the name was changed later to st. kitts. and the neighboring island of nevis was also named by columbus and later changed. columbus named it for the "snowy" appearance of the mountain tops that were covered in clouds most of the time. again, these islands are also the result of tremendous volcanic activity that produced land masses many, many years past.
the island was battled over by the french and the english. they fought the carib indians separately, initially; then teamed up and sadly, massacred the last remaining indigenous people into extinction. after successfully killing the islands first inhabitants, the two nations struggled for control of this place some more. and so, there are distinct areas on the island that are named in french and english, respectively still today. the people of st. kitts won their independence from the english in 1983. their soil is rich and able to produce many crops -- more so than the other caribbean islands we have visited.
the population of the island is primarily of african heritage but there is some presence still of british ancestry; portuguese and lebanese. english is the language spoken here. but with a dialect that is characteristic of the caribbean. the literacy rate here is quite high--98%.
st. kitts happens to also be home to a prestigious veterinary school that is widely attended by american students and others alike. we're told that a graduate of this school can return to the US and immediately begin their practice without any difficulty in having the curriculum/credentials qualified. fully transferable in other words. education is a pretty big deal here.
our excursion for this day consisted of a picturesque train ride on the last narrow-gauge railway on this island. as the wheels squeaked along, announcing our arrival through each small township, the locals flocked to their doorways to bid us their greetings. the narrator of our trip must know everyone on the island--they all greeted her with grand aplomb.
while aboard this lovely double-decker train, air-conditioned on the lower cars, we were treated to homemade cookies made of sugar cane, coconut, almonds and gooey goodness; beverages that included a caribbean favorite "rum punch"; and last but surely not least, we were serenaded by the crew. our ticket collector had worked on this train since he was a boy--now a retired train engineer, he simply greets everyone and makes one feel welcomed. think wal-mart, only way more tropical.
along the way, we cannot help but be awestruck by the turquoise waters that surround the island and the gentle waves that wash across the peaceful sandy beaches. our conductor/narrator tells us that her husband proposed to her on one of these quiet, secluded beaches. there is no doubt that the ocean and her many seductive powers influenced our guide's affirmative "action".
we pass the ruins of once profitable sugar mills and their respective historical importance cannot be denied; the legacy of slavery as terrifying and disturbing as it is, is something that the people of st. kitts promise to always remember. indeed, there are still some plantation properties that remain and are now operated as luxurious lodging.
and as has been the case throughout the islands of the caribbean that we have visited, the ancestors of once enslaved peoples, dominate st. kitts. indeed, the meek did inherit this little piece of earth.
through this lens, it would seem to this humble observer, that at least in the end, some measure of justice prevailed.
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun - Katharine Hepburn
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun - Katharine Hepburn
