photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> St. Kitts & Nevis >> Saint Kitts Photo Travelogue (September 2011) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Saint Kitts Photo Travelogue (September 2011)

St. Kitts & Nevis is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and in population and, also, the newest sovereign nation in the Americas achieving independence from the British in 1983. Christopher Columbus first discovered St. Kitts in 1493, and it was among the first islands in the Caribbean to be settled by Europeans. Saint Kitts was home to the first English and French colonies in the Caribbean. Its valuable sugar cane and rum trade made it a profitable and valuable colony. The British built the imposing Brimstone Fortress to defend their colony from the French. There is much history, natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, white sandy beaches and plantations to make St. Kitts and Nevis one of the most alluring and interesting vacation spots in the Caribbean.
Saint Kitts Photo Travelogue cover page.
Saint Kitts Photo Travelogue cover page.		 Map of Saint Kitts & Nevis with the star indicating Basseterre.
Map of Saint Kitts & Nevis with the star indicating Basseterre.		 Morning view of Basseterre from my cruise ship as we entered port.
Morning view of Basseterre from my cruise ship as we entered port.		 Peaks of St. Kitts with morning clouds.
Peaks of St. Kitts with morning clouds.
An old-fashioned British telephone booth in Basseterre, a reminder of the former colonial days of St. Kitts & Nevis.
An old-fashioned British telephone booth in Basseterre, a reminder of the former colonial days of St. Kitts & Nevis.		 Birds perched in a tree in St. Kitts.
Birds perched in a tree in St. Kitts.		 We drove by a tree which was decorated with rum bottles.
We drove by a tree which was decorated with rum bottles.		 Also in St. Kitts, we passed by the Middle Island Anglican Church.
Also in St. Kitts, we passed by the Middle Island Anglican Church.
It was the first Anglican Church in the Eastern Caribbean. Thomas Warner, the first English Governor is buried in its cemetery.
It was the first Anglican Church in the Eastern Caribbean. Thomas Warner, the first English Governor is buried in its cemetery.		 Fishermen in St. Kitts reeling in the fishing net.
Fishermen in St. Kitts reeling in the fishing net.		 Close-up of the fishing boat.
Close-up of the fishing boat.		 Reeling in the net was hard work.
Reeling in the net was hard work.
Steps leading up to the famous Brimstone Hill Fortress dating back to the late 1600s and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Steps leading up to the famous Brimstone Hill Fortress dating back to the late 1600s and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.		 Cannons at the bottom of the fortress, which was built on the nearly 800 feet high, steep and precipitous Brimstone Hill.
Cannons at the bottom of the fortress, which was built on the nearly 800 feet high, steep and precipitous Brimstone Hill.		 The steps leading to the fortress are very steep, too.
The steps leading to the fortress are very steep, too.		 The walls of the fortress are constructed predominantly of stone, skillfully fabricated from the local hard volcanic rock.
The walls of the fortress are constructed predominantly of stone, skillfully fabricated from the local hard volcanic rock.
View from Brimstone Hill Fortress of St. Kitts and of the Caribbean Sea.
View from Brimstone Hill Fortress of St. Kitts and of the Caribbean Sea.		 Defensive cannons overlooking the forest-covered mountains, cultivated fields and the historical township of Sandy Point.
Defensive cannons overlooking the forest-covered mountains, cultivated fields and the historical township of Sandy Point.		 The high elevation made defending the fortress and the island easier for the British.
The high elevation made defending the fortress and the island easier for the British.		 It appeared to be a beautiful day, although Tropical Storm Maria was headed towards St. Kitts & Nevis.
It appeared to be a beautiful day, although Tropical Storm Maria was headed towards St. Kitts & Nevis.
Front of Brimstone Hill Fortress. It was built by the British after the previous (and weaker) Fort Charles fell to the French.
Front of Brimstone Hill Fortress. It was built by the British after the previous (and weaker) Fort Charles fell to the French.		 Main entrance to the Brimstone Hill Fortress. One has to pass over a moat to enter.
Main entrance to the Brimstone Hill Fortress. One has to pass over a moat to enter.		 Gun ports to protect the fortress at the main entrance.
