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On one of the tours, we visited a botanical garden.  Not only did it have exquisite flowers and cacti, it also had an aviary.  The birds had been fed often by visitors so they eagerly greeted everyone coming into their cage.  They were quite inquisitive, the one below checking out Bob's ear.

Hibiscus, double hibiscus, and orchids grew in profusion in many colors.

As we made plans to head north to Antigua, we had a choice of going 55 miles around the western half of the island or taking the shorter 5-mile route through the shallow Rivière Salée.  We decided to risk running aground. 

The river was more a mangrove swamp than a river.  There were two bridges, each opening only once a day.  Timing had to be perfect.   

We left the marina in the afternoon and anchored at the mouth of the river.  The next morning at 4:30 a.m., we prepared to pass under the first narrow bridge which opened at 5:00 a.m.  Twenty minutes later, we reached the second bridge opening promptly at 5:30 a.m.  It only took one hour total to pass between the island halves to the north side.  Then, it took another hour to navigate a tiny channel past Ilet Fajou through the opening in the reef.  The day was clear and beautiful and it was only 7:00 a.m. when we reached deep water.  We continued to Antigua.  Big mistake.  This was Joan's worst passage with 12-15 foot waves on the beam, rolling the boat from side to side as we went like hell.  Don't want to do that again!