Happy 2012! I hope this year brings peace and abundance to us all. 2011 was an intense year for many of us. All I can say, is I am glad it is over, and I look forward to new beginnings. Happily for me, the end of the old year coincided with the conclusion of late-in-life journey through grad school. I completed my final course, associated assignments, and 3 month research/policy internship mere days before Christmas. Pheeewww! I am glad that part of my life is over!
DISCLAIMER: I also want to post a disclaimer here ... the previous few posts are NOT NEW. Before I put my blog on hold last fall, I was messing with formats - and one or two old posts jumped forward. Today, I was once again trying to experiment with formats, and while hiding and bringing back some old posts, they got saved under today's date. Oops! I don't know how to fix that!!
In the weeks to come, I will have to look at how to put things back in order. I may even explain my ongoing ambivalence about blogging, and why I keep disappearing and coming back! And no, it is not because I enjoy being an international woman of mystery!
In the meantime, I am playing around with a brand-new, funky format - I hope you all enjoy it! I find it fun, but a bit confusing. Just click on the headings on the top left, and you can browse around the whole blog in a variety of ways. Actually kind of fun. But, since I have about 17 months of lost income, plus tuition and a bunch of financial hits to make up for, I am off to work ... and will come back later to see what I can do about cleaning up my blogosphere mess!
Now, if I can only figure out how to showcase my photos in a better, more artistic, balanced way!
Addendum - 12:00pm: THE EXPERIMENT IS OVER! I was just informed that the new "Dynmaic Views" format on Blogger is not supported by mobile devices, so I have switched back to something simpler. God forbid one of my three or four readers should not be able to access my blogs by BB or IPhone! So, please disregard the directions in the last paragraph, as there are no headings on the top left to click on. So, for now, enjoy some of my old posts, and I'll keep on trying to figure out whether to switch platforms or just learn to be a better Blogger user - all for your viewing and reading pleasure!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Back by "popular" demand!
I was very touched by the number of requests not to stop my mad ramblings on this blog. You guys are all too sweet. It has been quite a long time since I've been here, but I am back ... at least for now. I am quite certain I had a final chapter to the Anguilla story, but somewhere along the line, I forgot to post it. I have many excuses, but do you honestly want me to go into all that detail? Suffice to say, that I have been on a very long "journey" of another kind. Life changes, transitions, personal evolution - call it what you will, but making changes is exhausting, and at times, also vested with that "bite-you-in-the-ass" quality that gets harder and harder to recover from as you get older.
I'll be back to talk about all my "life changes" over the last year (or more) ...
And I will definitely dig up the last of that trip report from last year. I seem to be on a writing spree lately, and the creative juices seem to be flowing again. One of the things that really got in the way of writing, was this medication that I was taking last year to deal with chronic pain. I was already in the throws of major writing block, but the meds effectively shut down that part of my brain that some might call the ADHD centre, but which has been so much a part of my personality as long as I can remember. I began to really become alarmed when I lost my passion for writing, my passion for observing and being delighted by the randomness of life, and my passion for social justice.
It was the latter that really began to worry me, because I became a Social Worker, not so much to "therapize" (yes, I know that is not a real word) people, but because of my social justice leanings and need to challenge the status quo. So, when the meds no longer proved effective for the pain, I weaned myself off them, started back on my healthy eating journey, complete with all kinds of trendy supplements like the Omegas, the ABC's & D's (sounds a bit like alphabet soup, eh? Add vitamin E to the Omegas and you'll have Greek alphabet soup. Look it up ... I don't come up with these lame funnies on my own!) and ...voila(!!)after about a month, that crazy brain-wave activity that I used to channel into (among other activities) writing, was back!! And here I am, wondering where to start. So, I have meditated on it a while ...
And since folks have asked what I have been up to lately ... I WILL be back. But, I'll start slow ... baby steps, right? With a recent challenge in my next post, and work backwards ... In the meantime, I'm off to dig up last year's trip report to finish the Anguilla saga. Stay tuned ....
To keep you on the edge of your seat, I include herewith a few photos of what this year's Toronto winter wonderland looks like.
ok ... maybe only one picture for now ... I seem to be struggling with the upload feature over here.
I'll be back to talk about all my "life changes" over the last year (or more) ...
And I will definitely dig up the last of that trip report from last year. I seem to be on a writing spree lately, and the creative juices seem to be flowing again. One of the things that really got in the way of writing, was this medication that I was taking last year to deal with chronic pain. I was already in the throws of major writing block, but the meds effectively shut down that part of my brain that some might call the ADHD centre, but which has been so much a part of my personality as long as I can remember. I began to really become alarmed when I lost my passion for writing, my passion for observing and being delighted by the randomness of life, and my passion for social justice.
