Baby Steps

My next set of visiting sun-seekers were on Spring Break from Boston and Washington State. Their week long visit was a fabulous opportunity to go new places, meet  new people and do new things.

Like all folks in the Caribbean, we were immediately up against the insect world.  My 13-year old guest earned the nickname, ZapMaster, after he developed  proficiency with the mosquito racket.  Bug Badminton!  He also has a terrific eye for locating caterpillars, crabs and empty beer bottles.

As we toured around the island, I realized that I really do live here.  How much I've learned in the eight weeks I've been on the island of St. Lucia; how to find the best of the 30 varieties of mangos, how to bribe the bus driver to go off his route to take us to our favorite beach or how to make cocoa tea, a local favorite.   Even more daunting is how much more I need to know: how to influence the local government to support music programs, how to motivate local youth and how to repair open seams on violins and cellos.

Leading Trailer

Created by Marika Partridge and starring teachers, students and other wildlife in St. Lucia.

Immersion Diversion

 This picture here on the left is the last one  I snapped before it began raining for real in the Forestiere Rain Forest.  Capping a mountain ridge, and cuddled in the clouds, the greener than green canopy was suddenly masked by sheets of water, and the camera went deep into plastic.

Our guide is a forester, Adam, who approached us at the end of a deserted road wearing an unsheathed knife and a hard hat.  We weren't sure we wanted a guide, but after learning that we didn't have a choice and the government requires the presence of a guide after a series of trailside attacks on tourists, we readily capitulated.

Adam revealed himself to be charming, gallant, and extremely educated in the ways of the tropical forest.  We gathered watercress, drank from waterfalls, and, even found natural insect repellent in the fruit of a deliciously scented tree.
Adam cut us umbrellas from banana plants and boomeranged handfuls of beads/seeds from the canopy.

After 600 steps UP and two and a half hours, we emerged drenched and deeply peaceful from our nature immersion.

Pirate Parts

Marika is visiting for two weeks, and we have time to explore the island together.  Our first trek was to renowned Pigeon Island.  This island was connected to the mainland by a causeway the 70's and is now a National Park that features two summits memorializing British Fort Rodney.  The two peaks are high and hot, and the terrain is dry, but we encounter Lucians and Tourists alike scrambling on all fours to the summit, which quite literally, takes our breath away. 

In the picture to the left you can see the cool, white capped waters of the Atlantic Ocean on the left, and, on the right of the connecting strip of land is the placid, Caribbean Sea.  Afterward hiking, we swim in the turquoise water and rest at an exquisitely located restaurant, Jambe de Bois. Pirates of the Caribbean strike again! Marika sings a song about you can’t be a pirate if you have all of your parts. :-)

It’s easy being GREEN

I arrived in St Lucia on Easter Sunday.  Liz met me at the airport and brought me to Sunny Acres, the VERDANT Castries neighborhood where she lives.  The view from the balcony is a spectacular spectrum: GRASSY GREEN. PEA GREEN. SEA GREEN. FOREST GREEN, CHARTREUSE, MOSS, EMERALD.

It’s a lush tropical island. It’s sunny a lot but not always. Refreshing squalls are followed by sunshine.  The wettest month is September. Liz is on spring break now so she has time to play. We swim and walk the beach. The color BOTTLE GREEN is ubiquitous in the sand. 

When we’re home in Sunny Acres, we are productive. I plan to mosaic sea glass trivets to protect the table from water stains.  We are in a debate about the name of the principal color that the landlord has chosen for the dwelling.  Is it PISTACHIO?  Or is it MINT ICE CREAM? In any case, it’s a color rarely found in nature.

When we get up, we have our favorite morning beverages. For Liz, that’s GREEN TEA.  For me, it’s local coffee, coincidentally called GREEN GOLD.

The School of Art and Design Saint Lucia had its annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival on Easter Monday.  It’s a Caribbean island. To relax here is to LIME.

  
When we need a ride, we try JADE. He’s a college educated entrepreneur, graphic designer and a smart, fun guy who has a car and experience navigating the winding roads of St Lucia.

Don’t be GREEN with envy. This is simple living. We cook for ourselves, and do dishes, just like  anyone else.Your VIRIDESCENT Guest Blogger,  Marika