POSITION : 14°04'•4 N and 060°56'•9 W
DAY/TIME : 4.02.2013, 20:00 UTC
MOOD: HAPPY !
We left Bequia for Saint Lucia on 3. February, early in the morning.
Hard at the wind we made quick progress - sometimes with more than 10 Knots ( one Knot = 1852m / hour ),
and stayed close to the lee coast of St Vincent.
St Vincent as the "capital island" of the State 'St Vincent and the Grenadines' was spotted by Columbus on St.Vincent Day during his third voyage in 1498.
I don't know whether he set actually foot on the island that was called in the
Carib language 'Hairoun' = "home of the blessed" ,
but seemingly both parties put a religious touch to it.
By accident ??????
As you might have heard the phrase :
" The way of the Lord is unpredictable... " .
In any case if he - Columbus that is - would have put a foot on the island, I am sure he wouldn't have lasted long.
The indigenous people, the Caribs, defended their home fiercely untill the middle of the 18th century . They were 'supported' and finally overtaken by a new race though, the "Black Caribs", a mix from former slaves that had escaped or ship-wrecked on the shores off Bequia and intermarried with the locals.
Whilst again the island was disputed between the French and English over many years ,
finally in the late 18th century a British force
put an end to both
French dominance and Carib dreams of independence.
The only trace left from the first are names for some villages and coastal features. . Most of the latter were deported to Honduras, but their genetic legacy is said to be still there.
Hard at the wind we made quick progress - sometimes with more than 10 Knots ( one Knot = 1852m / hour ),
and stayed close to the lee coast of St Vincent.
St Vincent as the "capital island" of the State 'St Vincent and the Grenadines' was spotted by Columbus on St.Vincent Day during his third voyage in 1498.
I don't know whether he set actually foot on the island that was called in the
Carib language 'Hairoun' = "home of the blessed" ,
but seemingly both parties put a religious touch to it.
By accident ??????
As you might have heard the phrase :
" The way of the Lord is unpredictable... " .
In any case if he - Columbus that is - would have put a foot on the island, I am sure he wouldn't have lasted long.
The indigenous people, the Caribs, defended their home fiercely untill the middle of the 18th century . They were 'supported' and finally overtaken by a new race though, the "Black Caribs", a mix from former slaves that had escaped or ship-wrecked on the shores off Bequia and intermarried with the locals.
Whilst again the island was disputed between the French and English over many years ,
finally in the late 18th century a British force
put an end to both
French dominance and Carib dreams of independence.
The only trace left from the first are names for some villages and coastal features. . Most of the latter were deported to Honduras, but their genetic legacy is said to be still there.
 From a guide book I quote: " It seems that neither God nor man was completely sure they wanted tourism in St Vincent " . There must be something about this island to have all the time these religious references. But It surely is not the most famous destination for sailors today either. It looks rough, it is rough. Not for their aggressive boatboys neccessarily, but for its countryside and its difficutl anchorages.: Often steep and not well protected, as the charts show me , and probably nothing for the sailor's wife or companion to go shopping for. |  Polish flag on the building to the left. Whilst passing by I pay homage to the fact that the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" had a set in Wallilabou Bay , and enter it to see what is left of it. To my surprise.....nothing, except a polish flag hanging from one of the less derelict houses. Here you have it, the "Polish Plumber" strikes everywhere. |
But the island looks definitely interesting.
I promise:
If I should return to this area ever, I will visit you,
St Vincent !
We continued to Saint Lucia,
where we had started our Caribbean adventure, and after
passing the island's landmark , the two 'Pitons' ,and a short stop for dinner in Marigot Bay,
with its famous Doolittle restaurant ( film set for the movie Dr.Doolittle),
we arrived again in Rodney Bay Marina.
where we had started our Caribbean adventure, and after
passing the island's landmark , the two 'Pitons' ,and a short stop for dinner in Marigot Bay,
with its famous Doolittle restaurant ( film set for the movie Dr.Doolittle),
we arrived again in Rodney Bay Marina.
 The 2 Pitons as seen from the sea |  |
Whilst discovered during Columbus' fourth voyage in 1502,
I bet by now you can guess already the history of the island.
Yes, I can confirm, all of what you think of, is true !!!!!!!!
and more, because it
changed hands more than 14 times !
But as the island was linked to Martinique, it only finally became British after the Napoleonic Wars in 1814 .
And again, the French left a lot of names and the input for
the locals's language, patois, which is very much like creole.
In "Old french" patois means " incomprehensible speech",
and Parisians say that all natives of France outside Paris of course speak some kind of 'patois' !!
which is good news, so none of the locals here feels offended !
Gosh, Parisians are an arrogant lot !
Talking about french names, you will find on many islands
villages or mountains called "Soufriere" ( ie on St Vincent, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe) .
In my ignorance I related it to "souffrir = suffering", and I assumed it was a reflection of the suffering and hardship by both the former slaves and colonists to make the steep mountains fertile. But it has nothing to do with it ! Surprise, Surprise.
I bet by now you can guess already the history of the island.
Yes, I can confirm, all of what you think of, is true !!!!!!!!
and more, because it
changed hands more than 14 times !
But as the island was linked to Martinique, it only finally became British after the Napoleonic Wars in 1814 .
And again, the French left a lot of names and the input for
the locals's language, patois, which is very much like creole.
In "Old french" patois means " incomprehensible speech",
and Parisians say that all natives of France outside Paris of course speak some kind of 'patois' !!
which is good news, so none of the locals here feels offended !
Gosh, Parisians are an arrogant lot !
Talking about french names, you will find on many islands
villages or mountains called "Soufriere" ( ie on St Vincent, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe) .