It was the latter that really began to worry me, because I became a Social Worker, not so much to "therapize" (yes, I know that is not a real word) people, but because of my social justice leanings and need to challenge the status quo. So, when the meds no longer proved effective for the pain, I weaned myself off them, started back on my healthy eating journey, complete with all kinds of trendy supplements like the Omegas, the ABC's & D's (sounds a bit like alphabet soup, eh? Add vitamin E to the Omegas and you'll have Greek alphabet soup. Look it up ... I don't come up with these lame funnies on my own!) and ...voila(!!)after about a month, that crazy brain-wave activity that I used to channel into (among other activities) writing, was back!! And here I am, wondering where to start. So, I have meditated on it a while ...And since folks have asked what I have been up to lately ... I WILL be back. But, I'll start slow ... baby steps, right? With a recent challenge in my next post, and work backwards ... In the meantime, I'm off to dig up last year's trip report to finish the Anguilla saga. Stay tuned ....
To keep you on the edge of your seat, I include herewith a few photos of what this year's Toronto winter wonderland looks like.
ok ... maybe only one picture for now ... I seem to be struggling with the upload feature over here.
At long last ... what happened the next day in Anguilla
Well, I did finally track down some of my own photos that I did managed to snap before my camera and a big wave had a show-down on Rendezvous Bay ...
My internet keeps cutting out every time I try to upload ... somehow the snow storm, which was really a non-event here in Toronto, has affected some of the cable systems around my neighbourhood. Eventually, there should be more than one photo here. ;o]
So, today - Thursday, February 3, 2011 - the internet gods have smiles ever so slightly, and they have let me upload a few more photos ...
Most were taken around Meads Bay, near the Frangipani Hotel and Straw Hat Restaurant. One or two are from Upper Shoal Bay East, near Gwen's Reggae Grill ... I think ...
My internet keeps cutting out every time I try to upload ... somehow the snow storm, which was really a non-event here in Toronto, has affected some of the cable systems around my neighbourhood. Eventually, there should be more than one photo here. ;o]
So, today - Thursday, February 3, 2011 - the internet gods have smiles ever so slightly, and they have let me upload a few more photos ...
Most were taken around Meads Bay, near the Frangipani Hotel and Straw Hat Restaurant. One or two are from Upper Shoal Bay East, near Gwen's Reggae Grill ... I think ...
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Nevis is Nice
These photos were taken around my cottage at Oualie Beach Resort - not so much a resort, but more a collection of ginger-bread cottages on a nice stretch of beach with shallow, warm waters, a pier for boating and water-sport activities, an in-house sea-creature attraction-educational facility-"turtle-camp", and a terrifically laid-back and funky, yet decidedly, old-world Caribbean restaurant and bar. On day one, check-in was early and I decided to forego the plans to tour around Nevis for the day and drop in on old friends around Pinney's Beach, because I could not tear myself away from this place and the haunting view of St. Kitts's South East Peninsula across the narrows! It seems like a long time ago now, but it was spring, 2009! Much has changed in my life since then, and this is still where I'd rather be!
Conscious travel ...
Well, I sort of lied in an earlier blog post. I said I wasn't going anywhere this year, but I did in fact, sneak away in April after all. It was a working vacation, but it still took me back through St. Martin and on to St. Kitts ... yes ... again!
Not sure when, or if I'll be able to post that trip report, but I must admit, it was an interesting trip. I have remained silent, not knowing how to describe my experience this time. Well, I wasn't so silent on a certain travel forum, and I also kept a detailed journal of my trip. So, I'll say this much for now: The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is changing. Rapidly. Oh, perhaps on the surface the twin island paradise may still seem like a relatively "undiscovered" couple of pearls on a delicate chain of small islands in the West Indies, but many of us know the other side: crime is rampant, developers are carving up the landscape and the cost of living is skyrocketing.
Not sure when, or if I'll be able to post that trip report, but I must admit, it was an interesting trip. I have remained silent, not knowing how to describe my experience this time. Well, I wasn't so silent on a certain travel forum, and I also kept a detailed journal of my trip. So, I'll say this much for now: The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is changing. Rapidly. Oh, perhaps on the surface the twin island paradise may still seem like a relatively "undiscovered" couple of pearls on a delicate chain of small islands in the West Indies, but many of us know the other side: crime is rampant, developers are carving up the landscape and the cost of living is skyrocketing.
