Day 8 - Part II: monkeying around on the beach in St Kitts

On the way back from Brimstone Hill we hit major traffic, but Thenford keeps us entertained with lively stories about cricket, monkeys, the sugar industry and anything else St. Kitts related. He plays some Calypso music for us and even recites some poems from memory. He is the best!

A remarkably bad picture of a random tree dotted with egrets.

As we drive past Timothy Hill I try to snap some pictures through the window. I wish we could just stop and take pictures, but the parking lot is overflowing. 

He drops those who want to spend some time at the beach off at the Carambola Beach club and will take the rest back to the ship. When we ask how far it is to walk to the beach on the Atlantic side he says he will drop us off on the way. After promising – twice – to be careful because of the dangerous currents he lets us off the bus and we squeeze through the narrow, thorn-lined path to the beach.

The beach is deserted and the waves are rollicking monsters crashing on shore with thunderous rumbling. Clearly, this is not the place to snorkel or relax in the water so after taking a few pictures we walk down the road to Carambola.

The polar opposite of North Friar's Bay, the Carambola Beach Club at South Friar's Bay has a full-service beach with a bar, a restaurant, changing rooms, showers, water sport rentals, and most anything else you can imagine. Hungry after not eating since breakfast we go over the lunch menu, but with limited time it doesn't make sense to wait around at the bar.

It's because of this that we end up at just the right place, at the right time: when we are walking over to the quiet end to sit down we cross paths with a purposefully striding woman who tells us, “There are monkeys in the trees over there!!”

 Of course, we have no choice but to join her and try to see some monkeys.

Even a little baby monkey clinging to his mother

Live action!

Yummy banana

Just a few more then we'll move on ...

Monkeyed-out we head back down to the beach and set up our little spot. Sandy makes a beeline for the calm water and is happy as can be to cool off while I get my snorkel gear together.

Although very commercialized it is a very nice beach and the section to the left is much quieter.

The snorkeling was great! You can see where the reef runs parallel to shore by the navy color of the water in the picture above.

Blue Tang

Yellowtail Parrotfish

Creepy looking Balloonfish

Juvenile Gray Angelfishes

Bluehead Wrasse, some kind of Goby, a Dusky Damselfish and juvenile Yellowtail Damselfish

Can you see the Redband Parrotfish (initial phase)?

Beautiful mystery fish ... maybe a wrasse?

French Grunts and Schoolmaster Snappers

While not as diverse as Anse des Piton, the snorkeling is nice and I feel like we just got there when it's time to head back.

Quick Tip: bring a waterproof watch to keep time while snorkeling.

Another driver has taken over for Thenford and will take us back to the ship, but not before stopping at the top of Timothy Hill for some trademark St. Kitts pictures. Yay!

This famous overlook provides you with views of the Atlantic Ocean to the left separated from the Caribbean Sea to the right by the Southeastern peninsula of St Kitts. In the distance you can see the island of Nevis.

On the other side of the parking lot you'll be able to see the luxurious resorts fronting North Frigate Bay.

We buy some more Ting from one of the stands, as well as a big bag of sugar cane for $2. The sugarcane seller happily agrees to pose for me but his friend, the donkey/monkey man, pretends I have hurt his feeling by not asking for his picture so here's the two of them. Love it!

In case you're wondering why I call him the donkey/monkey man ... only in St Kitts.

I'm so sad our day on St. Kitts has come to an end. My expectations were so low, yet I fell in love with this amazing island. This may well be my favorite port yet!

Shops at the cruise port.

Our tour bracelets say we can get free pearl earrings just for browsing at the Royal Gems store, but when as instructed we ask for Vinnie they say he isn't there. Sandy thinks it was all just a ploy to get us in the store, but when we check back in a bit later he's there! Of course, there's a catch: we must first have a guided shopping experience of at least 5 minutes.

With no intention to buy Sandy still gets conned into buying a set of a pendant and ear rings crafted from locally mined stone in a silver setting that's supposedly on sale. After hemming and hawing, we go through several price drops before the deal is sealed and we get the set, a chain for the pendant and two pairs of pearl earrings. Not bad!

Since it's still an hour before back-on-board time there is barely a line when we get back on the ship and we go straight for the food. Sandy finally gets to try a hot dog with chili and cheese, while I snack on some chicken tenders and fries. Plus ice cream … gosh, this is getting embarrassing.

The sun is setting as we are leaving Basseterre behind and I walk around the upper deck snapping pictures. This was the best sunset we've seen from the ship so far.

 I always thought sunsets on a cruise would be magical, but until today they've been a bit of letdown … maybe it has something to do with the air of the ocean or the lack of landmass? Or maybe this was just a bad week? Who knows.

(I'm a panorama - please click me for a better picture)

Sandy in the meantime has made herself comfortable with the towels and blankets I'd dropped off: we are going to be watching a movie under the stars at the “Dive-In Cinema,” also known as the lido deck. “The Other Woman” is a silly chick-flick starring Cameron Diaz that's not going to win any awards, but just lying under my fleece blankie watching a movie on the big screen while eating freshly popped popcorn is awesome.

I sneak out during the movie to grab a slice of Quatro Fromagi pizza. They don't have any out so it's piping hot when I take it back with me. This is my first time having a white pizza and it's really tasty!


Statue at the adult only pool

After the movie we head to dinner, where we're seated within a minute. I start with the chicken soup, while Sandy ordered the thai chicken tenders that are delicious! For the main course Sandy has lasagna that's very heavy on Spinach but good, while I have the vegetarian cinnamon squash, pumpkins, yam, and-who-knows-what-else cheddar cheese pie. It is much too vegetably for me, but the crust is great. Luckily, I already stuffed myself so I know I won't go hungry tonight.

The goofy guys come by again with the shots and I can't resist today's offering: a green blue melon/peach/pineapple concoction called a Scooby Doo. Somehow they even convince me to yodel Scoobydoooooooooooooh for them. Sandy also gets one but somehow gets out of the yodeling. Not fair!

When it's time for dessert, the chocolate melting cake tempts me again, but I've been eating like a beast today so I opt for the healthier fresh tropical fruit salad with juice ripe melons and pineapple among other things. Sandy enjoys her apple pie.

I finally meet our lovely cabin attendant Raul and get to thank him for the towel animals he's been leaving for us. Today's begging dog is another winner.

For now, it is well past my bedtime because tomorrow I am going home to the Kingdom of the Netherlands: We will dock in Saint Maarten!

♥

Breakfast: Lido Deck Buffet and Omelet Station
Lunch: The Grill
Snack: Pizza Pirate
Dinner: Lincoln Dining Room