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seagarsmoker
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Weekly Caribbean island article - Antigua
St John’s, the capital city (pop. 36000): Built in the 17th century, it is one of the oldest ports in the Caribbean. This city represents a surprising mix of tradition and modernity.
St John’s Cathedral: it is one of the most impressive Anglican churches in the Caribbean. Originally constructed in 1683, it has been rebuilt twice. After the 1843 earthquake destroyed the previous cathedral, a structure designed to be quake and hurricane proof was devised of pitch pine encased in stone.
Betty’s Hope: Sir Christopher Codrington, one of the most powerful landowners in colonial Antigua, named his sugar estate after his daughter in 1674. It was one of the island’s first full-scale plantations, and is now one of the must-see attractions. Two windmill towers are still standing, as well as the arches of the boiling house. One of the twin windmills is again in working order, the only operational 18th-century windmill in the Caribbean; restoration work is continuing. Look out for this historic site not far from Pares Village.
Shirley Heights is named after the Governor-General in the 1780s and contains the windblown echoes of Antigua's colonial past. The Officer's Quarters once bustled with naval officers serving Admiral Nelson. Today a restaurant occupies the former Ordnance Building.
No trip to Antigua is complete without visiting Lord Nelson’s Dockyard at English Harbor. Other points of interest include Clarence House, the ruins of Ft. George, St. Paul’s church near Falmouth.
Shopping
Most of Antigua's shops are clustered on St. Mary's Street or High Street in St. John's. Antiguan shopkeepers are an independent lot. Tip: Many of them close at noon on Thursday.
Duty-free items include English woolens and linens. You can also purchase Antiguan goods: local pottery, straw work, rum, floppy foldable hats, shell curios, and hand-printed fabrics. The juicy Antiguan black pineapple alone is worth the trip.
One prime hunting ground in St. John's is the Redcliffe Quay waterfront on the southern edge of town, where nearly three dozen boutiques are housed in former warehouses set around tree-shaded, landscaped courtyards. A favorite is A Thousand Flowers, which sells linens, all-natural fiber, rayon, and other fabrics.
At the Gazebo, expect a little bit of everything, from a mass of south-of-the-border pottery to Indonesian wood items, and stunning blue-glaze plates. Additional Redcliffe Quay shops include Isis for unique Egyptian jewelry, cotton gowns, and handicrafts; and The Goldsmitty, where precious stones are set in unique, exquisite creations of 14- and 18-karat gold.
Noreen Phillips is one of the island's major fashion outlets. Cruise passengers’ beeline here for both casual wear and beaded glitzy dress clothes. Exotic Antigua on St. Mary's Street specializes in Caribbean-made gifts and clothing, including T-shirts and casual wear, and handicrafts.
At Lipstick, Heritage Quay, you'll find a daunting array of cosmetics and perfumes, some of them locally made, many of the others imported from the U.S., Britain, and France. Shoul's Chief Store, St. Mary's Street at Market Street, is an all-purpose department store selling fabric, souvenirs (more than 300 kinds), and general merchandise.
Heritage Quay, Antigua's first shopping-and-entertainment complex, features some 40 duty-free shops and an arcade for local artists and craftspeople. Its restaurants and food court offer a range of cuisines and views of St. John's Harbor. Many shops are open all day, Monday through Saturday.
At the foot of St. Mary's Street, stop in at The Camera Shop, a Kodak distributor and photofinisher selling film and brand-name cameras. Fashiondock is known for its duty-free Prada, Moshino, and Gucci accessories, plus other Italian styles. Sunseekers carries the largest collection of duty-free swimwear in the Caribbean. Colombian Emeralds is the world's biggest retailer of these gemstones. Albert's Jewelry sells the best selection of watches on Antigua, plus china and crystal. Rain Boutique, Lower St. Mary's offers casual clothes, formal wear, hats, scarves, shoes, jewelry, and handbags.
The best for last: head for Harmony Hall (in Brown's Bay Mill), near Freetown, following the signs along the road to Freetown and Half Moon Bay. This restored 1843 plantation house and sugar mill overlooking Nonsuch Bay is ideal for a lunch stopover. It displays an excellent selection of Caribbean arts and crafts. Lunch is served daily from noon to 3:30pm, featuring Green Island lobster, flying fish, and other specialties.