I can no longer be naive enough to keep coming back here gushing over the serenity, beauty and bounty, when I keep being confronted with and conflicted by the truth. Yes, I have seen the seamy underbelly of the beast and I don't like it one bit. That doesn't mean I am not going back, however. It just means that I am not one of those travellers who can bury her head in the sand, and just go sailing, sunning and eating her way through a visit to the islands. Most of the crime is youth-gang related and, as such, most of it doesn't really impact tourists. And that is why I feel so conflicted.
The week that I was in St. Kitts there were three murders. One of the victims was the son of the Commissioner of Police. How's that for a message to the cops? Since, most of my social work career has been in direct practice with youth, and I was working while I was visiting, I couldn't escape the parallels between what is going on in the Federation, and my own experiences with disaffected youth.
The week that I was in St. Kitts there were three murders. One of the victims was the son of the Commissioner of Police. How's that for a message to the cops? Since, most of my social work career has been in direct practice with youth, and I was working while I was visiting, I couldn't escape the parallels between what is going on in the Federation, and my own experiences with disaffected youth.
How powerless it makes me feel to see the marginalized youth of the Federation embrace American-style criminality, and gangster rules of respect, while well-meaning (?) business people keep saying things like "well, at least the tourists aren't being shot!" Seriously? Like one life is worth more than another. Hmmm, well, I have more to say, but I will leave things right here for now.
I think I need to put more thought into what to do with this blog. I feel like posting lots of thoughts about social justice, sustainable development and the state of my favourite travel destinations, but I am not sure if this is the place to do it. Maybe I'll skim off the last few posts and put them elsewhere, while I keep all the light and fluffy stuff right here. Yes, maybe I shall do that!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Hiccups and announcements ...
This blog seems to be experiencing a bit of a hiccup - - while trying to experiment with different formats, some of my old posts were transported forward to the present date (or a few days ago, at least). Not sure what happened.
This leads me to my announcement ... you see, the reason for all this experimenting, is that I have finally decided to launch the other blog ... the one I mentioned about 2 years ago that would be focussed on well-being, among other, more specific topics. For now, there is not much on it. The initial focus will be on food allergies and sensitivities, gluten-free "trial and error" living, and the occasional foray into a recipe or two, interspersed with (what I hope will be) some helpful information on coping with chronic health "hiccups."
So, without further dawdling, here it is the link Confessions of a Reluctant Health Nut
Do take some time to come visit me there in the future ... hope to see you there!!
This leads me to my announcement ... you see, the reason for all this experimenting, is that I have finally decided to launch the other blog ... the one I mentioned about 2 years ago that would be focussed on well-being, among other, more specific topics. For now, there is not much on it. The initial focus will be on food allergies and sensitivities, gluten-free "trial and error" living, and the occasional foray into a recipe or two, interspersed with (what I hope will be) some helpful information on coping with chronic health "hiccups."
So, without further dawdling, here it is the link Confessions of a Reluctant Health Nut
Do take some time to come visit me there in the future ... hope to see you there!!
Monday, September 5, 2011
There is no Greater Love than the Love of Food ... and ... Beaches
OK, so let's wrap th
is up. All I can say is that I had some great meals and some meals that did not quite live up to the hype, when I was in Anguilla. Sand Bar not only lived up to the hype, but I liked it SO much, that I went back a second time, even though there were so many other places I had hoped to visit during my short 4 day stay. But I just HAD to sample whatever menu offerings I left behind the first night.
It isn't just the fact that the chef is Canadian, and formerly from one of the chi-chi hotels in Anguilla, or that her husband who also doubles as the bar-tender offers weary lone travelers a true Anguillian welcome, or the teriffic sunsets, or the reasonable pricing ... No, I think it's just
the way that all these elements somehow weave together to provide a very real and relaxed experience. This place is not stuffy in the least, nor is it a beach shack. Yet it is right on the beach! I think if I lived in Anguilla, this would be my after-work hang-out. I liked it that much. Seriously I must have really liked it, since over the space of 2 nights, I sampled the following:
->The freshest of salads made with local greens, with a light, tangy dressing
->Chicken livers, with watermelon (sounds awful, but it was dee-lish!)
->Spicy fries with a dipping sauce (mayo-based, I think)
->A goat-cheese, fruity coulis (cranberry? balsamic something-something?) fr
ench bread combo with a bunch of other stuff ... it was a year ago, and my memory is fading ... but, oh me, oh my, was it ever yum, umm, yummie!!
->Chicken Satay & Lemongrass skewers
->Roasted carrots with sesame seeds and a gossamer-light honey glaze -> Saltfish with creamy potatoes and green onion ...
And a couple of mojitos ... sigh.
