History, beauty and lots of great shops
A hive of activity and bustling with tourists and locals alike, it is the capital city of Antigua. Unlike other tourist hot-spots it has a genuine authenticity about it as it is an area where locals regularly shop.
There is a wide selection of shops and goods to appeal to any taste from those seeking tourist tat to high-class diamond dealers and local vendors.
Complete with a duty-free shopping area at Redcliff Quay, it is easy to see why this beloved city is at the heart of Antiguan life.
Lawrence’s drive also took us along Antigua’s stunning coastline where we got to see just a few of the country’s stunning beaches huddled around the turquoise ocean.
But it is not just the beaches that Antigua is known for, as the island has launched its own music festival.
Hot on the heels of St Lucia’s jazz festival and the equally established St Kitts music festival, Antigua and Barbuda launched the Romantic Rhythms festival.
The line up of the inaugural festival included Lionel Richie and country and western crooner Kenny Rogers.
Held at the impressive Sir Vivian Richards Stadium the three-day musical extravaganza had a promising line-up which seemed to tailor to an international audience, as well as Caribbean fans.
My visit on the second night meant I was due to hear Kenny Rogers, Musiq Soulchild, Trinidadian soca artist Destra Garcia and R’n’B songster Keyshia Cole.
For me, though, the highlight performance of the evening was Destra Garcia.
The seasoned soca performer is well known throughout the Caribbean islands for her melodious singing over some infectious beats, but this performance was somewhat of a departure for her. Destra decided to switch from her traditional high-octane performance to a tribute to Whitney Houston.
There are many who have tried – and indeed failed – to replicate Ms Houston’s stage prowess, but to my surprise and that of the crowd, Destra did it flawlessly.
So not only did this showcase manage to capture the attention of Destra’s hardcore fans, I felt sure she would win a few more who were previously unfamiliar with her vocal range.
Kenny Rogers was definitely a favourite for the crowd on the night, who enthusiastically sang all of his songs.
Getting There
For details about events in Antigua and Barbuda see www.antigua-barbuda.com.
* The Lawrence of Antigua Tour lasts between three to four hours and costs $120 US and caters for up to four persons. See www.lawrenceofantigua.com.
* For details of the Romantic Rhythms Festival see www.antiguamusicfestival.com.
* To get a different view of Antigua try a trip on Eli’s Adventure Tours. See www.adventureantigua.com for details.
