Time to Sight See -September 24, 2013

We finally decided it was time to get off the property and show our friends a few of the sights so they could fully appreciate the island.  St. Kitts was discovered by Columbus for Spain, conquered by the French, and then taken by the English until declaring their independence in 1983.  They say they are an English-speaking country but their dialect makes understanding them a little difficult. That means that selecting a tour guide has two important criteria; knowledge of the island and understandability (is that a word?).  We found a driver named Dennis (nickname “Chiefy”) who met both criteria and off we went taking in the many vistas and panoramic views.

Our first stop was the botanical garden and Batik gallery.  

If you have never seen this artwork it is unique and interesting.  Designs are sketched by artists on pure white cotton then areas that are going to stay white are covered in wax to protect it from the dye it is placed in next.  The tricky part is after the dye dries, they wax and dye up to 5 times creating various colors that takes 9 days.  The end result is amazing but the interesting part is that this art is the same on both sides of the fabric.  There is no wrong side.

The next stop was the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.  The first cannon was placed on the hill in 1690 by the English trying to take the island from the French and the potential of the hill was soon recognized and utilized.  The condition of the fort and its significance to the region make it a must on any tour of the island.

St Kitts island is 69 square miles with a population of 31,880 and has a volcano over 3,000 feet above sea level.  On our tour, we drove to this spot on the beach to see the lava rocks that help to create the black sand on this side of the island.  The rich black soil is probably why the main crop on the island was sugar cane until 2004 when tourism became its main source of revenue.

This was our final stop on the tour which is probably my favorite vista.  It’s high on a hill not too far from the Marriott.  From this spot you see the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic on the other.Note the rain shower off to the right which is over the island “Nevis”  This is also a good place to see the size and scope of the resort in Frigate Bay from this vantage.

Bldgs with red roof’s is the resort where we are staying.

We got back in time to resume our favorite positions (lounging) by the pool before dressing for dinner.

Tonight La Cucina, the Italian restaurant on property, had its fiesta event.  Again we were treated to a salad bar and dessert bar, but the main feature were three stations of pasta complete with chefs to make your entrée to order.  We found on chef, Shoy, who was cooking for 16 years and working for Marriott for 10.  He said his grandmother taught him how to cook and we agreed she did a great job.  We each created something totally different, with Shoy’s help, and none of us was disappointed.

Glad to be here, not just because its raining in Florida!