The island of Saint Kitts is about 23 miles long and 5 miles wide. There is one main road that goes around the perimeter of the island like a ring, with smaller roads branching off of it. Our plan was to take our time driving around the ring road, stopping at the most featured landmarks, and pulling over for whatever caught our attention. There wasn’t a lot of traffic around this road, but there were some challenges. Driving is on the left hand side, the road gets steep and narrow at times, there are no traffic lights, and locals randomly park their cars on the main road and force others to drive around them. Kory was my chauffeur for the day, and a welcomed one at that!
We drove by the village of Frigate, which is where most ex-patiots live. The town boasts of beautiful, upscale residences, resorts, nice shops, and a pristine beach with restaurants and water activities.
Each part of the island has its own unique features, culture, and beauty. We enjoyed seeing the differing landscape, terrain, and ways of life.
We drove down a side road to a beautiful old church and cemetery, sitting on the edge of a cliff. The grounds near Saint John Capisterre Perish were covered in soft moss and the view was spectacular overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Since no one was around, we let Gracie run through the grass while I walked around the perimeter of the church reading the tombstones, and imagining the stories these people have taken with them to the grave.
Before heading out on our driving expedition, I asked a local where he suggested we go on his island. Without hesitating, he replied, “Brimstone Hill Fortress.” His recommendation did not disappoint. Brimstone Hill Fortress is in a national park, and is the largest fortress ever built in the Eastern Caribbean. Its grounds and views are spectacular. There is a narrow, winding, one-lane road to the top. You must stop at the guard house, halfway up the hill, and pay $15 per person to enter the property. It seems kind of steep, but it’s worth it!
Kory and I don’t drink alcohol, but we decided to stop off at the Old Road Distillery to view the ruins and learn about St. Kitt’s cultural history. What we discovered is that rum first flowed from this Old Road Distillery in 1681, still flows today, and is now the oldest surviving rum distillery in the Caribbean.
Our last stop of the day was Basseterre, the capital of the two-island nation. It is also the largest port, and home of many modern facilities that cater to cruise ship patrons. Basseterre is best known for its spectacular beaches, like the one at Friar’s Bay, but there is a great deal of history here as well. Right off the Circus traffic circle, is a Victorian Berkeley Memorial Clock Tower erected outside of the National Museum, which explores the islands’ colonial past. We already had a long day driving around the island, so we didn’t spend a lot of time in Basseterre.
We ate lunch in the Food Court near Basseterre’s seaport. I had Chinese food and Kory enjoyed jerk chicken kabobs. We ended the day with a trip to Ram’s Supermarket to stock up on food. Our guest, Chilor, was set to arrive in a couple of days, so it was time to prepare meals, clean the boat, and get ready for his stay on Hope!
All in all, St. Kitts is a beautiful island with stunning beaches, underwater marvels, interesting lava formations, spectacular overlooks, great dining options, and a captivating history! We are grateful for the opportunity to spend over a week on this Caribbean island!