Island Babble St. Kitts

And I'm back...again. Nope, gone again (UPDATED)

2016-05-08T18:58:00.002-04:00

April 2017:

Well, after a lovely year on St. Kitts, which included starting Island Tingz a really cool store selling locally made items, located at Mr. X's Shiggidy Shack on Frigate Bay, it is time to move again. This time, it's off to St. Croix.

The St. Kitts Happens website had a good following, but no one wanted to pay. Since I couldn't find anyone to put me up for free or feed me, it became obvious blogging for this island was not a sustainable business.

Surprise! I'll bet you subscribers are currently looking at your inbox and wondering what the heck a new Island Babble post it doing in your mailbox. Well, like many others, it seems I just can't quit St. Kitts!

So I'm back. Once again, I'm hoping to showcase what St. Kitts has to offer, from its interesting people, to its unique sites, to its fun events that pop up. Because Island Babble has been through so many changes, and so has St. Kitts, I've decided to start a new website

You can keep showing the Island Babble Facebook page some love - it's like the energizer bunny, it just keeps on going.

Best, Renee

And I'm Gone...Again

2014-11-24T12:37:00.000-04:00

After a great month, it's time to bid St. Kitts farewell once again. I'll miss my friends, the weather, the vibes, the water views, and so many other things, but hope to return again.

Love ya, St. Kitts!

Until next time.
Renee P.

St. Kitts Eco-Park

2014-11-21T19:42:00.000-04:00

Despite a rather gloomy and sometimes rainy day, I met up with some ladies, and we carpooled up to Sandy Point to check out the brand new St. Kitts Eco-Park (Facebook page).

This working attraction is a collaboration between St. Kitts and Taiwan to teach and utilize sustainable methods of agriculture and green energy. Taiwan had a lot to do with the St. Kitts Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport going totally solar. The eco-park was also powered by solar, even down to their electric fence. The place consists of:

A huge greenhouse (outside):

Greenhouse inside:

Two attached buildings that house a St. Kitts shop and a Taiwanese shop. The St. Kitts shop was rather sparse, but had some cute stuff. There was an art gallery upstairs with some colorful artwork.

The Taiwan shop had orchids upstairs (because they said they weren't sure what to do with the space yet) and gifts downstairs.

A rose garden and a desert garden:

An orchard:

A(n) herb garden:

and a labyrinth shaped like the islands of Taiwan and St. Kitts.

Of course, there are lots of flowers. They seemed to specialize in orchids. The plants are for sale, but they weren't available until Monday. All the plants looked healthier than the ones I've seen in Home Depot.

To wet your whistle, they were selling bubble tea for EC$10. I'd never heard of it and didn't try it because I'm not into sweet stuff, but if it's something you have a hankering for, the same folks providing it here just opened a restaurant in Port Zante called Taiwan Tasty.

You could sip your tea and enjoy a nice view of Statia (St. Eustatius).

If you want to go for free, you have another chance Saturday (Nov 22nd) from 9am to 1pm. After that, they seemed unsure of the entrance fee. It could be wet out there, so dress properly and beware of biting red ants. There were signs everywhere, and they meant it.

The plan is to allow events to be held on the property, like weddings, receptions, etc. Friday they were having a little trade show. They had devices that used solar power to charge things like cell phones, among other things.

Before we left, the St. Kitts Scenic Railway tooted its horn and chugged by.

It was a nice day, and a very pretty place to wander around. On your way back (or there) is the Amazing Grace Experience (Map), which opened just as I left the island. It's quite a substantial little place, and includes a church. We needed to get back, so didn't get inside, but if you're heading up there, you might want to include some time for it.

One more day, and then I'm gone...again. Sigh.
Renee P.

Another Fun St. Kitts Hash

2014-11-16T15:44:00.000-04:00

Saturday's hash was set up in a hurry to accommodate all the folks who were in town for the Ross veterinary conference and for the students who were finished with exams and ready to get outside again. No complaints here!

We met across from the Sugar's Complex, so I knew we'd have lots of neighborhood walking to do. Hilly, neighborhood walking. Yep, that's what we had.

But we also had great views and a neat walk amongst the water towers.

There was a lot of crisscrossing and backtracking going on, which made what could have been a bland hike into something rather interesting. It was great seeing friends, including a few who have also left the island in the past couple of years. You never know who you're going to see at these things - that's the best part!

The next hash will be the Christmas hash, in about 3 weeks, so stay tuned to the St. Kitts HHH Facebook page for details. Remember, there's no membership involved, and if you need a lift, just ask. The Christmas hash will be catered, have Santa there, and include gifts for kids. That one will cost more than the usual EC$2, but it'll still be a good deal. Beverages (water, soda, and beer) are always available afterwards for EC$5 each, or 5 tickets for EC$20. Come out and make some new friends!

Renee P.

Handing over the Torch...Again

2014-11-12T11:22:00.002-04:00

Once again, Island Babble is losing its main poster, and it's time to hand the reins to someone else. It was always my intention that Island Babble be larger than me and larger than whoever was posting on it. The direction I envisioned for Island Babble was that it be a current source of island information and a place people could come to ask questions and make comments. It has included posts about general island life (both good and bad), updates about businesses and events, and has had guest contributors to provide their own viewpoints on various subjects. I have met many long-time friends thanks to this blog, as I'm sure Ben has as well.

I'll be leaving the island again in 2 weeks (you're not rid of me yet!), and Ben and his family are returning to the U.S. shortly as well. Jason Hanley has offered to take over the blog and update the outdated map, calendar, restaurant listing, activities list, and all other tabs associated with Island Babble (and were a lot of work!). He will be writing in conjunction with a few other folks who have expressed an interest in sharing island tidbits with all of you.

Thanks to his wife, who works at the Ross vet clinic, Jason understands student interests, but he also runs his own businesses and personal blog, so has his own take on living and working on an island. Some of his interests include hiking, snorkeling, photography, traveling, and even flying the occasional plane.

We've done lots of brainstorming, and Jason is confident he can continue to educate and entertain visitors, island-dwellers (full and part time), students and their parents, and anyone else who's enjoyed this blog over the years or who's just discovered it.

If anyone has any thoughts on what they'd like to see on Island Babble going forward, do share. There will be lots of changes in the future to make it more user friendly and interactive, and easier to navigate.

Thanks to all of you for your readership, input, and friendship! Good luck to Ben on his new endeavors.

Renee P.

Wet & Chilly

2014-11-08T07:55:00.001-04:00

It's been raining for the past 12 hours. And it's gotten a bit nippy.

Click on map to go to live radar.

Still a great place to be though.

That salt pond expanded to twice this size before the rain was done.

Anyone golfing anytime soon will be facing a few more water obstacles than usual.

The morning walk had us engulfed in a low, spritzing cloud.

Where'd the mountain & the port go?

Oh, there they are.

I honestly can't remember the last time I used an umbrella, but this one was quite sturdy, which was a good thing with these gusty winds. You might want to look for yours too, since we've got a flood watch until 2pm (later extended to 8pm).

Time to dry off!

Be careful if you're driving out there!

College Street ghaut - Basseterre (St Kitts-Nevis Times)

Sorry if you're on vacation and this weather is putting a damper on your plans, but you could always put on some rain gear (a trash bag counts) and stomp through the puddles anyway. Or you can wait it out - it's supposed to clear up by afternoon (hard to believe looking at it now though).

Forecast:

Synopsis: Conditions across the Leewards will remain cloudy with scattered showers during the morning but gradually improving throughout the day as most of the cloudiness and showers accompanying the upper level low and trough continues to move northwest over the Atlantic. A flash Flood watch is in effect until 2PM today.
Wx: Today: Cloudy becoming occasionally overcast with periods of scattered morning showers and rain.
Tonight: Partly cloudy with isolated late night showers
Winds: ESE at 12-16kts.

