The Circus

[bola]

What exactly is the "Circus". I have seen a lot

of references to it. Is it a name of the shopping

district? What is there to see & do there?

[Sassy Chassis]

The "Circus" is an area in the town where there is a traffic circle with shops around it. It can get quite chaotic with cars, trucks, bikes, cycles, and pedestrians all over the place. There are several bars & restaurants up on the second levels of the buildings where you can hang out and watch the people go 'round and 'round. Ballahoo has very good food, I highly recommend trying the curried mutton.

[Rail Traveler]

If you visit St. Kitts, and come into the town of Basseterre through the shopping area at Port Zante, the "Circus" is one block due north of the old Treasury Building (now housing the National Museum & Heritage Society). The big stone entry arch of the Museum puts you directly in line with the center of town, perfectly framing your view of the middle of the Circus, the green and gold edged Victorian "Berkley Clock Fountain" memorial.

 

Four main streets hub into this traffic circle with the Berkley clock at the center, and around it is the hustle and bustle of a real West Indian town doing its real West Indian thing as if no cruise ship were anywhere around. Taxis line up for fares, rasta men with fresh coconuts offer them for sale, bankers and office workers and school children in their uniforms parade back and forth, and Calipso Reggi drives through the streets with an old bullhorn mounted on top of his car announcing all of the local activities ("don' forget, tonight at de high school...").

 

If you go up to the second floor of the previouosly mentioned Ballyhoo Restaurant (above the Island Hopper store), you can get a cold beer (or a local ginger beer) and watch all of this from a great vantage point. It is wonderful, full of energy and life, and it's 100% Caribbean. Very very different from any "tourist" destination city, Basseterre is a real working town, the center of government and finance for the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis, and you can see it all if you just sit for a few minutes, stop, and let it go by around you.

 

There are half a dozen "gift shops" located around the Circus and on on nearby side streets, (don't miss a wonderful gallery on Bank Street that shows the works of Kate Spencer, a well known international artist who has painted in St. Kitts for some 30 years). Most of the stores are selling to the local population, and in that regard are quite interesting to visit. Products and prices in other places always facinate me.

 

If you want more cruise-oriented shopping, visit the Pelican Mall, straight north from the dock. They have public washrooms here. And there are now 28 new shops in the Port Zante development right at the end of the pier, with at least 13 jewelry stores in the mix. Five years ago there were only four stores here, in three unfinished buildings, but today the Port area is getting fixed up quite nicely. Local Kittitian craftspeople and vendors can be found in the Amana Craft Market at the far end of this area, just before you get to the Pelican Mall and the Treasury Building.

 

Have fun. I hope you enjoy St. Kitts as much as we do.

 

Rail Traveler

[bola]

WOW!

Thank you for all the great information.

I can't wait to arrive and see it for myself.

[CaribbeanCrazy]

Twice DH and I have spent a week on St Kitts.

We love the Ballahoo!:) Can't wait to go back there for a drink when we are there off a cruiseship in April. Love to watch all the activity going on below in the Circus.:)

Another place we really liked was Fishermans Wharf. Is it still around? I remember we spent New Years Eve there one year. We had the best grilled swordfish with garlic butter...and I think lime juice. We enjoyed our meal while listening to the Steel Drum Band they had playing from Trinidad.

Wonderful Memories:)

 

CaribbeanCrazy

[CaribbeanCrazy]

Is there still a casino on the island?

 

CaribbeanCrazy

[ILOVEMEXICO]

If you visit St. Kitts, and come into the town of Basseterre through the shopping area at Port Zante, the "Circus" is one block due north of the old Treasury Building (now housing the National Museum & Heritage Society). The big stone entry arch of the Museum puts you directly in line with the center of town, perfectly framing your view of the middle of the Circus, the green and gold edged Victorian "Berkley Clock Fountain" memorial.

 

Four main streets hub into this traffic circle with the Berkley clock at the center, and around it is the hustle and bustle of a real West Indian town doing its real West Indian thing as if no cruise ship were anywhere around. Taxis line up for fares, rasta men with fresh coconuts offer them for sale, bankers and office workers and school children in their uniforms parade back and forth, and Calipso Reggi drives through the streets with an old bullhorn mounted on top of his car announcing all of the local activities ("don' forget, tonight at de high school...").

 

If you go up to the second floor of the previouosly mentioned Ballyhoo Restaurant (above the Island Hopper store), you can get a cold beer (or a local ginger beer) and watch all of this from a great vantage point. It is wonderful, full of energy and life, and it's 100% Caribbean. Very very different from any "tourist" destination city, Basseterre is a real working town, the center of government and finance for the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis, and you can see it all if you just sit for a few minutes, stop, and let it go by around you.

 

There are half a dozen "gift shops" located around the Circus and on on nearby side streets, (don't miss a wonderful gallery on Bank Street that shows the works of Kate Spencer, a well known international artist who has painted in St. Kitts for some 30 years). Most of the stores are selling to the local population, and in that regard are quite interesting to visit. Products and prices in other places always facinate me.

 

If you want more cruise-oriented shopping, visit the Pelican Mall, straight north from the dock. They have public washrooms here. And there are now 28 new shops in the Port Zante development right at the end of the pier, with at least 13 jewelry stores in the mix. Five years ago there were only four stores here, in three unfinished buildings, but today the Port area is getting fixed up quite nicely. Local Kittitian craftspeople and vendors can be found in the Amana Craft Market at the far end of this area, just before you get to the Pelican Mall and the Treasury Building.

 

Have fun. I hope you enjoy St. Kitts as much as we do.

 

Rail Traveler

Rail Traveler - we followed your review and had a great time in St. Kitts; even tho we initially thought it wouldn't be much fun - had a great table on the corner at the Ballyhoo restaurant/bar. Thanks again for such a great recommendation.

[Liz Pereira]

ILOVEMEXICO - nice having another Canadian on the forum.

 

Glad you enjoyed your day in St. Kitts. You should post a review at http://*****

 

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