07.08 The last Dominica morning is here. Most of our belongings have been packed. All that remains are the things we need for our hygiene and the clothes we will be wearing today.

08.47 We just had our last meal here in Wotten Waven. We also paid for our stay here and said goodbye to some of the family we shared home with. Soon we will leave all of this behind us. I guess we will be leaving a piece of our hearts as well. It has been a special stay here.

09.33 We are now standing outside Le Petit Paradis waiting for the transport downtown to Roseau.

A last goodbye to Le Petit Paradis and Wotten Waven.

10.00 We are finally on our way again. The minibus just appeared, the driver probably started from his own yard. We are the first to board. The mosquito bites on my feet sure itches.

10.31 Our minibus took us straight to the next bus stop and now we await the next departure. We are in Roseau close to the market, by the station for the northbound buses.

10.47 We are back at the bus station/stop after having travelled around twice in town to let out and later in a woman who had done some shopping

11.17 We are moving. We are really climbing uphill. Just north of Roseau we saw the airport Canefield which is tinier than small. We will not fly from there. We are on our way to Melville Hall Airport in the northeastern part of Dominica.

In a minibus somewhere on Dominica.

12.10 After we had travelled on narrow roads across the island, we have reached Melville Hall Airport. It is from here we will take the leap to the next nation. Here in the airport are four check-in counters; two are for American Eagle, an American company in Puerto Rico. LIAT that we are flying with has the other two counters. Both are equipped with old time scales, that kind with a big hand, nothing digital here.

13.00 The check-in line keeps growing. I wonder why they queue, there isn’t any staff behind the counter. I am right now taking care of a lady´s luggage while she is away douing something.

14.22 Although the line was short the check-in took time. It turned out that their printers didn’t work. We are now checked in at one common boarding card. It has the names of the two gentlemen Peter J and Lundstedt C.

14.36 Hey what’s happening! Here we thought we would lose valuable time in the queue. The flight is delayed for two hours. There are mostly Americans here but we have seen a young Swedish couple. As so many times before the Swedes have their luggage almost totally covered with stickers from Sweden. Why do most Swedes have to show where they´re from when they travel?

Christer waiting for a delayed flight at Melville Hall Airport.

15.15 After having a Sprite and a Coca Cola from the bar our life spirits are returning back to us. We are seated next to the door to the security check. On the door there are several signs. One of them says,”No pepper sauce allowed beyond this point”. No strong sauces in the hand luggage here! Hm, is it possible to hijack a plane with Tabasco?

16.02 We’ve passed security where they asked if we were going to Canada? Outside the glass wall is a trailer with among other things our backpacks.

16.12 There is a new delay. The plane we are leaving with is supposed to be here around 17.25. When will it take off? Can a plane take off from here after dark? Some airports in the Caribbean only run in daytime.

17.17 At 17.10 our plane landed here and now we boarded it. We are leaving a Dominica where hardly anyone smoked, great, and no one stamped our passports, bad. Today’s matter of transport is a propeller plane and the seats are 10 B and C.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

18.13 We’ve landed on V.C Bird International Airport on Antigua and we are filling in papers. Soon we will enter Antigua and Barbuda, Christer´s fiftieth and my fifty-ninth visited country.

19.08 It didn’t go smoothly to enter. The young lady who checked the passports was zealous to the break of insanity. She scrutinized every word and letter we had written. She asked about marital status and the exact spelling for my home address in Bjästa. After that we swiftly passed the customs office and ordered a taxi. Our silent driver took us to Cappuccino Lounge in the capital Saint John’s, http://www.caplounge.com which was great since it was where we had booked our rooms. As we checked in I spoke to some gentlemen in the bar. As they heard that we were from Sweden they started to talk about chocolate, watches and with a smile "Absolut Vodka". I suspect they have had a little too much Absolut in their life and now mixed up Sweden and Switzerland. This was the reason for them mentioning watches and chocolate. We are staying in room 5 with air conditioning. It is far better than a regular fan. Or to put it as I said in the reception” I am no fan of a fan”

Peter going through the TV channels in our Cappuccino Lounge room.

20.31 We have walked around in the capital and now ended up at Hemingways Café not far from home. We’ve ordered different chicken dishes. Now the first course arrived, a bun?

Hemingways Café

22.00 Tasty dinner, spicy chicken for both of us, with pasta for Christer and Indian style for me. The food was spicy and the bill was salted. After that we roamed around and found a post office and supermarket. Both of them were closed. We returned towards Hemingways and found a night open pharmacy. Here we bought candy, sodas and postcards. Christer also bought a new toothbrush. It is made for people with teeth with tobacco stains or leftovers. He found this out after he had bought it.

22.47 We’ve washed our clothes in the shower and some water seems to leak out into the room. We hope we haven’t caused any damage. Isn’t a shower supposed to be water proof? The air condition is just excellent. A great start on our stay here.

