Well
anyway.
To
start with we spent a couple of days in Rodney Bay catching up with everyone, and making
amends for the fact that we were a dry boat for the crossing. (The Marina Manager holds a particularly
fine party each year, at his house – very brave – with a live band, fire eaters,
limbo dancers and various other forms of St Lucian entertainment including, and
here’s where the bravery comes in: Free Rum Punch.)
Then we
headed off with our friends Graham and Carolyn to their villa on the West coast
of the island. I thought the drive
down was spectacular – I can’t quite believe how colourful it all is. And then we arrived at the villa. Words escape me (well I seem to remember
‘wow’ was about the only one I could manage for at least 5 minutes). I can guarantee none of you even live in
a house this amazing, although many of my fellow timber framers will probably
have built some. It’s nestled in
the trees on the steep hills overlooking Jalousie Bay, in between the world famous
Pitons. Even just the garden would
put lots of botanical gardens to shame, before you even get into the infinity
pool with separate jumping pool. And then there’s the view…
Chris here is enjoying the pool. You can only tell
where The villa is
actually built in lots of small buildings connected by
pool ends and sea begins by the colour of the
water! outdoor
walkways. the little section on the right was our
en-suite bed room. chris
didn't want to leave.
Lunch time with Carolyn and Graham.
And this is the house from down below.
We’ve
also had a swap round of Guests.
Kevin’s girlfriend Lilly arrived on Christmas day after a mammoth
30-something hour journey involving a coach, 3 planes and a taxi ride. So did Rebecca and Tom, some more of
Chris’s friends. They had less of
an ordeal to get here, but don’t mention the words ‘Cleopatra’s
villas’.
A word
of warning. Don’t leave your guests
un attended. Chris and I decided to
spend a couple of days in the Hotel with Rebecca and Tom, thus giving Kevin and
Lilly the boat to themselves. Lilly
however being a very sociable soul barely stepped out of the marina and found
some of her friends from Falmouth.
So, they have decided to join them on their boat which is heading up
north to visit more islands.
But. Before we bade our fond
farewell to Kevin, our trustee crew of the last couple of months, we went off on
a big adventure.
We
hired the services of ‘Elvis’ who I am pleased to report is alive and well, and
driving a taxi in St Lucia, and we went off to explore the island. We started in Fond Latisab
Creole Park: a working model farm providing a taste of
traditional Caribbean life.
Here is Canis our guide making Casava Bread Ok,
so I couldn't resist a bit of pit sawing
with coconut, cinamon, sugar, and nutmeg.
all grown here
Then we visited a lovely waterfall, and went for a little walk through
the forest which finished in a rope swing which some local children had rigged
up over a dam in the river.
Here's Rebecca looking like a shampoo
advert under
the The
local kids on the rope swing. I do have some photos
waterfall. She's only been here a day and i
swear she has of us doing this
but we all
look scared - it's a 20ft drop!
a better suntan than
me!
This is called 'jelliy coconut' a green
coconut Here's Lilly trying to drink her
coconut.
is picked off the tree and then you cut a
hole You need a straw really!
in the outside and drink the juice.
you then
cut it open and the unripe
flesh is like jelly.
So now
we have said goodbye to Rodney bay, and little Blue is once again our home. We have come back down to Jalousie Bay for New Year. Chris and Carol from Yacht Philippides
III are here, and the rabble from Ariel have just turned up. But that’s fine cos every time they do,
our fridge miraculously fills up with beer, on account of they don’t have one on
their boat…
So all
that remains is for me to say
A VERY
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE CREW OF LITTLE BLUE xxx
