Life on Saba

It's hard to believe we've been on Saba for a week! Here's a little bit of background and history on Saba for those of you wondering! Saba is one of the smallest Caribbean islands at only 5 square miles. There are about 1400 locals and 400 medical students - it reminds me of college! On clear days, you can see St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts/Nevis, Montserrat and St. Barts. Saba is most known for its spectacular hiking and scuba diving. It is ranked as one of the top ten places to dive in the world! It is also known as one the the safest islands in the Caribbean with virtually no crime. Hitch hiking is a popular mode of transportation, since there is only one road on the island called "The Road." Since drinking and driving is legal on Saba, hitch hiking is not a good idea at night! Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way.

"The Road" itself has an interesting history. Back in the 1930's, Dutch engineers told the Sabans that building a road would be impossible because of the terrain. Josephus Hassell, a local Saban, disagreed. He took a correspondence course on road engineering and in 1943 started to build the road himself! Twenty years later, it was completed (see picture below). If you get motion sickness easily, this is not the place for you.

The main village in Saba is called Windwardside (where we live) where most of the stores and restaurants are located. The Bottom is the capital where government offices are located as well as the medical school and docking area. Other villages on Saba include Upper and Lower Hell's Gate (by the airport), English Quarter, Booby Hill and The Level.

The airport which leads into Lower and Upper Hell's Gate.

The Bottom

The airport - home to the shortest commercial airstrip in the world!!

The coves and tidepools (by the airport) - popular local swimming spot.

So many goats! They seem wild since they are just running around in the jungle, but apparently someone owns them! There are some living right outside our apartment.

Graveyard in the center of town

The cows by our apartment

Grocery store

St. Eustatius in the distance