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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Mar 16, 2024 12:00 AM Hiking on Pigeon Island
In the morning we docked again in Castries. Saint Lucia. I decided to make the excursion by local microbus to see historic Pigeon Island in the north of the island. At the end of the St Lucia on the small, hilly islet Brits built there fortifications with cannons... They remained till now.
Behind the market in Castries I found a stop for 1A bus line to Gros Islet. Half an hour drive (depends of traffic jams) costs just 1 US dollar! Gros Islet is a picturesque fishing village cosest to Pigeon. From the tiny beach I saw Pigeon in the distance with its two summits - great view! Then I was walking along the beach, crossing without problem two elegant resorts: Landing's and Sandal's After Sandal's gate there is small wild beach and a fence surrounding Pigeon. Former Pigeon Island is now connected to the mainland by thick causeway. To get into the "historic landmark you have to pay hefty 10 USD. I paid. Inside there is a map to photograph and you see first buildings - officer's kitchen, gunpowder magazine, bakery.
The path to the top of the first, higher hill (140 m) initially is good byt the upper, stoney part require stronger boots. The view is great, but nothing on the summit. Then I went down and started to climb lower Signal Hill with little battery on the top. 3 cannons there, cistern and powder magazine are there. Again great views... Worth the effort!
This was an interesting excursion for 2 dollars! (Plus entry fee)
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Mar 15, 2024 12:00 AM Last day on Guadeloupe
Last day... In this calendar year, I believe. Most of the local, black skin passengers is disembarking. Instead French from Europe and Italians are boarding the ship. I expect to find new friends!
I make the laundry and snake the streets for a new supply of rum. New discovery: Montebello 55 deg, 1 litre bottle for 8,95 euro in the U-supermarket 300 m from the ship. Strong stuff, but I mix it with the juice, producing the punch - very popular on the Caribbean! Tomorrow we will be on St Lucia and after tomorrow - on Barbados, before making 6-days jump across Atlantic...
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Mar 14, 2024 12:00 AM 4 euro round trip to Saint Pierre
Oh yes, you can go to Saint Pierre by the tour organized from the ship, paying like 65 euro. But the budget travellers like me know, that there is a public bus from the coastal esplanade in Fort-de -France (Ligne 1 - big, a/c bus) which will take you there for just 2 euro each way. City bus tickets are not walid fir this bus - you pay directly to the driver - coins and euro 5, 10 banknotes are accepted only. On the way (it takes like an hour - 30 kms) expect nice views. Ask for the front seat like me!
Saint Pierre - tosay sleepy billage once was the capital of Martinique. Till 1902 when on May 8th eruprion of the volcano Pele destroyed and covered by lava and ashes all city. You can see the ruins, remains of the theatre and prison, where one locked prisoner survived. There is black sand beach, coastal esplanade and great view of the volcano, but come early as the the clouds cover the top in the afternoon - all for 4 euro!
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Mar 13, 2024 12:00 AM Late arrival to Kingstown
Usually the ships arrive to the new ports at 7 - 8 am.
Today we approached Kingstown on Saint Vincent later, but we were blessed by great scenery. Other ships were waiting at the entrance to the bay, including big sailboat "Sea Cloud". I was able yo photograph from the sea the Fort Charlotte - the target of my last hike.
Once on the pier I took the walk to the city to find this free-internet place hidden near the taxi stand under the shaddy tree.
I like Saint Vincent. It is poor, but the people are easy-going and ready to help, if you ask for information.
Elegant police -see picture - has not much to do...
Taxi drivers offer half-day tours charging 40 USD per person. But I know already most places they go. I stroll again the streets of Kingstown, stopping, talking and having a lot of fun. In the night we will be sailing to Martinique.
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Mar 12, 2024 12:00 AM One of 365 beaches...
We are today on Antigua Island. I have been here many times: flying by helicopter to nearby Monserrat, going by ferry to Barbuda or just enjoying St John's - colorful capital of this independent country or visiting historic Nelson's Dockyard.
Antigua is known as the island of 365 beaches.