Tuesday 3rd of July

09.22 We sure slept in today. This morning we heard no roosters and scent no sulphur, Today we will head out to get us some breakfast and later to walk around Saint John’s for some shopping and sightseeing.

10.33 We’ve managed to do one thing. We bought breakfast at the supermarket IGA. The time has come to consume it.

The waterfront in Saint John´s.

St John´s Cathedral.

12.10 We’ve like Elvis left the building. We have taken pictures of the church, St John’s Cathedral, and some other town views. We are now after having bought postcards and a souvenir, resting in the shade of a small palm. As I was buying my souvenir Christer saw a man smashing a bag of ice into a yellow wall.

12.26 We’ve taken a quick look at the shopping area Heritage Quay before sitting down at the pub Cheers for some Wadadli, it is really delicious. It is the best beer I had so far on this trip. Wadadli is the ancient Indian name for the island Antigua.

Heritage Quay

13.48 Postcards were written and the beer is finished. After that we went to the post office and later to IGA to buy more to drink. Now we are back in our room enjoying the beverages. Christer´s soda reminds us in both taste and looks of our classic Mirinda. Out on the town we have been asked if we were ready. Ready for what we wondered, ready to go by taxi was the answer. Another gentleman have asked if we were shopping. Can’t white men do anything on their own here? Most things here seem to be built up around transporting tourists from the hotels outside town and to the shopping area. The fact that we stay here in the capital seems hard to get for them.

Pictures from Saint John´s, the capital of Antigua & Barbuda.

14.51 The time has come for me to leave the room and Christer. I am going down to the bar to see what this country has to offer. I want coffee. I wonder how it’s served.

15.52 The coffee time turned into a nice chat with the girl in the reception. We spoke about different things and lost track of time. As I got back to reality Christer turned up looking for me. The time has come to get out to an internet café.

16.40 We’ve been to an internet café near the harbour. The screen was under a plastic board and to go out on the internet was as easy as entering Pentagon. Next to Christer sat a policeman and behind us sat a rastaman in long yellow clothing. Now we will do something else, as soon as we have got up from the bench we are sitting on.

Barbuda Express, a really expensive way of travelling.

17.29 We got up and moved towards IGA. There we bought a little for this evening. As we got back Christer asked me to remember an internet address, www.ferryexpress.com. We will try to book a ferry ticket from Trinidad to Tobago on the 21st of July, something that wasn't possible in June and therefore couldn’t be done before we left home.

19.07 We are watching BBC News. They are talking about the bombs in Great Britain and the thing around the commutation of Libby. Earlier while watching King Kong, the movie that is, we heard a rooster crow. Next we will head for some dinner.

20.09 Before we went out we watched the local weather news. The weather man walked back and forth. Sometimes he walked out to the left and went out of the picture. Though walking he promised us great weather. After we went out we have ended up at ”Good Taste” a Chinese restaurant. Here we have ordered Singapore noodles and spicy pork. The chairs are low or is the table too high?

21.05 We are back home again, satisfied and pleased. On top of this the price was reasonable. I wonder in how many countries we had Chinese food during all these years?

The third guest.

22.37 We´ve got a third resident here. I just met a king sized bug in the bathroom. It disappeared before we were able to catch it on anything but a picture. I wonder where it came from, where it went and what it was. Now we will watch some TV before we turn off the light and turn in.

Wednesday 4th of July

09.14 It is cloudy outside our window. It is pretty lazy inside of our window. What happens next is that we will go out to get us some breakfast.

10.53 It is cloudy and drizzles. The planned beach trip is cancelled. We will go on a trip in the countryside instead.

11.18 We’ve walked to the western bus station in the southern parts of the town and just sat down on the bus to English Harbour on the south coast. I am looking forward to see more of the island. On our way here we saw a man who read from the bible. His words were spread by some loudspeakers.

11.43 We are travelling on through different villages. He or she who wants to stop just have to cry out ”Bus stop” and the bus will stop at the next bus stop. Antigua is flatter and less green than Dominica.

Dockyard Museum.

The harbour at English Harbour.

12.04 As the last of all, well not counting in the driver, we got off at English Harbour. Now we´ve just entered the museum Nelson’s Dockyard. Here we will look at what they´ve got to offer. The place got its name from Lord Nelson who were here 1784-1787.

12.26 Sitting on a bench we are learning more about the area. It was the hub and heart of the British activities in the Caribbean. Here they were able to maintain their ships and also lodge a small fleet. Next we will try to find a way out to the fort here.

Nelson´s dockyard.

13.53 It took a while before we found the right way but as we did that all went smoothly. We are now at Fort Berkeley. I am writing this with a canon as a support. The fort was what was guarding the rest of the area. If you wanted to get inside you had to pass here. There never actually were any battles here, the French never made it here. Before we went out here we saw a family from Norway rushing through the area.

