Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis

Last year, when we arrived, it was my first time out of our cabin and off the ship after being quarantined for COVID-19. We took a train trip around part of St. Kitts that day. 

This year, we took a 6-hour tour to the neighboring island of Nevis.  

Thanks to 700 horsepower aboard Phoenix I, we made the trip between islands, which took about 25 minutes.

We soon found ourselves on a bus designated Air Force One with an animated and loud driver named Keno. After an impassioned speech about Alexander Hamilton while facing the gate out of the port -  "The most influential person in the history of the United States." - we moved on to the house where he was born.

With Keno still talking at 10,000 amplified decibels, we proceeded to a hot spring where people had a few minutes to put their feet or more in the therapeutic waters. I demurred. Pam tried all three.

In the process, she walked right by this 4" long critter. I was told that it was non-poisonous; however, I thought it wise not to point it out to my wadding wife.

We had a modestly enjoyable driving tour of the area, ending at Pinney Beach.

Keno got us "private" access to the road leading into the Four Seasons. Along the way, we passed an abandoned sugar mill where guests could have a (pricey) private dinner.

Keno said that the hotel employs about 1,000 locals, which is 1/12th of the island's population. He told us that he had been a doorman there for several years and launched into a lengthy, loud list of celebrities he had met during his tenure.

We went to a churchyard that gave us a good few back to St Kitts. While there, a female pointed out the grave of a man who allegedly sired 55 children. (Like some other "facts" Keno gave us, I could not find independent corroboration.)

Next came lunch. We had lightly fried grouper with a delicious fruit sauce on it.

Our final stop was the beach just down the road. Pam headed for the water like a shot while I found a shaded beach chair and worked on this block. Exhausted by my effort, I took a nap.

At 3:00 p.m., we were back aboard Air Force One for our trip to the harbor, where we reboarded Phoenix One for the transfer back to St Kitts.

Eurodam departed St. Kitts at 6:00 p.m., heading for a port call in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, tomorrow.