Seas: Moderate to locally rough with waves 1.8-2.1m or6-7ft. A small craft advisory remains in effect.

It was overcast all day, but it did dry out. A partial rainbow at sunset.

Renee P.

Island Snippets

2014-11-06T08:51:00.002-04:00

So it seems a lot of you non-islanders had a taste of winter recently. How about a few pictures to bring you some temporary warmth?

Full Moon
(The second pic is from a May Harmony at Sea post, but this is what it looked like last night, too.)

Sunrise

Sunrise while walking the pooch

What happens when a tired pup wants to rest on her doggy bed. Kitty always wins.

General island scenes

Feel better?

Renee P.

Changes - Part II

2014-11-01T20:30:00.000-04:00

A few posts ago, I mentioned I'd been down to the Peninsula and there were some changes to share. So let's do some before and afters. As you head up Timothy Hill toward the peninsula, you encounter a nice deep hole in the road that apparently has been there for about 3 weeks now (UPDATE: This was filled in as of Sunday 11/2).

Timothy Hill has had a lot of problems with huge boulders falling down,

August 2011

so an alternate route was created, which is still in use.

They're supposed to be building a tunnel, at least part of the way, but considering there's nothing to burrow into, I'm not sure what they're doing.

I encountered quite a bit of traffic at 6:30am on a Friday. Very close traffic (I fist-pumped the truck driver as he passed).

Once on the other side of the mountain, you come upon Friar's Beach.

Not much has changed on either side, although like The Strip, the Caribbean-side beach has taken a beating and can be non-existent at times. There are still the same bars.

Carambola from road

Carambola from beach

Jam Rock from road

Jam Rock from beach

Sunset Beach Bar from road

Sunset Beach Bar from beach

Discovery Beach Bar from road

Discovery Beach bar from beach

Unknown bar from road

Still unknown bar from beach

Godfather's from road

Godfather's from beach (it's there!)

Mongoose from road

Mongoose from beach

Shipwreck from beach (hanging in there!)

Shipwreck beach (cont'd)

Notice all the %#* seaweed. We have the latest tropical storm to thank for that. The best spot for lying out on S. Friar's right now is Mongoose on one end or Carambola on the other, although once open, some of these bars might try to scoop the offending stuff away. The beaches on the Atlantic side look a little better, and the Marriott always rakes up their seaweed. Sandy Bank is looking good too, thanks to Christophe Harbour's raking efforts.

Here's a view of Shipwreck then and now. Looking toward the left (toward Nevis):

December 2010

October 2014 (not sure why it's looking like a Polaroid)

Looking to the right:

December 2010

October 2014

The sunset looks the same though!

Monkeys are still there too.

Nothing seems to be happening along most of the drive, which is what I've always liked about it. The first development you come to is Peninsula Cove, but it's as it was 2 years ago - nothing but nice landscaping that was installed in 2011. That's still being maintained, but the sign is almost faded to nothingness. If you Google "Peninsula Cove St. Kitts" there is no home page for it, and yet many realtors are still promoting it as a investment/citizenship opportunity. Hmmm... It's supposed to be on that slope. Shrug.

Next up is Christophe Harbour and its many projects. One of them is a marina that got off to a slow start but is now picking up steam and is supposed to open in a couple of months.

May 2012

October 2014

May 2012

October 2014

Here are a few more current photos of the area. In addition to my pics, there's a time-lapse video of it going in.

The harbor lots (homes built on fill, jutting into the pond) now have some activity on them.

More homes and infrastructure have been put into place.

The first home has gone up on the cliff leading to Cardinal Point (according to Christophe Harbour's Facebook page, there's a hiking trail starting at Cardinal Point and climbing up to Sugarloaf Peak). This is the home owner's view. The Pavilion looks cool from above.

May 2010

October 2014

May 2010

October 2014

There are some cute villas steps from the beach, although without a view, that allow fractional ownership. It seems insane to me to pay the same price for basically a timeshare that you would for an actual property (and there are many on-island), but I suppose if you just want the passport and not the hassle of maintaining something, this is the way to go. Homes in this particular area are in the millions, so paying $400K is a steal if you've got that kind of money.

I'm not sure what's going on with the golf course. Down at White House Bay, the dock for cruisers has been removed.

Notice the building at the end there? That would be Salt Plage. From the outside, it looks like a ramshackle metal shack.

Up close and inside, it's rather chic. They've even incorporated ruins they found onsite into the decor. The place was closed when we were there, so we're not quite getting the full effect.

It's nice, but apparently they haven't seen what happens there during a storm.

Farther down the peninsula, the road to Cockleshell beach/Spice Mill is now paved. That was rather pleasant.

Once you turn off to go to Banana Bay though, you see a lot of changes. Sugars is building apartments before you get to that beach.

And the dirt road you used to take Banana Bay has been rerouted to around the point.

Coming back toward Cockleshell

Once you get around, you see both the Sugars complex and the Park Hyatt buildings rising.

You still have access to the beach, but the fence line limits things, and well, it's not exactly relaxing at the moment.

This is what it looked like in 2010 & 2011:

Sigh. Well, the view out is still nice, and the old pilings that provided such good snorkeling are still there, so maybe that's still worth a try (a previous trip there).

We didn't head down the road to Reggae Beach or the Beach House, since I didn't get the impression they'd changed much. The villas that were next to the Beach House were moved to Sandy Bank - completely in one piece with even the furniture inside and paintings on the walls - so Turtle Beach is partly back to its wild state.

Cockleshell Beach from Spice Mill looking down toward Reggae.

Heading back toward Basseterre, on the other side of Frigate Bay, I know a few things have changed in Bird Rock. For example, a very controversial project involving a dolphinarium is being built. If I head that way, I'll take pics. I don't have to see it to know I'm against it, and a petition is available should you want to oppose it too. The person who wrote the petition no longer lives on the island, and many people who have commented are also not from the island (including me). Considering the attraction is meant for tourists, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but I'd like to see more Kittitians put their two cents in. For more details, there's a Facebook page to check out. There's also an interesting Facebook page about ongoing non-eco friendly development, too.

Rocky's when it existed and had calm snorkeling
December 2009

Rocky's is no more. Neither is the reef.
2014

The times, they are a-changin'

Renee P.

Zumba for A Cause

2014-10-31T11:03:00.004-04:00

So Thursday brought a fun time at the annual breast cancer fundraiser at the Marriott. I've always gone when on-island, but it's been kickboxing. This time it was Zumba. I'm not the most coordinated person, but neither was anyone else, so it was actually a lot of fun. When the insructor first said there'd be 20 (or was it 30 songs), I thought she was kidding, but after 1 1/2 hours, I discovered she was not.

Scene St. Kitts was there as usual. The face behind Scene St. Kitts is Tina, but it's always got a camera in front of it (mine usually does too).

A few of the fun ones Tina took:

Can I just say, I want one picture where I'm not a sweaty slob? Plus, I didn't have any pink and needed pockets so had to wear hiking gear. Yeesh.

I hitched a ride with someone else I hadn't seen in awhile, and realized that I know more people from my 4 years here, than I've known in my lifetime.

That night, was round 4 with the kitty and the mouse. Ms. Kitty has been bringing mice in through the kitty door so she can munch on them in peace. Except that I'm here. The 1st night, one ran across my back, except that I didn't know that's what it was, and when I got up that morning there was nothing but a red splotch on the floor. Shrug. The next night I watched Flush bring a very alive mouse into the bedroom and then drop it. I spent a bit of time running after it before I realized that it would be easier to let Flush get it again, so helped her round it up. Once it was in her mouth, I pulled it out by the tail and let it out so it could live to see another day.