Gun ports to protect the fortress at the main entrance.		 Interior of the fortress. The mortar cementing the stones was produced on site from the limestone that covers much of the slope.
Interior of the fortress. The mortar cementing the stones was produced on site from the limestone that covers much of the slope.
The scale and magnificence of Brimstone Hill Fortress signified the importance of St. Kitts during the 17th to 18th centuries.
The scale and magnificence of Brimstone Hill Fortress signified the importance of St. Kitts during the 17th to 18th centuries.		 View of the fortress from the gun deck. St. Kitts was prone to attack due to the lucrative sugar cane and rum trade.
View of the fortress from the gun deck. St. Kitts was prone to attack due to the lucrative sugar cane and rum trade.		 The fortress is a tribute British military engineers who designed it and to the African slaves who built and maintained it.
The fortress is a tribute British military engineers who designed it and to the African slaves who built and maintained it.		 Cannons were first mounted on Brimstone Hill in 1690, when the British used them to recapture Fort Charles from the French.
Cannons were first mounted on Brimstone Hill in 1690, when the British used them to recapture Fort Charles from the French.
The British surrendered the fortress in 1782, when the French, under Admiral Comte François Joseph de Grasse, laid siege to it.
The British surrendered the fortress in 1782, when the French, under Admiral Comte François Joseph de Grasse, laid siege to it.		 A year later, the Treaty of Paris (1783) restored St. Kitts and Brimstone Hill to British rule.
A year later, the Treaty of Paris (1783) restored St. Kitts and Brimstone Hill to British rule.		 Shortly thereafter, the British augmented and strengthened the fortress, and Brimstone Hill never again fell to an enemy force.
Shortly thereafter, the British augmented and strengthened the fortress, and Brimstone Hill never again fell to an enemy force.		 The British abandoned the fortress in the mid-19th century. It was restored and made a national park by Queen Elizabeth in 1985.
The British abandoned the fortress in the mid-19th century. It was restored and made a national park by Queen Elizabeth in 1985.
Bell at the Brimstone Hill Fortress with a view of the Caribbean Sea in the background.
Bell at the Brimstone Hill Fortress with a view of the Caribbean Sea in the background.		 View from the upper fortress of the lower fortifications.
View from the upper fortress of the lower fortifications.		 The steep path and steps going down from the Brimstone Hill Fortress.
The steep path and steps going down from the Brimstone Hill Fortress.		 The next stop in St. Kitts was to Romney Manor, the home of Caribelle Batik.
The next stop in St. Kitts was to Romney Manor, the home of Caribelle Batik.
The saman tree on the Romney Manor property is 350 years old and 24 ft. in diameter.
The saman tree on the Romney Manor property is 350 years old and 24 ft. in diameter.		 Entrance to Romney Manor. It was once owned by Sam Jefferson II, the great, great, great grandfather of Thomas Jefferson.
Entrance to Romney Manor. It was once owned by Sam Jefferson II, the great, great, great grandfather of Thomas Jefferson.		 It is painted in shades of yellow, orange and green.
It is painted in shades of yellow, orange and green.		 The great house was renamed Romney Manor following its acquisition in the early 17th century by the Earl of Romney.
The great house was renamed Romney Manor following its acquisition in the early 17th century by the Earl of Romney.
I admired the tropical plants, there.
I admired the tropical plants, there.		 There were also beautiful tropical flowers at Romney Manor.
There were also beautiful tropical flowers at Romney Manor.		 Steps and sitting area with white benches.
Steps and sitting area with white benches.		 This wagon-wheel bench is an attractive addition to the garden.
This wagon-wheel bench is an attractive addition to the garden.
This woman at Caribelle Batik was just starting on a batik print.
This woman at Caribelle Batik was just starting on a batik print.		 Woman demonstrating the art of making batiks using the ancient Indonesian methods of resisting dye with wax.
Woman demonstrating the art of making batiks using the ancient Indonesian methods of resisting dye with wax.		 She showed us a finished batik print, which requires many steps to complete.
