Antigua

Great to be back in Antigua again after so long. I keep bumping into old friends from what seems another lifetime ago, well it was 25 years ago!!

All the big, blue, beautiful super yachts that were berthed in Palma when we were there are now here.

Just a different car park for the Caribbean season really. The are all dwarfed by the huge 'Maltese Falcon', available for charter for $385,000 a week!

Whilst in Antigua it is a Sunday tradition to go up to Shirley Heights, the hill overlooking English Harbour and listen to the steel band and drink rather a lot of rum!

The view is spectacular and the sunsets are wonderful too, if the rum hasn't kicked in yet!

The steel band.

Daryl and I enjoying the rum punches.

Here we are anchored in Falmouth Bay.

Behind us is the grey naval-looking boat. Apparently the owner was one of the first 'tourists' in space and had his yacht positioned in the middle of the Atlantic, so that he could see it from space! Is that possible??

A change of scenery on the island of Barbuda, where we spent a couple of days. It is just a morning's sail from Antigua and the peace and quiet was a welcome relief.

There is also a frigate bird colony on the island. The marine reserve is only accessible by dingy and it was fabulous to see thousands of these beautiful nesting.

We are now back in Antigua and have a few jobs to do on the boat before heading north again.