Antigua

Antigua has been an independent nation for more than 40 years, receiving that distinction in 1981. It's still a member of Britain's Commonwealth. The island checks in at 108 square miles.

Christopher Columbus was the first European to drop by, stopping in 1493. Some English colonists arrived more than 100 years later in 1632, and the place soon became a center for sugar production. Someone had to do the work on that, and the British brought in thousands of slaves from West Africa to work the fields. It took England a while, but eventually, the country outlawed slavery from its territories in 1807, and everyone was emancipated in 1834.

Our cruise ship used St. John's as a port. We walked around the downtown area in the afternoon, and have to say that parts of the neighborhood felt a little sketchy as an outsider. There are some designated areas for tourist shopping, and it's best to get some directions first before lighting out. 

There are plenty of nice spots to see, too:

 

Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua

Probably the biggest tourist attraction in Antigua that doesn't consist of a view can be found at Nelson's Dockyard, located on English Harbor. It's good enough to have qualified for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

The British first acquired Antiqua in 1632, and needed to protect the area with its navy. This harbor offered some protection from hurricanes and was a natural pick. Soon construction began on a dockyard, although the area kept changing in the early 1700s as authorities figured out it was such a good spot.  

The last facility started to go up in the 1740s, and it continued through the 1700s. The facility is named after Lord Horatio Nelson, who is in charge of the place from 1784 to 1787. Nelson was killed at the otherwise victorious Battle of Trafalgar, one of the great victories in British history. 

The area is now a setting for yacht races. It's certainly a pretty spot, and is in good shape with historic markers around. Nelson's Dockyard is an unusual place by Caribbean standards, and that helped make it a good visit.