Ketch of the Day

You've probably seen the bumper sticker, "I'd rather be sailing."  Well, here is the blog.  Even under light winds, a day on the water is a meditation on the elements.  Focusing the senses on wind and water, focuses the spirit as well.  Extraordinary fractal images on land, sea and sky reset the central nervous system and reorient priorities.

Viewing the dramatic Saint Lucia coastline from the sea is an colorful lesson in geology and land formation. The volcanic island is pummeled into shape and striation by surf and wind gusts, and the resulting topography is strikingly beautiful.  Some cliff faces appear to be carved carefully by hand and swabbed  in shades of caramel and taupe.  Others, layered by lava provide a tapestry of umber and sienna. Mother Nature never fails to deliver a spectacular show.

Glorious Green

Welcome to Avocado Season!  It only lasts a month so stay hungry.

The Lucians believe that if your avocado tree isn't fruiting, take a rock and place it at the first fork in the trunk.  Perhaps the stress of the weight will trick the tree into protecting its legacy by producing seeds.  Perhaps this activity just gives the farmer something to do in the face of unruly nature.

I wasn't particularly interested in the Lucian avocado when I first arrived on the island.  I'd found a friend in Hass and couldn't imagine any other variety would be worthy of the calories. However, when a tide of melon size fruit flooded the market for pennies a piece, I couldn't resist.

Inside the Agrofostree variety, the flesh is unbelievably creamy and rich. So fresh, the cool, green literally melts on your tongue.  I sure was surprised when the first avocado I brought home bloomed from green to scarlet in a few days at the kitchen window.

Bay Play Day

 Marigot Bay.   A protected haven on the west coast of Saint Lucia, perfect for boaters and birdlife.  This island oasis  was called  “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean” by James Michener and has been used as a tropical location in movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Dr. Doolittle.  

One road descends down a volcanic ridge into a charming one-lane village.  Gingerbread houses and restaurants line the street on the way to the main feature: the ferry terminal.  

You'll need to move quickly to catch a ride on the open bed boat.  There are no roads to the other side of the bay, so everyone, from workers to tourists hops aboard for the two-minute crossing.

On the other side of the bay,  a palm studded spit juts out in to the harbor providing further protection.  If you were fighting the British, you might just tuck your warship into this elbow of sand.  If you were on vacation, rum shacks and bead shops are all that you might need for a day away. 

Rainy season means it's usually somewhere and today it is somewhere across the sea.  From a chaise you can watch storm clouds stack safely in the distance.   Cumulous only adds to the idyllic beauty and saturated sunset. At the last moment a globe of sun peaks out and up in a glorious show of gold and amber.

Violin for Dummies

The new trimester at the Saint Lucia School of Music brings new students and new surprises.  I was delighted to meet an adult student who had decided to study beginning violin.  A primary school music teacher, Angela, arrived with her own book, violin and accessories and had already dedicated herself to a month of self-study.  When I saw the title of her method book I had to laugh!

Angela took out her violin.  She had carefully and clearly labeled each finger position with paper and tape.  I experienced a small thrill seeing someone take ownership for her education with creativity and focus. Quickly, she absorbed the basics of violin technique, and taught me a thing or two about alternative teaching supports and innovation!

A Day at the Races

On another beautiful day in St. Lucia. I take a break from teaching and head down to the Rodney Bay Marina.  The Boardwalk Bar is literally on the boardwalk across from over 300 berths that offer safe harbor to ocean crossing craft.  It's the wrong season for the Trade Winds that cool the island in the winter months, and the water is Monet tranquil.

Three 26-foot sailboats approach the starting line to gently fill their sails with the tiny bit of wind that eases across the water.  Balletically, the boats  ease around a short course of buoys and luff lightly before the crowd of bar patrons and onlookers.  Through the bar PA system, a relentless commentary provides a uniquely British perspective on the slow motion race and Captain's personalities.  Insults and heckling cut across the water much faster than the wind as the three vessels inch across the finish line.

Meditative movements of the sails and fractal imagery of sky and water offer a relaxing respite from the rigors of music education.  Now, back to work!

Hairy Situation

Before

Rehair Team

In this global mash-up we now live in, a Caribbean symphony doesn't seem so far-fetched.  However, violins and the tropics don't necessarily get along. Steel pan and ukuleles fare much better in the islands than european orchestral instruments because heat, humidity, and termites all conspire to destroy the delicate organic parts.  The weakest connection of all is bow hair, which is harvested from the tail of a horse.  Even if the hair is unbroken, humidity can soften it until the bow doesn't tighten enough to be useful.

After

As I've been excavating and evaluating scores of broken instruments, My assistant, Runley, and I unearthed a cello case buried beneath boxes and old wood  behind the stage. Inside it was filled with instrument bows in various stages of disrepair!  Since bows are constantly in demand, and there are no luthiers on the island, we were excited to set about repairing what we could.

Horsehair was ordered from Mongolia, wooden plugs harvested from local trees and tools collected from various hardware stores in Castries.  And, last but not least, we needed  an expert!

Pachelbel's Caribbean Cannon

Travel Cello

 When is a wedding not a wedding?  Well, when it's a vow renewal.  Or, it's in the Caribbean!  I found myself on an unlikely instrument, the violin, in this unlikely setting.

Rewedded and Cruising!

Unlike a Boston wedding, the wedding coordinator did not write a contract, discuss music choices, cues or set-up time.   Nor, did she address attire, duration or content.  There were no guests or formal reception! The gazebo was set above a sandy smile of beach open to admiring onlookers and hungry seagulls.

I found myself alone with the rewedded as they enjoyed a moment after the ceremony and before the sunset cruise.   The couple was treated to appetizers and a full-size Red Velvet wedding cake.  I diligently worked my way through Pachelbel's Canon until I was asked to stop and join them for the cake.

Pachelbel's Cannon on Right

Bean to Bar

Summer Break! What does a school teacher do when she's not in school?  Become a student, of course!  I was fortunate to spend some time in the South of St. Lucia where cocoa plantations thrive.  At this time of year, the rainy season, the land is brilliant green and lush with productivity.

Some of the tourist destinations in the south offer a Bean to Bar tour. So, we decided to create our own chocolate bar production process.  After harvesting brilliant red cocoa pods and pulling out the white, nectar wrapped beans, we gently swaddled them in a banana leaf and set to ferment  in a dark corner.  After about a week....Failure!  Mold grew instead of the anticipated fermented sugars.

The theory on YouTube is that the fermented beans are then roasted, cracked open and ground into delicious chocolate.  If you don't at first succeed, pick another pod.  Success will be all the sweeter!