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St. Vincent & the Grenadines (March 2013)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation, comprised of 32 paradisiacal Caribbean islands. The main and most populated island is St. Vincent, with many smaller remoter islands in the Grenadines. Its capital is Kingstown, on the island of St. Vincent. The country has a French and British colonial history. The island of St. Vincent is known for its lush tropical rainforest and idyllic beaches. Kingstown is a throwback to colonial times with its cobblestone streets. The Grenadines is known for its gorgeous beaches, coral reefs and turquoise lagoons. My most lasting impression of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is from the first night I spent there. It was Friday night, and I went into Kingstown for a Friday night of street barbecue with jerk pork and chicken and local vegetables, rice and peas with the local Hairoun Beer. The evening progressed by going to a street festival with steel drums and local Caribbean music with a faint smell of pot in the air. Everyone was enjoying the salsa atmosphere and Caribbean spice. For one evening, I felt like I had been transformed into a Kingstown native. It’s too bad that the evening had to end!
St. Vincent & the Grenadines cover page.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines cover page.		 Map of St. Vincent & the Grenadines with the star indicating the capital, Kingstown.
Map of St. Vincent & the Grenadines with the star indicating the capital, Kingstown.		 View of Kingstown from the top of a nearby hill.
View of Kingstown from the top of a nearby hill.		 A war memorial to men of St. Vincent who lost their lives in World War I and World War II.
A war memorial to men of St. Vincent who lost their lives in World War I and World War II.
Close-up of the war memorial statue.
Close-up of the war memorial statue.		 St. George's Cathedral in Kingstown is the largest church in St. Vincent.
St. George's Cathedral in Kingstown is the largest church in St. Vincent.		 Built on the site of an earlier Anglican Church that was destroyed by a hurricane in 1780, the new church was dedicated in 1820.
Built on the site of an earlier Anglican Church that was destroyed by a hurricane in 1780, the new church was dedicated in 1820.		 Chandelier at the front outside entrance to St. George's Cathedral.
Chandelier at the front outside entrance to St. George's Cathedral.
View of graveyard next to St. George's Cathedral with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption in the background.
View of graveyard next to St. George's Cathedral with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption in the background.		 St. Mary's was built in 1823 and damaged in 1875. It was repaired in 1877 and enlarged in 1891. Two wings were added in 1930.
St. Mary's was built in 1823 and damaged in 1875. It was repaired in 1877 and enlarged in 1891. Two wings were added in 1930. 		Entrance sign for the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens, which is is one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere.
Entrance sign for the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens, which is is one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere.		 Pathway at the gardens. The gardens were created in 1765 by General Robert Melville, governor of the British Caribbean islands.
Pathway at the gardens. The gardens were created in 1765 by General Robert Melville, governor of the British Caribbean islands.
One of the many old large trees at the botanical gardens, which comprise 20 acres.
One of the many old large trees at the botanical gardens, which comprise 20 acres.		 Small palm trees there.
Small palm trees there.		 Sign in front of the curator's house.
Sign in front of the curator's house.		 The first curator (from 1779-1783) was Dr George Young, a keen horticulturist and surgeon to the British forces in the region.
The first curator (from 1779-1783) was Dr George Young, a keen horticulturist and surgeon to the British forces in the region.
Pathway that passes in front of the curator's house.
Pathway that passes in front of the curator's house.		 A stunning red tropical flower.
A stunning red tropical flower.		 Flowering shrubs and landscaping at the gardens.
Flowering shrubs and landscaping at the gardens.		 Lily ponds, including one with a domed enclosure.
Lily ponds, including one with a domed enclosure.
Another one of many species of trees.
Another one of many species of trees.		 Sign describing the introduction of breadfruit to St. Vincent in 1793 by Captain Bligh.
Sign describing the introduction of breadfruit to St. Vincent in 1793 by Captain Bligh.		 Sign describing the breeding program at the gardens for the St. Vincent parrot.
Sign describing the breeding program at the gardens for the St. Vincent parrot.		 Close-up of the sign illustrating the development of a parrot.
Close-up of the sign illustrating the development of a parrot.
Cages where some of the parrots are kept at the botanical gardens.
Cages where some of the parrots are kept at the botanical gardens.		 Sign showing some of St. Vincent's wildlife.
Sign showing some of St. Vincent's wildlife.		 Gnarly vines wrapped around a tree.
Gnarly vines wrapped around a tree. 		Magnificent Cannonball Tree flower at the botanical gardens
Magnificent Cannonball Tree flower at the botanical gardens
Cannonball tree buds.
Cannonball tree buds.		 An unusual tropical plant.
An unusual tropical plant.		 A magnificent tree with sinuous roots and vines.
A magnificent tree with sinuous roots and vines.		 Purple blossom at the gardens.
Purple blossom at the gardens.
Close-up of more blossoms.
Close-up of more blossoms.		 Pond with lily pads.
Pond with lily pads.		 Water lilies in the pond.
Water lilies in the pond.		 Note the bee flying towards the water lily.
Note the bee flying towards the water lily.
Close-up of one of the water lilies.
Close-up of one of the water lilies.		 Domed pond with lily pads.
Domed pond with lily pads.		 Exquisite red flowers at the botanical gardens.
Exquisite red flowers at the botanical gardens.		 Sign at the exit of the botanical gardens describing the different species of life in St. Vincent.
Sign at the exit of the botanical gardens describing the different species of life in St. Vincent.
Kingstown is overlooked by Fort Charlotte on Berkshire Hill. View of the entrance.
Kingstown is overlooked by Fort Charlotte on Berkshire Hill. View of the entrance.		 Entrance sign at Fort Charlotte.
Entrance sign at Fort Charlotte.		 Arched passageway leading in and out of the fort.
Arched passageway leading in and out of the fort.		 The date over the passageway reads 1806.
The date over the passageway reads 1806.
Cannons on Fort Charlotte. It is the major early 19th century fortification on Saint Vincent.
Cannons on Fort Charlotte. It is the major early 19th century fortification on Saint Vincent.		 Close-up of British cannon with a royal crest dated January 16, 1819.
Close-up of British cannon with a royal crest dated January 16, 1819.		 View of a British coat of arms. The fort was named after King George III’s wife, Queen Charlotte.
View of a British coat of arms. The fort was named after King George III’s wife, Queen Charlotte.		 The date on the cannon is January 16, 1819.
The date on the cannon is January 16, 1819.
My tour guide walking towards me on Fort Charlotte.
My tour guide walking towards me on Fort Charlotte.		 Steel drums in Kingstown.
Steel drums in Kingstown.		 Fruits and vegetables for sale in Kingstown.
Fruits and vegetables for sale in Kingstown.		 My next stop in St. Vincent was at the Belair Mineral Spring.
My next stop in St. Vincent was at the Belair Mineral Spring.
The spring is a popular tourist destination.
The spring is a popular tourist destination.		 My Guide collecting water at at the spring. It bubbles like soda water.
My Guide collecting water at at the spring. It bubbles like soda water.		 The final stop of my tour was at the Mesopotamia Valley, which is part of an ancient volcanic crater.
The final stop of my tour was at the Mesopotamia Valley, which is part of an ancient volcanic crater.		 View of the Mesopotamia Valley. It is very fertile and is known locally as St. Vincent's breadbasket.
View of the Mesopotamia Valley. It is very fertile and is known locally as St. Vincent's breadbasket.
For the remainder of the day, I hung out at the Beachcomber Resort Hotel, a beautiful spot on the Gulf of Mexico.
For the remainder of the day, I hung out at the Beachcomber Resort Hotel, a beautiful spot on the Gulf of Mexico.

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