The anchorage at Basse Terre is exposed. We rolled heavily in the night and awoke early to try to go ashore and find internet access for James’ work. Basse Terre lacks any evident tourist development and just holds duty free stores in the cruise ship terminal. Without is a low-rise colonial era city, based around Independence Square and The Circus – modelled on London’s Piccadilly Circus.
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| The Circus, Basse Terre, St Kitts |
A taxi ride took us up the coast to the UNESCO World
Heritage site of Fort Brimstone – one of the best preserved garrisons of the
Napoleonic era. We were not disappointed. We arrived as it opened and had the
run of the site, only accompanied by wild vervet monkeys. The children ran
through every nook and battlement, learning about life two and a half centuries
ago. There were alos displays on how the European settlers were first welcomed
by the native Carib amer-indians, before they started to annihilate them. The
displays then went on to describe the slave trade with some shocking layouts
and descriptions of conditions on the slave ships. “The air was so hot that the
candle would not burn…”
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| St Kitts coast from Brimstone Hill |
It was very pleasant to escape the endless ports and yachty
towns and spend some time in the wilderness. The vista offered us our first
views of our next destinations, Statia and Saba.
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| Statis from Fort Brimstone |
your blogs r like buses - none for days then they all arrive at once - each one is very welcome and we look forward to their arrival.love mum xx
ReplyDeleteWere the Kelmen attacking or defending Brimstone hill or a little bit of both? It sounds a marvellous place but might be too steep for an old man. Are you off to Holland next and will that mean gin instead of rum? Granddad XOXOXOXO
ReplyDeleteEngland beat Ireland today (6 Nations) in Dublin. Very disappointing to us Irish - but the remaining population of The White Swan are very happy.....Grrrrr
ReplyDeleteSorry - the above signed
DeleteGill F
in case you didn't know!!!
Hi Croix Cruisers.
ReplyDeleteOn St Kitts there lives a very interesting sailor named Phillip Walwyn, who built a 12 metre called Kate ( after his very talented artist wife) on the beach.
I met him when the Royal Thames cruised by St. Kitts, and we visited his wonderful house on the top of the island. his phone is 869 465 7740 email katedesign@sisterisles.kn You really should get in touch. I think you will get along He will be in the Classic regatta in Antigua.
He and kate know the Thompsons of the Gallery in Aldeburgh
Mention my name, he may remember
best Rufus
Hi Rufus - great to hear from you. The BCYC is reknowned all over this par tof the world and we keep bumping into people who remember Tim B very well for varioius reasons!
DeleteUnfortunately, we only got your reply today and we've moved to the BVIs. Shame we missed the chance to meet up. We were so close to running back there yesterday as well!