Ya Mon at The Strip and the St. Kitts Music Festival

So I finished my edits!! Of course, my edits of the editor's edits are being edited yet again, so the ping pong goes on, but getting through the first pass was a relief. I spent all day yesterday, going through 3 years of photos for possible use - where, we're not sure yet. The title of the book is A Sail of Two Idiots with a subtitle still being revamped. They even sent me a cover sample, which I'm not sure they want me to share, but let's just say it's pretty cool to see it all coming together.

Last night was our last TGIF at The Dock with Charlie & Tanya. Boo.



Of course, we'll see them again today at the hash and Sunday at the beach (it's a small island). We've got Charlie in this picture, but Tanya was too busy drinking champagne somewhere. What's more amazing is having Steve & Pat in the photo. They were at The Dock!! These two hardly ever go out to The Strip! It was fun to see them in a different setting. Of course, we'll see them at the hash too.

The group then headed over to Mr. X's Shiggidy Shack for some grub and continued partying, while we went to the mostly reggae night at the St. Kitts Music Festival. We missed most of the 1st act, Yellow Man, who sounded pretty good. Really enjoyed everything Cocoa Tea sang and then jammed even harder to Maxi Priest. By the time that set was over, it was about 1am. A couple of other guys came up playing to track music, ho hum, but we hung in there until Gyptian came on. Of course, then it was 2am, so we lasted until about a quarter til 3 and decided to call it a night, or morning as it were. And, of course, I was then up 3 hours later...I haven't stayed up that late since the last time we went to the Festival a couple of years ago. It was a lot of fun and people watching was a real hoot, but the fact that I can't sleep when the sun is up makes doing these things a bit of a drag. I'm tired!!! We weren't allowed to take pictures, so if you want to look you'll have to go to the Festival's website or SKNVibes photo gallery.

I really must mention the people watching again. Women were wearing their tightest, shortest dresses and men wore their best meat-market outfits too. My favorite was a guy with a t-shirt just like the one to the right. Classy. We could not have had a better temperature for the concert last night. There was a great breeze, no bugs, and very little rain. That said, it would sprinkle the tiniest bit and all the people standing on the lawn (we brought chairs) would move slowly under various vendor tents. Then when no downpours happened, everyone would saunter back out. This happened about 5 times, until the 5th one when it actually did pour. We put our chairs over our heads and hoped it would end quickly - which it did, although we still got a bit wet.

So the concert was fun, but there were only 2 toilets working for the women and, of course, no toilet paper. After a while, the ladies started going into the men's room and using the trough. Michael said that the women had no qualms whatsoever about dropping their knickers or hiking up their skirts and doing their thing, while the men were hovering in the corner trying to hide their junk. Weird. It also took a bit too long between sets (anywhere from 1/2 hour to an hour) so if they get that under control, maybe the concerts won't go until 4am. They did have good popcorn though - that's right Steve - we had popcorn for dinner (again). It is a food group, you know!

Bankie Banx (Anguillan musical artist) was there, watching not performing, and apparently is going to be playing at Sunshine's beach bar in Nevis on Sunday (at 5pm)- there's nothing about it on Sunshine's Facebook page (shocking). I've never heard him before, but doubt we'll go over. He talked to Mr. X last night and suggested he might play for the Shiggidy Shack for the 4th of July X-travaganza. Wouldn't that be cool?

So today is the summer solstice hash where we're supposed to dress up/dye our hair rainbow-y. We don't happen to have that kind of stuff in our wardrobe and can't just run to a Target or something, so guess we'll just be blah. I've been told that the walker's trail is full of views, so I'm charging my camera now. The runners are all groaning already as their trails are being set by Viking John and are likely to be rather difficult.

For our Sunday pleasure, Spice Mill has started their SummerFest events, and will have their version of the Musicfest down on the beach (no time given).

You know, I never get tired of seeing these guys.

Pirate Invasion?!

So yesterday at 8am I got a call from Peter/Popcorn telling me that there were 3 tall ships in the harbor and they would likely make a great picture for my blog. Why thanks! So I grabbed my camera and headed for the hills. I got there, took this shot,



and then debated walking all the way into town to try to get another angle. Getting there was no big deal, but the thought of hitting the hills on the way back made me groan. Plus there was no way I could get back by 10am for my usual stuff. So I begrudgingly started walking back toward Frigate (why oh why doesn't St Kitts have a bus system going to/from Frigate Bay) when I heard "you want a ride" behind me. It was Tina having a rare moment with her vehicle (her husband usually has it). Yes please! She was willing to go on a quickie car trip to town and see what kind of shots we could get. Tina actually takes professional pictures, unlike my amateur stuff, so understood my need to at least try to get it just right. So first, we headed for Port Zante where I scrambled across a few breaker boulders trying to capture the sailing ships. Hey - who put that fence and those lamp posts right in my way?



Then we made a quick stop to see how they'd come out from the roadside (Tina actually pulls all the way off of the road - she's still not in true Kittitian mode yet).



Then we tried one more in Fortlands, by the Fisherman's Wharf.



Ok that was going to have to be good enough. The two white ships are actually small cruise ships which ferry their guests ashore. The brown one has been here a couple of days; not sure if it's commercial or not. Before we headed back, Tina wanted to take me by Dr. Evil's "house." She's been telling me for months about this psycho guy who lives near the IGA grocery store. He sounds a bit like a voodoo kind of dude. A voodoo kind of dude who does weird things with his hair, lifts weights outside, and yells hexes at people as they pass by. I've never seen him. He wasn't outside this time either, but Tina did bravely slow down so I could take a picture. We both kept waiting for him to pop out of the bushes and start screaming a war cry at us or something.



