Port 32 Basseterre, St Kitts
We arrived very early in the morning on Mar 9th, 2022, at St Kitts. There is not much of a harbor here, so not a lot was visible from our fantail veranda. The Star Clipper ship Royal Clipper that was with us in Barbados is at anchor on our port side when we pull in. The island of Nevis is lurking in the shadows to the east on our starboard side.
I really like how the Royal Clipper looks in this shot!
Once more we do not have excursions booked, but St Kitts is allowing us to go ashore, unlike Dominica yesterday! I remembered a clock in city center that I want to see again, and we lay out a plan to find the clock and check out the Independence Square and three churches.
This shot is on the pier looking northwest, toward Brimstone Hill.
We’re in St Kitts! And look! The clock!
I forgot about this new port shopping area they had build before our previous visit. They call it Port Zante!
Remember to mark all your photo posts with #stkitts!
This is something I didn’t recall from before – a part of Port Zante that has storefront inside this two-story building.
A few blocks later we find the clock. I had forgotten it is the middle of a roundabout in downtown Basseterre! It was installed in 1886!
OK, here we go again! But these were painted pink a long time ago, are missing most, if not all of the glass, and have no telephones. It seems like every one of these booths were raped for all of their copper wiring.
Independence Square is our next target. As Joy marches toward the center fountain, my eye is drawn to the two fabulous trees on wither side of the path!
On the left, the root system is massive, reaching out like ground lightning bolts!
On the right, this tree’s roots look like octopus tentacles swirling and wrapping around the trees, with all of the suckers facing up. This one also has a face on the trunk. Oh, only if this tree could talk…
This beautiful fountain resides in the center of Independence Square. Many people were enjoying the park, hanging out on the benches today!
On the other side of the park is this gorgeous church! It is identified simply as the Co-Cathedral.
On our way to the other two churches I was humored by the way these parking spaces were reserved for the doctors!
We found the Wesley Methodist Church, but learned this building is actually now the Wesley Methodist Church Hall, and this building is being used as a school house. The actual church sanctuary is now a non-descript square building behind this one.
Directly next door is the St George Anglican Church. This is a beautiful structure with a large belltower. It was sad to realize this was the site of a Catholic Church that the British destroyed to then build this church! The British were not very nice people back then!
The interior is clean and airy, with a huge pipe organ on the right side.
Exploring a strange set of stairs beside the church revealed these old structures with the excellent street art below them!
Mission accomplished we head back to the ship. We did some shopping in the Port Zante stores on the way! Back on the ship, hanging out on the veranda in anticipation of a quick departure, the sun gave an interesting display through the clouds!
The Royal Clipper showed all her glory in the distance!
And, as expected, we began pushing away from the dock!
We part with our neighbors – the Ponant Le Champlain, the Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas, and the Princess Caribbean Princess!
Consistent with the entire day, a rain storm swept through, obscuring the island as we left.
Once again, we say farewell to St Kitts! Next stop – St Thomas!
