Farewell St Kitts

On our first night in Basse Terre, we had landed the dinghy at the high security but steep sided marina, intending to walk along the bay front to our restaurant. Almost immediately, we had to pass both the ferry dock and the bus terminal. These were inhabited by the usual unsavoury denizens you would expect in any metropolis, but after a few hundred yards of hassle from them and trying to keep control of kids venting their cabin fever ashore, we had decided to retire to the safety of a passing cab. Now, after a few days, we see that these people are more harmless to us tourists than elsewhere. After hours, the cruiseships with their wealthy guests have left and the only tourism is poor backpackers and scruffy cruisers – neither make good pickings. We also saw that St Kitts has a social security office – the first we’ve come across in the Caribbean. It was amusing to note it was “customer service day”. At home, that would interpret as “we won’t call you dole scum today”.

Man and monkey rest between touting for photos with cruise ship passengers

Our final trip ashore coincided with the departure of a cruise ship. The score of top level diamond boutiques were keen to complete last minute sales and I succumbed to a single black diamond earring. It was heavily discounted even without haggling (they must have felt sorry for us in our now raggedy trousers) and they also treated us to complementary beers and toys for the children after the sale.

We opted to move back down route to White House Bay for a less rolly night. The children snorkelled as I prepared dinner, and they watched a vervet monkey ashore at dusk. It was a very international anchorage, with boats from Malta, Turkey and a classic superyaht from Antigua joining the more usual nations.

Sunset St. Kitts

Matthew now says that his favourite sports are hockey and swimming. “I love swimming!”