After my second visit, I wandered down the beach and spent a bit of time at Elvis' Beach Bar. Noooo, silly .... not the Graceland Elvis, the Anguilla Grassland Elvis! I was to have met up with a couple whom I met the previous evening at SandBar. Not sure if I was early or late, but I never did see them there. Elvis provided a great welcome, and some entertaining stories while I waited ... and waited. I began to feel conspicuous, however, as there were a bunch of folks ... locals, ex-pats, frequent sojourners, who all seemed to know each other, at the other end of the funky boat-shaped beach bar ... who all kept staring at me. Hmmm, well y'all could have been a little friendlier (if any of you are reading this!) Nobody, but nobody even made an effort to be nice ... in fact, w
hen I did try to strike up a convo with a mid-age couple, they sort of wandered away. So, I made a quick check of my hair in my compact mirror - just checking to make sure that my hair hadn't re-arranged itself back into the Ed Grimley "cone" of "geekiness." Nope, everything looked OK, and my makeup seemed subtle and lipstick just the right hue to offset the tan that was slowly taking hold. So, when I couldn't take the lonliness and cold ambience any longer (aside from Elvis - he was a gentleman and a real character, at that!), and seeing no sign of my new friends, I left. Went back to Sandbar for a nightcap, where I was welcomed warmly by staff and patrons. Seriously, by now I felt that I had family here.
The next day, when I woke up, I figured out what the folks at Elvis's might have been put off by ... I had somehow developed the most bizarre sunburn on my legs ... it didn't hurt, but the front of both shins looked like they had been scalded with boiling oil. They looked like they had been splashed, red, pink, angry orange. Uneven, rorshach-like matching patterns on both legs. Those gambs must have been quite a sight, last night - contrasted every so effectively by my ivory capris and pewter-toned Brazilian rubber flip-flops (sustainability-correct flip-flops, because they are made from recycled tires, and they come with a certificate of authenticity that say so!) Well, I had a good laugh (where are those travel-pals when you need someone to giggle with?) ... and I readied myself to head over to DaVida, where I hoped to spend part of my last day in Anguilla. I took those rorshach-patterned limbs with me to St. Kitts for the second week of my holiday. Took forever to clear up and m
ade for interesting coversation, like ... "Oh my gawd! What the hell happened to your leeeeeggggs?!"
Reflecting back on my visit to Elvis ... I think those folks were just a tad snooty. And that is OK with me. After all, Anguilla attracts a lot of moneyed snobs, right? You can't expect perfection, right? From the beaches, maybe. But from people? Nope. Never gonna happen.
So, Wednesday there were some threatening rain clouds in the sky, and they followed me all the way to DaVida on Crocus Bay. Now I actually found the road to this place easy to identify from the main road, as it is paved and I passed it about a thousand times on that first day of driving. I even drove it for a brief 1/8 of a mile to check out a little plaza that day. This morning, what I didn't realize was that there is steep hill that you have to negotiate to actually get to Crocus Bay. Steep-up, and steep-down. Hey, I thought this island was flat!?! This steep hill goes through a residential neighbourhood with narrow road and various autos parked in all sorts of configurations, and road construction ... oh my! Made it through and as I descended toward the beach, I knew it was worth the ninety seconds of "white-nuckle-ing"! Too bad it started to rain in earnest. This place is stunning, with a great, welcoming parking lot, beautiful landscaping, gorgeous wooden decking that forms part of both the open air restaurant and bar. So, to get out of the rain, I ducked into a shop and had a lovely conversation with the lady who runs it and some repeat visitors from the U.S. Mid-west. See? Everyone was friendly here! Definitely going back next time.
Remembering that someone told me when it rains on one side of Anguilla the sun is surely shining on the other, I dashed between raindrops to my little auto, and attempted to follow the sun. I landed myself at Bankie Banx Dune Preserve. Very funky place. It was lunch time. I was a bit early, so had my choice of tables. Ordered a rum punch and pretended to read my book, while all along I people-watched, as families slowly made there way along the beach from the hotel in the distance (why can't I remember which one? Cap Juluca? Cuisinart? Rich Folks R Us?) ...
The rum punch was excellent and potent. The Carib cold. I got a little woozy from mixing my drinks so I ordered lunch - a chicken mango salad. And I have to say this was unequivocally the worst salad I have ever had in my life. Seriously. It tased like it was from an amusement park concession stand. The nice could see my distress, I suppose, because he kept coming over to ask if I was OK. I just didn't have the heart or the energy, being too relaxed and feeling the effects of the rum in my veins, to complain. So I very surreptitiously feed bits of chicken to a stray puppy that had sidled up to the edge of the rail on the beach side from my table. Naturally, I emerged from my food let-down a bit of a hero to the newbie family at the next table, because they thought it was SO nice and brave of me to feed a stray pup. I am glad I didn't complain. But seriously, the chicken tasted bland and boiled. The mango was from a can, and the dressing overpowering over wilted romain. A real let-down compared to my lunch at Trattoria Tramonto. And my tab was only with a few dollars difference. As an aside, I have been reading lately about beach erosion at the Dune, and I think it was evident even last April. The beach didn't quite look as I had recalled it in photos, there was a drop-off only a few feet from the bottom of the stairs to the sea. And another aside, I was sent with a message for Bankie, but he was off-island and my visit was a few short weeks after his big Moonsplash festival ... so I wonder if his place was experiencing a sort of post-festival "hangover"? Whatever it was, as far as beach bars go, I was a bit disappointed. That said, I'll bet dollars-to-Tim-Hortons-donuts that this place must be a blast at night. I don't know, but it was just "missing" something the Wednesday that I visited.
