21/12/2019: Nevis
So yesterday we visited St Kitts confederated isle, Nevis. Things didn't get off to the most auspicious of starts as we turned up at the car park at Zante port early. I texted Lewis to let him know we were there. Just before ten he said he would be there soon and then texted to ask where we were. We were of course awaiting him at the wrongcar park. It turns out that we were meant to be meeting him at the port and should have bought tickets for a passenger ferry. He, Steph and Margaret had bought tickets and thought we were already on board.
We rushed to the car park attendant and she said the car park for the ferry was the other side of the pier and that we should drive round. As we estimated that this was no more than 300 metres we figured it would be faster to walk. She said "Oh, it's just the island way." Perhaps living on a small island shift your sense of space and time. On the first day we arrived Lewis and Steph told us that they ow thought that anywhere more than 10 minutes away was a distance. A couple of days before were were told to not let the bus driver drop us off at the East Bus Station as it was a long way to the port. It was about a 10 minute walk!
Having reached the terminal, the three had already left for Nevis so we booked on the next boat.
The crossing takes about 30 minutes and soon we were all reunited.
Next we walked up to Bath stream - a local hot spring. It once had an elegant house attached to it but earthquakes and other natural disasters had meant that this no longer was feasible. So what you have is a hot springs, canalised, with a series of rock pools.
Theoretically it is free but there is a lady nearby who rented us bowls and flannels to acclimatise ourselves as the pools were very hot. Joan and Margaret were uncertain they would be able to stand it, but slowly eased themselves into the hot water. It was bliss but you couldn't stay long due to the heat. Kevin found out that the lady was from London but moved back to Nevis for her health.
After the springs, we hired a taxi to take us a tour of the island. We visited several former plantations, all converted into luxury hotels, including the Golden Rock, Hermitage and the Montpelier. They were all idyllic but we did not spot any guests!
On the way back, we came across a local pastor blessing someone's new car.
Back at the port there were long queues to catch the boats back for St Kitts. We had to put our names on a waiting list and then later ensure we got our tickets as if we didn't pay for them, they would be sold on. It was dark by the time we got back to Basseterre and the streets were crowded with people and humming with music.
The drive back is windy and dark and we have heard there are no drink driving laws here. We would not want to be out on the road later xx
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