Why not St.Vincent and the Grenadines

 The blog post is basically summing up the reasons why St. Vincent and the Grenadines should be the first choice for a vacation spot. SVG has a lot to offer other than sun and sand and it is appealing to all audiences, whether young or old. Although many of my posts have been directed towards a younger audience, there are also many activities for the older vacationer, for example wine bars, yachting and many restaurants which offer live music and other forms of entertainment. 

I am quite passionate about being Vincentian and having grown up there I am grateful to share my experiences. Through this blog I have been able to escape to my island paradise through photos, memories of various festivals, everyday experiences and many other events which have influenced me as a person. I have described the beauty of St.Vincent and the Grenadines both natural and man –made places of interest.  The History of SVG dating as far back to the first inhabitants of the island the Kalinago or ‘Caribs’. The island of St.Vincent in addition to beautiful beaches, boasts a natural forest that covers the island, and is inhabited by many indigenous species of birds, snakes and lizards. The nightlife comes in many forms from various bars and nightclubs, to restaurants with live singing and steel pan. Seasons bring different festivities and events throughout the entire island and grenadines.

 From New years, to Easter, to Carnival to Independence to Christmas. There is never a dull moment in SVG. That is not to say that someone who is looking for a calm and quiet place to enjoy their vacation will feel out of place here. There are many beaches to escape to if you wish to enjoy the sun with an old book and a cold drink.

Easter Weekend

This weekend was the infamous Easter weekend in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. Despite the jealousy felt towards all those people who are fortunate enough to be in SVG to enjoy it. Easterval weekend  can be described as a mini-carnival in terms of excitement and atmosphere. Where large amounts of alcohol are consumed with friends and family and people relax and enjoy the day to day activities.
 The two main places that Vincentians go to enjoy their Easter vacation is the island of Bequia or Union Island. There is usually a debate every year as to which island has the better activities and is more fun. I personally have experienced both islands during the Easter season. Through what I have experienced, Union Island comes closer to the carnival with parties and shows such as Miss Easterval, Soca Monoarh, where regional soca stars make appearances and add to the fun. J’ouvert is also mimicked, with paint and street parties on Easter Monday. Mostly the type of music that is played in Union Island is soca. I would suggest if you’re not a big fan of soca music and won’t be able to make the journey of three to four hours by ferry then the one hour ferry ride to Bequia would be a better option.

 In Bequia the  music is more of a variety of all types from Soca to Hip Hop. More parties are held on the beach than in Union Island. There are also parties that take place at clubs located on the island. People also frequent various tourist attractions, restaurants and street bars. On mainland St. Vincent the holiday vacation starts on Thursday night and goes until Monday evening. People celebrate by going to clubs, various national parks and other local hot spots. Some people also celebrate by going to church and fasting.  Some people leave the mainland of St.Vincent on Thursday afternoon and return on Monday afternoon. This is because both Friday and Monday are public holidays and work and school resumes bright and early on Tuesday. 

The Night Life in St.Vincent

St.Vincent and the Grenadines is not only known for its sun filled day life but is also the  home to an up and coming sizzling night life. Some of the newest  and trendiest hot spots are Shark Bar, Chillers, Flow Wine Bar, Pub 28/Club 28, Cool Runnings just to name a few. Shark Bar offers a relaxed atmosphere with pool tables , affordable drinks, new trendy music and flat screen Televisions which attract the sports fans as well as the hip young crowd, who are looking for a cool place to hang out. The atmosphere is separated into  two sections where one section has the pool tables are brightly lit while the other side is darkly lit with is more of the longue area. The music is normally provided by either some of the hottest deejays of St.Vincent and even from the US. This is one of the most popular bars and is booming on a Friday and Saturday night. This is the place that stays open all night and is a form of entertainment in itself. Located in the heart of Kingstown, it is easily accessible whether you are driving or walking. Another  hot spot is Flow Wine Bar, is it located in Kingstown as well but is in a more  uptown area. This upscale longue offers a more sophisticated crowd, which is the perfect place for a business lunch, casual first date, a night out with friends or just a glass of wine to  unwind after a long busy week. Its atmosphere is created with low lights and background music and is the perfect place to have a deep conversation without being drowned out by the music. Flow offers fusion cuisine and perfect wines, ciders and ales to compliment any taste. 