In retrospect, I should have gone to Smokey's on the Cove or to FerryBoat Inn for a nice burger, as these were also on my list ... ah well, I never did make to these two spots. More for next time, I guess. And who knows when that will be? Sniff, sniff ... sigh ...
Well, I also wanted to talk about my leaving day and the bizarre breakfast experience, and harrowing ride I took with the car rental lady, as she escorted me to the ferry ... but it all makes me want to go back NOW ... even the bad stuff is not so bad, eh? Funny, but not nearly what I would define as bad. Unless you expect to get coffee and pastries at a French bistro for breakfast, but when you get there, the guy tells you there is no coffee because the Italian "steam machine is "broke down" ... so you ask for tea. Nope. No hot water due to same broke down machine! What, they don't have a kettle? Apparently not. A sauce-pan to boil water? Nope again. Sensing touristic disappointment, waiter dude says they'll make me whatever I want. So, I look at the menu and order fresh orange juice for starters. Guess what? No such animal available today. So, I get bottled Snapple. I ask for French Toast ... strike out again. No egg bread, which is what they usually make it with. Then a thought occurs to waiter dude ... they can slice up some baguette that is normally reserved for continental breakfast ... you know, the kind? It comes with coffee?! That beverage that they couldn't serve due to equipment breakdown. Well, the french-baguette-toast was indeed delicious. Not crazy about the orange Snapple, though. And the car ride with Madame-long-nails? Holy crap ... she almost propelled me right off the peer ...
I really wish I was exaggerating, but the first part of my last morning was really that bizarre! Which only made Anguilla all the more endeering to me. It may cater to the well-heeled, particular, pretentious ... it may have next to perfect beaches ...but it is just "flawed" enough to make it just the right spot for a return visit by Calamity-Jill!
Yep, I can still hear those roosters crowing, just a few feet behind La Vue. And see those goats and island dogs that liked to block my way on the roads ... and smell the sea ... and hear its swooshing waves ... All that's missing are those pesky vervet monkeys that are all over my other favourite isles!! And gosh, am I ever loving those $29 flip-flops from Irie Life, just the funkiest little shop right next to La Vue! But honestly? I can't wait to go back just to sleep on one of those beaches again ... and to eat my way around the island. I'll have to stay a few weeks, though ... because I plan to make SandBar a regular stop ... and I have to hit up all those places I missed, including weekend BBQ stands! Oh ... so much food, so little vacation budget!
is up. All I can say is that I had some great meals and some meals that did not quite live up to the hype, when I was in Anguilla. Sand Bar not only lived up to the hype, but I liked it SO much, that I went back a second time, even though there were so many other places I had hoped to visit during my short 4 day stay. But I just HAD to sample whatever menu offerings I left behind the first night. It isn't just the fact that the chef is Canadian, and formerly from one of the chi-chi hotels in Anguilla, or that her husband who also doubles as the bar-tender offers weary lone travelers a true Anguillian welcome, or the teriffic sunsets, or the reasonable pricing ... No, I think it's just
the way that all these elements somehow weave together to provide a very real and relaxed experience. This place is not stuffy in the least, nor is it a beach shack. Yet it is right on the beach! I think if I lived in Anguilla, this would be my after-work hang-out. I liked it that much. Seriously I must have really liked it, since over the space of 2 nights, I sampled the following: ->The freshest of salads made with local greens, with a light, tangy dressing
->Chicken livers, with watermelon (sounds awful, but it was dee-lish!)
->Spicy fries with a dipping sauce (mayo-based, I think)
->A goat-cheese, fruity coulis (cranberry? balsamic something-something?) fr
ench bread combo with a bunch of other stuff ... it was a year ago, and my memory is fading ... but, oh me, oh my, was it ever yum, umm, yummie!! ->Chicken Satay & Lemongrass skewers
->Roasted carrots with sesame seeds and a gossamer-light honey glaze -> Saltfish with creamy potatoes and green onion ...
