Windward Wanderings
Spending a month in the Windward Islands on the SomewhereHot wasn’t my idea. I was persuaded by the gentleman who takes care of the boat. Not that it was difficult for him to convince me. After cruising through the Leewards last year, it seemed like the logical next step. So, I jumped aboard, and we set off for our temporary home base on Saint Lucia.
Four different groups of friends joined us there, each spending a week enjoying all of the adventure, culinary, and cultural attractions these beautiful islands have to offer. We enjoyed the Pitons, mud baths, volcanoes, waterfalls, a street party, “The Pirates of the Caribbean” movie set, snorkeling, diving, picking fruit, eating lobster, and drinking our way through the islands. In addition to Saint Lucia, we explored Saint Vincent, Bequia, Mustique, and the Tobago Cays in a constant search for ice and limes. But what we mostly did was laugh, sing, dance, tell stories, and make new memories. There’s nothing like an extended boat trip to rekindle and reinforce relationships.
If you ever get down this way, do not miss an opportunity to spend a couple of days moored up in the Tobago Cays. They are stunningly beautiful, and the locals are there to ensure you have a good time. We enjoyed a quick stopover for dinner on Mustique, an exclusive private island playground for about 100 obviously very wealthy people, which has included Princess Margaret, Mick Jagger, and David Bowie. I wrote about Saint Vincent last week, but little Bequia is probably the quaintest and friendliest of the islands, even if ice is scarce.
Saint Lucia is a wonderful little island and the only country in the world named after a woman. Incredible natural beauty to go with bad streets, driving on the wrong side of the road from the wrong side of the car, and mostly empty store shelves. Our search for a new blender was cut short when we realized that all the appliances on the island are wired for European outlets and currents. Oh well!
The appeal of the Caribbean is apparent to anyone who has listened to a Jimmy Buffett album and dreamed of wasting away in Margaritaville. For me, a week is not enough to fully immerse myself in the vibes of the islands. I’ve been down here now for about a month, and I am starting to develop an ear for the local patois and a taste for the street food. It is time to go home, but where am I going to find lambi, bouyon, and green fig saltfish in Austin?
