NOAAs website and should also follow the US Governments recommendations.

The government has shared advisory for US citizens visiting or living in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, or near the Atlantic ocean. These are the main recommendations:

Most travelers are eager to travel to all the fascinating destinations in the Hurricane Belt like Miami, The Bahamas, or Cancun. However, this season those interested in high-risk destinations should take some precautions besides the ones already mentioned by the US State Department.

A few weeks ago, Florida experienced one of the worst flight delays in years due to thunderstorms and over 10,000 flights were canceled or delayed. So travelers must consider that this is a possibility when traveling between June and November. Flexible tickets and rebooking alternatives might come in handy, as well as preparing for the unpredictable.

Another thing to consider is to opt for destinations that have historically remained safe in the Caribbean like Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. Visiting sunny destinations also with beautiful beaches but the Pacific is a great alternative, like Hawaii or Mexicos Pacific coast: Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, Mazatlan or Acapulco. Likewise, Panama can offer visitors great beaches, warm weather, and no hurricane worry.

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U.S. Government Issues Travel Advisory Regarding Hurricane Season In The Caribbean - Travel Off Path

From buffets to upscale dining, the ship offered cuisine from around the world. I filled up on tacos, salads, seafood, and so many desserts at all types of restaurants.

Some restaurants are complimentary as part of the cruise rate, while specialty dining incurs an additional cost. For the latter, guests often pay a cover charge for a three-course meal, and the cost tends to increase the later into the cruise you reserve a table.

I made reservations at five specialty restaurants, and I found that meals at both complimentary and specialty offerings made my top list of favorite things I ate.

Insider paid for the specialty meals per our reporting standards.

The main dining room on the ship is complimentary for guests and serves breakfast and a three-course dinner each day.

I went there for dinner one night and had garlic tiger shrimp with jasmine rice, seasonal veggies, and herb butter. The shrimp was juicy with great flavor, the rice was sticky, which I like, and the asparagus and tomatoes were well-seasoned.

At breakfast, the main dining room served thick french toast that was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. A delicious berry sauce on top paired nicely with maple syrup. This was my favorite breakfast of the whole trip.

Outside of the main dining room, I particularly enjoyed El Loco Fresh, an outdoor DIY taco bar. It's included for guests and serves a selection of meats, cheeses, and so many toppings, like pico de Gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.

I grabbed a bowl of chips to make some nachos. I thought the queso was really good, and they had every topping I could want, satisfying my Tex-Mex craving on the ship.

When I wanted an upscale meal, I chose Chops Grille, a steakhouse. I paid $55 for a three-course dinner here.

The highlight was the appetizer a crispy goat cheese salad with green apples, candied walnuts, cranberries, and balsamic dressing. It was an eclectic mix of textures and flavors, but blended together perfectly in my mouth.

For another upscale meal, I went to 150 Central Park, a restaurant with a variety of meat, seafood, and other "locally sourced ingredients," according to Royal Caribbean. I had a three-course dinner for $50.

Source: Royal Caribbean

The best thing I ate at 150 Central Park was the fried cheesecake, so definitely save room for dessert if you dine here. It was soft, fluffy, and light, with a cream cheese filling. Caramelized popcorn, whipped cream, and Nutella drizzle complimented it perfectly. It was even more satisfying than the main course.

To get my seafood fix, I went to the New England-style Hooked Seafood restaurant that draws inspiration from Maine to Maryland. I paid $53 for a three-course dinner.

Source: Royal Caribbean

To start, I ordered the crab beignets. They were the perfect texture soft and fluffy with a hard outer layer. The crab flavor was subtle with cinnamon on top for an interesting twist. The accompanying crap dip was refreshing, too.

For my main, I had fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. The chicken was tender and well-seasoned. The sides had good flavor, as well.

The dessert at The Mason Jar was also unique. Called "Gone Bananas!," it included layers of vanilla pudding, graham cracker crumbs, and roasted bananas with whipped cream and toffee on top. It was fluffy, light, and had a rich banana flavor. It was the perfect ending to my favorite meal of the trip.

While the specialty restaurants served delicious courses, I thought the food quality was just as high in the main dining room, where I only ate twice. If I were to cruise with Wonder of the Seas again, I'd spend less money on specialty restaurants and more evenings in the main dining room instead since it offers great value.

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The best restaurants onboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas - Insider

Update: After reports noted Johnny Depp would be reappearing on the stand, a new report seems to indicate Depp may not get his "sequel" on the stand after all. Several other high-profile names are allegedly expected to be called, including Kate Moss and Warner Bros.' Walter Hamada. Depp may not be called back, but now that seems to be TBD. Initial reports had stated he'd be back on the stand later this week. The full report.

While celebrity divorces can often make headlines, the ongoing legal battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is on another level entirely. The two have been facing off in court in Virginia, with the proceedings quickly going viral thanks to it all being available to watch on TV. And While Pirates of the Caribbean 6 with Depp might not be happening, it looks like he's getting a sequel when it comes to his trial testimony.

