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Time Zone
GMT - 4.
Currency
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents.
Language
English.Sightseeing
The picturesque capital, Basseterre, located near the seabord of the west coast, retains the flavour of both French and British occupation, and there are many Georgian buildings surrounding Independence Square. Other sights in or near the capital include: The Circus, the market, St George's Church, Craft House, Brimstone Hill Fortress, Black Rocks, Romney Manor and the Caribelle Batik Factory, the Primate Research Centre, Frigate Bay Development, the southeastern peninsula and Mount Liamuiga's volcanic crater. Brimstone Hill is one of the most impressive New World forts, built on the peak of a sulphuric prominence, known as 'The Gibraltar of the West Indies'. It commands the southern approach to what were the sugar mill plains, and boasts a splendid view of the nearby islands of Saba and St Eustatius. Built in 1690, Brimstone was the scene of a number of Franco-British battles during the 18th century. Frigate Bay is the main resort area on the island and has been designated a Tourist Area by the Government. It boasts two fine beaches, hotels, a golf course and a casino.
Shopping
Carvings, batik, wall hangings, leather art and coconut work. Stamp collectors should note the excellent Philatelic Bureaux in Basseterre and Charlestown. Nevis' hot pepper sauce, ranked among the Caribbean's best, is a good take-home item. Friday and Saturday are the busy market days, when visitors can witness an abundance of exotic food stalls, accompanied by lively local chatter.
Eating Out
Local dishes include roast suckling pig, spiny lobster, crab back and curries. Conch (curried, soused or in salad), turtle stews, rice and peas, and goat's water (mutton stew) are also specialities, and native vegetable soup, lobster, mutton and beef, christophine, yams and breadfruit are also served. Fruit, including mangoes, papayas and bananas, is sold at the waterfront market in Nevis. The locally produced CSR (cane spirit) is excellent.
Location
The CaribbeanSt Kitts & Nevis