Well, that was likely all it got, because the next night Flush came in with another one. I took her and the mouse in her mouth outside, but kitty didn't take the hint, so I took the mouse from her again. The next night, she waited until she killed the thing before bringing it in. Before I was onto her, half the mouse was eaten already. Yuck. Seriously, yuck. Incredibly, she ate every single thing - from fur to bones to blood - except for 3 stinky turd-like things (gizzards?). Pretty amazing. Gross, but amazing. I will be locking Flush's cat door at night if she continues to do this.

Ah, a nice sunrise.

I'm pretty sure Betsy has figured out that if I've appeared, that means her favorite human is about to disappear. So to make her feel better, I take her to the beach. She knows right where to go.

Beach! Yay!

Wahoo!

Yippee!

Grass - awesome!

Of course, there's always the long, steep walk back. Last time I was here, I dragged her. This time, she found shade and waited for me.

Guard cat waiting. Sans mouse, thank you.

All that rolling around, meant this, of course. Now she smells like coconut. Quite pleasant.

Happy Halloween everyone!

P.S. Last year at this time, we were partaking in Fantasy Fest activities on Key West. Life is weird. Well, ours is. Renee

Wrap Up in Nevis

2014-10-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

The final day of hash festivities was a catamaran trip to/from Nevis, hash, food, and games. We had a good crowd of about 75 people.

It was a nice smooth ride on the Spirit of St. Kitts. It was the first time we'd been on that particular boat.

It looked like it was pouring on Nevis, but the rain must have been in the cut between the two islands. It was nice and clear upon arrival.

Mr. X and those stupid, ancient 1980s shorts. We want to steal them sometime and burn them.

The hike itself was perfect. It included some hills, some ruins, some views, and was just the right length. Great job to the 2 hash-setting virgins on Nevis (Chris & Nessa). I really liked the fact that we could go inside the ruins, too.

Some rare upper-strength activity with ropes.

And then we were back to Pinney's Beach. Either end shots.

Cheers to Chris, photo bombing, for her part in setting the trail.

We ended up 3 for 4 on the food. When Michael asked what the vegetarian option was, the guy responded "fish." Um, when did fish become a vegetable? That left some salad and garlic bread (made on hotdog buns). We passed. Others ate though.

Some soaked.

And then it was game time. Soak the towel, run it up the line, wring it out, fill bucket.

Losers get soaked!

Then the old spin around the stick, run dizzy, drink a beer without using your hands, run back game.

Ah, good times.

Neat clouds over St. Kitts.

Always a great sunset.

A beautiful return too.

I liked this shot that included the moon sliver.

Some of us stayed awake.

Some of us had gone to Sunshines and had too much rum punch.

The danger of taking a nap around people like us.

And then we were back. We hitched a ride (thanks Sue!) and rushed over to the Latin Festival, with it having about 1 1/2 hours left. This event has really become a big deal. It was almost like watching a concert at Warner stadium. I kind of liked it when it was smaller and at Spice Mill, but that's progress for you.

We ran into more people we hadn't seen for awhile, and all wanted to hug us and take pictures, but I felt too scummy. Itching and hungry, I had a nice walk home that was punctuated by fireworks.

There! We survived the 20th Anniversary hash. As mentioned before, if you're looking for yourself in pictures with more expensive cameras or just can't get enough, check SceneStKitts or the SKN hash Facebook page. If they had as many photos as I had to wade through, it could take awhile though.

Michael went back to the U.S. today - boo. It felt a bit like he was just leaving for vacation, and that I'd be seeing him return soon. He didn't even have a moment to lie on the beach while he was here! Things will quiet down a bit on Island Babble now, so you email subscribers will get a break. Ben/Heidi might throw in their two cents on what they've been up to, too, since they may also have experienced something they deem worth sharing. I'm here for 3 more weeks so will share a few more observations and activities as they come up. Enjoy your week! Renee

Renee P.

St. Kitts 20th Anniversary Hash

2014-10-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today's hash started/ended at Romney Manor. It's one of the best backdrops one can have on St. Kitts.

This anniversary hash's theme is "Shipwrecked," and since some people dressed up, the first order of business was to have a strut. The couple behind the leaves is here from Barbados.

The winners.

We had a good crowd, but not as big as normal. It's exam time for the students, and there is actually a lot going on this weekend so people had to choose.

Then we were off. The runners ran; the walkers walked.

A lot of this trail was thankfully in the shade.

We walked along the ruins, as well as the zip line.

Passed someone's home?

It was definitely steep in places, and once again, I realized how out of shape I've gotten (stupid foot fractures!). The runners looked like they'd had a tough one, too.

Luckily, there are plenty of beverages to rehydrate everyone.

Of course, the typical down-downs. Popcorn knew better than to wear new shoes.

Sunset!

As impromptu designated driver, I got to drive the loooong way back to the house in a vehicle larger than I'm used to, on the opposite side of the narrow roads than I'm used to, in the dark. I acted confident, but inside I was screaming just like I was the first time I went through the drawbridge on St. Martin with Jacumba. Oy.

Then we were off to the Shiggidy Shack for dinner. I used to help out there, so it was fun to see the employees that were still there. Again, lots of good food - veggie burger, salad, vegetables, rice & beans (called peas here), and delicious mashed potatoes. Burp. And then karaoke. Bleh. One of the hashers called it Carry-Your-Own-Key and I think that pronunciation fit a few people. Some weren't bad though.

Mr. X and Kimba had to have back up dancers.

There's Ben, your Island Babble blogger for the past couple of years.

The woman from Barbados (who had been dressed in the big leaves for the Shipwrecked costume contest) said she couldn't sing but she had a trick. It involved a condom, 2 of which broke (aack!), and a cigarette.

It was pretty funny. She invited us all to the Barbados 30th hash next year, Nov 12-16, 2015. Hmmm....

Next up - the finale. A catamaran trip to Nevis and a hash that Chris (our host from Wednesday/Thursday) and a couple of fellow hikers volunteered to set. We're pooped!

Renee P.

The Hash Activities Begin

2014-10-26T07:46:00.000-04:00

So Thursday night was the meet and greet for the hash house harriers at Shipwreck. I didn't snap any photos because it was dark and you know what a bunch of people drinking in a bar look like. The food was good (the organizers have made sure there's plenty of vegetarian fare so we don't starve), and it was fun to catch up with some more people we hadn't seen in a while.

Friday, we rented a car. When we're on an island, we want a junker. There are lots of potholes, narrow streets, deep dips, and general craziness on island roads, so you definitely want a car that's seen better days so no one notices if you've got any new scratches or dents. But nooOOoo. We ended up with a brand new car. Talk about paranoia. They did come pick us up to take us to the rental place though, so there's that.

Michael did some work-related stuff, we hit the grocery store (running into more friends), and then just did general things you do when you have a car for a day. We took a trek to the peninsula, and I took lots of photos to show you what's going on down there, but will save that for a later post. We got back to the house just in time to escape an island shower.

Luckily the rain was long gone when it was time for the rum run, although it was humid enough to make it seem like we'd all been doused. A few people flew in for this hash, some from Barbados, a couple from Trinidad. Once again, we met people we hadn't seen in a long time. Normally the rum runs are done with everyone wearing red dresses and maybe beards. It scares any non-hashers who have no idea what we're doing or why, but it certainly gets everyone's attention. This time we were dressed normally; red is a political color here and elections are coming up, it wasn't worth riling anyone up. Before long it was time for everyone to receive their instructions. We'd be hitting 3 bars.

And then we were off.

