Saints Go Marching

Guadeloupe Gardens

Anse Deshaies (pronounced Day-Hays) on the NW corner of Guadeloupe is a good sized bay accommodating dozens of yachts with a river, small boat harbor, and town. Checkin was self serve on a computer at the Pelican Internet Boutique. Three Euros paid to the shop and they print and stamp your clearance paper. No need to show outward clearance from your last port. Guadeloupe is one of the twenty-six regions of France and an integral part of the Republic and the EU.

We hiked up the road heading south out of town to the Jardin Boutanique (Botanical Gardins E14.50 pp). They were worthwhile seeing with huge Koi pond, Lorikeet and Macaw aviaries, waterfalls, streams, paved path and labeled plants from around the world. (allow three hours for hiking up, viewing and back to town). Lunch at Resaurant La Kaz across from the Pelican Internet was excellent.

Park Panorama

We finished off our month in Antigua with another Sunday jumpup at Shirley Heights, this time accompanied by over a dozen other cruisers that we have become friends with on our travels. The hike up from Galleon Beach in Freeman Bay where we were anchored and the view from the historic lookout converted to party central were as spectacular as ever. The BBQ, drinks and music all contributed to a fun time had by all (a crowd of at least 200).

Checkout of Antigua Monday morning was easy but we did have a $US 55.00 departure tax. The five hour beam reach sail to Anse Deshaies on the SW corner of Guadeloupe was uneventful except for one squall that we skirted that tried to start a waterspout (more of a 'mist devil'). We anchored in 30 ft at 16d18.48'N, 61d47.91'W.

Antigua Ambulation

Antigua Old Year

After watching some of the megayachts (Maltese Falcon, Elena of London, Rebecca, etc.) race the buoys here on New Years Eve, we went ashore for dinner at Nelson's Dockyard. The yachts lining the quay and at anchor had their decks and rigs all lit up in full opulance mode. Live music and a crowd of about 300 kept us going until midnight when the hilariously paced fireworks started. These guys must have been stoned, ran out of matches or both. The anemic start was about five minutes late and then a burst would go off every few minutes with a huge finale about a half hour later. The hillside at Freeman Bay where we are anchored was ablaze with a brush fire heading for Shirley Heights and the fire brigade took about an hour to get there.

Everything seems OK this morning - another year, another day in paradise. Feeling a bit 'Antigua' (Spanish for ancient) today though...

We wish you all a happy, healthy new year.