Basseterre, St. Kitts
This morning we returned to St. Kitts, the island where we had spent our Christmas Day on the beach, to the south avoiding the unusually heavy winds and high seas. Today we were greeted by clear balmy cloudless skies, a calm gentle sea, and a soft tropical breeze that made the tender drive into the pier a very pleasant experience.
This is the first time we have come face to face with the true Caribbean “native,” the people who inhabit the towns. Basseterre is the capital city of the independent nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The total population is about 40,000 and the quality of life is relatively high compared to other Caribbean cities. The city is clean and there is a lot of building going on which is evidence of economic progress.
From Basseterre we took the road north along the southwestern coast to the famous fort on Brimstone Hill which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1782, 8,000 French soldiers besieged the fortress which was defended by 1,000 locals made of the members of the Royal Scots and East Yorkshire Regiments, local militia and escaped slaves. After a month, the local forces surrendered to the French, but a year later, the island was returned to the British under the treaty of Versailles. It was desired by many for its sugar, although today, sugar production has given way to tourism.
The fortress sits atop the high peak of a still active volcano and we passed two sulphurous vents along the road. White limestone cliffs line the steep narrow drive up the western side of the mountain although volcanic lava makes up the eastern side, indicating a turbulent geologic history.
From the top, we were met with a breathtaking view of almost the whole of the western side of the island plus smaller Nevis to the South and St. Eustatius (Netherlands) to the north under a dazzling clear blue sky. The central mountains slope to the sea in an undulating carpet of brilliant green patches of tropical forest, small fruit plantations and areas left to wild grasses. The deep cobalt blue sea sparkled under the warm Caribbean sun endlessly toward the western horizon, occasionally streaked with the crystalline white wake of a passing yacht.
From the fort we drove back toward Basseterre and then up the side of the mountains to Romney Manor, an old sugar plantation now converted to exquisite botanical gardens, and the Caribelle Batik studio and shop. This was once the home of Sam Jefferson, the great-great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the US and it is from here that part of the family emigrated to Virginia to grow tobacco and eventually took a prominent place in history.
We returned for a superb late lunch aboard the Sea Cloud II and spent the afternoon under sail making a brisk 13.5 knots toward the island of St. Lucia.
This morning we returned to St. Kitts, the island where we had spent our Christmas Day on the beach, to the south avoiding the unusually heavy winds and high seas. Today we were greeted by clear balmy cloudless skies, a calm gentle sea, and a soft tropical breeze that made the tender drive into the pier a very pleasant experience.
This is the first time we have come face to face with the true Caribbean “native,” the people who inhabit the towns. Basseterre is the capital city of the independent nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. The total population is about 40,000 and the quality of life is relatively high compared to other Caribbean cities. The city is clean and there is a lot of building going on which is evidence of economic progress.
From Basseterre we took the road north along the southwestern coast to the famous fort on Brimstone Hill which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1782, 8,000 French soldiers besieged the fortress which was defended by 1,000 locals made of the members of the Royal Scots and East Yorkshire Regiments, local militia and escaped slaves. After a month, the local forces surrendered to the French, but a year later, the island was returned to the British under the treaty of Versailles. It was desired by many for its sugar, although today, sugar production has given way to tourism.
The fortress sits atop the high peak of a still active volcano and we passed two sulphurous vents along the road. White limestone cliffs line the steep narrow drive up the western side of the mountain although volcanic lava makes up the eastern side, indicating a turbulent geologic history.
From the top, we were met with a breathtaking view of almost the whole of the western side of the island plus smaller Nevis to the South and St. Eustatius (Netherlands) to the north under a dazzling clear blue sky. The central mountains slope to the sea in an undulating carpet of brilliant green patches of tropical forest, small fruit plantations and areas left to wild grasses. The deep cobalt blue sea sparkled under the warm Caribbean sun endlessly toward the western horizon, occasionally streaked with the crystalline white wake of a passing yacht.
From the fort we drove back toward Basseterre and then up the side of the mountains to Romney Manor, an old sugar plantation now converted to exquisite botanical gardens, and the Caribelle Batik studio and shop. This was once the home of Sam Jefferson, the great-great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the US and it is from here that part of the family emigrated to Virginia to grow tobacco and eventually took a prominent place in history.
We returned for a superb late lunch aboard the Sea Cloud II and spent the afternoon under sail making a brisk 13.5 knots toward the island of St. Lucia.