Now, I normally walk hashes because I like to see my foot placement, and you can't easily do that on bush/trail runs. This was street running, so I thought I'd go ahead and run it, not thinking about the fact that it was dark. Within 10 minutes, I was running across a grassy patch, and as Michael yelled, "Look out for that stump!" I hit the stump and went down. %$*! We didn't take a picture of it, so I recreated it for you...unconvincingly and rather dramatically. I was fine.

Just as I was realizing how out of shape I was, we were at the first bar.

And then we were off again. Runners get things like false trails, but since this was a live hash (we're running after the hare), we basically got tricked. The hare would get us all to the top of a hill and then yell "false trail" and turn back around. We, the hounds, cursed. We went by the cemetery, over bridges, around monuments...

And then we were at the second bar.

And then we were off again. The third bar was the Rum Barrel, down in Port Zante (sorry for all the Facebook links, but most business here have non-existent or non-working websites). The bar was playing great music. This song was quite popular. By the way, you don't have to be a drinker to hash or participate in rum runs or hashes - I was drinking water at this stop (and even at the meet & greet), plus you've got soda and things like Ting to wet your whistle.

And then we were off again, ending up back where we started (at the old Tennis Club). We ate great food and tortured the visitors with down-down's (we were included in that) and the usual after-hash festivities.

Videos of all this will end up on the St. Kitts HHH Facebook page, and photos will be on SceneStKitts if you want a better feel for these events. They're worldwide and a great way to meet people, so you might consider attending a hash in your neck of the woods. We've tried them in the States and have found that they're not enough about hiking/running. Yes, the official motto is that we're "a drinking club with a running problem," but we actually like the running/walking part. Next up - a normal Saturday hash.

Renee P.

Nevis Departure

2014-10-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

So one of the reasons we headed to Nevis was to hike with Chris and a group of hikers that hit the slopes every Thursday morning.

It was a rather leisurely hike, but very humid - Florida humid. Ick. This was also not a quiet hike, as lots of huge leaves were on the ground, crunching as we walked.

Not only did we have a fun bunch of people from all over the world, but we had a couple that lived nearby that knew a lot of the history or the ruins we were seeing.

This is a very, very old watering pit for the cattle that were brought in to run the sugar mill equipment before steam entered the picture.

There were a number of old cattle pens too. It was odd to walk on old roads (1800s, I think), knowing that slaves had once walked the same paths. I was quite enjoying the fact that we didn't have to worry about snakes like home when a guy in front of us saw a baby tarantula creeping across the trail. Oh yeah, I forgot they have those here. I only have a blurry photo, but you know what a tarantula looks like.

That was a great way to start the morning. Thanks Chris! It wasn't long before it was time to catch the ferry back to St. Kitts. Here you can see how close the islands are (St Kitts left/Nevis right).

Notice how the west side of St. Kitts is lush, and the east side is all brown. There's rainforest on one side, and cacti and beaches on the other. Strange, but what we like about it here.

And then we were back.

Renee P.

Nevis Arrival

2014-10-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Island Babble, I've met a lot of people. Some have been readers, some have been people I've met through readers. We headed to Nevis thanks to the latter fix-up (thanks Nancy & Ron!). We've been to Nevis a few times, the last time I even did a tour, but this time we had a chance to see the island through the eyes of someone who lived there, so headed over. We've always taken the Seabridge ferry because we always needed a car, but this time we caught it from Basseterre. The ferries that run between Basseterre and Charlestown are more likely to run on schedule as well. It's EC$25 (about US$10) + EC$1 for the port tax, so not too bad. The trip takes about an hour.

We're here!

Now if Michael the passenger would remember to get in on the left side of the car...

My favorite place on Nevis is Golden Rock. The property is so lush and looks so natural, but if you really look you can see how much work has gone into the landscaping. Plus the mix of old and modern is just up my alley. Michael's only been here as a take-off point to hike to The Source, so it was worth a redo so he could see the whole place too.

I took better pictures on my last visit, so if you just can't get enough, you can click here. And is this not the nicest handwriting?

Then we just sort of drove around as Chris, our host, told us island stories - she's lived on Nevis a long time. Of course, she knew the one place we could get a vegetarian roti.

We did stop to get a drink at the Nisbet Plantation, and although I'd been there before, I had never seen its great pool.

Once back on the road, we could see that this island's building-height restriction of 2 stories was also being violated. Hrmph.

I have to admit the Hamilton development was rather nice, with a quiet beach,and a nice view of St. Kitts.

We also went to the island's only drive-through. You'll note that this simply means that you drive in, place your order, park, and then go in and get your order. It's not quite McDonald's, but perhaps that's a good thing.

From Nevis you can see Redonda and Montserrat (and Antigua, as you come around the island). You'll note we flew very close to Redonda and Montserrat once, sailed there, and Ben has been to Montserrat too. I highly recommend it.

Then we headed to Chris's house, and I thought it was cool how the driveway was designed to handle the occasional deluge of rain by funneling the water under the cement.

The sunset was pretty.

Plus Michael made a friend.

I did too.

Renee P.

The Strip

2014-10-23T07:17:00.000-04:00

So I thought I'd take a snapshot of things that have changed since we were last here. I know there are a number of you readers who haven't been here awhile either and might find this interesting. Of course, the first place we ended up was The Strip (yes, the map needs to be updated, but I don't remember the password - !!), so we could see what's changed and visit our good friend Mr. X from the Shiggidy Shack.

As you head down to The Strip via the east-end road, there's now a fenced-in business on the right-hand-side with bouncy houses, an above-ground pool, and other things kids might be into (didn't snap a photo of it, sorry). Once at the end of the road, you can see that the Frigate Bay Beach has really taken a beating. Yikes.

The Sunset Cafe/The Dock still starts The Strip on the east end.

Next up is the Shiggidy Shack. It's still there, but has changed a bit at the entrance.

Across the way, still stands the bar with no name. It still plays Latino music.

Next to Shiggidy is Chinchillas (formerly the Monkey Bar).

Cathy's is still there.

There's a cute little gift shop that was open.

Then comes Vibes (formerly Ziggy's). It was locked up like a fortress but seems to cater to the same people it always does at night, getting pretty busy.

Breeze is still there and under construction, as always.

Patsy's was one of the few open. And they had Diet Coke!

What used to be the Alamo is now the Alimo. I have never seen this bar open, ever.

Same with Lava. I have never seen activity there, but Mr. X tells me even when it's open, you wouldn't know it's open. Weird.

Next up, Pond Sea Caribbean Beach Bar & Grill has replaced Elvis's Love Shack.

Boozie's has taken the place of Family & Friends and seems to get a good expat crowd, considering it's farther down The Strip from where they usually stray.

And then you have the ever-present, Inon's. He's even got a fancy neon sign now.

Buddies is still across the way, and as you head up that west-end street to get to the main street, Bobsy's wings is still plopped there and has been joined by a truck selling juice/smoothies.

It was very quiet during the day - if there are no cruise ships in, there's not much point in opening up for many of the restaurants. Especially in off-season. Nights can get busy, depending on the whims of the locals and visitors. Michael ended up at Vibes last night, which was packed with Latinos celebrating a pre-party for the upcoming Latin Festival.

Nothing much has changed on the street leading to the Marriott. Pizza Boys, Bombay Blues (still delicious), Rituals Sushi, and Rituals coffee shop are all still there. The little Rams supermarket is also still open, but it was not stocked well at all. Last time I was there, I was amazed at how much it had - a lot of it vegetarian to accommodate the Indian students living nearby. Not so this time. It was very disappointing. It's ok in a bind, but we will need a trip to the IGA or Best Buy.

One change, I think of as I drink my morning Diet Coke courtesy of a great friend who brought over 12 last night, is that you can now recycle cans and plastic. You can take that stuff to Admirals, near the airport where the old sugar factory used to be located (off the road between the by-pass road by the airport and the end of Taylor's Range). Ross University also has bins, allowing students to recycle.

