Photos
Clay got up first today before 7 am. It was light and we were approaching the harbor in Kingstown. It is a nice natural bay surrounded by high cliffs. The downtown area is crowded and compact. According to our guide today, only 3 main streets. Bay St., Middle St. and Back St. That may have been meant as a joke because Google Maps says the back street is named Halifax. We drove through most of each street and what we saw enticed us not to go out walking downtown after our tour. No sidewalks. We docked at 8 am and we sail tonight at 11 pm. I assume because we don't have far to sail and not because people want an evening ashore here.
We had a ship's tour today. We paid a discounted, non-refundable price of $74.25 each for a half day tour. Tour description is pasted below. The tour was described in a little more detail in our booklet, but this was what I could find online. It is more or less what we got except that the drawbridge has been replaced so no bus changes required. Clay was able to get a Hairoun beer at the drink stop. Pronounced high rune. The word means land of the blessed in the language of some early Amerindian settlers.
Best of St. Vincent (KGN-002)
Port: Kingstown
Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 3 1/4 hours)
Tour Description
Trace the island’s history at Fort Charlotte and then behold its natural beauty at a botanical garden. The British started construction on the fort in 1763, building it on a ridge that offers an unobstructed view of Kingstown and beyond. Interestingly, the cannons point inland over the moat, as the fort was built to protect the English from the indigenous Indians and their French allies, who were more inclined to attack from land than the sea. Nearby, you will find the island’s botanical gardens, which are among the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, having been established in 1765. An oasis of serenity, the gardens contain countless species including rare ones such as a breadfruit tree that is the third generation of one donated by the infamous Captain Bligh of the HMS Bounty. Continuing on, you will venture through the Mesopotamia Valley, where much of St. Vincent’s fruits, vegetables and spices are grown. Photo stop at Belmont Lookout. After departing the picturesque valley, you'll stop at Paradise Beach Hotel's bar for a cool drink of rum punch or fruit punch and then return to the pier. Hairoun beer available for purchase.
HELPFUL HINTS
Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.
PLEASE NOTE
This tour includes about an hour of easy to moderate walking with some slopes to negotiate. The tour is not available to wheelchair guests and those with mobility concerns should evaluate their stamina and ability before joining the tour. Due to a weight restriction on the drawbridge at Fort Charlotte, you will travel there by minibus. Following this stop, you will travel by motor coach for the remainder of the tour.
End of tour description.
Lunch at Terrace. Dinner tonight at Polo. Tomorrow Grenada, Country #100!
Photos
Little Bob hits the road
Little Bob hits the road
