Antigua

   With a previously mentioned one-week interlude in Barbuda, we ended up spending about 2 weeks in Antigua, which is a busy island with lots to see and do.

   We arrived into Jolly Harbor, on the west coast, and used that area as a base while we explored central and northern Antigua, including going to our very first cricket match, between the Leeward Islands and Guyana.  It's kind of the AAA league of cricket - international, but regional, and still entertaining.  The match we went to was part of the 4 day series, so we only watched a bit, but got to learn all about the game (the bowler took 5 wickets), as well as eat some great stadium food such as skittles and johnny cakes.

   We also did a long bike ride around the island, checking out the north portion of the island and a valley which housed tons of fruit trees and bushes.  We partook of some local pineapple, which was rediculicous (ridiculously delicious).  There was quite a variety of local animals that like to congregate in the road, as well - chickens, goats, wild donkeys, mongoose, humans etc.

  After leaving Jolly Harbor, we took the boat up to the seldom visited North Sound, where we anchored and snorkeled amongst the reefs.  However the wind was howling, so we spent more time on the boat working on projects, jumping in the water as the weather permitted.

  We just returned to Antigua after our Barbuda interlude, and are now visiting the southern portion of the island, Falmouth and English Harbours, where Nelson hid his fleet during the Napoleonic Wars.  There is tons of history to check out, as well as a good selection of grocery stores and cheap food.

  Tomorrow we set sail for Guadeloupe, a French Overseas Dependency.  We will spend 3 weeks or so there - we have a "mid-patrol dockside," which means we have to do a few projects on the boat.  But we also want to try hanging out in one place for a little while and getting the sense of a French inspired locale, and we look forward to the arrival of our friend Erin in a couple weeks for a much deserved Spring Break!

  Antigua and Barbuda have been a great stop and come highly recommended for anyone seeking a Caribbean vacation!  We also uploaded a few more pictures onto Flickr (under "pictures" above).