You know what doesn't change? The hills. The hills never change.

Oy.

There is a lot of development going on, which is causing quite a stir (there's even a Facebook page dedicated to their demise or at least improvement), and I'll document that once we get our hands on a car. Here's one going up in Half Moon. These condos are blocking some long-term home owners thanks to the complete disregard for height ordinances. Next to that, where the salt pond is drying up, will be a Koi Resort.

There's a tall building that doesn't fit in down by The Christopher Club/Marriott too. Most people are for progress, but screwing over owners of older buildings who stuck to the original height restrictions or ignoring environmental impact is rather disappointing. Sigh. Well, more on that later.

Next up, we're taking a trip to Nevis, so let's see what's happening over there, shall we?

Renee P.

A Blast from the Past!

2014-10-22T07:13:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone - Renee here. Some of you original Island Babble readers know I started this blog in 2009 after 3 years of traveling and living on a sailboat (a tale shared in A Sail of Two Idiots). We lived and worked on St. Kitts for 4 years (adopted 2 island kitties), and then ended up back in the U.S. when the job situation went kapoot. After being outside the U.S. for 7 years, it was quite an adjustment returning. Traffic lights? Driving at 75mph+. Road rage. "Do Not" signs everywhere. A country in a constant state of excitability. Yes, when you want things done, an island can be a frustrating place due to its slow pace, and why oh why do stores constantly run out of Diet Coke/Pepper (my morning coffee), but sheesh - slow the heck down! Breathe.

We've both been back to St. Kitts once since our Sept 2012 departure and it still felt like home. This visit, 2 years later, feels no different. It feels like we never left. As soon as we saw the island from the air, our whole demeanor changed. We relaxed.

I documented our first day here on my Scoop Fountain Hills blog, but since that blog is about Arizona, I'll be documenting our stay here on Island Babble. As you may know, I handed my blog over to Ben who's been documenting his experiences on-island, but he headed back to the U.S. for good himself. Is this the end? May be...

As Ben posted previously, the Hash House Harriers 20th Anniversary hash is coming up and will entail 4 days of craziness, starting tomorrow (Thursday). There is also a regatta on Saturday, and the annual Latin Festival on Sunday. Can we fit all this in? Dunno, but we're going to try!

Renee P.

Tropical Storm Gonzalo Monday Morning

2014-10-13T11:23:00.001-04:00

The wind gusts are just starting to pick up here as Tropical Storm Gonzalo swirls away just off to our east.

We haven't had much rain yet but its on it's way soon. I hope everyone has taken precautions to stock up on food, flashlights, or gasoline/diesel fuel for your generators. I would also recommend charging up all your electronics and doing your laundry if needed because with gusts like they are reporting out of Antigua our electricity will be guaranteed to be out.

Read this post from a correspondent for StormCarib.com in Antigua:

"I have been on the telephone with my friends in Antigua and they are having a really, really rough time, it appears that they have been taken by surprise by the ferocity of TS Gonzalo, a gust has been recorded so far at 102 MPH. It will be upgraded to a hurricane soon if not already. We hope everyone stays safe and that damage is kept to a minimum."

I can't imagine 102 mph gusts here but if they're there in Antigua we'll definitely get them here in St. Kitts because the storm has only strengthened since yesterday.

Anyways,most stores like Rams Supermarket are closed today as well as Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. I heard that Best Buy Supermarket is open but the stock is slim already. The problem is that they can't bring in a cargo ship and replenish the stores like they do every week, not to mention the usual haulers with trucks won't be out delivering to smaller stores.

I'm not intending to scare anyone but just be aware of what you should need for a few days. Make sure the storm is completely past us before you venture out and by all means, stay out of the ghauts and don't park in the ghauts no matter how small they look at the moment. We were caught off guard twice in the first few months when we arrived and were basically cooped up for three days each time.

It seems like a climatic and boring waiting game when these storms move so slowly and that is also what makes them such a hassle because they'll hang over the island and swirl like a toilet for a few days sometimes since they move at 10 miles per hour. All the while they'll be dropping rain amounts you've never seen before on you.

You can read about the two tropical storms we weathered here in my posts two years ago: Tropical Storm Raphael Part 1 and Tropical Storm Raphael Part 2

This storm two years ago, almost to the day, is what produced this famous picture that made it to CNN.

We've been very lucky since then but it looks like there might be another storm setting up behind Gonzalo for a one-two combination. We'll have to wait and see.

I'll update as much as possible. The internet connection is the deciding factor. Stay Safe and visit Storm Carib, the best Caribbean storm site according to me.

This photo I borrowed not from Storm Carib but from a friends facebook page. the arrow is St. Kitts.

And look at where the Eye Wall is now!!!

Hashtacular!!!

2014-10-09T20:28:00.001-04:00

Alright, I know its a dumb headline but the only word I could think of for participants who can't get enough of hash running on this beautiful island of St. Kitts and because we've had so many hash events this month.

Previous Hash in Cayon

This group of mishmash of runners, hikers, and walkers are always doing something good for the community and unfortunately I haven't even been able to attend all of the events or hashes lately.

But, I will be there to support the group for their 20th Anniversary "Hashtacular" events. There is no reason why you shouldn't be out to help support them too. I see no down side to paying 2 E.C. dollars (less than 1 U.S. dollar) hiking or running in a new area of St. Kitts or Nevis every 3 weeks. If you can think of any negatives to this, then please let me know.

Let me first tell you the details of the Hash run we have going on THIS Saturday, October 11th near Molineux and then I'll explain the 20th Anniversary Hash Extravaganza details. (Extravaganza is a word Kittitians love to use for their events.)

On Saturday, Hash number 329 will commence in the Molineux area at Fraites & Sons Bakery Parking Lot at 3:30 p.m. Here are the directions but it's almost impossible to miss since it's right on the island main road and you should see the yellow Fraites Bakery vans too.

How to get there : Take the island main road from Basseterre, past the airport, Conaree village, Cayon, Ottleys and Lodge. After you exit Lodge Village you will come to a small roundabout. Take the right turn at the roundabout, which would continue on the island main road, but just after you make the turn, look for the large yellow building with a blue roof and blue trim. You can't miss it. It's clearly marked "Fraites & Sons Bakery".

You can't miss this hash because yours truly and Greg-Sa-Far-I are setting the run and this area is one of my favorites on the entire island because of it's natural secluded beauty. If you know Greg than you know that he knows St. Kitts better than anyone.

Molineux St. Kitts

Molineux

We realize a number of people have had difficulty getting to register for the Hash 20th Anniversary Weekend, so we are facilitating by adding a few more days to the deadline for the early registration special. It's now extended to October 13. BUT!! Don't wait till then, as you can register at this weekend's hash! So bring your payment and register at this weekend's hash. Tshirts for the 20th anniversary will also go on sale on Saturday so get yours early - remember supplies are limited!

The Mismanagement Team at Hash Inc. Headquarters have put together some spectacular deals for you, so listen up:

Here is a calendar of the events planned during the October 23 - 26, 2014 weekend

Thursday October 23 - Meet & Greet Lime at Shipwreck Beach Bar starting at 6 pm until. Meet hashers coming from overseas, and enjoy some food and drink and a good old Hash lime.

Friday October 24 - "Rum Shop Run" 6 p.m.- this is a "bar crawl" where we start from 17 Degrees Night Club on Victoria Road and run to selected bars (4 or 5), stop at each bar and fire some drinks, then on to the next bar until we return to the start point for a big lime with food and drink!! Starts at 6pm.

