English Harbour, Antigua

Last week I posted about a gorgeous postcard from Dominica I received from Gilles of Belgium. Well, not only did he make me very happy with that particular postcard, but he also surprised me with one from Antigua - another new country to my collection! Some people really are so kind. Thanks a million again, Gilles!

English Harbour, so named because it was the Caribbean base of the British Navy in the 18th century. Admiral Nelson chose it because of its "hurricane-proof" inner harbour and the commanding view of its approaches from Shirley Heights where this picture was taken.

Antigua is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la Antigua — St. Mary of the Old Cathedral. The island's circumference is roughly 87 km and its area 281 km2. Its population was 80,161 (at the 2011 Census). The economy is mainly reliant on tourism, with the agricultural sector serving the domestic market.

Over 31,000 people live in the capital city, St. John's. The capital is situated in the north-west and has a deep harbour which is able to accommodate large cruise ships. Other leading population settlements are All Saints (3,412) and Liberta (2,239), according to the 2001 census.