Antigua

Tuesday and we’re steaming into the home straight as we start down the British Leeward islands and make a stop at Antigua.  We were just a little late in getting alongside as it was so windy and with a ship of this size, high winds are a considerable problem.  However, by around 08.45 the extra mooring ropes were all secure, the gangplanks were down and we were free to go ashore.  Today is also officially the end of the Hurricane Season.  I hope that someone has told the Hurricanes that.

Antigua is just about 12 miles in diameter and has over 350 stunning beaches.  It is also the place where Admiral Nelson re-fitted his fleet of ships whilst fighting the French.  It became independent in 1981, but remains part of the Commonwealth.

Again, the berth and terminus are right in the centre of town, so once disembarked, it was just a short walk to the taxis.  We opted to share a minibus with 4 others and do a circular tour of the island.  With Winston at the wheel, we stopped at various points along the route for Kodak moments and made the first scheduled stop ay Shirley Heights.  Most appropriate given where we live. The views from here over the English Harbour are quite stunning and with the sun beaming down, it was even better.  From there we dropped down into English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard.  This is a natural harbour that no longer shelters Nelson’s Men o’War, but is home to millions of pounds worth of private yachts and giant motor cruisers.  I might park my one here when the syndicate wins the Euro Lottery Millions.

After leaving the dockyard, we came through the rain forest along Fig Tree Drive, which is where most of the fruit and veg are grown on the island.  Fig here means banana!  In places, there are some serious potholes in the roads, caused by a hurricane earlier in the year.  It would appear that they do not repair the roads until the end of the hurricane season, just in case they get damaged again.  Sensible thinking; but not if you’re a passenger in a taxi.

Once we returned to St Johns, we boarded the ship for a spot of silver service lunch.  With every intention of going back out to roam the streets of St Johns, we returned to the cabin to freshen up, sat down and both promptly fell asleep!!  After waking, we decided to retire to the balcony, have a cup of tea and phone home to see how deep the snow is.  We watched the sun set over the hills at the entrance to the harbour as the ship slipped its moorings and we reversed out of the berth.

Time for a Speckled Hen and G&T as we get ready for early sitting dinner.  We opted for something plain and simple this evening, mashed swede and haggis tart for starters, roast rib of beef for me and Guinea Fowl en-croute for Maureen followed by Bramley apple crumble and custard.  All accompanied by a bottle of Beaujolais.

Entertainment seemed a little thin on the ground this evening, so we have opted for an early night, ready for an morning encounter with St Lucia tomorrow.