Thank you Nevis...

In Nevis there is a museum about one of the United States founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. He was born in Nevis and the museum is in a reconstructed version of his old house. We happened to visit on January 11th, Hamilton’s birthday. All the locals that we’ve met have asked if we’ve seen the play…which we have not! Kathleen did graduate from Hamilton College and later on the 11th bumped into three current students from Hamilton who are in Nevis digitizing manuscripts at the “other” museum on Nevis dedicated to Horatio Nelson. We also did some snorkeling in the same reef as in the last blog. We saw an abundance of fish and many new species we missed last time, including a cuttlefish – they are similar to squid. The next day we went on a tour of the island and learned a lot about the island’s history. We visited the Bathhouse, a historic hotel located over natural hot springs. The hotel is closed but the hot springs are still open and felt wonderful on our feet. Many people still visit the hot springs to soak away their aches and pains. We also visited three plantation houses. All three were very different but each one is currently a boutique hotel. We enjoyed the tour and the plantations but had an interesting discussion afterward about how they were only possible because of the use of slave labor. Historically, Nevis housed a large slave auction house and the ruins are still in the main town of Charlestown. The only downside to the tour was the historical facts were stretched too thin. On the 13th we again went snorkeling, it is becoming a favorite family activity, and then met Steve, Irene, Sylvie, and friends of theirs Pete and Famie from the UK, at Sunshine’s beach bar. The adults enjoyed a few afternoon beers and conversation while Cameron and Alison had a blast on the beach playing with Sylvie. Steve and Irene were kind enough to invite us to the Monkey House today, Jan 14th. Cameron and Alison had a great time playing with Sylvie. And Cameron and Steve played the drums and Didgeridoo. Just before we went to the the Monkey House, Cameron went snorkeling to practice his diving and saw a Southern Stingray! We said goodbye to our friends as tomorrow we leave Nevis and head to our next destination, the British Virgin Islands. We had a family discussion and have decided that we have enough miles ahead of us and so will start our journey westward. Everyone is excited as tomorrow will be Cameron and Alison’s first overnight passage for it is @130 miles to the BVIs.