And a couple of mojitos ... sigh.
After my second visit, I wandered down the beach and spent a bit of time at Elvis' Beach Bar. Noooo, silly .... not the Graceland Elvis, the Anguilla Grassland Elvis! I was to have met up with a couple whom I met the previous evening at SandBar. Not sure if I was early or late, but I never did see them there. Elvis provided a great welcome, and some entertaining stories while I waited ... and waited. I began to feel conspicuous, however, as there were a bunch of folks ... locals, ex-pats, frequent sojourners, who all seemed to know each other, at the other end of the funky boat-shaped beach bar ... who all kept staring at me. Hmmm, well y'all could have been a little friendlier (if any of you are reading this!) Nobody, but nobody even made an effort to be nice ... in fact, w
hen I did try to strike up a convo with a mid-age couple, they sort of wandered away. So, I made a quick check of my hair in my compact mirror - just checking to make sure that my hair hadn't re-arranged itself back into the Ed Grimley "cone" of "geekiness." Nope, everything looked OK, and my makeup seemed subtle and lipstick just the right hue to offset the tan that was slowly taking hold. So, when I couldn't take the lonliness and cold ambience any longer (aside from Elvis - he was a gentleman and a real character, at that!), and seeing no sign of my new friends, I left. Went back to Sandbar for a nightcap, where I was welcomed warmly by staff and patrons. Seriously, by now I felt that I had family here. The next day, when I woke up, I figured out what the folks at Elvis's might have been put off by ... I had somehow developed the most bizarre sunburn on my legs ... it didn't hurt, but the front of both shins looked like they had been scalded with boiling oil. They looked like they had been splashed, red, pink, angry orange. Uneven, rorshach-like matching patterns on both legs. Those gambs must have been quite a sight, last night - contrasted every so effectively by my ivory capris and pewter-toned Brazilian rubber flip-flops (sustainability-correct flip-flops, because they are made from recycled tires, and they come with a certificate of authenticity that say so!) Well, I had a good laugh (where are those travel-pals when you need someone to giggle with?) ... and I readied myself to head over to DaVida, where I hoped to spend part of my last day in Anguilla. I took those rorshach-patterned limbs with me to St. Kitts for the second week of my holiday. Took forever to clear up and m
ade for interesting coversation, like ... "Oh my gawd! What the hell happened to your leeeeeggggs?!" Reflecting back on my visit to Elvis ... I think those folks were just a tad snooty. And that is OK with me. After all, Anguilla attracts a lot of moneyed snobs, right? You can't expect perfection, right? From the beaches, maybe. But from people? Nope. Never gonna happen.
So, Wednesday there were some threatening rain clouds in the sky, and they followed me all the way to DaVida on Crocus Bay. Now I actually found the road to this place easy to identify from the main road, as it is paved and I passed it about a thousand times on that first day of driving. I even drove it for a brief 1/8 of a mile to check out a little plaza that day. This morning, what I didn't realize was that there is steep hill that you have to negotiate to actually get to Crocus Bay. Steep-up, and steep-down. Hey, I thought this island was flat!?! This steep hill goes through a residential neighbourhood with narrow road and various autos parked in all sorts of configurations, and road construction ... oh my! Made it through and as I descended toward the beach, I knew it was worth the ninety seconds of "white-nuckle-ing"! Too bad it started to rain in earnest. This place is stunning, with a great, welcoming parking lot, beautiful landscaping, gorgeous wooden decking that forms part of both the open air restaurant and bar. So, to get out of the rain, I ducked into a shop and had a lovely conversation with the lady who runs it and some repeat visitors from the U.S. Mid-west. See? Everyone was friendly here! Definitely going back next time.
Remembering that someone told me when it rains on one side of Anguilla the sun is surely shining on the other, I dashed between raindrops to my little auto, and attempted to follow the sun. I landed myself at Bankie Banx Dune Preserve. Very funky place. It was lunch time. I was a bit early, so had my choice of tables. Ordered a rum punch and pretended to read my book, while all along I people-watched, as families slowly made there way along the beach from the hotel in the distance (why can't I remember which one? Cap Juluca? Cuisinart? Rich Folks R Us?) ...
