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The little island of Antigua, is truly a slice of paradise, located close to its sister island Barbuda; they are often referred to as if they are one place, but that is not the case. Located in the Lesser Antilles islands, Antigua is quite different from its neighbour, while still being just this side heaven. Slightly less wild, and quieter, than its neighbour Barbuda.
However, it offers equally stunning scenery, not only on land, but also below the sea. The blinding white beaches are hot and palm tree lined, making them an excellent location for tanning or other idle beach pursuits.
The legendary Horatio Nelson discovered the island in 1874, he was certainly not the last British visitor, and the island remains to this day a very popular retreat for British and other European tourists.
Antigua is around 14 miles long and just 11 miles wide, its highest ‘mountain’ is Boggy Peak, at just 1300 feet it still offers stunning views across the entire island.
The capital of the island is St. Johns, a small laid back town, dominated by the white baroque towers, of St. John’s Cathedral, and an unhurried, and totally relaxing place to hang out for a while.
Directly across the island lies English Harbour, a beautiful historic district centred around Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. This totally restored former British Naval base, dating back three hundred years, covers 15 square miles.
Clarence house, built for King William IV, overlooks the harbour, as does Shirley heights, a system of partially restored fortifications, and observation post, from where you can see as far as Guadaloupe, and Maontserrat, islands.
Antigua’s uneven and varied coastline has made shelter for numerous little bays and coves, many with idyllic little beaches.
These beaches, bays, and coves seem to have been given evocative names, right out of a 17 century novel, Fryes Bay, Darkwood Beach, Rendezvous Bay, Jolly Harbour, and Hawksbill.
The climate is also wonderful, temperatures range from mid seventies degrees in ‘winter’ to mid eighties in ‘summer’, there is less than fifty inches of rain, per year and the humidity is low.
Local food is a mix of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, chicken, seafood and fish, rice and white rum. The official national religion appears to be cricket, and life revolves around such mundane pleasures. Kick you shoes off and try a new lifestyle, Antigua.