Carnival!

So it’s “Jump-Up” to mark the beginning of the two weeks of Carnival and the town is hopping.  A big parade with all kinds of folks and crazy noisy music.  The trucks with the musicians are followed by massive generators - but you can’t hear the generators… the bands way overpower them.

Flag girls

Music truck... look at those speakers

Look at the size of that generator... and it was working hard

Kubuli (beer) girls

Hello up there

I'll just grab these wires and you duck!

One poor kid was in the back of a pickup with a pile of trophies.  Someone asked him why he was there… he said he won the calypso contest.

After the parade passed us we went via a side street to get back to Murphy the Dinghy.  We were accosted by a lady who thought we hadn’t seen the whole thing.  We had to convince her that, in fact, we saw the whole thing… beginning to end!

Next day saw a whole bunch of boats leave… but not us… we were on a mission.  We had been told about the massive military complex, Fort Shirley, that had been built in the 1700s to protect the British from the French.  There were cannon batteries in many different spots… but the forest has begun to reclaim them.  Although the main part of the fort has been beautifully rebuilt, much of the vast complex looks like Sleeping Beauty’s castle from the Disney movie.  All in, it was a 4 hour hike that took us up, down and around the complex.

Cannon inspection

Overlooking Prince Rupert Bay

Cannons don't thunder... there's nothing to plunder

And the forest takes over...

Like in a movie

Back yard is a little unkempt

Portsmouth from yet another cannon battery

Fire!

Last night in Dominica... for now

Filling up with water... thanks Seabird!

We must be close to France… because we are out of wine.  Leaving for Marie Galante - near Guadeloupe to get French wine.