One of Antigua’s "claims to fame" is the fact that it is an island with 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. Carlisle Bay, Dickenson Bay and Half Moon Bay are all accessible by a short 10 minute taxi ride. Turners beach is a very scenic beach on the south coast. It has great food and you can rent beach chairs & showers with some water sports. It can get a bit crowded on cruise ship days because more people are getting to know the area. The sand is very soft, white & beautiful. The water is warm and clear. You can see the volcanic island of Montserrat quite clearly from there.
Tip: I’ve read the one food item to try is grilled Caribbean lobster at Turner's beach.
Miscellaneous
Devil's Bridge is about an hour away from Jolly Harbor. It is a natural rock formation on the Atlantic side of the island. It has cool water spouts when the waves come in.
Check out the newest sports bar in heritage quay (footsteps from the ship pier) called the BEE HIVE. It is right under the clock tower in the middle of the quay, you can't miss it. Other places to check out - King's Casino and Cheers sports bar.
Concerning the best snorkeling beach I’ve read its Long Bay. This is a really remote beach where you can snorkel directly from the beach front. There is a nice hotel & restaurant there where you can eat, drink & rent snorkel gear.
A good tour to think about is the ‘Best of Antigua’. It is a scenic/historical tour operated in air conditioned coach buses with a driver plus a local tour guide. You will get to drive through the island with full narration from you guide, visit Shirley's Heights, Block House & see the island history show at Dow's Hill. Then you will go to Nelson's Dockyard where you will get time to browse around, or join a short tour of the area
You can always hire a taxi for a tour. They can answer questions about the different tours and prices. If you do, take a trip through Fig Tree Drive to see the rainforest and coast line, many beautiful hotels and resorts and every corner is a photo stop.
I’ve heard and read great things about a local tour person named Lawrence (called ‘Lawrence of Antigua’). The website is: [lawrenceofantigua.com] . We have already reserved him for our cruise next March.
Below is additional information posted by our great Cruise @ddicts:
Posted by: BostonsJ
Had a wonderful day in Antigua. It is a pretty island and very clean. We went to Dickenson's Bay and it was very pretty, the water great for swimming. The shopping area is very nice also. While in the shopping area a man without a shirt on asked a police officer for directions. The man was asked to put his shirt on in this area. What many people do not realize is that on many of the Caribbean islands going shirtless in public areas (other than the beach) is considered rude.
Posted by: Cruise cutie
...we adore Antigua..all the locals are so kind, and the beaches are stunning...we would love to go back..we took a taxi and went to a beach 10 minutes from the port, told the driver when we'd like him back..and he was on time to the second..enjoyed every minute.. and would love to go again in a heartbeat!!.next time I'm reserving Lawrence..!!..thanks for the share.....best to you and your Bride..!!....Joanne
Posted by: Tread
We enjoyed Antigua on our visit. Took an "E" tour to the beach and had a great time with good friends, and just a bit too much sun. Still looking forward to our next visit, whenever that ends up being!
Posted by: RosieRosie
We loved Antiqua and spend most of our time at Dickenson Bay which has a wonderful beach and was a short taxi ride to the port. We had a very nice taxi driver. We also enjoyed the local market place - wish we had seen more and can't wait to go back!
Posted by: Olga
This is our favorite beach island. I actually enjoy the salespeople on the beach and have bought "local" jewelry, aloe and prints from them. The sand is white and powder soft. Entry into the water is smooth. There is a bar directly on the beach. You can jet ski, but I didn't see much snorkeling.
The part of Dickensen Bay we like best is shared with Sandals. We've seen a couple of weddings there on the beach over the years. We made Dickenson our favorite beach (except for snorkeling).
Posted by: J.E. M.
Thanks for the article............ This past May we visited the island and hired a taxi for a "lap" around the island, had a GREAT time.
Posted by: MortgageChick
We stayed for one week on Dickensons Bay in march. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Left only once to go in to town. Be warned though , it is expensive here. Meal with a shared entree and a shared dessert, 1 bottle of wine at a thatched hut restaurant on the beach- good food nothing special- $125.
Entree was Chicken. Since it was DH birthday I didn't mind so much, but the bill at home would have been closer to $60 than $125. WE price the groceries at a local IGA and it was amazing. Large can of Busch baked beans- $9 USD, Box of Tide that would be $10 here was $24. This was not a convenience store, but a grocery store.
Thanks so much for your follow up posts! This is a great help for everyone here at C@!
Thanks for reading and please remember to add any comments or information that would be helpful for other cruise @ddicts members.
