St Kitts

Having purchased new snorkeling equipment in St Croix yesterday we headed for the beach in St Kitts today. And, yes, we did buy new snorkeling gear last year, but it is at home and it was cheaper to buy than rent repeatedly. Plus, snorkels are like shoes--you can never have too many!

We tried to go to Sand Bank Beach as recommended by the guide book, but the taxi captain wouldn't take us. He first suggested it was private, then switched to it was a Nude Beach, then said we would be the only 2 there and they couldn't take responsibility for putting tourists in a dangerous position. I believe he just needed to fill a van going to Cockleshell Beach, so that's where we went. Our taxi driver did say that Sand Bank Beach was nice, but didn't have any services (beer and bathrooms) so we were happy to end up where we did.

Our driver, Aldopho (call me Dolly) was driving his friends old Toyota van with no headliner, ripped seats, limited a/c which had to be turned off going up hill and questionable brakes. He told us that St Kitts is 68 square miles, 35,000 people and provides free schooling from age 3 through high school. All classrooms have computers and each child is given a laptop at age 12.

He also explained that, as there are 4 women to each man on the island, the men here feel obligated to have multiple girlfriends! He, himself, at age 56, had four! He also had 8 children but had never been married! The men in the van-- a rowdy group from New Jersey, cruising on The Explorer of the Seas, were very interested in the logistics of 4 girlfriends--especially on the return trip after a day in the sun and multiple cold beverages! They wanted such details as "does each one have a day of the week, or does it depend on how they treated you yesterday" (the latter)! "Do they know about each other"? Yes, but they don't come over to the house? "Are they young"? Maybe, but not below the age of consent (18) YUCK! And trust me Aldopho was no catch!

I'm wondering if these taxi drivers sit around and dream up outrageous stories to tell to gullible tourists so that they won't notice how atrocious the potholes are and how lacking the suspension!

I don't have any photos of the beach as someone, who shall remain nameless, forgot the camera! But, suffice it to say, it was gorgeous--white sand, turquoise water, puffy white clouds, adequate snorkeling, a nice shady tree for the wimps from the Northwest who shied away from the rotisserie approach of the New Jersey clan. Couple that with some cold Caribe Beer and some Reggae music and Life is Good!

There were some interesting local additions at the beach: a group of enterprising people wearing surgical scrubs offering Aloe Vera massages. They had big chunks of dripping Aloe, which grows locally, and they would slather it on you and rub it in. Also, Wilbur the pig was a 500lb tusked pig who was comatose under a tree. Apparently he does wander around and paddles in the water, just not today. There were also guys with those little monkeys wearing clothes that they would have jump on to you so that you could have a photo (maybe some other time). We were told that the French brought 2 monkeys many centuries ago and they escaped and there are now 50,000 monkeys. I don't know about that, but they were everywhere you turned!

Here are a couple of guys who looked just like the guys in our van!


When we came back from the beach we grabbed a bite, showered and went into town. Not much going on, but we did taste some of the local Rums--this one was Lime! Don't knock it until you've tried it!



A quick update on the dining issue--we are at a new table with 2 new couples--one from Malmo, Sweden and one from Virginia--both first time cruisers and lots of fun!

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