Spice Islands

Dawnbreaker
Lars Alfredson
Fri 29 Mar 2019 00:12
POS 04:31.20S 129:53.57E

The crossing to Banda Islands took us 24 hours of mixed sailing/motoring. On Wedensday morning we anchored in 43 meters! of water outside the main village Bandaneira.
Banda Islands are the spice islands that was ruled by the Dutch for more than 200 years.
Nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves have been grown and traded from here all over the world.
The day was overcast with some rain showers. A good day for for exploring the capital without getting to much sun.

We explored the market and later found the Cilu Bintang Estate. A beautiful old estate from the Dutch era. Now restored as a hotel and restaurant. Decorated in old style and partly a museum.
There we enjoyed a nice lunch in the cooling breeze on the upstairs balcony.

After lunch we walked up to the old fortress on a hill overlooking the village and the bay outside.

We enjoyed it all so much that we went back to the Cilu Bintang for a nice buffet dinner in the evening.

We left the next morning and writing this we are having a nice sail south in fresh winds.