Monthly Archives: September 2013

Today was change over day at the Marriott.  Our friends from New York were leaving and Jim’s sister Carol was arriving and we were still living the dream.

We had a plan to make the transition smooth for everyone and from our perspective it worked well.  While we were at the airport swopping guests, the villa was being cleaned to start our second week.

We waited until 10 a.m. to have breakfast at the Calypso Café which was a buffet with a pancake and waffle station and omelette station besides all the breads, fruit, and breakfast meats and potatoes.  This gave Louise and Joe a good food base for the long trip home.  They did not expect to be home before midnight not counting any unforeseen delays along the way.

We left for the airport at 12:30 and had to wave goodbye as they joined the lines into customs  and security.

Then we went to the arrivals portion of the Basseterre Airport to wait for Carol.  The plane she was arriving on would be the plane that carried our friends back to Miami.  The air conditioning made it a comfortable wait so we sat down for the one hour wait.  I noticed a rack filled with booklets of some kind and took one to read.  Then I noticed they were dated 1998!  I guess people don’t spend much time reading in the airport.

The plane landed and we saw Carol walking to go through customs.  After customs came baggage claim and then finally we could officially greet our sister. Carol had spent the last week in Florida visiting with Lyle, and only had one day of sunshine the whole week.  She was glad to see the sun shining here until she realized how hot it was going to be.

We had a great time getting caught up on family and friends and went to La Belle Vie for dinner.  Louise, you didn’t miss anything that great!

Today was the last day our friends Joe and Louise would be in St. Kitts with us.

They leave around noon tomorrow and we pick up Jim’s sister Carol at the airport to share the next week with us.  We decided a good way to spend the day was to stay on property and just take in the sun, pool, and island culture.

Cross word puzzle was the activity for the day, take notice they used the computer to get answers

At night, the Royal Grille a property steakhouse, hosted a special event  set up on the beach.  A path of torches led the way to a section of beach lit with electric lighting, tables and chairs set up in the sand with table linens and restaurant   flatware and flowers.  There was island music playing in the background and two bonfires give it the final touch of atmosphere.  Dinner was served buffet style with a scrupulous salad bar and dessert bar.  Dinner consisted of coconut rice with peas, corn, baked potatoes, BBQ ribs, jerk chicken, mahi mahi, and a roasted suckling pig!   Not a bad way to end the week.

Early in the morning we met our favorite taxi driver, Dennis, and headed to the St. Kitts/Nevus ferry to explore the sister island.MaryGrace, Louise and Joe walking toward ferry to Nevis (what good looking legs) Continue reading →

Our big plan for Wednesday, was to spend the day on property and then go to our favorite restaurant that we found in 2008 called the Beach House.  Our first reaction when we walked into the area was “awe” when we saw the white linen draped posts,  multiple burning torches to provide the soft lighting, and heard the soothing flow of the surf on the beach.  Here’s the picture we took then.

You can imagine our disappointment when we heard the Beach House was no more.  Then we called and realized they had changed location and name but was still in business.  The Pavillion was our destination for dinner tonight.  Like The Beach House, The Pavillion is located on the Caribbean side of the island in an area that is not overdeveloped.  It was almost dark as we pulled up to the restaurant so it was hard to see much of the property.  What we did see, was very tropical.  Then we were greeted at the door and welcomed to the restaurant like we were famous or important.  As we entered the dining area, our eyes were immediately drawn to the magnificent stone columns with soft lighting forming lines down the center and elegant surroundings.

We were led to our table which gave us a view of the Sea as darkness fell and a luxurious looking swimming pool lite only in the water and reflecting stately palm trees around it.  There was a gentlemen play wonderful music on the steel drums and we felt confident the evening was going to be as magical as it would have been at The Beach House.

