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St. Kitts with a Twist
by Ben CrosbyThe wheelchair waiting at the airport was a sure sign that our ambitious plans for St. Kitt's would have to be curtailed. No riding up to the volcano rim! An attentive LIAT agent, noticing my wife limping through the airport had arranged for the wheelchair. Ellen had a painfully sprained ankle, but she was determined not to let it spoil our vacation. A short cab ride with a friendly taxi driver took us to our destination on the outskirts of Basseterre.
The friendly hotel staff provided her with a cane and she was able to get around. After a few days of ice packs and soaking in sea water, she felt up to an island tour. Arranged by the hotel it was an informal group in a mini-van and our driver, Wilson Tyson (he asked to be mentioned), was congenial and informative.
The island history we learned as we traveled along gave us insights into the significance of the ancient petroglyphs we examined and Ellen loved Charlie, the vervet monkey we met. (He seemed to like her too.)
The Caribelle Batik workshop at Romney Manor was fascinating and a great place to shop. Dramatic views, a horticultural garden and the oldest tree on the island add to its appeal.
Brimstone Hill, called "the Gibraltar of the Caribbean" was stunning. We go to the tropics as tourists for pleasure. For the thousands of soldiers stationed at this hill top fortress, over the course of centuries, it was anything but a vacation. The bastion is a grim reminder of the region's war torn past. Our visit there left us subdued but beaches and palm trees soon revived our spirits.
The western coast of the island is striking: stark lava flow rocks jutting out of the surf and the ever present volcano looming on the horizon. At sunset we climbed the height overlooking the southern end - Atlantic on one side and Caribbean on the other. It was exhilarating. Despite her injury, Ellen loved every moment.
Attentive and considerate people seemed to exemplify the Kittitian attude: friendly and helpful. A tip from the bartender where we stayed led to a memorable dinner in Basseterre -- but that's another story. Our island vacation turned out to be perfect after all and that's all you can hope for.
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