Around the World in 106 Days with

Ray & Claire!!

Part 37– St John’s, Antigua

Antigua (or to be true to the flag, Antigua and Barbuda) is one of the islands in the Eastern Caribbean chain known as the Lesser Antilles Archipelago.

It is an island nation constituting the 2 major islands (i.e. Antigua and Barbuda) and a number of smaller islets

. Antigua famously boasts 365 palm fringed, white

sand beaches.

One for every day of the year – except for 2012 which is a Leap Year!!

It has an area of 171 square miles and a population of approx 67,000. It is generally a low-lying island but

the highest point at Boggy Peak reaches 1542 ft above sea level

4000 years ago Antigua was home to the Siboney people who disappeared mysteriously leaving the island uninhabited for about 1000 years

The first European to discover Antigua was Christopher Columbus in 1493, who gave it the name Antigua (after a church in Seville, Spain, called Santa Maria la Antigua, meaning "Old St. Mary's"). By then it was inhabited by the

Carib Indian tribe until it was colonized by the British in 1632

This triggered a sequence of bloody battles involving the Caribs, the Dutch, the French and of course the English. Africans had been captured as slaves to work the sugar plantations. The

French ceded the island to the English in 1667 and slavery was abolished soon after.

Antigua became the independent state of Antigua & Barbuda in 1981. The Governor General on the Island represents the British Crown although the island nation also has its own Prime

Minister. In more recent history, Antigua was badly damaged by Hurricane Luis in 1995 but has been

rebuilt since.

We berthed at Heritage Quay which was only a 5 minute walk into capital city of St

John’s.

...and a local steel band was on the quay to welcome us

to Antigua

Heritage Quay has lots of facilities including duty free shops, bars, restaurants, tourist information and even a casino

....”I see that John is busy

bartering already with

a stall holder!!

The town is dominated by St John’s Anglican Cathedral dating back to 1834This current church is the 3rd to be built on this site and it is made of freestone with an interior

encased in pitch pine to protect the structure from ruin during an earthquake or hurricane.

Antigua is the home of such cricketing heroes as Sir Vivian

Richards

A short drive away is Shirley Heights which is located 148 metres (487 feet) above the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Named after Sir Thomas Shirley, this was the principal fortification of the British

fleet stationed at English Harbour

At sea level are the remains of Nelson’s Dockyard which was built in 1725 to provide a base for a squadron of ships patrolling the West Indies,

maintaining Britain’s sea power.

These are the original capstans used for careening the ships

…and here are the remains of the sail house

This is the naval officers and clerk’s house – now the Dockyard Museum.

Today it is the world’s last remaining Georgian naval dockyard that is still in use and instead of galleons, sleek

yachts now moor at the old stone quayside

The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda is housed in the old Court House which is a short walk from Heritage Quay

Having seen “hundreds” of museums during our cruise (and wanting to get to the beach) we gave this particular one a miss

The nearest beach from the Ship was Dickenson Bay which was about 3 miles away and so teaming up with John and Elizabeth we headed that way in a

taxi for a relaxing day – doing absolutely nothing (except drink Pina Coladas and eat a local dish for lunch)

....”..and Claire

managed to find us a thatched

shade for the four of us!!

A little further away was the luxury hotel Sandals who “assumed” that they owned the rights to the beach.

But when the dancers from the Black Watch decided to topless

sunbath (and were told by Sandals Security Guards to get properly

dressed) the locals pointed out that all beaches in Antigua are public

beaches!

John went off to investigate the situation – but

Elizabeth said you can go topless, but

not me!

..in the meantime, Claire was blissfully unaware of what was

going on around her

...and Raymond had found someone to talk to

We then decided to have some lunch – and met a local “Palm Leaf Weaver”

..who presented Claire with a palm rose..in exchange

for a kiss

We enjoyed a really nice local lunch of Pork and “Provisions” (i.e. local vegetables)

....and learnt that the locals collect Sea Kale – which tastes like Kelp and is used in their cooking

After lunch, the cameraman wandered off

down the beach

The girls wondered where he had got to.....?

..they tried the local phone (which didn't

work)

..and then (like John)

decided that it was all just too much

trouble

They never did find where he had got to...but had their

suspicions that it might have been something to

do with boats or jet skis!

Or perhaps he had gone for a chat with the

Dancers?!

But all too soon our Beach Break was over and it was time to get back to the Black Watch (moored next to yet another floating block of flats) and then it was time to Buckle Up and prepare for our last port of call, Ponta Delgada

17th April 2012

Happy birthday Jean!!

....”the answer is on the tip of my tongue...but I

cant remember

it.!!”

18th April 2012

The Black Watch Orchestra and the Rosario Trio

19th April 2012

20th April 2012

..but first.....

“I managed to drive all 5 people off my table by complaining about

the Black Watch – and then for this dinner I had a new set of people and one of them had

more complaints about them Ship than I did!

I am going to complain to the Management about this!!”

....”....Oh, don't worry about

Raymond - its OK , it is only

Dawn!!”

Ashley (in his younger days) played Oliver for six months in the Cameron Macintosh Touring

Company.

He then carried on with a lot of stage work and even now has a

wonderful voice that covers classical, opera, jazz and

modern....and he is still only 26

21st April 2012

....”They need your money

Reg and Jean.....now.!!”

....”I know.....its just

the one Mrs Wembley isn't

it?!”