16/12/2019: The Golden Lemon

Resident at the Golden Lemon
Early morning on the beach





So it was Joan's birthday but there was no rest.  We had invited Steph and Lewis up for some lunch but had no food in.  So a trip down to Birdrock Rams it was.

The supermarket is a jumble of things - quite disorganised and surprisingly full of veggie and vegan food.  Steph had complained that she had not had cheesy chips since she left the UK so we decided to deliver.


We love the little house we are staying in, particularly the bar alongside the kitchen.

Opposite us and permanently hazy is the island of Sint Eustatius with its volcanic cone, Quill.  This is the second highest hill in the Nederlands as it is Dutch territory.  Apparently Saba island, which is not far from here, is the highest.

Talking of altitude here we are maybe 2 metres above sea level whereas last year on Joan's birthday we were in Potosi which is 4090 metres above sea level!




For lunch we had fajitas and watched the waves crash in.

As Lewis and Steph were leaving, they mentioned that they had previously explored the Golden Lemon Inn.  It turned out the gates were just by our car.  We moved the boulders that held the gate shut and had a look.

Buit in 1610, the Golden Lemon was a favourite with the rich and fanous.  Here are some details for when it last closed and went on the market:


It wasn't like that now.  Overgrown and rotting this once grand building was in a sorry state.  Colonial furniture was still in tact, books were in the library and the main residents now seemed to be a troupe of monkeys who peered at us through the holes in the roof.  If Joan had the money she would buy it and do it up.

The once manicured gardens were overgrown.  There were mango and bread fruit trees but sadly no fruit.  As light was fading we left the monkeys in peace.

Lemon Court, where we are staying, is part of the wider Golden Lemon complex.  Many of the houses are being done up and sold off to private owners.























The skies looking out to Sint Eustatius were dramatic.


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