14.21 We are back from the fort. We are having a welcome rest underneath a mango tree. On our way back we saw a new kind of graffiti. Some had carved in their names in the plants along the trail.

Peter on his way to Fort Berkeley.

View from Fort Berkeley.

14.37 We are sitting on the landbased short end of a wooden jetty and we´re waiting for the bus that will take us back to Saint John’s. Just as we were about to leave the area we saw a bus that did the same. The question now is how often do they leave?

14.42 Just as I was writing the latter a bus drove by and stopped, number 17, the right bus.

15.30 We’ve returned to our home after an undramatic journey back. We’ve brought with us newly bought sodas. One thing is for sure here, you will get thirsty. Now we will just think back on what we have seen and just relax. The bible man stood at the same spot, still reading, as we left the bus station.

A new kind of graffiti

18.04 We are zapping between the channels and just take it cool. We are wondering about which beach we will visit tomorrow. There are 365 to choose from, yet another country with 365 of something. We are thinking about where to have dinner this evening. Here it is less to choose from. Whatever we decide I am sure it will be great.

18.30 We are right now watching the soccergame between Mexico and Chile in Copa America.

19.29 We searched and found new restaurants. We did though long back to the good taste at”Good Taste” so we went there. We are the only ones here but people seem to come for take-away food. On our way here we passed the harbour and looked at a cruising ship which had arrived today.

20.36 Once again a delicious meal at Good Taste. On our way home we bought some snacks and wait for soccer, Brazil versus Ecuador. Right now some local commercials. ”First buy something for yourself and then something for the man in your life” Commercial for....shoppers!

22.26 Well not much happens here. Sure, Brazil has taken the lead on a penalty kick but besides from that just kick and run. One good thing is that we have figured out which beach to go to tomorrow. We will take a bus and get off as soon as we see a beach. We are aiming for Darkwood Beach on the west coast. The very same beach was on a postcard that just left for Ljusdal in Sweden.

Thursday 5th of July

10.00 Hey you sure sleep great and long here. Sure you awake around seven but then quickly returns to sleep for at least two more hours. I am so happy that we chose an air-conditioned room.

11.38 We are back in the bus station and in a bus. Today is a beach day. I am looking forward to tanning and swimming. The bible man kept up the spirit today as well.

12.21 We are going to Darkwood Beach. The landscape is hillier today. There are hills on both sides of the road. We’ve passed through villages called Jennings and Bolans.

Darkwood Beach, Antigua.

12.38 We’ve been seated in the sand. We’ve been asked by a beach walker if we wanted to buy records or leave a contribution for the upcoming carnival and/or for children. The money was supposed to go to water, sodas and other stuff. We didn’t want to leave him any money.

13.55 We’ve regrouped ourselves and found a new spot. The beach is amazing with countless of seashells. On the other side of the road is a small lake.

Christer standing on Darkwood Beach.

The old man in the sea.

14.55 Dressed and ready to go back. It has been some wonderful hours on the beach. For sure one of the best beaches I have ever been to. I wonder if I will notice something from today’s tanning this evening. In the small lake next to the road there are some birds, pelicans, diving for fish. They remind us of some world war two Japanese kamikaze-pilots. The resemblance is the way to attack water not the appetite for fish.

17.00 We’ve been home for a while. The Bible reader had a break as we passed but we soon heard him again. During the day an enormous cruising ship has docked the harbour so now we two of that kind. In the town are plenty of American tourists with a skin colour paler then snow, different kinds of disabilities and ages that make us think they lived through both world wars. Our skin has turned to red shade but we also got some mysterious white dots. How come?

We were studying pelicans catching fish but on the photo there is only a cow.

18.16 We are at a new internet café. I got the chance to sit in a room of my own. I think it was some kind of office. Christer is trying to book our tickets to Tobago on the 21st of July. He has no luck. Imagine tomorrow we will travel on. All that remains here today is a stroll to the harbour, money withdrawal, dinner and packing.

A boat coming to town.

18.50 We weren’t able to book, something was wrong with the website. We couldn’t take pictures of the sunset, some clouds blocked it. We went to withdraw some money and met a stray dog. He waited for us outside the ATM and followed us to New Town Restaurant and Bar. Here we will order something to eat. The dog has to wait outside.

20.21 It was yet another filling and mouth watering dinner. Now we are packing. We just saw our old room mate, the bug. We want him to leave before we go to bed. The question is where did he go? We think he might be a cockroach.

21.47 The time has come to sum up yet another day and country. The day has been great. It was fun to swim although we ended up as redskins. What about the country, well few smokers and some who walk, stand, sit and talk to them selves. Some attempts are made to look like the United States. I think this is a pity. You should not sell out what is genuine just to please some dollar filled tourists who come to the country by cruiseship now and then.

"Our" street in Saint John´s.

Evening in Saint John´s