It has been a week of sailing aboard the Royal Clipper stopping at ports around the Leeward southern islands of the Caribbean. Generally setting sail overnight I have woken to a new harbour or port every morning from Grenada to St Vincent & The Grenadines, Martinique and St Lucia.
The recent history takes some digging but it was the French who planted their flag first on many of these islands and colonised them. The British swooped subsequently wresting control of many and forcefully relocated the surviving local Carib people. The islands have a common thread of beaches, rainforest and volcanoes at the interior, rum distilleries and colonial plantations of sugarcane, bananas and spices. The locals now are the descendants of the African slaves who worked the plantations. The Calypso vibe and West Indian lilt has become their own after many generations.
As you all know I’m not much for sitting on a beach on holidays so luckily there’s been history to uncover, colourful waterfront harbours to explore,, a spot of scuba diving thrown in, botanical gardens and nature trails to wander and my path has crossed again with the delicate and enchanting hummingbirds that buzz around the tropical foliage. Like little jewels in the forest I could watch them all day!
Any photos of inside the clipper?
Incredible. Spice! colour! Definitely lights the imagination KP. Next can you feed this vicarious traveller with details of food and music…? Xxx
Loving your updates KP!
Those little jewels in the rainforest and the colour of that water are spectacular.