St John’s, the capital city (pop. 36000): Built in the 17th century, it is one of the oldest ports in the Caribbean. This city represents a surprising mix of tradition and modernity.
St John’s Cathedral: it is one of the most impressive Anglican churches in the Caribbean. Originally constructed in 1683, it has been rebuilt twice. After the 1843 earthquake destroyed the previous cathedral, a structure designed to be quake and hurricane proof was devised of pitch pine encased in stone.
Betty’s Hope: Sir Christopher Codrington, one of the most powerful landowners in colonial Antigua, named his sugar estate after his daughter in 1674. It was one of the island’s first full-scale plantations, and is now one of the must-see attractions. Two windmill towers are still standing, as well as the arches of the boiling house. One of the twin windmills is again in working order, the only operational 18th-century windmill in the Caribbean; restoration work is continuing. Look out for this historic site not far from Pares Village.
Shirley Heights is named after the Governor-General in the 1780s and contains the windblown echoes of Antigua's colonial past. The Officer's Quarters once bustled with naval officers serving Admiral Nelson. Today a restaurant occupies the former Ordnance Building.
No trip to Antigua is complete without visiting Lord Nelson’s Dockyard at English Harbor. Other points of interest include Clarence House, the ruins of Ft. George, St. Paul’s church near Falmouth.
Shopping
Most of Antigua's shops are clustered on St. Mary's Street or High Street in St. John's. Antiguan shopkeepers are an independent lot. Tip: Many of them close at noon on Thursday.
Duty-free items include English woolens and linens. You can also purchase Antiguan goods: local pottery, straw work, rum, floppy foldable hats, shell curios, and hand-printed fabrics. The juicy Antiguan black pineapple alone is worth the trip.
One prime hunting ground in St. John's is the Redcliffe Quay waterfront on the southern edge of town, where nearly three dozen boutiques are housed in former warehouses set around tree-shaded, landscaped courtyards. A favorite is A Thousand Flowers, which sells linens, all-natural fiber, rayon, and other fabrics.
At the Gazebo, expect a little bit of everything, from a mass of south-of-the-border pottery to Indonesian wood items, and stunning blue-glaze plates. Additional Redcliffe Quay shops include Isis for unique Egyptian jewelry, cotton gowns, and handicrafts; and The Goldsmitty, where precious stones are set in unique, exquisite creations of 14- and 18-karat gold.
Noreen Phillips is one of the island's major fashion outlets. Cruise passengers’ beeline here for both casual wear and beaded glitzy dress clothes. Exotic Antigua on St. Mary's Street specializes in Caribbean-made gifts and clothing, including T-shirts and casual wear, and handicrafts.
At Lipstick, Heritage Quay, you'll find a daunting array of cosmetics and perfumes, some of them locally made, many of the others imported from the U.S., Britain, and France. Shoul's Chief Store, St. Mary's Street at Market Street, is an all-purpose department store selling fabric, souvenirs (more than 300 kinds), and general merchandise.
Heritage Quay, Antigua's first shopping-and-entertainment complex, features some 40 duty-free shops and an arcade for local artists and craftspeople. Its restaurants and food court offer a range of cuisines and views of St. John's Harbor. Many shops are open all day, Monday through Saturday.
At the foot of St. Mary's Street, stop in at The Camera Shop, a Kodak distributor and photofinisher selling film and brand-name cameras. Fashiondock is known for its duty-free Prada, Moshino, and Gucci accessories, plus other Italian styles. Sunseekers carries the largest collection of duty-free swimwear in the Caribbean. Colombian Emeralds is the world's biggest retailer of these gemstones. Albert's Jewelry sells the best selection of watches on Antigua, plus china and crystal. Rain Boutique, Lower St. Mary's offers casual clothes, formal wear, hats, scarves, shoes, jewelry, and handbags.
The best for last: head for Harmony Hall (in Brown's Bay Mill), near Freetown, following the signs along the road to Freetown and Half Moon Bay. This restored 1843 plantation house and sugar mill overlooking Nonsuch Bay is ideal for a lunch stopover. It displays an excellent selection of Caribbean arts and crafts. Lunch is served daily from noon to 3:30pm, featuring Green Island lobster, flying fish, and other specialties.