The rum punch was excellent and potent. The Carib cold. I got a little woozy from mixing my drinks so I ordered lunch - a chicken mango salad. And I have to say this was unequivocally the worst salad I have ever had in my life. Seriously. It tased like it was from an amusement park concession stand. The nice could see my distress, I suppose, because he kept coming over to ask if I was OK. I just didn't have the heart or the energy, being too relaxed and feeling the effects of the rum in my veins, to complain. So I very surreptitiously feed bits of chicken to a stray puppy that had sidled up to the edge of the rail on the beach side from my table. Naturally, I emerged from my food let-down a bit of a hero to the newbie family at the next table, because they thought it was SO nice and brave of me to feed a stray pup. I am glad I didn't complain. But seriously, the chicken tasted bland and boiled. The mango was from a can, and the dressing overpowering over wilted romain. A real let-down compared to my lunch at Trattoria Tramonto. And my tab was only with a few dollars difference. As an aside, I have been reading lately about beach erosion at the Dune, and I think it was evident even last April. The beach didn't quite look as I had recalled it in photos, there was a drop-off only a few feet from the bottom of the stairs to the sea. And another aside, I was sent with a message for Bankie, but he was off-island and my visit was a few short weeks after his big Moonsplash festival ... so I wonder if his place was experiencing a sort of post-festival "hangover"? Whatever it was, as far as beach bars go, I was a bit disappointed. That said, I'll bet dollars-to-Tim-Hortons-donuts that this place must be a blast at night. I don't know, but it was just "missing" something the Wednesday that I visited.
In retrospect, I should have gone to Smokey's on the Cove or to FerryBoat Inn for a nice burger, as these were also on my list ... ah well, I never did make to these two spots. More for next time, I guess. And who knows when that will be? Sniff, sniff ... sigh ...
Well, I also wanted to talk about my leaving day and the bizarre breakfast experience, and harrowing ride I took with the car rental lady, as she escorted me to the ferry ... but it all makes me want to go back NOW ... even the bad stuff is not so bad, eh? Funny, but not nearly what I would define as bad. Unless you expect to get coffee and pastries at a French bistro for breakfast, but when you get there, the guy tells you there is no coffee because the Italian "steam machine is "broke down" ... so you ask for tea. Nope. No hot water due to same broke down machine! What, they don't have a kettle? Apparently not. A sauce-pan to boil water? Nope again. Sensing touristic disappointment, waiter dude says they'll make me whatever I want. So, I look at the menu and order fresh orange juice for starters. Guess what? No such animal available today. So, I get bottled Snapple. I ask for French Toast ... strike out again. No egg bread, which is what they usually make it with. Then a thought occurs to waiter dude ... they can slice up some baguette that is normally reserved for continental breakfast ... you know, the kind? It comes with coffee?! That beverage that they couldn't serve due to equipment breakdown. Well, the french-baguette-toast was indeed delicious. Not crazy about the orange Snapple, though. And the car ride with Madame-long-nails? Holy crap ... she almost propelled me right off the peer ...
I really wish I was exaggerating, but the first part of my last morning was really that bizarre! Which only made Anguilla all the more endeering to me. It may cater to the well-heeled, particular, pretentious ... it may have next to perfect beaches ...but it is just "flawed" enough to make it just the right spot for a return visit by Calamity-Jill!
Yep, I can still hear those roosters crowing, just a few feet behind La Vue. And see those goats and island dogs that liked to block my way on the roads ... and smell the sea ... and hear its swooshing waves ... All that's missing are those pesky vervet monkeys that are all over my other favourite isles!! And gosh, am I ever loving those $29 flip-flops from Irie Life, just the funkiest little shop right next to La Vue! But honestly? I can't wait to go back just to sleep on one of those beaches again ... and to eat my way around the island. I'll have to stay a few weeks, though ... because I plan to make SandBar a regular stop ... and I have to hit up all those places I missed, including weekend BBQ stands! Oh ... so much food, so little vacation budget!
What happens in Anguilla stays in Anguilla ...
Unless of course you write about it.
Well it's confirmed - I am not taking any southward bound vacations this spring. So now, Anguilla and the rest of the Caribbean are consuming my every thought. Under pressure of unrealistic deadlines, what do I do? Go on the hunt for unfinished trip reports. Here is what I was able to find so far ... my goodness, am I ever long winded! This is only the first 2 - 3 days - imagine if I had stayeda full week!
Dinner my first night, was at Tasty’s, and it was indeed, tasty. Except for the fact that I was a) tired from partying at the family reunion/wedding in Toronto the night
before, and b) belatedly reeling from the rough crossing between St. Maarten/St. Martin and Anguilla: I seemed to be experiencing delayed sea-sickness. My meal of Stewed Chicken with rice and the freshest veggies I have ever tasted, was nicely packed up and I was sent home with what seemed like enough food for the next 3 daysworth of lunches, dinners or midnight snacks. The portion size was really, really generous. And I had a nice big bottle of French fizzy water to go, as well - the name of which escapes me right now, but which went down mighty fine with a few slices of lemon from the local market, and orange slices courtesy of La Vue’s breakfast buffet.The next morning, I awoke refreshed, enjoyed the simple continental breakfast that La Vue provides in the lobby area.I took my coffee to the side garden and enjoyed the view of Road Bay/Sandy Ground, from way above and pondered how the heck to get down there, either on foot or by car ... and I let the heat and fresh air work its magic. By the time I headed into the Valley, still bright and early, to pick up my rental car, magic time was over and I was sweating like a construction worker! And I pretty much didn’t stop sweating for the duration of my stay. I think the week prior was much cooler, by
all reports, but the temps began rising over night, seemingly as soon and I landed. Ha! Imagine that?! My arrival sparked a heat-wave!