Pub 28/Club 28 is perfect location to hang  out with friends before a night of dancing.This pub is action filled and offers some of the best grilled fish and chips in Kingstown. After 10 pm the upper level of this pub opens as one of St.Vincent’s premier night clubs. Chillers and Cool Runnings are both located about 15 minutes outside of Kingstown caters to  both the young and the young at heart. With a mixture of both old and new music, tasty food and relaxed ambiance, liven  attitudes and adds to the party feeling whether it is simply the first stop before the night club or the last stop before heading home. There are a variety of bars and lounges to cater to any crowd.

Cricket in St.Vincent and the Grenadines

Most Vincentians young and old alike attended the three cricket matches held this week in St.Vincent. The matches were three ‘one day internationals’ between the West Indies and Australia , held on Friday March 16^th , Sunday march 18^th , Tuesday March 20^th. A one day  international match is limited to 50 ‘overs’ or 300 balls bowled. The  matches were held at Arnos Vale which is located 10 minutes out of the city of Kingstown. Some spectators are truly die hard West Indies cricket team fans , who really rejoice or agonize depending on if the West Indies team is winning or losing  , while others go for the excitement of  what the game brings.

 I personally find the game itself a bit boring but the real life games are the complete opposite, an event is made  of it .The atmosphere at these games  takes the form of a party where every score is celebrated with a burst of music and that is accompanied with cheers. There is usually a variety of food and beverages available. At a cricket match it seems like something is in the air that can be compared to being kind of like carnival.

Cricket is celebrated through the entire world however I believe in the Caribbean it is more lively and  more celebrated. In  countries like Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana and Barbados, when Test matches (which can run for five days) are played . The games are attended by the thousands who are kept entertained by live music of steel pan and soca music. Some of the entertainment is impromptu  as  local performers  just entertain the crowds  as part of the party  spirit.

In St.Vincent, the matches were well attended. The infamous “Guinness possé Stand” was filled with spectators as this stand is usually the hot spot. This stand caters to the people who enjoy more of a good time who want to socialize and dance. There were numerous specials on drinks including Guinness and the stand was catered to by its own deejay who played current and trend music.

Cricket is a great outing where Vincentians can take this day to enjoy a match with their families or come to have a good time. In all it’s a great experience . This time around was especially great as the Team  lost one match , drew one and won one. The excitement was at fever pitch  as the fans were encouraged that their team was making a comeback from being in the doldrums for the past few years. 

National Heroes Day Celebrations

Wednesday 14^th of March was National Heroes Day. It is a national holiday and is celebrated island wide with many festivals showcasing local foods, native dress and dance and excursions to many national parks and recreational cites.  St.Vincent has many heroes some of which are nationally recognized and include: Joseph Chatoyer, E. T.  Joshua , Milton Cato, Hugh Mulzac and George Mc Intosh . Many people associate this day with Joseph Chatoyer, who was a fierce Carib chief who fought off English settlers for as long as possible.  Joseph Chatoyer was the Paramount chief, who ruled over the entire region. He died on the battle field fighting to protect his island St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

Some Vincentians usually attend the Joseph Chatoyer memorial service which is held at his shrine located at Dorsetshire Hill, which celebrates his life and contributions.  At this memorial service the crowds are entertained by dances and drumming by actual living Caribs from St.Vincent as well as neighboring islands.

Another of our national heroes is E. T. Joshua, who was St. Vincent’s first Prime Minister after independence. The National airport is named after him.

Not only is this day spent celebrating our national heroes, but it is also a day  where many families come together to enjoy the beaches. They have picnics and just have a good time enjoying the holiday that is National Heroes Day.

This is my home

Lovely Beaches, Crisp sun,

Waterfalls and Vast Lands.

This is my home.

Breadfruit and jackfish,

Golden apple juice and cane

National Treasures; your taste buds inflamed. 

Friendly smiles and culture to die for,

The people of St.Vincent warm and inviting

Tourist attractions makes your visit enticing.

Such beauty only exists in one quaint location

This is my home, the lovely Vincy island. 

What's New & What's Coming

There is always something happening in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, whether it’s a large or small event. In the past months St.Vincent and the Grenadines recently got a visit from the royal family. Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and his wife, the Countess visited the country. Many Vincentians where excited about the visit. The Royals visited many places of interest throughout the nation including the National Botanical Gardens. They arrived on the royal naval ship and were greeted with warm smiles and open arms.

The Mount Gay Music Fest was exciting and entertaining to all the patrons that attended this event. The event was held in the Grenadine island of Bequia and went on for 3 days. The entertainment featured bands like , The Country Relatives ,Denzil Bacchus Blues Band , and The Honky Tonics just to name a few.  The crowd enjoyed part of each night.