Saturday October 25 - "Normal" Hash Run at 3:30 PM - venue to be determined

Then at 8:00 PM we go to Shiggedy Shack for a Hash Dinner and lime with a Steel Pan Band in attendance, and Karaoke!

Sunday October 26 - Hash Catamaran Cruise to Nevis sailing at 12 noon. We gather at Port Zante at 11:30 for boarding. Hash Run in Nevis followed by Hash Lime & sports on the Beach. Then we set sail at sunset for a rocking party lime on the way back.

Now, here's the deal. We have to cater for the food and drinks for all of these events, so we need everyone to register and pay EARLY!! You will save if you do and the Early registration special has been extended until Monday, October 13th. The Early Bird price for All events is EC$200.

Registration for the entire package if you miss the special will be EC$250. Now remember that's for the ALL EVENT Package.

This is what is included in each event with your payment:

Meet & Greet - Food + 3 drinks. After 3 drinks you can purchase your own additional drinks from the Shipwreck bar.

Rum Shop Run - One free drink at each bar we visit, food at the venue. Additional drinks can be purchased at the venue.

Saturday Hash - Will operate as per usual

Hash Dinner at Shiggidy Shack - Buffet Dinner plus 3 drinks

Catamaran Cruise to Nevis - Catamaran Fare and drinks on the boat + food and 3 drinks on the beach.

OK, So There may be people who may not be able to or do not wish to attend ALL events. For those persons, they can register for the individual events(A LA CARTE) they wish to attend as follows:

Meet and Greet at Shipwreck: Thursday, Oct. 23rd - $50

Rum Shop Run (BAR CRAWL): Friday,Oct. 24th - $50

Post Hash Hash Dinner at Shiggedy Shack: Sat, Oct. 25th - $60

Catamaran Nevis Cruise: Sunday Oct. 26th - $150

So please remember, you must book early for all events except the regular hash on the Saturday. This is the only event where you can show up without pre-registering. And remember also that the Catamaran Cruise will have limited space, so to ensure your space, book early! No tickets will be sold after October 15!!

Registrations can be made by contacting Heather at heatherhotchin@sisterisles.kn and making arrangement for payment. She will also be available for registration and payment weekdays at Ross University.

Event T-shirts will also be available before hand or at each event for only EC$35. We also have Hash Caps for EC$45

Ok, so now that you know what events are taking place you need to REGISTER NOW or at Saturday's Hash.

If you did attend the 5th Annual Children's Home Walk/Run on Saturday October 4 and signed your name with the usual hash attendance taker then the run counts as a hash of its own. That event drew quite a turn out.

With all of the hashes and events going on this month you could really get some attendance points. We had the Children's walk/run, This Saturday's hash, The 20th Anniversary Hash, and The Nevis Hash. That's four hashes in one month!! That should quench your hash thirst.

In the meantime make sure you patronize and thank the sponsors for the Anniversary Weekend Events. ON! ON!

Summer Holiday Break

2014-08-13T11:33:00.000-04:00

In an effort to spend less time on the computer and more time with family visiting I will be taking a short break from posting. The following posts will be up in the beginning of September.

Animal Welfare Day
Going Green
In the Know September

Until then enjoy the last few days of summer holidays.

In the Know - August

2014-08-06T10:26:00.003-04:00

Note if you want your child to join in summer camps make sure to take note of registration deadlines below.

SUMMER CAMPS & KIDS ACTIVITIES FOR AUGUST

St Kitts Camp Options

The Market Street Community Camp

The Market Street Community Development Group presents its inaugural Summer Camp for children ages 5 to 12 years old. The camp will be held at Dorset Park from Monday August 18th to Friday August 22nd from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Come learn, grow and play while we work towards building a stronger community together.

Registration ends on Friday August 8th. Call 663 5001 for more details.

The Youth Extravaganza Explosion of Arts Camp

The Youth Extravaganza Explosion of Arts invites the general public to be a part of its summer celebration. From August 11-15, a summer camp will be held at the Dean Glasford Primary School from 9am until 4pm.

Applicants ages 6-14 may sign up for two of the following areas: art, cooking, drama, dance, song, sports or technology. For further information, contact the Chairman, Mr. Wricherley Gumbs at 763-7218 or the Co-chairman, Mr. Hashim Ruan at 764-0451.

“Explore and Explode in your imagination”

Email: wricherley67@hotmail.com or hashimruan10@hotmail.com

Facebook page: Youth Extravaganza Explosion of Arts.

Nevis Camp Option

CRICKET

Cricket is very much on the forefront for August. Check out Ben's informative post on Island Babble for more information.

Thought this was a neat way to rep your cricket team.

Get your face painted!

A Sakoda scapa and Dazzleme Face Painting collaboration.

Support your team

HAWKSBILLS, TRIDENTS, AMAZON WARRIORS, TALLAWAHS, ZOUKS, RED STEEL

Adults: $15
Children: $10

2pm - 4pm on game days

Www.facebook.com/Sakoda.scapa

Even if you do not get a chance to watch a game be aware there will be some restrictions in Basseterre during the games.
There will be some road restrictions and parking restrictions during Cricket. For detailed information go to Road Restrictions for CPL

MEANINGFUL MEALZ

I am all into healthy food. Meaningful Mealz is an option now.
For Ross students studying the next two weeks, they deliver.
For family summer fun, August can be filled with picnic times. Want to have a picnic at the beach or pop a squat on the Frigate Bay greens or under the canopy of the rainforest, but just don't have the time to put together a picnic. Meaningful mealz does picnics too!

I hope some of you got a chance to enjoy Culturama in Nevis this past holiday weekend. It is on my list of things to do. I hope to join in on the fun next year.

If I have missed something important for in the know please let me know. If you have a community event coming up and want us to share please contact Heidi at heidiskn@gmail.com

PAWS ANIMAL WELFARE DAY and Going Green Post coming soon!

Until next time!

Wanna Watch Some Cricket??

2014-08-04T14:35:00.004-04:00

Cricket -- the mysterious baseball "like" game that was brought to and is still played in almost all of Britain's former colonial states is actually a very interesting game.

St. Kitts happens to be one of the islands where cricket is still somewhat popular and many people are trying to reignite the spark the sport once had here. You will see importance of cricket to St. Kitts as you walk around in downtown Basseterre. Just slightly northeast of Cayon Street (The Main North to South street running parallel to the Caribbean Sea.) in town you'll notice a green and white stadium. This stadium takes up nearly as much space as Independence Square, The Pelican Shopping Mall, and The General Post Office combined.

This stadium is Warner Park, named after the first English settler of St. Kitts, Sir Thomas Warner. The stadium was built with the assistance of Taiwan, who funded seven of the 10 million dollars to build it in 2006. It's been said that it's one of the finest cricket stadiums in the West Indies and with a recent million dollar renovation it's ready to live up to that statement.

The New lighting and scoreboards are awesome and I can see them from my house lighting up the town.

Your chance to watch some fantastic cricket matches is coming up this week, as St. Kitts hosts the Caribbean Premier League T20 World Cup Tournament starting Thursday, August 7th, at 4 p.m.

In fact, you may have seen the billboards up along the roads for the event.

The teams have been having matches for the past month in this tournament in various Caribbean stadiums but the finals are proudly being hosted in St. Kitts this year.

The CPL consists of six teams, all from the Caribbean. The teams have interesting team names too. You have The Antigua Hawksbills

The Barbados Tridents

The Guyana Amazon Warriors

The St. Lucia Zouks

The Jamaica Tallawahs

And The Red Steel (Trinidad)

If you're the least bit interested I would highly recommend catching a match or more. If you're an American like myself you probably won't get another chance to watch Cricket.

