awakened to the lure of the tourist trade and now draws tens of thousands more visitors than the neighboring islands of Montserrat, St. Kitts, or Nevis. It has also developed into the gateway of the Lesser Antilles. Many international airlines now use Antigua's airport as a transfer point to other islands. The best point to start an exploration is at the pier in St. John's. Directly across the pier is the Westerby Memorial, erected in 1888 to honor the work of Moravian Bishop, George Westerby. Walk along High Street to the Post Office, where you can buy the highly prized and colorful postage stamps of Antigua. Turn left on Thames Street and immediately come to the Tourist Office - the best place to learn more about the island. Follow Long Street to Market Street, where you'll turn left and stop to visit the excellent displays in the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. This treasury of Antiguan memorabilia is housed in the old Court House. It was constructed in 1750 and is the oldest building in St. John's. One more block will bring you to Newgate Street and the Police Station, built in 1788 and surrounded by a unique style of fence. Continue right on Newgate Street to the most famous spot of the city, St. John's Cathedral. This impressive structure has a turbulent history. The original building was erected in the late 1600s, but deteriorated to the point that it was replaced in the early 18th century. The stone church then stood for 100 years before it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1843. Having learned from past mistakes, the builders of the present-day cathedral treated interior walls with pitch pine to add stability in the event of further tremors. This is just the beginning. Fourteen major walks on the island are described in detail, along with a wide variety of walks on hotel and resort grounds, plus the general information you need about getting to the island and finding what you need.
- ISBN: 9781556501562 |
- Hardcover: 200 pages |
- Publisher: Hunter Publishing, Inc. |
- Publication date: Feb 10, 2012 |
- Language: English |
- Format: Ebook