Page 16 - PGA Community News - February '20

Page 16, PGA C.A.N.!
Seychelles
By Don Kiselewski, MCC,
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens
Travel Leaders
The minute that I stepped
off the ship in Victoria, I
realized that this was unlike
any other destination from my
world travels, starting with the
complete trust shown by the
people. Just a few steps from
the ship waited our rental
car and an attendant, who
Sea turtle
Family owned & operated since 1988
Liliana Barbu and her daughter Alina stopped to take a
picture at Diamond Beach in Iceland a part of their Collette
Tour. If the Northern Lights or Iceland is on your bucket list
give us a call. We can help you create your own adventure.
We are located at 11360 N. Jog Road, Bldg. A, Suite 102-6
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418 Info@PBGTravel.com
TravelLeaders.com/PBGFL
(561) 694-9696
“We help you see the world . . .”
Then and Now
Saturday, March 2, 2019 • 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 3, 2019 • 4:00 p.m.
A Look at American musical theater
over the years with Broadway stars Lisa Vroman
and Mark Sanders performing songs from Showboat,
King and I, Pippin, Les Misérables and more!
Artistic Director, S. Mark Aliapoulios
Tickets online:
choralsocietypalmbeaches.org
Tickets $25 at the door or call (561) 626-9997
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute - Auditorium
Florida Atlantic University - Jupiter Campus
5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL
February 2020 February 2020
simply handed me the keys.
When I asked if he needed my
license and a credit card, he
just pointed down the road to
his place of business and said,
“Turn it in there when you are
done … we’ll take care of all
of the paperwork later.”
This lack of regimentation
stems from the lifestyles that
have emerged in this tiny
group of islands in the West
Indian Ocean. The Seychelles
were discovered some 200
years ago by spice traders,
whose voyages from the Far
East, around Africa, to Europe
carried them by the islands.
Their importance for trade
routes was greatly lessened
with the opening of the Suez Seychelles
Canal, which diverted shipping
from the southern Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean. The coralline islands are outcrops that dot the ocean to
About 10 percent of the Seychelles projects above the water the southwest of the granitic group. They rise only a few feet
in 15,000 square miles of ocean. The measured land surface above sea level, but are covered with rich and dense vegetation
of 175 square miles is divided between 115 islands and islets, due to fertilization by large amounts of bird guano. There
with Mahé being the largest in the group. Located just four is no permanent population on these islands. Aldabra is the
degrees south of the equator, the Seychelles are quite literally largest atoll in the world, containing one-third of all the land
a thousand miles from anywhere. However, with today’s long of the Seychelles islands, and is a UNESCO-designated World
haul jet aircraft, it’s reachable from our East coast within 24 Heritage site.
hours, with connections through London. The international A dense cluster of 42 islands forms the granitic portion
airport on Mahé wasn’t completed until 1972, making it easier of the country. These granite islands are covered with lush
for the outside world to reach this paradise. green vegetation presenting a tropical character. They have
Remnants of the breakup of Africa and Asia have left a profusion of coconut palms, bananas, mangoes, yams,
the Seychelles with islands of two distinctively different breadfruit and other tropical fruits. Indigenous forest exists on
characters. Seventy-five of the islands are coral, and the the higher slopes where cinnamon and tea are planted. Also
remainders are granitic. These are the only mid-ocean islands found in this group is the island of Praslin, the second largest in
of this type found in the world. the Seychelles, and lies approximately 65 miles from Victoria,
Mahé, the nation’s capital.
Because of their extraordinary, isolated history, the
Seychelles are rich in rare plants that flourish nowhere else
on the planet. Eighty-one species are unique survivors from
the luxuriant tropical forest that covered the islands until
man’s belated arrival two centuries ago. The island of Praslin
is referred to as the “Original Garden of Eden.” Here, the rare
black parrot, bulbul and fruit pigeon can be found, and it is
also here that the mysterious coco de mer palm grows. The
tree grows in the Vallée de Mai, a prehistoric forest and nature
preserve. The nut of coco de mer palm is the largest seed
in the vegetable kingdom. This strange double coconut has
been surrounded by myth for generations due to its uncanny
Madagascar fody Seychelles on page 17
212 Thornton Drive in Preston of PGA - $949,000
Enjoy wide lake views from almost every room
CBS Construction | 3 Bedrooms + Den | 4 Baths | Pool | 3 Car garage | .53 acres
Wonderful custom home (3 bed+den + 4 bath) perfectly located on one of the nicest, private lots
in PGA. Gorgeous wide lake views + sunset colors await. Freshly painted, casual yet sophisticated
interiors provide a wonderful setting for both entertaining + everyday living.
KrisTen DAnziG
ColDwell BAnKer GloBAl luxury
561-398-5931 | 561PalmBeach.com