The tournament, as I mentioned starts on August 7th, then the next match is August 9th, then 10th and then August 12th, 13th, and 14th, with the finals on August 16th. There are plenty of chances to catch a match.

The CPL20 also has a Facebook and webpage that offer even more in depth information here: https://www.facebook.com/CarnivalT20 and webpage.

St. Kitts Cricket Association has a Facebook page too:St. Kitts Cricket

I was fortunate and curious enough to have gone to a cricket match at Warner Park last year when the West Indies team had a match. I must say that I really enjoyed the game and if you like baseball then you'll probably enjoy cricket too.

With that said it does take some pre-match research ( I honestly like Wikipedia's instructions: Cricket) to understand or if you don't get time to do that then just ask one of the fans at the match. They'll be able to give you some tips on how the game works. The matches tend to be long but that's the nature of cricket. I did both of the above and still don't have it all figured out but enough that I can sort of tell someone else how the game works.

I was thoroughly impressed with the athleticism of the athletes. Like baseball there is a player who pitches the ball to the batter, but the outs work differently and the ball can be hit more places then in baseball. I say the players are more athletic because they have to be. In cricket nearly every player "pitches" or bowls the ball in each game. The defending players or non-batting team in the "outfield" do not wear gloves, which makes for some interesting catches. I saw guys leap up and tumble to the ground in a spinning motion in an effort to catch and I'm assuming to soften the balls momentum. It's quite acrobatic actually.

Then you have the wicket, which looks like an abacus sitting on two upright poles. The batter is not only trying to hit the ball but also protect the wicket from being hit by the incoming pitch.

Another interesting feature of the game are the hats. The players and referees wear some interesting hats and that in itself is enough to come out for.

Apparently the hats have been a tradition of cricket for a long time:

I could write about this all day but the best way to experience this is to come out yourself. The tickets are very inexpensive (Starting at 20 E.C. and half price for children.) and it's a great opportunity for St. Kitts and yourself.

Also in keeping with Caribbean party anytime anywhere style you can buy tickets for the ultimate party while watching the match. For 200 E.C. you can experience the Karma Party Stand venue which features a pool, foam pit, and live DJ's from Trinidad and St. Kitts.

I hope to see you there!

You can buy tickets for the matches in person at Courts, Digecel Locations, at the Stadium Office, or online at kyazoonga.com

If you miss the tournament don't fret. There is another cricket match coming up too on August 27th between The West Indies and Bangladesh. This is an international match and should also be very interesting.

Part II Nevis Naturally Inspired

2014-08-02T10:49:00.001-04:00

Our day continued on Neivs to Sunshines from Chrishi Beach. Once again I forgot to take photos at Sunshines. I have snatched some from other sites. Links to the respective blogs and websites are below. These are great links about the Caribbean and information on Nevis.

SUNSHINES

Sunshines is a must do when in Nevis. Their plants and trees are growing creating more shade and an oasis.

(Photo compliments of Uncommon Caribbean Travel Blog)

The place is looking snazzy. Fresh paint, gift shop and lounge areas everywhere. Take your pick.

Pick 1: Under the roofed restaurant area

(Photo Compliments of Ron and Rhian) Check out the site about their Sailing Experience in the Caribbean.

Pick 2 & 3: On the outside deck or at the picnic tables with your toes in the sand.

(Photo Compliments of Ron and Rhian)

or a choice to hang under the shade of the larger trees.

A swing set is set on the beach for the children to play.

I took a miss on the killer bees. One of those drinks that you just don't see coming. They are a bit much for me these days, but I remember them being really tasty.If you haven't had one it is worth a try.

(Fantastic photo of Killer Bees by Explore Nevis)

FERN HILL

Fern Hill is a very peaceful area overlooking St Kitts. There are many villa rental options for visitors. The road is a bit bumpy getting up there, but not to the extent that it deters from the beauty once up there. I always find tranquility and peace when surrounded by lush forest. Is is a haven after a day at the beach.

HERMITAGE

The following day we went to the Hermitage for lunch. The gardens are a photographers dream, an artists muse. Serene atmosphere, nooks and crannies filled with perfectly placed rocks, trees, flowers and more.

Service in the restaurant came with a smile.

I can't believe I have been living in St. Kitts for over seven years and had not taken the opportunity to make it to Hermitage sooner. I plan on saving up to stay for a few days.

New Castle Potters

I have seen ceramic monkey's and pineapples in so many places on St Kitts and Nevis. We decided we should go to visit the artist.

In an effort to buy local we are always looking for ways to integrate local art into our home. New Castle Potters continues the age old tradition of hand built, red clay pottery which they fire over burning coconut husks.

We decided on pineapples to hang as our outdoor light fixtures. We are waiting on our order to be finished and researching different marine grade lighting options to install behind the pineapples.

Once they are installed I will take some photos. In the meantime enjoy these. If you are interested in your own pieces for your home you can contact New Castle Potters at (869) 469-9746 or visit their cooperative on the Main Road, New Castle Nevis, just past the airport on the right side if headed from town.

Share with us some of your favorite artists on St. Kitts & Nevis.

I can count eight artists just off the top of my head.

Jewelry

Glass Work

Paintings

Pottery

Coming Soon!

In the Know August
Animal Welfare for PAWS AND BARC

CULTURAMA GOING ON IN NEVIS NOW! Check out the website for more informaiton.

The sun is peaking out. Bertha is on her way out. Enjoy the long weekend!

Part I: Was In Need of a Break: Nevis Naturally Inspired

2014-07-28T11:26:00.000-04:00

Orignally I started this post suggesting I was getting away from the humdrum. I realized this was not an approriate explanation. There is no humdrum in my life at the moment. In all honesty I needed a short getaway. Maybe you're thinking it should not be that difficult to just chill when a person is surrounded by beaches and calm pristine blue ocean. Well if you are not vacationing here, which is awesome might I add, life is a bit different. There are the bills, upkeep and maintenance & work that come along with salt air, wear and tear, and making a living to maintain this most amazing life. We also have a not so pleasant large construction zone right on our doorstep. It comes with a lot of dust & noise. I would not change island living (specifically St Kitts and Nevis) unless absolutely necessary, but I needed a break!

We all need a break, even when living on a beautiful Island. Here on St Kitts some refer to a break as getting off the rock. I happened to be in luck. Getting off the rock to get on another rock was on the horizon. Good friends of ours were visiting Nevis so we hopped over for an overnight stay. All I can say is WOW!

I felt like this Monkey

On top of the world!

I feel like I have been on a mini vacation every time I go to Nevis . It helps to have friends who make you feel so at home and people you know calling out your name. The best part, if you are a visitor here for just a short while and you love it, you will also be made to feel at home. I know because I did before I moved here. St Kitts and Nevis Life at it's best. Those friends far away join you and those living on Nevis know you even if you live on the other Island, St Kitts.

On Nevis View of St. Kitts

We took the seabridge as foot passengers, a much more cost effective deal if you don't need a car and have your own transport to Majors Bay in St Kitts.
Helpful hint: If you are just beaching it for the day many of the beach bars and hangouts on Nevis are within walking distance from the Seabridge. It just depends on what you want to do.
The Sea Bridge is 20EC per person each way. Timewise once you get to Majors Bay you are looking at a 20 minute ferry ride versus 30 to 40 minute one on the ferries from Basseterre to Charlestown. It is a beach to beach transport versus a town to town transport. The choice you make depends on what your vibe is. If you don't have transport to Majors Bay, taxi's will gladly shuttle you out and pick you up upon your return time. If you have a rental car we have left our car at Majors Bay overnight with no issue.

For once the Sea Bridge was pretty much on time. We even had a very large group of over 30 people waiting to go along with more than 12 cars. There was a church ceremony going on so everyone was all dressed in their best. Beautiful to see. Apparently there was some sort of covention going on at the Marriott and they were headed to Nevis for a ceremony. Very warm nice group.