Many people are also excited about the carnival season that is slowing approaching. Carnival is officially launched in May, while activities go through the month of June and ends in early July. Vincentians are hitting the gym are getting “Carnival Ready”. Everyone wants to look their best while they show case their costume while dancing to sweet Soca music down the streets of Kingstown .

Easter is also coming, many students look forward to this vacation especially seniors at high school and college students. This can be seen as their unofficial spring break as many people take advantage of the ongoing parties. This little vacation comes like a mini carnival in terms of the festivities and excitement. The nightlife at this time is live all through of mainland St.Vincent and other Grenadine islands.

Seasonal Cuisine

In St.Vincent and the Grenadines the season that is associated the most with seasonal cuisine is Christmas. There are the various drinks such as sorrel and ginger beer. Sorrel is a flowering plant, and the red flowers are used to make the sorrel drink. The flowers can be used fresh or in its dried form. The flowers are boiled until the color has faded and   the water is bright red. The water is then sweetened to taste with sugar. Some people add white rum to give it a kick, or ginger to enhance the flavor. Ginger beer isn’t really what it sounds like and it is not even a carbonated drink. The ginger root is peeled and grated. Boiling hot water is poured over the ginger, and it is left overnight. The ginger solution is then strained and sweetened. A few cloves are added for that bit of spice.

Another seasonal food that is associated with Christmas is ‘black cake’. This is a type of fruit cake that is literally black in color. Traditionally, dried fruits , such as raisins, currants, prunes , and mixed peel, are left to soak for as long as several months in rum and/or wine or sherry, before the cake is baked. The fruit is blended to allow for different levels of consistency. At baking time one can add cherries and /or almonds to the mixture. After the potent fruit mixture is added to the cake batter, food coloring (‘browning’) is then added to produce the black color. When the cakes are baked, (no one bakes just one black cake) more sherry/wine is poured on them. They are then left to cool and soak up the alcohol, so that the cake is moist. Some folks baked their cakes in enough time to send to relatives overseas, other at least by Christmas Eve. Black cake is well preserved and can last for extended periods of time.

Last but certainly not least is the Salted Ham. This is cured ham so it is quite salty. Many persons boil the ham with herbs and spices before baking it. Others simply soak the amount of ham needed in cold water, overnight.  It can later be baked for lunch or fired as bacon for breakfast.

The Christmas celebration would not be the same without these foods.

Christmas Fun!

I love the Christmas season. There seems to be something different in the air. The breeze itself is a lot cooler. It’s cooler because of the cold winter breeze that come from the northern countries, but still it never gets cold, as it’s still warm enough to sun bathe and also wear shorts in the evening. There are numerous festivals that happen in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. The capital itself comes alive at night as a result of the stores being open a lot later than normal. There are also a lot of other activities that cater to the large crowds that sweep into town. Christmas shopping in St.Vincent therefore becomes an event. People come to Town(as Kingstown , the capital is referred to) to meet their friends, to enjoy live music, have a drink at one of the nearest bars or actually do some shopping.

Many young people come to the capital on the Sundays leading up to Christmas to ‘lime’, which is Caribbean for ‘hanging out ‘ and having a good time with one’s friends. On Sundays i the stores open their doors open until late into the night. The bars play popular music and the vibes are vibrant with specials on beverages throughout the night.

At the beginning of the season there is the “Lighting of the Tree”, a large tree in Kingstown is usually decorated with lights and these lights are turned on at the beginning of the season. Many Vincentians come into the Capital to view this event which normally takes place on a Sunday.

There is normally a band of Parang musicians who play music for the people who are walking around in town. Parang is a mixture of Caribbean and Spanish rhythms . They play a variety of Christmas carols and have been doing this for as long as I can remember. Another group play Christmas carols on miniature steel pans. This group is called the Bamboo Melodians, as their music is usually accompanied with locally made bamboo flutes..

The main event that is associated with the Christmas in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the ‘Nine Mornings festival . It starts at exactly 9 days away from Christmas and ends at Christmas Eve. The festivities start in the early hours in the morning and there are performances by dancers, steel orchestras and also entertaining games. This has become an official annual event that caters to the young and the young at heart. Visitors and locals alike participate in the activities, and everyone has a great time. Of course you are still expected to get to work for 8.00 am.!

Hotels in St.Vincent

St.Vincent and the Grenadines is group of such  beautiful little islands. There are many hotels, inns and all inclusive resorts. The locations of these establishments are  all throughout the islands both on main land St.Vincent and the smaller islands of the Grenadines.

There are a few small intimate hotels that are located in Kingstown,  One of these such hotels is Grenadine House which has hosted  many exclusive parties and fashion shows. This is because of  its location it is in the capital city yet it is still a bit secluded in the hills of Kingstown Park so it’s perfect location . The atmosphere at Grenadine House is extremely elegant.

