BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS

It is said that no trip to Basseterre would be complete without a stop at the two sites visited on this tour: Brimstone Hill Fortress and the Romney Gardens.Our tour begins with a drive through Basseterre, heading towards Bloody River

It is said that no trip to Basseterre would be complete without a stop at the two sites visited on this tour: Brimstone Hill Fortress and the Romney Gardens.Our tour begins with a drive through Basseterre, heading towards Bloody River. Legend has it that this dry river bed once flowed with blood for three days following the slaughter of Carib Indians by British and French colonial forces. From here we proceed to the Romney Gardens and Caribelle Batik Studio.The 12 acre Romney Gardens are beautiful. Featured within them is a wonderful old saman tree, with a tall, spreading, symmetrical canopy. It is sometimes known as the ‘rain tree’, due to its fern-like leaves closing up at night, allowing rain to fall through its canopy to the ground below. At this glorious location, local artists produce the fabric and apparel for which Caribelle Batik has become widely acclaimed. Our tour continues through Middle Island, stopping briefly at the tomb of Sir Thomas Warner. The memorial itself is a fascinating object, replete with a finely engraved Elizabethan epitaph to the “much lamented gent”. From here we proceed to Brimstone Hill Fortress, which became a national park in 1985; after intensive restoration it has been returned to its imposing grandeur. This 300 year-old fortress (‘the Gibraltar of the West Indies’) is perched on a 40 acre hilltop, more than 235 metres (780 feet) above sea level, where more battles have been fought than at any other single site in British and French naval history. Two metre (seven feet) thick walls of black volcanic stone, better known as brimstone defend the massive Fort George citadel. The first cannons were mounted on Brimstone Hill in 1690 as the English and French fought for control of the island. The next 200 years saw the intermittent construction of an amazing work of architectural and engineering genius. This magnificent structure is the second largest of its type in the Western Hemisphere and one of the best preserved. Its spectacular panoramic views (on a clear day) include part of the Kittitian coastline, countryside and five neighbouring islands.This tour may prove unsuitable for passengers with limited mobility, as it involves some strolling in the gardens (plus a couple of steps), and walking around the fortress (where there is uneven ground to negotiate). To reach the main Fort George site, which provides a spectacular viewpoint, there is a long, steeply inclined path including approximately 26 steps. Please note that it is illegal to wear camouflage in St Kitts.

DESCRIPTIONS CORRECT FOR 2007 CARIBBEAN SEASON