In stark contrast to the overly touristy, well developed island of Guadeloupe and its sister group including Isle de Saints stands the island of Dominica. Volcanic and mountainous, as are nearly all the Caribbean islands, it is an ecological wonderland that from afar brings to mind the setting of Jurassic Park. And the closer you get the more apt the association becomes. […]
Just off the south end of the French island of Guadeloupe lies a small archipelago that serves as the resort for visitors from the larger island and others nearby. One of these, Isle de Saints, is our choice for the next stop. It has a fine protected anchorage, which as we arrive is filled with boats just starting a holiday regatta. […]
If there is an island in the Caribbean that can be said to be obviously British, Antigua (pronounced anteega) is it. It is the site of a former Royal Navy base dating from the early 1800s, with wharves, warehouses, barracks and the like still there now turned to tourist attractions. Its fine harbor is lined with bars and restaurants mostly empty this time of year, as though everybody is waiting for the first hurricane to strike.
From St. Martin, we travel the short distance to St. Barths and tie up right in the middle of town, something that would have been impossible were we in the high season. Having been to this island in the past and having no pressing need for French products of any type, I have dinner at Maya’s then hang around the waterfront until time to leave next day.
Just a few miles across the water from Anguilla is the schizophrenic island of St. Martin⁄St. Maarten. About two thirds of the place, a départment of France, is crowded, traffic choked and badly in need of a paint job. It does, however, have a whole lot of fine restaurants. The other third is Dutch and also crowded with people and cars but with the added blight of glitzy casinos. […]