Saturday, 23
January, 2016 – Antigua
We docked in St
John's (just like NL except for the temperature) where we took a
ship's tour of the island booked. Upon disembarking, we were greeted
by a steel band. The best we have heard anywhere. We got an
overview of the island including th
e
remains of two British Forts perched as always on the highest land
with a spectacular view. Little did they know in their day that they
were not only defending the Empire, but providing future tourist
attractions! For us the highlight was Nelson's dockyard, the world's
only Georgian era dockyard still in service, established in 1704.
Today, the dockyard is a haven for private yachts rather than the
Royal Navy! The dockyard has many of the original buildings which
have been well maintained as well as a dockyard museum. The tour
gave us a great overview of the island with a very interesting and
well informed guide (hi Carolyn). She said that when the British
came, they brought stone (which was used in construction) and took
the Rum, the sugar, the molasses and the cotton. Now, the Rum, the
sugar, the molasses and the cotton are gone, but the stone remains.
Indeed, as we drove around we saw many buildings, including Churches
and houses built of the stone.
e
remains of two British Forts perched as always on the highest land
with a spectacular view. Little did they know in their day that they
were not only defending the Empire, but providing future tourist
attractions! For us the highlight was Nelson's dockyard, the world's
only Georgian era dockyard still in service, established in 1704.
Today, the dockyard is a haven for private yachts rather than the
Royal Navy! The dockyard has many of the original buildings which
have been well maintained as well as a dockyard museum. The tour
gave us a great overview of the island with a very interesting and
well informed guide (hi Carolyn). She said that when the British
came, they brought stone (which was used in construction) and took
the Rum, the sugar, the molasses and the cotton. Now, the Rum, the
sugar, the molasses and the cotton are gone, but the stone remains.
Indeed, as we drove around we saw many buildings, including Churches
and houses built of the stone.
Did you know that
Antigua has 365 beaches – one for every day of the year! We forgot
to ask, but I guess that Monday, 29th February will be
beach-less!
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