In my ignorance I related it to "souffrir = suffering", and I assumed it was a reflection of the suffering and hardship by both the former slaves and colonists to make the steep mountains fertile. But it has nothing to do with it ! Surprise, Surprise.
 " gases with the smell of rotten eggs " |  ...women dressed up as tourist guides ! |
The name comes from sulphur springs,
a result of the often still active vulcanos that exist on these islands.
Now I wonder whether in case I would live next to one at home , I would consider paying $ 8 USD for visiting these places. stinking "like rotten eggs", or be paying the "guides" an additional $ 4 USD for telling me someyhing that one should have learnt in school in chemistry classes.
Anyway, here you feel "you have to" as part of your island experience,
but my eyes are still weeping from the exhausting gases, and I will not do it again.
But by all means, do it when you
come and visit.
Chat up the guides, they are all lovely ladies ,
and share the experience, especially
when you want to reduce your cholesterin levels and don't want to eat eggs no more for at least 4 weeks.
Gosh,
People of Basle/ Switzerland,
depending on the wind direction,
YOU must have a low cholesterol level !!!!!!!!
It is a beautiful island. this Saint Lucia,
originally in spanish : Santa Alousie.
Thick rain-forests,
where the Iguana freely roams,
banana plantations that have replaced the old sugar cane ones, a functioning tourism,
even traffic jams at "rush hour", visits by big cruise ships as much as smaller sailing vessels,
it is an intersting island to visit.
But stay away from the tourist trails, because only then will you meet real people :
a result of the often still active vulcanos that exist on these islands.
Now I wonder whether in case I would live next to one at home , I would consider paying $ 8 USD for visiting these places. stinking "like rotten eggs", or be paying the "guides" an additional $ 4 USD for telling me someyhing that one should have learnt in school in chemistry classes.
Anyway, here you feel "you have to" as part of your island experience,
but my eyes are still weeping from the exhausting gases, and I will not do it again.
But by all means, do it when you
come and visit.
Chat up the guides, they are all lovely ladies ,
and share the experience, especially
when you want to reduce your cholesterin levels and don't want to eat eggs no more for at least 4 weeks.
Gosh,
People of Basle/ Switzerland,
depending on the wind direction,
YOU must have a low cholesterol level !!!!!!!!
It is a beautiful island. this Saint Lucia,
originally in spanish : Santa Alousie.
Thick rain-forests,
where the Iguana freely roams,
banana plantations that have replaced the old sugar cane ones, a functioning tourism,
even traffic jams at "rush hour", visits by big cruise ships as much as smaller sailing vessels,
it is an intersting island to visit.
But stay away from the tourist trails, because only then will you meet real people :
 1. ...like Hilray, the bird-cage copying house-builder, who makes his money from "contributions" of those passing by and taking pictures. Please put your money into the little bird house on the right, and yes, he takes Credit Cards as well. |  2. Or you meet Simon, the local fisherman from Savannes Bay , who can tell you all about the catch from yesterday, when he caught Marlin and Tuna, so yesterday was a good day !! And you start to understand that Saint Lucians are hard working people.....if they want to. And mostly they want to. |  3. And they are philosophers, no matter how poor, like Daniel from Marigot Bay. I had met him previously whilst walking down the steep hill towards the Marina, and whilst he didn't know anything about me nor the fact that I am a 'boatie' and even own one, he impressed me with his articulations and knowledge. He invited me out of nowhere for a trip in his rotten dinghi ( life threatening !! ) to show me "his" bay. When asked about his criteria for happiness he answered : Being alive man, being alive. I met him a couple of times since, and I never saw him smoking anything ! |
......not like me though......remember :
Happiness is smoking a cigar called Hamlet !
( an old british advertisement slogan from the 80's )
Happiness is smoking a cigar called Hamlet !
( an old british advertisement slogan from the 80's )
The last point that strikes me is this :
Saint Lucia is now the the third independent country I have been visiting that has the same currency :
The EC Dollar, the Eastern Caribbean Dollar.
And there are in total 6 independent Caribbean nations
(hear hear !! )
plus 2 British overseas territories (Anguilla and Montserrat) ,
HEAR HEAR !!!!!!! )
that,
under the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank located in St Kitts, have this
"Single Currency ".
RIngs a bell ?????
And they all have their different economies, developments, challenges, etc etc etc.
Now what strikes me to the point of feeling hilarious is that it seems to work.
You might even have a fit if you knew that it is a British invention !!!!!!!!
Ain't she pretty....Head of State Elizabeth II
Do you remember the British tabloid press reporting on the imminent
death of the Euro in December 2011,
again in 2012,
because they believe , or better don't want to believe it might ever work.
Do they know that their Queen's head is printed on this 'Single Currency" ,
and that it is actually printed in London ?
Now Brussels take note :
The Euro might work if you came over here and learnt from the islands !
I know, I know, it's so much smaller,
but then remember the "Flight of the Phenix".
It's the principle that matters !
Or you talk directly to Mr Cameron's chancellor ,
Mr Osborne.
He will probably be most embarrassed if he had to admit to his Tory backbenchers that he knows a lot about how to run a "Single Currency" successfully.
Life is a bitch !
Yours, Master Mike
death of the Euro in December 2011,
again in 2012,
because they believe , or better don't want to believe it might ever work.
Do they know that their Queen's head is printed on this 'Single Currency" ,
and that it is actually printed in London ?
Now Brussels take note :
The Euro might work if you came over here and learnt from the islands !
I know, I know, it's so much smaller,
but then remember the "Flight of the Phenix".
It's the principle that matters !
Or you talk directly to Mr Cameron's chancellor ,
Mr Osborne.
He will probably be most embarrassed if he had to admit to his Tory backbenchers that he knows a lot about how to run a "Single Currency" successfully.
Life is a bitch !
Yours, Master Mike
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