St John's Antigua

 Thanks to rescheduling from Air Canada our vacation to Antigua was extended by 2 days.  Uneventful flights, besides perhaps the worst prepaid meal onboard.  Met Joey in Toronto, and we are off.

Our first night we decide to stay in a hotel in St. Johns, the only "big" city on the Island.  The cruise port here is right in the city, and we can see 2 ships from our hotel.  We arrive late in the afternoon so many shops are closing up, but still fun to explore a little.  We can see it is going to be very expensive to eat out this trip, but since we have booked AIRBNB's from now on we will do a lot of our meals at home as well.

Andre got up early and went to take pictures before the street got full of taxis and cars, when we arrived last night it was packed with cars and taxis and teenagers playing music on the street.  

So many old buildings in the town.

Because it is Sunday the store where we could have bought SIM cards are all closed (Digicel), we were too late yesterday to get to one.  Decide we will do fine with our offline maps and wifi at our accommodations.

Where Andre and Joey went for Gelato and sorbet 

Shopping area that has North American Stores for cruise ships

Breakfast room view

Local Vendor Market Mall

Breakfast time at the hotel.  The room was facing the harbour. Wendy and Andre had the local breakfast which was saltfish with a side of local vegetable. Joey opted for am omelet

Traditional breakfast of salt fish

After breakfast we all went to see the Sunday Market and explore the area.

Many fruit and vegetable stands

Ackee fruit that needs to be cooked before eating

Andre had to check out the fishing boats and fish traps and of course, the fish market

Taxis waiting for cruise ship business, view from our balcony at our hotel.

So many vendors selling all the same stuff

Andre & Wendy walked to go see the Cathedral but a first communion service was going on, so we did not go inside, plus we were extremely underdressed compared to everyone attending. Many old building to look at again.

The old police station.

Outside the old court house that is now a museum.  Cricket sport is huge here, this weekend there are many people here to watch a match between England and Antigua

Not sure how well this would work, would need a little kid to hook it up

Back at the hotel

Stopped at Cost Pro for groceries.  Did Fruit and Vegetable purchases at the local stands.

After checking in at Donkey on the Beach apartment where we will spend the next week we headed out to Galleon Beach which was the closest beach.  It was extremely hot, time for a swim.

The snorkeling was a bit disappointing. Saw some fish but not many. The coral was not very great either. The beaches were beautiful sand with easy entrance at most of them. The water was very warm. The water was a bit murky in some places. Having said that it was still fun, and very refreshing in 28degrees heat

Around the left side corner of the beach, you can see some of the Yachts in the harbour

 

Most beaches we went to were very quiet, like this one.  Antigua boasts 365 beaches in it's marketing, a new beach for every day of the year

Back at the apartment

Sunset view from our balcony