First Day on St Vincent - Carnival!

Monday, July 8^th. FIRST DAY ON ST VINCENT – JANE TAKES US TO CARNIVAL

Slept pretty well with a lovely crosswind going through my room and cicada flying around inside. There are lots of noises outside with dogs, tree frogs and crickets. Got up about eight and had a raisin bran and banana breakfast with George. Then he had a shower followed by me. We managed to totally flood the bathroom as there is a stray spray than comes out of the shower head and over the top of the stall. Then floor and mats were soaked and the water was running under the door, down the hall and down the stairs! I found a mop and cleaned it up as best I could.

We hung out and relaxed for the morning and early afternoon. I read a bit of “The World History Through 6 Beverages”. Irnice and I went for a walk for about an hour in the very hilly neighbourhood. We met and talked to a British couple who have retired here.

Wayne picked us up at three and drove us to Kingston were we picked up Jane. We spent the day with her watching a parade of trucks with huge sound systems blaring Caribbean music as revellers danced and drank all around the trucks. The parade moved very slowly and went around a few blocks in a circuit. So we stayed put and just watched and took photos. There were lots of interesting looking people in all kinds of get ups to take pictures of and watch. As the day went on it seemed that it became a mating ritual with couples miming sex acts as they danced and walked. When the sun went down we ate a typical local dinner in a restaurant on the second floor where we could continue to watch and listen from a different vantage point. Really interesting to watch, but boy was it loud!

We had to walk a long way out of the area to meet our van and driver. It was very crowded with lots of people in the streets. We arrived home about 9:30 and after a short talk we all retired.