For my foodie friends, we had a special appetizer of small scallops in sweet and sour chicken sauce, Lobster pho soup with rice noodles, and steak with lobster croquet and garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables.  The steak was one of the most tender I have ever eaten and everything was wonderful.  Even the china was unique and elegant.  I took a picture of the coffee cup that was delivered with a small piece of carrot cake to show you its style.

After we got back in the car, our driver told us this is just a facility used for million dollar homes in the area during the day (a private club) and they open in the evening to the public.  The other location is now used for private parties only.  On the way back our driver also pointed out the mansion and lands Robert Redford owns and is developing for his friends and wealthy buyers.  It’s called Sundance Ridge  (how appropriate)!

We finally decided it was time to get off the property and show our friends a few of the sights so they could fully appreciate the island.  St. Kitts was discovered by Columbus for Spain, conquered by the French, and then taken by the English until declaring their independence in 1983.  They say they are an English-speaking country but their dialect makes understanding them a little difficult. That means that selecting a tour guide has two important criteria; knowledge of the island and understandability (is that a word?).  We found a driver named Dennis (nickname “Chiefy”) who met both criteria and off we went taking in the many vistas and panoramic views.

Our first stop was the botanical garden and Batik gallery.  

If you have never seen this artwork it is unique and interesting.  Designs are sketched by artists on pure white cotton then areas that are going to stay white are covered in wax to protect it from the dye it is placed in next.  The tricky part is after the dye dries, they wax and dye up to 5 times creating various colors that takes 9 days.  The end result is amazing but the interesting part is that this art is the same on both sides of the fabric.  There is no wrong side.

The next stop was the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.  The first cannon was placed on the hill in 1690 by the English trying to take the island from the French and the potential of the hill was soon recognized and utilized.  The condition of the fort and its significance to the region make it a must on any tour of the island.

St Kitts island is 69 square miles with a population of 31,880 and has a volcano over 3,000 feet above sea level.  On our tour, we drove to this spot on the beach to see the lava rocks that help to create the black sand on this side of the island.  The rich black soil is probably why the main crop on the island was sugar cane until 2004 when tourism became its main source of revenue.

This was our final stop on the tour which is probably my favorite vista.  It’s high on a hill not too far from the Marriott.  From this spot you see the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic on the other.Note the rain shower off to the right which is over the island “Nevis” Continue reading →

I’m not sure what the exact definition of “foodie” is, but we may be getting close.  Day two seemed to revolve around food events starting with a Welcome to St. Kitts continental breakfast in a beautiful shady grassy spot close to the beach.  Fresh pastries and fruit are a great way to start a foodie’s day.  We took a leisurely stroll around the property to see where everything is and what is available to us to use.  Then in the pool for another water aerobics class.  This time the class was led by “Ice” an instructor I seem to remember from another trip here.  I have said it to anyone who will listen that the major difference between this island and all the other is the people.  Everyone of them is sincerely nice and they all have nicknames.  I think we should get nicknames before we leave.

Lunch was back to the Bohemia poolside restaurant.  Did I mention they make incredible smoothies?  Then to the quiet pool for reading, resting, and relaxation while we contemplated our dinner.  This trip all seven on property restaurants are open and several of them have special events.  Last night the Blu Restaurant had a Caribbean Lobster and Steel Band event.  I don’t think I have ever had Caribbean lobster but its was sweeter meat than Maine lobster.  Before the main course, there was a salad/appetizer bar that was not only extensive but delicious.  The two standout items for me were the banana croutons and mango caesar dressing.  After dinner, we had to make room for the dessert bar with guava creme brulee’, mango cheese cake, blackberry ice cream, and almond chocolate torte.  Life on this island is so taxing!

The first week in August we flew out to California to see our family there and it was time to go somewhere again.  This time we came to St. Kitts in the West Indies and one of our favorite vacation places.  The island is just 9 miles long with lush vegetation and beautiful aqua water and reefs like many of the other islands, but the people are what make it different.Looking out over the beach from resort Continue reading →