We have 2 maps of the island, both showing a shoreline circle path that looks like it can be reached from the main path that descends behind the hospital and church.  Seeing as it is still really early, we decide to walk around the island and then maybe, go back up to the restaurant for a beer (because of course you must have a beer on Devil’s Island!!! It wouldn’t be right not to have that memory!).  The path is wide and well maintained as it is the main thoroughfare for any hotel visitors, with ATVs coming and going delivering luggage and supplies.  It is also pretty steep in a very gradual way. We are quite happy to be descending the hill on this path – going up the stairs and the ramp on the other side gives you far more opportunities to rest and look out over pretty ocean vistas as opposed to this virtual road.

We never find the stupid circle path that allegedly branches off from the “road,” and looking down toward the shore, we can’t imagine there would be a path down there anyway.  So, we decide to to the other way around the island and explore the Insane Asylum ruins. This is another steep, windy path, but it is less traveled.  Plus, there was obviously a huge storm here last night, because there are lots of tree limbs and debris obstacles we need to navigate on the path.  At the top of the hill stands the asylum ruins – and these really are ruins.  It is like being in the middle of the jungle with the vines and weeks taking over.  We bravely fight the tall weeds and limb debris to walk to the back of the building for some pictures, passing a wooden cross along the way and a broken down section of wall where we could probably climb through to see the interior…..but, nah.  We’re happy on the outside – its a little too creepy, scary, bad juju vibe-y up here.  Pretty, in a ruin sort of way, but creepy in an insane asylum sort of way.

The path ends up here – either by recent design or storm debris, so once again we are foiled in our quest to circle the island.  Darn it.  Reversing our steps we debate going back to the ship, or staying for a beer…you guessed it, the beer wins out so we fight our way through some storm debris and end up at the Director’s Quarters and the stairs/cobblestone ramp up to the hotel.  We’re hot and weary by this time, we’ve been scrambling all over this island for a couple of hours now, so a beer is definitely worth the climb back up to the top.  Once there, we are greeted by tons of people! We’ve been virtually alone every where so far, but now, most of the ship is on the island and people are crawling all over.  Good time to hang out for a beer on the patio, where we actually have 2 local brews – meaning local from the French Guinea mainland – which are quite good.  And made just for us!  One wheat beer for Ed, and one Porter for me. Couldn’t have been better. 

We hang out on the patio for a while chatting with some of our tour friends, find out the church is now open, and head in that direction when we have finished our beverages.The frescoes are pretty amazing, but, in my opinion, the artsy pictures through the slats actually turn out better than the straight on photos! Isn’t that always the way? 

We are finally finished exploring the island (for the 2nd time!) and make our way back down the ramp way where we do find the south circular path which makes for a beautiful walk along the shore with stupendous views over to Devil’s Island.  You can see how it would be virtually impossible to escape that place.  The currents are really strong, the shoreline is nothing but rocks, allegedly there are sharks in the water – and if you ever did escape and make it to the mainland, the shores there were full of quicksand. 

This is a great walk to end our island adventures! It’s flat and even, wending its way past the cable tower (for a cable car, the only safe way to get to Devil’s Island supposedly) and then on along the shore line with the island views.  At the curve at the end of the island lies the Blacksmith shop, which is one of the most picturesque ruins here.  Only a little ways past the Blacksmith shop, Ile Ste. Joseph comes into view and then the tender pier, and we are all the way back from where we started.

Even though it was a lot of hot walking and climbing, this was definitely one of the best days we’ve had on this cruise. A total surprise to us, and a wonderful surprise at that.