Terri Bettany in the Caribbean!!My favourite Island in the Eastern Caribbean Greetings from the Caribbean Mon and after 3 months of careful testing I have come up with my favourite island on our Eastern Caribbean Voyage. The Emerald Princess is currently cruising 2 different Caribbean Voyages the Easter Caribbean and the Southern Caribbean – alternating each cruise just to keep it interesting. St. Kitts has been my highlight for this voyage. Along with it’s neighbor, Nevis, St Kitts presents an exotic landscape more common to Polynesia than the Caribbean. The Islands terrain, rich soil and climate made them ideal locations for cultivating sugarcane. St. Kitts and Nevis, in fact were the crown jewels of the Caribbean. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Spain, France and England vied for control of the Islands, with the English finally winning out in 1787. Today, British and French heritage is evident on both islands. Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts boasts fine restored colonial buildings. Impressive Brimstone Hill Fortress, called the Gibraltar of the West Indies, is one of the most impressive fortresses in the Caribbean. St. Kitts has also turned into my sporting destination – we were lucky enough to be in port for an England vs St. Kitts warm up game of cricket. It was such at atmosphere to watch the cricket in the Caribbean, sitting on the thick grassy hill, Carib beer in hand, sun shining , centuries made and wickets falling….. A great day. Since, then I have kept the sporting tradition alive with a kayak along the south east peninsula and then a bike ride through historical St. Kitts and then abandoned cane fields (the falling cost and increased competition led to the end of commercial sugar production in St. Kitts and yes they have Cane Toads too!!!!!) and finally to the Caribbean Sea for a quick dip before heading back to the ship. Next up, the Southern Caribbean……. |