She showed us a finished batik print, which requires many steps to complete.		 One of the magnificent finished batik prints at Caribelle Batik.
One of the magnificent finished batik prints at Caribelle Batik.
After the batik demonstration, I walked around the gardens.
After the batik demonstration, I walked around the gardens.		 This garden has an interesting stone tower.
This garden has an interesting stone tower.		 This palm tree looks like a fan behind this wagon wheel bench.
This palm tree looks like a fan behind this wagon wheel bench.		 A bird of paradise plant at Romney Manor.
A bird of paradise plant at Romney Manor.
A tamarind plant with young unripened tamarind fruit.
A tamarind plant with young unripened tamarind fruit.		 Beautiful yellow allamanda plants. Romney Manor was a tropical paradise.
Beautiful yellow allamanda plants. Romney Manor was a tropical paradise.		 The next stop in St. Kitts was to Timothy Hill where we had a great view of Frigate Bay.
The next stop in St. Kitts was to Timothy Hill where we had a great view of Frigate Bay.		 The surf in Frigate Bay was really picking up since Tropical Storm Maria was approaching.
The surf in Frigate Bay was really picking up since Tropical Storm Maria was approaching.
View of the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts from Timothy Hill.
View of the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts from Timothy Hill.		 From this vantage point, you can see both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at the same time.
From this vantage point, you can see both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at the same time.		 The surf here was picking up as well.
The surf here was picking up as well.		 A big wave was coming in due to the approaching Tropical Storm Maria.
A big wave was coming in due to the approaching Tropical Storm Maria.
View of the Carnival Victory cruise ship and a commercial ship nearby.
View of the Carnival Victory cruise ship and a commercial ship nearby.		 Close-up of the commercial ship.
Close-up of the commercial ship.		 In the heart of downtown Basseterre, St. Kitts, is the Berkley Memorial. It is also called The Circus.
In the heart of downtown Basseterre, St. Kitts, is the Berkley Memorial. It is also called "The Circus."		 The National Museum is also in downtown Basseterre. It is housed in the former historic Old Treasury Building.
The National Museum is also in downtown Basseterre. It is housed in the former historic Old Treasury Building.
Even though it wasn't Carnival, these St. Kitts' residents got dressed up in Carnival costumes for the benefit of the tourists.
Even though it wasn't Carnival, these St. Kitts' residents got dressed up in Carnival costumes for the benefit of the tourists.		 In addition to his colorful costume, he has an amazing hat.
In addition to his colorful costume, he has an amazing hat.		 Adjusting his hat.
Adjusting his hat.		 She was dancing for tips.
She was dancing for tips.
Close-up of a woman dancing.
Close-up of a woman dancing.		 They expected tips for these photos that I took of them.
They expected tips for these photos that I took of them.		 Port Zante in Basseterre is where the cruise ships dock. That's the Carnival Victory in the background.
Port Zante in Basseterre is where the cruise ships dock. That's the Carnival Victory in the background.		 Close-up of Port Zante. There were dozens of tourist shops there.
Close-up of Port Zante. There were dozens of tourist shops there.
One of two murals when passing through the gates of Port Zante.
One of two murals when passing through the gates of Port Zante.		 View of the second mural. Both murals have Caribbean themes.
View of the second mural. Both murals have Caribbean themes.		 I was heading back to my cruise ship, the Carnival Victory.
I was heading back to my cruise ship, the Carnival Victory.		 Close-up of the front of the Carnival Victory. It is a huge ship.
Close-up of the front of the Carnival Victory. It is a huge ship.
This boat, called the Tug Tyson was docked there, too.
This boat, called the "Tug Tyson" was docked there, too.		 View of the town of Basseterre, St. Kitts from the Carnival Victory.
View of the town of Basseterre, St. Kitts from the Carnival Victory.		 The buildings in Basseterre were painted in pastel colors.
The buildings in Basseterre were painted in pastel colors.		 More views of the town from the cruise ship.
More views of the town from the cruise ship.
Basseterre was getting smaller as the Carnival Victory left port.
Basseterre was getting smaller as the Carnival Victory left port.

comment | share
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
click on thumbnails for full image