Wadadli

English and Falmouth Harbors as seen from Shirley Heights, Antigua

The thing to do (and we did) is go to the old fort on Shirley Heights on Sunday evening for the sunset, music, barbecue and mingling of sailboat people, tourists and Antiguans.

My perfect beach

Map: Darkwood Beach. There are no hotels or resorts, just a beach bar, smooth white sand, warm clear water, and the distant volcano on Montserrat.

"Save our earth," says the sign in the middle of nowhere

Goats: not a rare species on the island.

On the grounds of the St. James's Club

The resort was clean and comfortable, and the people friendly. A slight majority of vacationers were from Great Britain. Satellite.

Flowers

House plants grew outdoors! The birds were bold and would visit briefly unattended breakfasts in the open air restaurants, or steal bits of our scones at tea under the fig tree.

Spinnakers up

"It looks like science fiction," said John on the beach.

The view from our beach

Warmed by the sun, cooled by the tradewinds, and waiting for the drink cart.

Warm water

We heard from some fellow vacationers that the big boat in this photo won a lot of races in its class. We sailed only the resort Hobie cats.

A reef protected our ocean beach and provided good snorkeling.

Wadadli moment

Wadadli is a locally brewed beer as well as the Antiguans' name for their island.

Comments

[Ron]

Photo six "spinnakers up" is fabulous!

[Amy]

It was eerie and pretty. They were big boats too, even though they look sort of tiny and far away (maybe because they're under the clouds, on the water).

[Marie]

I know I keep saying it, but I wish I was there....

[Amy]

Meet me there next April!

[R. Sherman]

You had me at the words, "beach bar."

Cheers.

[Amy]

Two of the most beautiful words in the English language.

[Marie]

Next April @ the Beach Bar! <>

[brantley]

These are great photos. Thanks for sharing.

[Tim McGuire]

These photos are absolutely beautiful...I can't believe the color of the water!

[Amy]

The water at Darkwood Beach seems to glow with a light from within-- some special effect of water clarity, depth, sand composition and reflectivity, and dark fat clouds that drift over from the small mountains behind.