Part of the reason why Johnny Depps defamation case against Amber Heard has gone so viral is because both actors have personally taken the stand for days at a time. While the Aquaman actress has spent more time testifying, it seems thats about to change. According to the New York Post, Depp is coming back on the stand, and could be there for up to 18 more hours.

Per this latest report, Johnny Depp is expected to take the stand Wednesday or Thursday of this week as a rebuttal witness. Both legal teams were given 61 hours and change to present their case to the judge and jury, with Amber Heard reportedly using much more of that time so far. And as such, Depp might be on the stand for more days at a time, as theyve got over 18 hours left to plead his case.

Things are definitely going to heat up over the next week at the Virginia courtroom, as the defamation case is approaching the end of the trial. In addition to Johnny Depps upcoming return to the stand, closing statements are expected to occur a week from Friday. Although smart money says there will be plenty of viral moments before the case is finally closed.

During their time on the stand, both Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have alleged physical and mental abuse by the other. Additionally, their legal teams have provided audio of the former pair having heated arguments, showing how tumultuous the former relationship was. Well just have to see what explosive updates come in the last few weeks.

Because cameras are in the courtroom, the public has been especially invested in Johnny Depps defamation case against Amber Heard. Countless clips have gone viral, leading to endless discourse about the former marriage both online and in person. Even Starbucks stores have gotten in on the action, allowing customers to take sides via tip jars.

Given the allegations made by both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, the stakes for the trial definitely feel high. Theres also a massive financial risk involved; Depp is suing his ex-wife for $50 million, while Heard is counter suing for even more money. Then theres how this legal saga might affect both actors careers in the future.

Johnny Depp has recently started booking new film work, while Amber Heard will appear in Aquaman 2. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean 6 With Johnny Depp May Not Be Happening But Looks Like He's Getting A 'Sequel' When It Comes To His Trial Testimony -...

June is the official start of the summer cruise season, which means warm temperatures on pretty much every Royal Caribbean ship you can sail on (outside of Alaska).

Have a cruise planned in June? This should provide you the important information for navigating a cruise this month.

June is when summer cruises get into full swing in Europe and Alaska. This means all the ships are in position to offer a full assortment of cruises this month.

Depending on where you live, school begins to let out for summer break during the month of June. This means as the month progresses, so do the crowds and demand for sailings.

If you're looking to get a deal on a cruise, your best is to look for a last-minute cruise deal for early June. Of course, that may be easier said than done, as available cabins may be limited.

This month will see every single Royal Caribbean ship back in service again, as Rhapsody of the Seas restarted operations on May 23.

Royal Caribbean's ships will be operating out of three primary markets: Alaska, Europe, and Caribbean.

Read more:Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing in Alaska 2022

Summer is actually a off-peak time for cruises to the Caribbean. You will find far less ships sailing to the Caribbean because many vessels have been redeployed to Europe and Alaska. It's also as hot as it gets in the Caribbean during the summer.

The advantage of a summer cruise to the Caribbean is there are less ships overall to contend with, making for favorable conditions in the ports you will visit since there will be less passengers in port.

Royal Caribbean's Covid-19 protocols are fairly consistent across the board, although there can be a few variations for certain European departures.

All Royal Caribbean guests age 12 and older must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing.

Boosters are not required, except for some European sailings require anyone that hasn't had their last shot more than 270 days ago to get a booster.

Royal Caribbean does not require kids younger than 12 to be vaccinated.

Masks are optional for vaccinated guests & recommended for unvaccinated children while onboard.Masks are no longer required at Adventure Ocean for kids 2 years and up, they are recommended for unvaccinated kids.

Masks are also now optional while in the cruise terminal before or after your cruise, unless mandated by local authorities.

Guests under 2 years old do not need to wear a mask.

Vaccinated guests must show a negative COVID-19 test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day.

Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. This test cannot be taken on boarding day for unvaccinated kids.

Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.

June temperatures in the Caribbean typically range from about 78 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit in the day and 70 to 80 at night.

Expect water temperatures around 81 to 82 degreesFahrenheit.

This means hot and humid conditions for a Caribbean cruise with very warm ocean temperatures as well.

Officially, the hurricane season begins on June first, but tropical storms don't usually get going until later in the season.

Read more:What to know about cruising during hurricane season in the Caribbean

Let's move over to Europe, where you will find the sunniest month of the cruise season. June is a fabulous time to take a Mediterranean cruise because of the warm, but not yet hot, temperatures that come later in the summer. On top of that, there are less crowds in June compared to next month.

June is also the time of year when the Mediterranean Sea is finally warm enough to swim, with an average water temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Read more:What is the best time to cruise the Mediterranean?

If your European cruise goes to Northern Europe, expect high temperatures in the low 60s, and night time temperatures in the low 50s.

In Alaska, expect the least rain of the year. This is the perfect month for outdoor shore excursions, such as hiking.