Another hotel that is located in Kingstown is called Cobblestone Inn which located on Bay Street. This place is ideal for any couples or singles that like being in the heart of Kingstown. Many people including locals  stay at this Inn during the carnival season especially because it located right in the middle of all the festivities.

There are also some other hotels located along the windward coast, these are closer to the beaches as well as not being too far from the city of Kingstown. Most of them are located on the beach front to beautiful white sand beaches whose shores seem to wash all the way up to your front door . Some hotels are BeachCombers ,Sunset Shores, Paradise Beach Hotel and Grand View Beach Hotel. These hotels all have various packages that involving activities that include scuba diving ,and fishing tours. 

There are two main all inclusive resorts located on the main island of St.Vincent. One of these resorts is called Young Island Resort which is situated on its own island on the windward side of the island. The resort is about 15 minutes away from Kingstown ,it is only accessible by boat which makes it even more secluded. The little island that is Young Island Resort has its own little beach as well as tennis courts ,pools and a well equipped spa. This destination is perfect for a couples as well as families alike.

The other all inclusive resort is called Buccament Bay Resort which is located on the other side of the island known as the Leeward side. This resort is newly opened and is equipped with the state to the art facilities. The amenities includes sports and performing arts academies, fitness centres , teens clubs more than 5 different onsite restaurants , pools and a wide white sand beach. This resorts screams luxury and sophistication. The resort is like a tiny little country within itself but still has the warmth of the Vincentian sun and people!

Places Of Interest

St.Vincent and the Grenadines is an archipelago of islands. The largest island is St.Vincent while the largest of the Grenadines is called “Bequia”. The Grenadines is made up of 32 little islands some are Bequia, Union Island, Canouan, Petite Saint Vincent, and  Mustique.

 The beaches of St.Vincent and the Grenadines compose of white, black and even pink sand. The black sand comes from the volcanic rock which is a result of the presence of the active volcano called La Soufriere which means “Sulphur” in French. Most of the beaches on the leeward coast are black sand beaches such as Mount Wynne and Buccament Bay. While some if not most of the beaches on the windward coast are white sand beaches such as Villa Beach and Indian Bay .All the beaches in the grenadines are white sand beaches which makes the ocean look like glass show casing the beautiful marine life below.

 The landscape of St.Vincent is mainly mountainous with many rivers and valleys and even waterfalls. Some the names of the many waterfalls are called Trinity Falls, and Dark View Falls which are both located on the leeward side of St.Vincent.  

There are also a lot of man-made places of interest in St.Vincent such as Fort Charlotte which was used to defend the main Port for the settles in the early 1800’s.There are also some churches such as the St. George’s Anglican Cathedral that were also built between the 1800 and 1900’s. Even to this day people are still getting married in these standing monuments of history.

St.Vincent and the Grenadines has a rich array of natural lush forest and where there are a variety of plants and animal species. Some of these plants and animals are show cased through The Botanical Gardens, Montreal Gardens, and The Vermont Nature Trails .The Botanical Gardens is home to the Bread Fruit Tree which was brought to the country by a man known as Captain Bligh in the mid 1700’s.This garden is also the home of the national bird the St.Vincent Parrot.

St.Vincent and the Grenadines is a beautiful place with both man-made and natural places of interest.

Little taste of St.Vincent

St.Vincent is rich not only in culture but also in cuisine!!

History

St.Vincent and the Grenadines was first inhabited by a native tribe called the "Caribs". They were known throughout the Caribbean as being one of the fiercest tribes of the entire Caribbean. They initially lived on the larger islands in the more Northern territories such as Jamaica and Cuba. But as a result of the British settlers and the process of Colonizationation, the Amerindians were forced to move and settle in the smaller more southern Islands like St.Vincent. After the British moved down to St.Vincent, the island was divided having one half owned and ruled by the British crown and the Caribs ruling the other half. The indigenous people who settled in St.Vincent were called the "Garifuna People". The chief of the Garifuna tribe was called "Joseph Chatoyer".Who was said to be a bit of a ladies man as he was said to have said more than wife.There was a large battle over the island of St.Vincent, however the British settlers won as result of having more man power  as well as having more advanced weaponry. The chief died 14^th of March 1795.The British crown ruled St.Vincent until they gained independence in  27^th of October 1979.We celebrate independence every year ! We have marching bands and the people are very proud of their heritage.

These are called Petroglyphs which are carvings done by the Native people of St.Vincent