St. John's, Antigua

If we thought the big cruise ships were crowding us before, when we got up this morning in St. John's we were alone and by the time we got breakfast, there were three giants parked alongside.  St. John's appealed to us simply based on our walk around the town.  We had tried to get on a catamaran trip around the island, but were too late.  We thought about another cab ride, but then got lazy, an easy thing to do on a cruise.  We looked in some stores.  One was a ladies' clothing shop which had the most beautiful cocktail and formal gowns.  The amount of work on each one was amazing.  There was a woman wearing an amazing hat at a sewing machine in the back of the shop and she turned out to be Noreen Phillips, the designer and maker of all the dresses.  Each one is unique.  Too bad we never go anywhere that fancy.  We came away with a blouse, which she designs and then has made locally.  It was a high point because you got to meet her and the staff in the shop was genuinely pleasant and helpful.

Sunset drinks in the Horizons Bar with our friends from Rockford, IL and Davenport, IA.

The Costa Ship next to us, three times as long.

Big ships in port and small shops in town.