Today I decided to visit on a cheap one of them. In our ship's newspaper Mr editor described Church Beach as one of the prettiest beaches of the world. He exaggerated of course, but...
I went to the West Bus Terminal. There are polite police ladies offerring the help and showing proper micro-bus. For just 1,5 dollar US I was going in the nice landscapes to the litthe church on the hill. The proper name is Church Valley Beach. It is just 100 m off the main road. The beach is rather narrow, has some 200 m length and... crowd of tourists from 4 cruise ships docking on Antigua today. Most of them are coming here by organized, expensive tours. But the place is nice and as you can see the access can be inexpensive. Come and enjoy!
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Mar 11, 2024 12:00 AM Maho beach on Sint Maarten
We are on Dutch/French Island of Saint Martin. Warm rain in the morning, but it war already sunny, when I was disembarking at 9 am! Where to go? I took the local microbus for 2 USD to Maho. At the end of the airport runway there is a little beach. When aiplanes are landing they are only some 20-30 meters above the sand. Tourists are coming here just to take the pictures and to feel the thrill. Locals built the bars where on the monitors you can check when the plane will be landing. The crowd is drinking beer and waiting... The beach is nice, but short, narrow and crowded. Just one more attraction for the foreigners!
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Mar 10, 2024 12:00 AM Tortola British Virgin Islands
Sunny day and great scenery. The Port of Roadtown is surrounded by green mountains. But they fdo not have a space for us at a single, tiny pier. We will be tendering - it takes extra time and waiting. I have been here few times already - Visiting nearby Virgin Gorda or climbing mountains for the views. Today once again I decided to hike up! The road to the central part of the range was step and windy. But after 1,5 hours I reached the steel mast on the top of the mountail. I checked an altitude with GPS - it was 450 m above the sea there. Probably the highest point of Tortola! Unfortunately the mast was fenced and no lookouts around... I enjoyed anyway the hike through the thick vegetation, and there were interesting views on the way - see our ship taken from the mountain road!
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Mar 08, 2024 12:00 AM Pointe-a-Pitre - no celebration!
Our ship after 1-week loop is back on Gwadeloupe. Passengers are disembarking and new-ones - embarking. I said goodbye to Antonella - she is flying tonight to Rome, where she lives... See you in the eternal city!
Crossing the city I did not see any occasional posters, flags or music. They do not celebrate?! So I am dooing that for them: all the best dear ladies on the occasion of International Women's Day! Tomorrow we will spend a day in the sea - on our way to Sint Maarten...
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Mar 07, 2024 12:00 AM 2,70 euro for Round-trip to Balata
I am again on sunny Martinique. I decided to go by city bus to Balata village which is uphill from Fort-de-France. City bus 25 gors there from the street near the cemetery and there is a ticket window just round the corner. It is a/c bus, so half an hour juurney is pleasant. There are two reasons to go to Balata: Botanic Garden with a poscard view of two green peaks, palm, fern trees and canopy walk (10 segments tree to tree). Second raadon is Sanctuary Sacre Coeur - a church up on the hill - poor miniature of Montmartre Basilica, but withe a nice view of the coty and bay from the terrace... Between these two places there is 4 kms or so mountain road so better use the bus for relocation. In the garden there are comfortable paths. They charge hefty 16 euro entry fee. Much too much but the place with plants and flowers is interesting. It was 4 pm when O returned to the city. It was another nice day!
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Mar 06, 2024 12:00 AM Bird - eye view of Castries
I am again in the capital of St Lucia. The sun is not so strong, and we experience pleasant breeze. Yesterday at sunset on the top deck I met a nice young couple from Martinique: Lia and Nathan. I gave then the advice to go on St Lucia to picturesque Marigot Bay today for the nice beach pictures.
How about me? I decided to climb the hill overlooking Castries Bay (about 200 m up) to the former residence of British Governor. The road is step and narrow with heave car traffic so you have to take care... The residence is locked - you can take the pictures only through the gate. But the views from the level of 100 and 200m are great and wprth the effort. The next island - Martinique is visible on tje horizon. We will be there tomorrow...
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