Monday, 4 July 2011
(Mel) We've been in St. Kitts since Thursday, and I'm writing it down as a place to revisit. Because of the vet school and the other two colleges
on island, there are a lot of young people here, and hanging out with them has been a welcome change from the inevitable loneliness that accompanies any significant time spent on a boat! Robin and I have both become close with our captain's friends Chris and Sam, Sam's amazing lady Caché and her girls, and especially Dove and Richard, visiting from Phoenix (dreamers unite!).
Fab bbq at Chris & Sam's big pink house
Thursday night, complete with dance
party led by Dove and Robin (flawless execution of Beyoncé's Move Your Body).
Had everyone on the boat Friday for an Israeli-style dinner of falafel and
pita, then said goodnight to the Captain and his wife, and Chris and his 8-year old son, who was having a ball on their boat-slumberparty. Drove up to Chris and Sam's house to get ready for the weekend fun (note: don't bother trying to look good when you're about
to hop in a dinghy and tear through the surf - soaked through)!
Went out that night to the newest spot on island, Sobe (like the tea), and man it felt good to get dressed up and dance! A great scene - big indoor/outdoor bar with a deck right over the beach and crashing waves, and a lighted beach volleyball court with amphitheater seating (complete with shirtless spikers!)...amazing fun. The best part? Unlike St. Thomas, where everyone is spread out between happy hour spots and there's
often a clear dividing line between Weet Indians and Whites, it was clear that this was THE place to be - it was full of people, college kids, vets-to-be, and locals alike - everyone dancing up a storm (Shout out to a certain veternarian - sun never sets on a badass!).
Slept on Chris and Sam's couch - Big Z and I were happy to sleep on a bed that didn't move - and woke up (late!) Saturday morning to Sam and Caché making pancakes.
Sailed with the gang over to Nevis, which was just gorgeous. Arrived at dusk, starving, and all 10 of us piled into the dinghy and tied up at
Oualie Beach to dine. Amazing food, and a really romantic Caribbean-style open-air restaurant. They didn't seem to mind we were all in cut-offs and boardshorts - if you go, the key lime pie is perfection, but it was the priciest place we've eaten at - bring some serious EC$!
Motored back to Whitehouse Bay, as everyone was too tired to sail. Heard hushed whispers of a change of plans for our delivery, which made Robin and I exchange a few worried looks - charter? 6 people? St. Lucia? or back up to St. Martin? Maybe someone would fill in the clueless crew in the morning.

Robin serenaded Dove and Richard and I in the saloon, and we said goodnight once we set the anchor. I dinghied our guests to the dock in the
dark, but the maglight didn't prevent
me from stepping on a fisherman's
forgotten fish head while unloading passengers - ugh ugh ughhhhh!
Woke up early the next morning to the magnificent Whitehouse Bay by
daylight - only a few houses in sight, and lots of green, jagged hills
and rocky cliffs.
Went on another catamaran cruise
over to Nevis (a more verdant, posh Jost Van Dyke) to celebrate Sam and Caché's birthdays - yes, we were still on a boat, but on this one all the work
was done for us, so we could kick back, hang with their friends, and sip a dangerously delicious rum punch! Did
a snorkel stop along the way - so much fun to be on the other side and play tourist for a day!
Will miss you amazing people, keep in touch! xoxo