Read more:Best things to do on an Alaska cruise

The average temperature for an Alaska cruise are lows in the upper 40s and highs in the mid-60s Fahrenheit. Towards the end of June, you benefit from additional daylight, with up to 18 hours of sunlight.

You're going to need layers for this sort of weather, so it's important to pack for your Alaska cruise effectively.

More information

Read more from the original source:

Royal Caribbean cruises in June 2022: What to expect - Royal Caribbean Blog

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REGIONAL: STORMS & FLOODING

CENTRAL AMERICA

Civil Protections and humanitarian networks in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are monitoring a recently-formed Central American gyre (CAG), a broad low-pressure system that will bring flooding rain to Central America in coming days, weeks ahead of the official start of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. Some areas may see more than 6 inches of rain, especially over windward mountainous terrain.

Heavy rains over Honduras prompted authorities to place the Choluteca, El Paraso, Francisco Morazn and Valle departments under yellow alert, allowing for preventive evacuations in areas at risk of landslides, flooding and river overflows. Municipal officials in the capital of Tegucigalpa report damage in riverside communities, which they are currently responding to with their own capacities.

Forecasters do not expect the current CAG to spawn an out-of-season tropical depression as it did in 2020 when it pushed Pacifics Tropical Storm Amanda inland over El Salvador and Guatemala, only for Amandas remnants over the Bay of Campeche to form into the Atlantics Tropical Storm Cristobal after causing more rain than 1998s Hurricane Mitch, the second-deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record.

SOUTH AMERICA

Uruguayan and Brazilian coasts took on strong winds and high waves from Yakecan, a sub-tropical cyclone that made landfall on 16 May and caused power outages and building damage. In Uruguay, the storm flooded roads, uprooted trees with winds of up to 100 km/h and damaged roofing. While Uruguays SINAE national emergency system set up evacuation centres to receive families, the overall damage has been minimal, with SINAE reporting a peak of about 22,000 homes left without power that has since been restored.

Yakecan later moved north to Brazil, leaving 182,000 homes without power in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) reported on 18 May, winds up to 96 km/h in So Jos dos Ausentes municipality in Rio Grande do Sul, with authorities issuing alerts for coastal areas over strong winds in northern Rio Grande do Sul to Rio de Janeiro State.

Read more here:

Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (16-22 May 2022) as of 23 May 2022 - Uruguay - ReliefWeb

When Kate Middleton and Prince William arrived in Belize for a Commonwealth tour to honor Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee, a protest was the first sign that they might not get the reception they hoped for on their trip to the Caribbean. But it wasnt until the couple met with Jamaicas prime minister, Andrew Holness, and he announced that the country planned to remove the queen as the countrys head of state, that it became clear just how poorly the tour really went. It also made some commentators wonder: If it were Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in their shoes, would they have been received in the same way?

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Kate and Williams tour was just one of multiple royal visits to Commonwealth member countries in 2022, and on this episode of DYNASTY: The Windsors, we turn back the clock to the beginning of the organization to understand why the tour was more than just a few days of bad optics. The Commonwealth, founded in 1949, is a voluntary organization of 54 countries that share values such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. It traces its roots back to the British Empire, but not all of the current members are former colonies. Reactions to the royals across the nations can be mixed, and on this episode, journalist and presenter Afua Hagan explains the lingering affection for the queen in Ghana, even decades after the country declared independence.

This episode also explores the history of royal philanthropy and exactly why charity across the Commonwealth is so important to the Windsors. Patrick Jephson, Princess Dianas former private secretary, explains why Diana chose difficult and demanding charity jobs and how she influenced the rest of the royal family. Fundraising and charity appearances are the bread and butter of a royals job duties, but it was clear from Meghans entrance to the family that she had the ability to energize the familys work and increase their appeal across the Commonwealth. But her first appearance with the Royal Foundation, alongside Harry, William, and Kate, revealed that she might not be able to fit in. When Harry and Meghan made their final high-profile trip to a Commonwealth country, a September 2019 tour of South Africa, their unhappiness behind the scenes finally became obvious for the first time.

The highest-profile move to decenter the Windsors took place last fall when Barbados removed the queen and installed an elected head of state. According to political journalist Peter Wickham, the countrys citizens had become increasingly frustrated that someone born in the country wouldnt be able to ascend to its highest position. Along with newly crowned national hero Rihanna, Prince Charles was present when the change took place; in a speech, he sensitively discussed the moral horror of slavery and praised the people of Barbados for their persistence. But as Kate and Williams trip later proved, the move might have been too little, too late.

Listen to the episode in the player above, and dont forget to tune in next Tuesday, May 31, when DYNASTY: The Windsors returns with an episode about the symbiotic relationship between the royals and their biggest rival, the tabloid press. Subscribe at listen.vanityfair.com/dynasty or wherever you get your podcasts.

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How Kate Middleton and Prince Williams Caribbean Tour Became a P.R. Disaster: DYNASTY: The Windsors Podcast - Vanity Fair