One of Antigua’s "claims to fame" is the fact that it is an island with 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. Carlisle Bay, Dickenson Bay and Half Moon Bay are all accessible by a short 10 minute taxi ride. Turners beach is a very scenic beach on the south coast. It has great food and you can rent beach chairs & showers with some water sports. It can get a bit crowded on cruise ship days because more people are getting to know the area. The sand is very soft, white & beautiful. The water is warm and clear. You can see the volcanic island of Montserrat quite clearly from there.
Tip: I’ve read the one food item to try is grilled Caribbean lobster at Turner's beach.
Miscellaneous
Devil's Bridge is about an hour away from Jolly Harbor. It is a natural rock formation on the Atlantic side of the island. It has cool water spouts when the waves come in.
Check out the newest sports bar in heritage quay (footsteps from the ship pier) called the BEE HIVE. It is right under the clock tower in the middle of the quay, you can't miss it. Other places to check out - King's Casino and Cheers sports bar.
Concerning the best snorkeling beach I’ve read its Long Bay. This is a really remote beach where you can snorkel directly from the beach front. There is a nice hotel & restaurant there where you can eat, drink & rent snorkel gear.
A good tour to think about is the ‘Best of Antigua’. It is a scenic/historical tour operated in air conditioned coach buses with a driver plus a local tour guide. You will get to drive through the island with full narration from you guide, visit Shirley's Heights, Block House & see the island history show at Dow's Hill. Then you will go to Nelson's Dockyard where you will get time to browse around, or join a short tour of the area
You can always hire a taxi for a tour. They can answer questions about the different tours and prices. If you do, take a trip through Fig Tree Drive to see the rainforest and coast line, many beautiful hotels and resorts and every corner is a photo stop.
I’ve heard and read great things about a local tour person named Lawrence (called ‘Lawrence of Antigua’). The website is: [lawrenceofantigua.com] . We have already reserved him for our cruise next March.
Below is additional information posted by our great Cruise @ddicts:
Posted by: BostonsJ
Had a wonderful day in Antigua. It is a pretty island and very clean. We went to Dickenson's Bay and it was very pretty, the water great for swimming. The shopping area is very nice also. While in the shopping area a man without a shirt on asked a police officer for directions. The man was asked to put his shirt on in this area. What many people do not realize is that on many of the Caribbean islands going shirtless in public areas (other than the beach) is considered rude.
Posted by: Cruise cutie
...we adore Antigua..all the locals are so kind, and the beaches are stunning...we would love to go back..we took a taxi and went to a beach 10 minutes from the port, told the driver when we'd like him back..and he was on time to the second..enjoyed every minute.. and would love to go again in a heartbeat!!.next time I'm reserving Lawrence..!!..thanks for the share.....best to you and your Bride..!!....Joanne
Posted by: Tread
We enjoyed Antigua on our visit. Took an "E" tour to the beach and had a great time with good friends, and just a bit too much sun. Still looking forward to our next visit, whenever that ends up being!
Posted by: RosieRosie
We loved Antiqua and spend most of our time at Dickenson Bay which has a wonderful beach and was a short taxi ride to the port. We had a very nice taxi driver. We also enjoyed the local market place - wish we had seen more and can't wait to go back!
Posted by: Olga
This is our favorite beach island. I actually enjoy the salespeople on the beach and have bought "local" jewelry, aloe and prints from them. The sand is white and powder soft. Entry into the water is smooth. There is a bar directly on the beach. You can jet ski, but I didn't see much snorkeling.
The part of Dickensen Bay we like best is shared with Sandals. We've seen a couple of weddings there on the beach over the years. We made Dickenson our favorite beach (except for snorkeling).
Posted by: J.E. M.
Thanks for the article............ This past May we visited the island and hired a taxi for a "lap" around the island, had a GREAT time.
Posted by: MortgageChick
We stayed for one week on Dickensons Bay in march. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Left only once to go in to town. Be warned though , it is expensive here. Meal with a shared entree and a shared dessert, 1 bottle of wine at a thatched hut restaurant on the beach- good food nothing special- $125.
Entree was Chicken. Since it was DH birthday I didn't mind so much, but the bill at home would have been closer to $60 than $125. WE price the groceries at a local IGA and it was amazing. Large can of Busch baked beans- $9 USD, Box of Tide that would be $10 here was $24. This was not a convenience store, but a grocery store.
Thanks so much for your follow up posts! This is a great help for everyone here at C@!
Thanks for reading and please remember to add any comments or information that would be helpful for other cruise @ddicts members.