Kingstown, St Vincent

Port of Kingstown, St Vincent

We’ve visited here before. Last time, we took a walk around the town, met some very friendly,helpful folk, investigated the two cathedrals and then went to the beach.

So today, we first went for a walk around town. It hasn’t changed since the last time we visited. It’s a bit busy, and scruffy near the port, but it gets a little better as you move on . We had a look round the fruit and veg market, where everything looks very higgledy piggledy, before moving on towards the two cathedrals, both of which we wanted to see again, each for different reasons

Blue Heron

A street in St Vincent, Grenada

The first is St George’s Anglican Cathedral, famous for its Red Angel stain glass window.  We didn’t get to see inside, as there was a service going on, but we have been before, and I can tell you it’s cool, and airy, and very pleasant.

St George's Church, Kingstown, St Vincent

We moved on to something we consider a highlight:- St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, which is just across the road from St George’s, literally. 

When we tried to describe St Mary’s, we explained that it was as if the architect, couldn’t decide what style would be best, and put everything in. It’s quite incredible. And then the people using the cathedral decided to plant ornate gardens in and around it. Amazing! Hopefully the pictures show what I mean.

St Mary's Cathedral, Kingstown, St Vincent

But we could only spend a few hours in town, so we walked back via the coastline, through the fish market, and back to the ship for lunch, because we had to be ready for our afternoon treat.

A crew excursion had been arranged, and at 1.15pm, 62 young crew and about 10 not so young craft and lecturer types climbed aboard the catamaran Sea Flirt for an afternoon adventure. The music was loud, the rum punch flowed freely and we whizzed along the St Vincent coastline over Caribbean waves, under blue sky and hot sun. If you’d have told me, even a year ago, that I’d be doing this at some point, I’d never have believed you. I always thought of catamarans as something for the rich, not for common as muck folk like me. It was awesome.

St Vincent Coastline.  

The party atmosphere continued as we approached the bay used for the set of Pirates of the Caribbean. We were able to see a few of the set items from our catamaran.

Then we were off again, over the waves, to a private beach of black sand, only accessible by boat. We spent an hour there, enjoying the sun and sea before it was time to get back on the catamaran for more music, punch, and the ride home.

An absolutely brilliant experience.  How lucky am I?

We finished of the evening with the gang on the rear deck, where I got another first and enjoyed a pinacolada type drink out of a fresh coconut, and then got to eat the coconut afterwards.  Very nice.

Tomorrow is Castries, St Lucia. We haven’t got any plans as such, although Peter is quite keen to get back to the Pitons near Souffriere. It all depends on how taxi’s and funds balance out.

To read about our visit to Kingstown in 2011, click here