My first surprise was seeing & hearing over 20 Harley-Davidson’s roaring as they left the Celebrity Refelction cruise ship – see my pevious post.

St John’s is quaint town to wander independently to see the colourful houses & historic buildings. Then it was off to Shirley Heights & Nelson’s Dockyard.

Shirley Heights is a restored military lookout and gun battery. It stands at 490 feet above sea level & boasts stunning views of the English & Falmouth Harbours, along with 360 degree views of the island.

Nelson’s Dockyard is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is named after Admiral Horatio Nelson who lived here from 1784 until 1787. Nelson was said to be so ill with fever on his voyage back to England in 1787 that he had a cask of rum shipped for his body in case he died en route. The British Navy abandoned the yard in 1889 and it fell into disrepair until major restoration took place in the 1950s. The bakery here is worth a visit to sample local cakes & meat patties.

Then a cheeky dip in the warm turquoise waters of Fort James beach… CAUTION – the rum punch is strong here, but that doesn’t seem the be any different on any of the islands!