Parent’s Visit

Just recently we were pleased to discover that our family exists outside of skype-world, when Steve’s parents visited us for just over a week.  It’s funny, but you get so used to seeing people in 2-D on a computer screen that it’s almost a shock to see them in real life.  Anyhow, it was so wonderful to see family (it’s been over 7 months!) and get to show them a little bit of our new home, as well as explore some of the areas that we hadn’t yet been able to see in SVG (the rental car was such a treat).  We definitely packed the week, maybe more for fear that we might slip into our regular break routine of sitting on our porch and staring at people than anything else, but it was great to have a little more activity.  

The first day of our vacation we had planned on taking a boat to the Falls of Baleine from Fancy (the Northernmost village on the island), but unfortunately the sea was a bit too rough.  We still drove all the way up there — it is a stunning drive — and then went to the Owia Salt Ponds.  Amazingly, although there was a large group of Vincies having a cook at the park, there was no one at the ponds below.  Steve and Karen climbed up to the top of the largest rock and we all relaxed in the salty swimming hole.

On Sunday, we headed over to the Evangelical church for their morning service.  The church is literally next door, which is quite convenient, although it makes it hard to skip a Sunday without looking really obvious   We had warned Karen and Gary that they would have to try and lip read for about 45 min. of praise songs in the beginning of the service, given that the congregation memorizes all the songs and doesn’t have hymn books, but shockingly they had a projector and screen set up when we got there.  How modern!  After church, to Teshira we went.  We decided to hike up there despite foreboding clouds, and ended up getting drenched by the end of it.  Steve’s parents were champs though, never complained, and I must say that the countryside does have a kind of brilliance when it rains.

Monday morning we had the good fortune of getting to introduce Karen and Gary to many of the other volunteers in Saint Vincent when Anne had a delicious brunch at her place in Brighton.  Eggs, grits, bacon, hash browns, banana bread, fruit salad, Mimosas and Bloody Marys…we were seriously spoiled.  We also celebrated Tony’s 20th birthday, with a cake that we attempted to salvage by cooking it in a pan on the stovetop.  It ended up a melted mess, but it’s the thought that counts, right?  

When we were finished stuffing our stomachs, we hopped in the car and headed to the Vermont Nature Trail on the Leeward side.  Once again, we were the only people there.  The trail turned out to be even prettier than we had expected — the kind of green that makes people swear that you’ve oversaturated your photographs, and bermeliads  covering even some of the tallest trees (they looked like they were from a Dr. Seuss book!)  The trail actually cuts through a rainforest, and the habitat of the endangeredVincy Parrot.  The country’s national animal, it is the only parrot with generative language ability; sadly, there are only 500 left, and a partially completed cross-country road could potentially eliminate them altogether.  We got to see a few, from afar, and could definitely hear their squawks from the look-out station.

On Tuesday morning we headed to Bequia, which is Steve and I’s personal version of heaven on earth.  Amazing beaches, adorable locally-owned shops, and it is still relatively unspoiled by tourists (no tacky tourist stores, strip malls, chain restaurants, or major resorts).  We stayed at the Frangipani, which is the old house of a former prime minister and situated right on the water.  It was quiet enough that two mornings during breakfast we were actually able to have a conversation with Sir James Mitchell — he told us he was impressed by a speech Obama gave while in Europe, and he filled us in on some international news while we dined.

The most memorable event of their whole visit was definitely our sailing trip to the Tobago Cays on the Friendship Rose.  This 96 foot schooner was hand-built by the captain 40 years ago, and originally used as a ferry from Kingstown before it was retired to charter boat.  I’d never been on a sailboat of this size before — three sails and plenty of space to lounge and enjoy the views.  Although the sailing was fabulous, it was the Tobago Cays which took my breath away.  It really was the epitome of a Caribbean paradise.  We snorkeled in an incredible reef for about an hour and then headed over to the beach.  From the beach, we paddled out only a short distance to swim with wild sea turtles!  Most of them were feeding so you could hover over them, only a few feet away, and watch them in their natural environment.  There were only a few of us out there so you could have a turtle completely to yourself — it was one of the coolest things that I’ve ever done.  Truly magical.  From the beach, Steve and I climbed up a little hill and found some iguana relaxing in the trees.  We also go an awesome view of the Cay from above.  

Another highlight of Karen and Gary’s trip was the jump-up at the Frangipani Thursday night.  The steel band that played was the best I’ve heard here and, apart from a crazy guy trying to wind with me, it was a perfect night.

On Friday we said goodbye to Bequia (it was tough to leave) and spent some time exploring Kingstown while Karen and Gary helped us get a few items that would have been challenging to carry back on a van (thanks for the blender and rake!)  Saturday we had planned on exploring Georgetown with them a little more thoroughly by foot, but unfortunately Steve, Karen, and Gary all came down with what appeared to be food poisoning and were extremely ill all day.  We think it must have been some breadfruit pie which I passed on due to my dairy allergy — for once my lactose intolerance was a blessing rather than a curse! In true Vincy fashion, Liat cancelled the only flight to San Juan Sunday morning, but thankfully chartered a plane for the passengers so Steve’s parents were able to make their connecting flight.   

We will miss them, but we feel very lucky to have family that is so supportive of us in everything that we do.  We had a fantastic vacation and we can’t wait for the rest of you to visit!