Full circle in the Grenadines
Regina
Espen Aalstad
Wed 30 Jan 2008 20:40
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13:00N 61:14W
Quick stop in Bequia to check out of St. Vincent
and the Grenadines.
Somebody has calculated that if you spend a season
in the Caribbean you will spend time equal one work week just checking in and
out of the islands. Then comes the money in fees. No wonder
the yacht cruising industry is now the most
important source of income for most of the islands: more so than the big cruise
ships.
Let's hope there will be easier ways to move around
than hours at the immigration and customs. Some are working to create a 'free
movement union', but until drug trafficing is more under control this may be far
off. The absence of visible police is peculiar, and perhaps best shows the
financial strain many of these governments are under after recent
hurricanes and growing populations. We have though not missed any security: the
warmth and friendliness in these islands are perhaps the most
attractive!
Even if 'Caribbean time' is slow, the last month
since we came into Bequia and the Grenadines has passed very
quickly. Our moves and rythm has become slower as we
eat/school/fix/provision/explore/meet friends yet the days run by. A perfect
place certainly to break away from life and stress back home.
Hopefully these islands can retain their slower pace and beautiful
environment even if tourism and development is fast accelerating. We see
noticeably more people and construction since we were here just two years ago.
Big contrasts are developing. Tourists and retierees are flocking here with
a strong Euro, while the infrastructure and local salaries lags behind.
Massive villas in the hills as second homes while the shanty towns struggle to
get over the last earthquake.
We worry about every garbage bag we must leave here and see sadly that the
reefs have become less colorful.
What a challenge to the leaders and the wonderful people here!
No wonder we have had a wonderful time!
From Union's top with Tobago Cays and its reef in the
East. This is actually taken from the medical clinic...often set on a
top (for the breeze we think).
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