Postcards from the Past: Antigua & Barbuda

 Land of 365 Beaches

When and Where:           12/2001 – St. John’s (Antigua)

27th Country Visited; 9th North American Country Visited

Interesting Facts:

·        Mount Obama is the highest point on the island of Antigua.

·        Antigua, unlike Antigua Guatemala, is pronounced An-tee-ga. 

 The first vacation I took post-9/11, was a Caribbean cruise with my friend Allan.  Late 2001 was a great time to vacation as most Americans were afraid to travel.  Airfares and cruise prices were dirt cheap as the travel industry was trying to recover in a post 9/11 world. 

 On our cruise, we made a port stop in St. John’s on the island of Antigua.  We took an organized tour around the island.  I was immediately drawn to the stunning beaches as we drove around the island.  Antigua is known for its pristine beaches and its people proudly boasts having 365 of them.  We stopped along one pink sand beach for a stroll in the naturally crystal-clear calm Caribbean waters.  If you enjoy beaches, Antigua is the island for you. 

 Next our tour brought us to Shirley Heights, a lookout point above the picturesque English Harbour.  The panoramic view from atop Shirley Heights was simply stunning.  I vividly recall the fragrant wildflowers blowing in the wind as I looked down on English Harbour, one of the most spectacular harbors in the Caribbean.  At the base of  English Harbour is the colonial Nelson’s Dockyard, a marina which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  We made our way down to Nelson’s Dockyard and walked around wondering what it must have been like when the island was colonized by the British in 1632.  Nelson’s Dockyard became the British naval headquarters on the island.  The Dockyard has maintained it’s colonial-era feel with many old brick buildings.  As we made our way around the cobblestone streets, it’s became apparent why Antigua is popular with American tourists. 

We ended our day walking through the quaint capital of St. John’s.  The colorful buildings and outdoor cafes along the harbor were beautiful and welcoming.  We walked into the shops and stopped at a café to chill for a bit.  St. John’s is a mix of old-English village and Caribbean charm.  It’s a lovely little town.  Antigua is a place I need to visit again and spend more time.

Beautiful Antigua

Looking down on the stunning English Harbour from Shirley Heights


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