ST-VINCENT

Our sail from Bequia to St-Vincent was a wet one.  The waves were 6 to 8 feet), the winds were  at 25 knots and we were going against the trade winds and current.  We hugged the shores as much as we could, but still, waves pounded into our cockpit soaking us.  This was actually the best day to sail as the forecast was only going to get worse.  Of course, we could of stayed longer however, we're on a SCHEDULE to get to St-Anne, Martinique for Xmas.  I must of said a million of times and cruisers all know that schedules are an awful thing but still, we make them for one reason or another.  

Our goal was to hike the volcano in St-Vincent however my herniated discs were not happy, giving me lots of grief.  So, instead, we waiting 30 minutes for a local bus to pick us up to go to the town of Kingstown.  This bus driver had it figured out.  He was by far, the worse, fastest crazy bus driver with the loudest vulgar rap music to date but....the inside roof of his bus was very well padded so we guessed  that if we flipped over, we'd be protected by this pad.  A lovely thought.

PADDED BUS IN CASE OF CRASH

Kingstown is a very lively, dreary, falling apart kind of Carib city by the ocean with lots of container ships and a cruise dock. The streets are lined with fruit, vegetable vendors and cheap clothing stores.  I just had to buy a watermelon and eat it right then and there.

Some vendors set up a couple of stools and a make shift table so you can have cocktails in the middle of the work day.  The town is loud; people screaming at each other for unknown reasons since we cannot understand Creole.  There was also a demonstration opposing the newly elected government.  I made the mistake of asking a lady what the demonstration was about.  She was extremely lively and yelling  and screaming about how their new government was a communist and she just went on and on and on....She was so loud it was hurting my ears.  I had to back away.  

DOWNTOWN KINGSTON

DOWNTOWN KINGSTON

MURAL IN DOWNTOWN KINGSTON

DOWNTOWN MARKET

We walked up the hill to visit the Botanical Gardens.  These gardens are the oldest in all of the Western Hemisphere.  We had to stop under a gazebo and have our lunch since it was raining very hard.  The garden keepers kept us company and were very proud to say that they had their first Xmas light show the previous night.  

The garden boasts a breadfruit tree that is a descendant of the original breadfruit tree imported here by Captain Bligh.

There is an organization that is trying to save the St-Vincent parrots as there are only about 500 left in the wild and only on the Island of St-Vincent.  Next to the gardens are several cages with about 20 St-Vincent parrots.  We were greeted by them saying "Hello, hello, hello".  They are very colorful birds of bright grey, red, pink, orange, blue, white and green colors.  It started raining really hard again and the birds walked upside down clinging to the roof of their cages and spreading their wings to get a bath.  This went on for about 30-60 minutes.  It was quite comical watching them.

ST-VINCENT PARROT

On our way back to the city, we decided to walk thru the very large cemetery.  As soon as we stepped inside the gates, a man which looked like he was living there, proceeded to get naked.  Not sure if he saw us or not...we turned back.

NAKED MAN TAKING COVER

HINTS FOR CRUISERS:

• Blue Lagoon marina:  Can be a bit rolly.  If you take a mooring ball, you can use their pool for $10 US a day.  The marina has a small cafe and a bar.  It also has a small grocery store.  You can catch a local bus just outside the marina by walking up the steep driveway.  It is only about 15 minute bus ride to the airport and another 15 to Kingstown.  Traffic can be horrible going into and out of the city.
• Botanical Garden:  We were here in December and there really wasn't many flowers at all.  The far better botanical gardens are in Deshaies, Guadeloupe.