All in all we managed to leave only a half hour after our slated departure time. No wait..... I could be very wrong on this, my husband is insisting it was about 12:45 before we left if not 1pm. Now that I think about it I remember being quite ravenous upon our arrival in Nevis so it would have been well after lunch time.

If I were commuting for work I would be very frustrated, however I was at leisure and we had planned as such. I know quite well from experience the seabridge does not always go when it says it will. When picking up my sailing campers commuting from Nevis via the Seabridge the wait was quite long sometimes.

Island time. So it goes.....Not so much of an asset when you need to be somewhere. We do however live on Island time and each and every one of us gets used to giving excuses for our tardiness. The excuses are usually quite spot on, but maybe not for the Seabridge. Take note you may not leave on time. Plan accordingly.

Take drinks, snacks and sunblock with you in case of a long wait. If you are prepared thirst, hunger and swealtering boredom will not overtake you. Go in your bathing attire and you may even decide to take a dip in the calm sea at Majors Bay.

Majors Bay is completely barrenly beautiful just mind the rocks where sea urchins might be habitating. They are not hard to spot or avoid once you know to avoid rocky areas. They only cause issue when you step on them.

Maybe too much information, but important to know. It is also always nice to make sure you have used the loo (bathroom) prior to setting off for the Seabridge departure spots, unless of course you are going for a swim and don't mind relieving yourself in the ocean. No food, drink or loos (bathrooms) available while you wait.

Once on board the Seabridge only drinks and a dodgy loo are available. They will not ask you if you want a drink or offer a bathroom, but they have both available upon request.

Majors Bay Departure: View from the Sea Bridge

We decided to take the 12pm Seabridge to give us ample time for our pick up on the other side at 2:30pm. Our friends have twins just two years old so we did not want to risk their timing of things. Children need a bit of a schedule. I know this from ample experience with little ones. We figured we could get in a lunch at Chrishi Beach Club while we waited for our friends. It was always a the place for us when we sailed guests over from Cockleshell Bay.

We hopped off the seabridge and sauntered down the beach to Chrishi Beach Club restaurant. Depending on your stride it is a five minute walk to the right of the seabridge dock looking at Nevis Peak. If you are a sailor then you can rent a hobie cat from Cockleshell Bay, St kitts and sail over within a half hour and spend a day.

Chrishi Beach Club

Norwegians at their best!

I was a lucky young one to spend three summers in beautiful Norway with family friends. The owners and their children bring back the memories.

Upon arrival at Chrishi Beach I told my husband to remind me to take photos for Island Babble of the food. Wouldn't you know we both forgot. Must of been that fabulous bloody mary I had and his Carib, combined with getting our vacation mode on.

I had a tasty Ceasar Salad just right with Nevis hydroponic lettuce to die for. He had a Ciabata bread sandwich with a pesto spread, brie and parma ham, the lunch special for the day. Can't beat the food there. Fresh, healthy, filling and tasty.

The service is always great and the ambiance, well it speaks for itself.

The walkway in and out of Chrishi lends itself to palms, flowering flamboyants, a tight rope between two palms that many try and a tire swing. Sweet!

We want to know where your mini-vacation spot is? We all have one, or at least I think we all should have one! Share yours here.

A short, but sweet post with more Nevis Naturally and St. Kitts life coming your way soon:

In the Know for August: Culturama and more

Part II Nevis Naturaly Inspired: Sunshines, Fern Hill, Hermitage, Nevis Pottery

St Kitts: About Animal Welfare Day, PAWS & BARC

2014-07-24T21:29:00.000-04:00

Mango Madness Update

I have yet to get in the ocean with a mango, but ....

I went to Nevis and saw for myself how Hermitage gets their Mango on!

Mango Fruit Juice at Hermitage, Nevis

Mango Pizza with Basil at Hermitage, Nevis

I also continue to get my mangos in Conaree on the roadside, though now I am also seeing them on the shelves at Rams. I have made smoothies and eaten them just as they are many times a week.

My Mango Bowl At Home

We have also taken some of our favorite mangos and planted their seeds. In just a few days of being covered in used plastic coffee jugs they have peaked out from underneath the soil. We have no idea where we will plant them, but they will be planted. All thanks to my husband. He went on a planting spree. We have lemons and basil sprouting too.

Mango Seed Saying Hello

In the Know for August and more Island Life tidbits in the works. Stay tuned.

In the meantime we would love to hear from others about how they get their mango on!

St. Christopher Heritage Society 25th Anniversary Banquet POSTPONED!!!

2014-07-21T21:06:00.000-04:00

This event has been POSTPONED. Stay Tuned for further updates!!!

The organization that is responsible for maintaining the Old Treasury Building and Museum as well as other historic places in St. Kitts will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary next week on Saturday, July 26th with a Banquet.

The St. Christopher Heritage Society or SCHS will hold the banquet in The St. Kitts Marriott's Ballroom beginning at 7 p.m. There will be a cultural presentation, cocktail reception, and cultural presentation. Dinner will begin at 8 p.m.

There will be door prizes, a silent auction, and other gifts.

The society will give short speeches updating the public about new developments, future plans and undertakings, as well as a reflection on how far they've come in a quarter century.

The organization is also celebrating the 120th birthday of the National Treasury Building, which houses the National Museum.

Tickets are available at the National Museum and through some of the SCHS members. Tickets are $150 E.C. for individuals and $275 for couples. Don't miss this great celebration.

This is also a great opportunity to encourage others to become a SCHS member.

Island Babble St. Kitts

And I'm back...again. Nope, gone again (UPDATED)

And I'm Gone...Again

St. Kitts Eco-Park

Another Fun St. Kitts Hash

Handing over the Torch...Again

Wet & Chilly

Island Snippets

Changes - Part II

Zumba for A Cause

Wrap Up in Nevis

St. Kitts 20th Anniversary Hash

The Hash Activities Begin

Nevis Departure

Nevis Arrival

The Strip

A Blast from the Past!

Tropical Storm Gonzalo Monday Morning

Hashtacular!!!

Summer Holiday Break

In the Know - August

*Note if you want your child to join in summer camps make sure to take note of registration deadlines below.*

SUMMER CAMPS & KIDS ACTIVITIES FOR AUGUST

St Kitts Camp Options

The Market Street Community Camp

The Youth Extravaganza Explosion of Arts Camp

Nevis Camp Option

CRICKET

MEANINGFUL MEALZ

Wanna Watch Some Cricket??

Part II Nevis Naturally Inspired

SUNSHINES

FERN HILL

HERMITAGE

New Castle Potters

Part I: Was In Need of a Break: Nevis Naturally Inspired

I felt like this Monkey

On top of the world!

On Nevis View of St. Kitts

Majors Bay Departure: View from the Sea Bridge

Chrishi Beach Club

Norwegians at their best!

We want to know where your mini-vacation spot is? We all have one, or at least I think we all should have one! Share yours here.

A short, but sweet post with more Nevis Naturally and St. Kitts life coming your way soon:

In the Know for August: Culturama and more

Part II Nevis Naturaly Inspired: Sunshines, Fern Hill, Hermitage, Nevis Pottery

St Kitts: About Animal Welfare Day, PAWS & BARC

Mango Madness Update

I have yet to get in the ocean with a mango, but ....

Mango Fruit Juice at Hermitage, Nevis

Mango Pizza with Basil at Hermitage, Nevis

My Mango Bowl At Home

Mango Seed Saying Hello

St. Christopher Heritage Society 25th Anniversary Banquet POSTPONED!!!

Note if you want your child to join in summer camps make sure to take note of registration deadlines below.