Apparently the totem pole/rock thing going on in the front is a new addition. I just have to make it my mission to sneak up on him someday and get a good shot of him doing his thing. The trick will be doing that without being cursed (at).

A big thanks to my two intrepid blog hounds. I appreciate the help!

Beached at Reggae, Banana Bay, and The Strip + Shopping

Well, we did hit the beach. A couple, as a matter of fact. First, we started at Reggae Beach (really just the far-end of Cockleshell) so J.D. could get a sailing fix on a hobie cat he could rent there.

The boys went out and tried to sail despite the lack of wind and seemed to have a good time.



Bella was glad to see Daddy coming back as she worried about him way out there.




How come Michael never did this with Jacumba when we lost the wind?



I sat on a comfy chair watching, while Bella & Erin played on the beach.



Bella found her own chair. Definitely diva material. Somebody bring that star a Sprite!




If all that wasn't enough, Reggae bar has Oliver the monkey and his goat friend to hang out with; both of which enjoyed any attention given them.



Wilbur didn't even know we were there - he was snoring, in fact. Bet you know someone just like him.




Then it was off to Banana Bay for some snorkeling.



To distract Bella from the Mom disappearing beneath the water, she and the boys played bocce ball. Bella & her daddy won, although Bella was doing the measuring, so there might need to be a rematch.





Erin said that just when she thought there was nothing to see, a plethora of life appeared, from corals to a big turtle. Then it was Michael & JD's turn to jump in.


They found the turtle too.



While they were goofing around, Bella & Erin enjoyed the calm, warm waters near an old pier. Look how clear the water is.



The guys brought back this cool sand dollar





and a hollow sea urchin. Cool! Thanks to Pat & Steve for recommending that place!





Got back to the house just in time to get showered, changed, and run to the Shiggidy Shack for dinner. Erin & JD tried Mr. X's famous lobster and enjoyed it thoroughly, while Bella made a friend with a local artist's daughter (we made friends with Mr. X). The Amazing, Blazing Fire-Man actually came on right on schedule and did his thing before poor Isabella couldn't keep her eyes open another minute.

Today, we decided to go to Basseterre for a little gift shopping. We visited the The Circus (a copycat of London's Picadilly Circus) and got lots of fun stuff for folks back home at the Only in St. Christopher's store and Island Hopper - pretty much the only stores that sell locally-made things. Bella got a really cool coconut purse.

I offered her our keys to put in there, but then her Dad offered her coins. Guess which one she took?


Of course, it was necessary for some ice cream for energy.

We later had a great lunch upstairs at the Ballyhoo and got home just in time to let Bella get a much needed nap.

Just one more beach and/or pool day before JD, Erin & Bella's 2-day odyssey back to Phoenix. Where it'll be 110 degrees upon their arrival. Boo.

Downtown Area

I think my Mom's had a great time, but one thing she's not getting to do is sleep in. People ask us all the time why we go to bed so early...because we know we'll be woken up by something long before we want to be. This happened to my father when he visited too - just at a different location. Here we get garbage trucks, backhoes, Coast Guard men running and "whooaing," busloads of children apparently bus-less screaming and stomping past, weedcutters, lawnmowers, alarms beeping, gardeners whistling or singing or yeehaaing (I don't know why), monkeys fighting, cats in heat screeching, the neighbor kids screaming for their deaf/untrained dog...peaceful this place is not. Plus everything echoes. It is warm though!

As a matter of fact it's dead calm again. Waters are flat, winds are non-existent. While you guys are shoveling snow, we're swatting flies and scratching mosquito bites.

Yesterday, we headed to the capital to do one final souvenir search and wander around a bit. First we had lunch at one of our favorite places, El Fredos (veggie roti for me, shrimp for Mom), then it was off to the bank, and then to Chippies for minutes for my cell phone. Stomachs full and work done, we were off to Island Hopper, a big store with lots of clothes and knicknacks. We found a fantastic t-shirt there showing the entire Strip - which anyone who visits St. Kitts becomes familiar with. I might buy Mike and me one as we spend so much time there. Jack was also a fan. We'll all be "Strippers"!



Then we wandered into the Cameron/Spencer Gallery and found that the glass shop that had closed mid-town had moved there. They had a lot of affordable stuff, which resulted in more gift buying.

The Gallery and lots of other old buildings surround Independence Park, which is where slaves used to be sold. Nice to see a fountain in the middle instead.

It was pretty hot downtown, so we took our sweaty selves over to Stone Walls which was technically closed, but they let us enjoy 2 beers anyway. We grabbed a taxi back for a reasonable $10US and called it a day. Michael made a great veggie soup, we watched Survivor, went to bed, and then got woken up 6am...

And here's why we rent.

Yep, that's sawdust and damage from termites in our downstairs bathroom cabinet. It was very nice just calling the office and having them call and pay for Terminix. Yes, we really love this renting thing.

Today is my Mom's last full day here - boo. She gets to decide where she wants to spend it and then I know we'll head to the Shiggidy Shack where she wanted to try their ribs. She's already given them a thumbs up for their jerk chicken (which she had on the sunset cruise) and the lobster. Can they go 3 for 3? KC-5 should be playing too, so it should be another fun evening on St. Kitts. We might get another great sunset (brace yourselves for yet more sunset pictures folks!) as Montserrat had a partial dome collapse yesterday and the air is full of...well...ash (pilots could see the ash column 40,000 feet up). Our eyes certainly are aware of the gritty air. Even the National Weather Service has issued an advisory as visibility in the area is down. The St. Kitts airport was actually diverting flights a couple of days ago, so won't that be ironic if Mom gets stuck here because of volcanic "snow"?