Makin' Friends

Wat Up, Mon? 8-10 Aug 08

Wild Ones at Devil's Bridge

Again we decided to hire a car to do a little round-island exploring. Antigua is home to the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium; built for the 2007 World Cup (we’re taking cricket here, folks!). It now sits like an abandoned monolith; the pitch half dug up and not a soul to be seen. To the east we discovered wonderful beaches (Half Moon & Non Such Bays), fantastic views (Fort Shirley) and feral donkeys (Devil’s Bridge). We arrived too late to swim with the stingrays (yes, don’t even think Steve Urwin, Mum!) and managed to get caught up in a local funeral cortège as it wound its way from village to cemetery. 

Pirates of the Caribbean

Religion is big here. Every village has its share of churches and they seem well attended, if not oddly named (Joyful Wayside Tabernacle). We drove by sturdy St Paul’s Anglican Church in Falmouth, the island’s oldest building dating to 1676, St Barnabus Anglican Chapel with its beautifully coloured stained glass windows in Liberta, and bright pink Tyrells Catholic Church near Swetes.  We did wonder about the welfare of parishioners from the Melting Fire Tabernacle in St Johns however…

Falmouth Harbour, within easy walking distance of our anchorage, is home to the famous Antigua Yacht Club (& annual round of races from Dec to May). Let’s talk serious money here; classics, superyachts, model boats and plenty of French champagne. However at this time of the year it reverts back to a sleepy village – the locals must really love the peace & quiet. 



DON'T sit there on the cliff...

For our final fling, we decided to go to the Fort Shirley Sunday (sundown) Barbecue. The crew mutinied and insisted on taking a taxi up 1.6km of uphill, winding road to Signal Hill (148m). The view over Freeman Bay was spectacular from the 1791 Guardhouse (see previous post): you may be able to see WJ3 to the left - the boat covered in a big, blue plastic tarp…our awning & the best $12 we ever spent. 

We decided we were now well & truly over barbeque food though – chicken & ribs drowned in bbq sauce, but the music was great. A steel pan band played initially (4-7pm) and then later a reggae band. There was a good mix of expats, locals and visitors making quite a lively crowd.

Playin' those steel pans!

The excitement didn’t stop there! We decided to walk down the hill to Bruce, tied up securely at Nelson’s Dockyard. “Refreshing exercise; it’ll do you good,” said the Cap’n!  Constable Jackson of the Antiguan Police Force however, did not agree. He bundled us into his car and gave us a lift & lecture the rest of the way home. 

It seems it is easier to take care of those stray chickens than chastise da loose mongoose! Mon...

Groovin' to the Reggae

Taking one look at these groovy groovers, you'd certainly have to agree???