This week our guest host, John Steiner, asked us to think if we have visited a favorite place more than once and if so, how did you approach the second trip photographically? Or, if you’ve only been somewhere once, what would you do differently the second time around? His lovely post is available here for you to enjoy.
When thinking about our challenge, the Island of St. Kitts immediately came to mind; we have been there twice and want to return again. On our second trip we had a tour guide a couple of days and he told us about the Island’s history and took us to many sites. When we return, we would like to revisit a few sites plus see other areas (and take better pictures! Many did not turn out from our second trip.😟😟)
This beautiful island is located 2,100 km or 1,300 miles southeast of Florida, USA. The west side borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean. Our first trip in 2007 was two years after the lucrative sugar cane factories closed and the country begun to concentrate on tourism. At that time the St Kitts Scenic Railway began offering tours to acquaint visitors with the island. It was the best way to see beautiful panoramic views of the mountains, beaches, and plantations. Originally, this Railway was built between 1912 and 1926 to deliver sugar cane from the fields to the sugar mill in Basseterre, the capital. 
One of the few fields of sugar cane left on the island.
This gives you a visual idea of how high up the railway track is located.
We returned to St Kitts eleven years later in 2018 and were amazed at the transformation. With its beaches, scenery and warm, sunny climate, the island has successfully become a popular tourist attraction! So much of the it’s history has been preserved. We were fortunate to have a wonderful guide and visited Brimstone Hill Fortress Natural Park, Rom Manor, Wingfield Estates and Basseterre.
These pictures were taken at Brimstone Hill Fortress which was designed around 1690 by British military engineers, then built and maintained by African slaves. Restoration began in 1965 and it become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much has been written about it’s extensive history which is available on the internet and also by clicking here. Unfortunately my pictures of the front of the fortress did not turn out😟 although the internet and link above has plenty to show.
Sir George Museum is inside the fortress and showcases the basic living conditions and harsh realities of everyday life back then. We were told many soldiers and their families were born inside the fort and spent all their life working there until they died. This is a picture of the entrance way into the fortress.
Most of the rooms were restored along with documentation showing how each room was used, complete with notes, drawings and remnants from the past.
Since picture taking was not allowed inside any of the small rooms, this was taken from the doorway, looking in at the life-size man.
This is an unrestored part of the fort a little distance from the main area.
One of the many original canons surrounding the circular walls of the fort along with a picture of our guide.
Monkey Hill is on the way up to Brimstone Hill Fortress and this is one of the many residents there.
My husband and I want to return to St Kitts to visit the island again plus take more pictures! In a previous post, entitled Favorite Pictures of 2018, Jan 4, 2019, you are invited to click here to see additional information plus several pictures not shown here. In closing, I want to repost one of my all time favorite pictures taken at Christophe Harbour, located on the Southeast Peninsula.
To me this is such a peaceful and soothing scene, reminding us that much happier days are ahead. We all just have to continue to be understanding, take care of ourselves plus loved ones and be kind to others.