A few days in Jolly Harbour, Antigua, had allowed us to catch up on laundry and rest, but our next objective was Nevis (of St Kitts and Nevis) en route to St Martin.  The two islands of the t Kitts and Nevis federation have very different characters, with Nevis being one third the size in both area and population, but showing considerably more affluence.

 

We anchored at Charlestown, the only town on the island, and opted for a taxi tour of the island.  The hot baths (built around a naturally heated stream) were certainly hot, though the many claims of induced well being may have been a little exaggerated.  The Botanical Gardens are privately owned and were created by the owner as a tropical garden rather than merely a plant collection.  The outstanding feature of the grounds was the many high quality statues around the gardens and the thoughtful way in which they had been laid out.

 

The old plantation house which is now the Golden Rock Hotel sits in 86 acres of grounds about a thousand feet above sea level, making for cool views in every sense.  Lunch here was a pleasure, with good food and good service.  The Four Seasons resort complex back near the anchorage at the long and lovely Pinney’s Beach provides all the luxury one could look for on a tropical beach, including an ATM which dispensed USD as well as EC$.  The Golden Rock also has a beach bar on Pinney’s Beach.  We visited “Gingerland” the following day to sample lunch at the Hermitage hotel (another former plantation house) but found the food disappointing and the staff ill trained and nervous.

 

Botanical Gardens

 

 

 

Golden Rock Hotel

 

Nevis in Sombrero mood