On those rare days when the timetable loosens its grip and adventure calls, we scatter like marbles. Some into sea sand and sunlight, some into stillness and others into tasks that quietly hold the Academy together.
This is when the adventurers, having formed a squad, will find one another waiting at the main entrance to be whisked away on a magic carpet ride…otherwise known as Clarence, driver of the big old, trusted, maroon van.
Clarence is not only our trusted means of transportation but also an exceptional tour guide. Whatever destination we choose, he’ll make sure that we get in on all the action, with running commentary of the site’s history and highlights.
First stop, Indian Bay Beach, Clarence informs us that there are some lovely restaurants and bars lining the beachfront if were looking for some refreshment, but its 32 degrees in the shade today and everyone spills out of the van literally into the ocean…the ocean, this needs its own showcase but I’ll try to keep it brief.
Yellow-white sand framing water so clear and warm that it barely cools you, but it does cradle you. The water here is so salty that floating is inevitable, and so we drift like survivors of some gentle shipwreck, in no need of rescue, happy to be victims of this immersive fate.
Soon lunchtime had us foraging our afternoon meal and what an exquisite experience it was. We literally stumbleupon Ada. Located right on the beach front, this very modern establishment offers poolside dining and a simple but elegant menu.
The Barracuda set a new standard for me, hands down the best fish meal I’ve ever had. Really good food, with excellent service and breathtaking views, Ada gets a 10/10.
Another magic carpet ride takes us to the set of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Almost instantaneously I transformed into Elizabeth Swan, corseted spine, polished manners, painfully aware of what danger might be lurking in the form of a handsome pirate aboard The Black Pearl. I love magic and whimsy, and this adventure was dishing it out in bucket loads.
A colorful vendor, beads glittering like stolen treasure, was happy to tell us that he had been an extra on the set during filming. Even the barkeeper was around when the movie was shot, and so all these little gemstones and pearls of that day are now tucked away in my treasure trove of memories forever.
Next is Niyabinghi, rich with history, culture, and food traditions. You haven’t experienced true Island culture until you’ve visited a Rasta Village. According to Clarence, the name comes from a resistance movement in East Africa, symbolizing freedom, anti-colonial struggle and resilience.
Our guide for the day, who shall from here on be referred to as Lyah, (rasta word for friend) as i forgot his name, welcomes us into one of many bamboo huts. Here we see a kind of altar in honor of Haile Selassie, and everything is adorned in the traditional red, gold and green. These huts are places where they gather for meditation, ceremonies, drumming and communal life.
The village is quiet today, and it seems like we are the only people around, but that doesn’t stop Lyah from giving us a drumming lesson and taking us to their fruit forest to harvest a wide variety of fresh fruit.
Today we learned that Ital meals include stews of beans, lentils, peas and vegetables, coconut milk-based soups, roasted or steamed root vegetables, fresh fruit, herbs and naturally fermented drinks.
These are a few of the transformational experiences you can enjoy on this picturesque island. Closer to home, in Chateaubelair, you’ll find us, a patchwork of accents, skin tones and backgrounds, colorfully stitched together and draped loosely over wobbly chairs at Banna’s or Beach Cafe.
Whether you’re unwinding from a scorcher in the banana fields or timing that next perfect sunset, St Vincent holds wonder like a night in the forest just waiting for you to look up and see the star-studded sky.
Chantelle Potgieter, South Africa, November Climate Team