ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
DATE(S) VISITED
2017 JUNE
At the tiny airport, first part of security was by presenting your documents through a barred window on the outside of the airport building. There was minimal room inside the building for further security and passport control checks – not that large rooms were needed as only small planes could access the airport.
After a while our plane arrived, some passengers left the plane, around 10 of us got on – and soon it was on its way again – heading for Antigua. Around 25 minutes later Antigua was coming into view – and the initial reactions were towards the beautiful beaches it appeared to have as the plane came in to land.
Once landed and with the usual Immigration and Customs forms already completed and in hand ready to be presented, I was soon through the main hall and oganising a taxi to take me to my hotel. Once I arrived there, I was shown to my room overlooking the splendid gardens. I sat on my balcony for a short while reflecting on my wonderful time in Dominica – but then also knowing it was time to start planning my walks and activities on Antigua.
I had a walk in the evening – not too far away there being a supermarket where I was able to buy various snacks, fruit an refreshments before ending another busy day.
Whilst I am not a person who likes to lay on the beach, I do enjoy walking along them by the waters edge and I knew Antigua had a reputation of having lots of good beaches – ideal for that sort of activity.
I walked to the centre of the capital – St Johns – and was surprised to see a more modern area of duty free shops – that were obviously popular when the cruise ships arrived – whereas the remaining areas were obviously more aligned to locals. I happened to see a Tourist Information Office and asked the lady there about beaches. She was very helpful – showing me on a map – and also giving me the details of the buses that covered them.
I went to the local bus station – far different to bus stations in the UK – and as I walked in, a man in a hut shouted asking if he could help. I told him the bus I wanted and he told me where it was in the bus station! Easy!! I caught the bus he showed me and 30 minutes later was at the beach I wanted – Turner’s Beach. It was beautiful… yes… white sands, lovely blue water – and almost deserted. I walked along enjoying the near tranquility – the only noise coming from the gentle lapping of the water.
I continued along the coast – sometimes having to use the coastal road where rocks, buildings etc. blocked my progress on the beach – but where possible utilising the beach. I had to have a few refreshment stops due to the sun and heat – but eventually arrived at Jolly Harbour Beach – a well known and popular beach south of St Johns.
Mid afternoon I caught the bus back to the town, had another walk around before heading back to the hotel to sit with cooling drinks overlooking the garden again. In the evening I decided to go back to the centre, but sadly much of it appeared to close early – although I did find somewhere to eat before returning to the hotel for the night.
I prepared myself for the day, checked out – and left my bag at reception at the hotel. I walked down by the duty free shopping area again before I started to walk to a beach just outside St Johns. The walk there was nothing spectacular – but the beach (Dickenson Bay) could be considered so.
Again, there was a Sandals Beach complex and again I wasn’t sure where (if any) of it was private – but I just continued anyway. Certainly by the time I had walked to the far end of the beach I don’t think it was as there were two groups of local schoolchildren on the beach – one playing football, the other group splashing about in the sea. Nearby, I found a perfect spot to sit, rest and enjoy the views of the bay – taking some photographs too.
The weather was once again perfect – and the setting too. I sat watching the local children playing – jealous that I never had such outings from school After a while, I walked back along the beach to the area where I had first arrived from. I bought a couple of cooling drinks – which I really needed – and walked a little around the area – which was a very nice area with high standard hotels and properties.
Once I arrived at the main road I decided to catch the bus back to the centre of St Johns. I noticed a local man stood under the shade of a tree – obviously the ‘bus stop’ – and after confirming with him that he was waiting for the bus too, I joined him. A minute or two later the bus arrived and I was soon heading back to the bus station in the centre. Once there, I had a final walk to the duty free shopping area – to purchase my souvenirs – before heading back to the hotel to collect my bag and get a taxi to the airport.
It was late afternoon when I arrived at the airport and whilst enjoying my coffee and watching the sniffer dogs checking luggage out on the tarmac – I was reflecting on my time in Antigua – my mind was also wondering forwards in anticipation. It was time for the flight to the last country I had not visited between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. For me personally it was quite a milestone and I was a little excited at the thought of landing at St Kitts.
As usual, it was a small propeller driven plane – with a flight time of around 25 minutes. Departing from Antigua gave me the chance to admire those beautiful beaches from the air – and the turquoise blue sea – but soon I was to see the islands of St Kitts and Nevis – and a few minutes later to land at the airport on St Kitts.
A selection of 35 photographs (out of 45) taken on my visit to Antigua and Barbuda.
Please note that the photographs are as originally taken and not enhanced by any means.
My thoughts: The island had some beautiful beaches whilst the capital (St John's) catered for both the local community and cruise ships which visited.
[Please click on the thumbnail images to enlarge. Some maybe little blurred due to rushing the shot - or taking through a travelling bus window etc]
