LAND TOUR OF SABA TUESDAY, 7 APRIL 2015
We had the chance to get off the boat for three hours and take a land tour of the Island of Saba. Saba is a Caribbean island and the smallest special municipality (officially public body) of the Netherlands. It consists largely of the potentially active volcano Mount Scenery, which at 2,910' is the highest point within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island has a land area of five square miles. As of January 2013, the population was 1,991 inhabitants with a population density of 390 per square mile. Its current towns are The Bottom (the capital), Windwardside, Hell's Gate & St. Johns. As the island is part of the Netherlands, Dutch is the official language. Despite the island's Dutch affiliation, English is the principal language spoken on the island and has been used in its school system since the 19th century. The Explorer at the dock . . . The exterior of a well-known church (Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in The Bottom, Saba) . . .
. . .with an elaborate painted mural in the apse by Heleen Comet
Where I purchased postcards to send
Walking up to the Art Foundation . . . A "Neal & Andréa fixer-upper"; looks like an empty old building in The Bottom, not far from the Art Foundation . . .
	There is ONE ROAD around Saba . . . [STANDPLAATS is Dutch for waiting place]
It's bearably cool at The Top, but you can't stay there exclusively; you have to go to The Bottom for shopping and supplies. Also, that's where the ocean is. View from Up Top above the airport looking off to Sint Eustatius (a/k/a Statia) the large Island in the front with St. Kitts (St. Christopher) & Nevis behind . . . . . . our destination for tonight A repurposed Swivel gun, chaser or Patarero of the 1600's, here turned into a miniature cannon Originally these small cannon were mounted on swivels along the railing of a ship. They were mainly used against personnel on the deck of an enemy ship before boarding, or in a defensive role to repel boarders. The guns were generally loaded with grapeshot just before battle, then lifted into their swivel socket mounts which were strategically located around the railing of the ship. This allowed the guns to be placed where they would be the most effective. It also meant that a ship did not need to carry as many swivel guns. These relatively small 1 to 3 pounder guns were more lightly constructed than regular cannon, and normally weighed roughly fifty times the weight of their shot. Swivel guns were not very effective at long range, but at close range against enemy crewmen, their firepower and maneuverability made them a devastating weapon. Chase guns could also be placed at the bow & stern of a large enough ship. This was done to attack a vessel being chased down or to damage an enemy ship in pursuit. Flowers of Saba . . . TEAM MANTA relaxes at the Sea Witch bar until it's time to board the taxi back to the boat. Here we were entertained by Pup Morse, the singing SCUBA Cowboy. He does Trop-Rock for Parrotheads & Scubaribbean songs like, "You"re Not Just My Buddy, You're My CHUM" about a seasick diver; you can learn more about him HERE
	NIGHT DIVE Moray eel on last dive off Saba

ON TO ST KITTS HERE