Can’t recall for the life of me, where I rented the car, but anyway, a minor mixup - a booking mistake on my part, resulted in the delivery of a car with manual transmission, whereas I thought I had booked automatic. In the time it took to get a tiny, brand-new, microwave-sized, microwave-named automobile ready for me, I was able to go across the road to top-up my Lime cell phone. One good thing about Lime, is that their phones roam all over the Caribbean, with reasonable rates, so I didn’t have to bother with getting a local SIM card and just kept my old SKN number, for the few outbound calls I had to make. Much cheaper than using my own phone to call home.
When I went back to finish car paperwork, the lady in charge informed me that she worked out a special rate for me, and indeed, I only paid a few dollars more than the special internet rate for the original booking. She did expect a favour in return - I was asked if I could drive her elderly sister to work ... or, at least to the next round-about. So, I complied, happy to return the kindness ... but was frankly, a bit nervous: not really knowing my way around Anguilla, and not really feeling comfy with right-side steering wheel. It was a bit of a comedy of errors trying to figure out where to pull over when the car-rental lady’s sister pointed out an empty field, and said “I get out right there ...” I still think she got nervous about my driving and lack of familiarity with Anguilla, and took the first opportunity to bail from my car!
Can’t recall for the life of me, where I rented the car, but anyway, a minor mixup - a booking mistake on my part, resulted in the delivery of a car with manual transmission, whereas I thought I had booked automatic. In the time it took to get a tiny, brand-new, microwave-sized, microwave-named automobile ready for me, I was able to go across the road to top-up my Lime cell phone. One good thing about Lime, is that their phones roam all over the Caribbean, with reasonable rates, so I didn’t have to bother with getting a local SIM card and just kept my old SKN number, for the few outbound calls I had to make. Much cheaper than using my own phone to call home.
When I went back to finish car paperwork, the lady in charge informed me that she worked out a special rate for me, and indeed, I only paid a few dollars more than the special internet rate for the original booking. She did expect a favour in return - I was asked if I could drive her elderly sister to work ... or, at least to the next round-about. So, I complied, happy to return the kindness ... but was frankly, a bit nervous: not really knowing my way around Anguilla, and not really feeling comfy with right-side steering wheel. It was a bit of a comedy of errors trying to figure out where to pull over when the car-rental lady’s sister pointed out an empty field, and said “I get out right there ...” I still think she got nervous about my driving and lack of familiarity with Anguilla, and took the first opportunity to bail from my car!
And thus began MsJilly’s/Vervet’s driving adventures in Anguilla. After a quick stop back at LaVue - I headed west to quickly check out a few things - like the Malliouhana (still pretty much looks th
e same as 21 years ago from outside at least - ok maybe with more mature and lush flora and fauna, but still the same.) OK, this part of the island looked easy enough to negotiate, so I turned around and headed east in search of Shoal Bay, and the many (?) beach bars I had read about. Ultimately, I had planned to end up at Gwen’s for lunch. So, I drove and drove and drove, heading straight, and keeping to what I thought was the left, and somehow ended up going around to Island Harbour. Then when I turned around, I still somehow messed up, and ended up driving past the airport at least twice, and through The Valley at least twice, and stopped at some intersection with lights from every conceivable direction. I did learn one or two things about driving in Anguilla:
1. It is only easy if you know what you are doing.
2. The map isn’t really helpful because, I don’t
know about you, but I can’t drive and use a map at the same time.
3. I needed a navigator, both for the map and to laugh with ... it’s just no fun making silly mistakes when you have nobody beside you in the pax seat to laugh at you.
4. If you’re driving from North Hill towards Shoal Bay East, if you can see St. Martin/Sint Maarten across the sea, you are going the wrong way.
5. There are lots of little grocery stores in Anguilla, and they were all, and I mean all, out out high SPF tanning lotion, and mosquito milk.
6. When you go to Anguilla the week after Bankie’s Moonsplash festivities, the shelves seem to be devoid of tanning lotions, mosquito repellent and I won’t even hazzard to guess what else!
3. I needed a navigator, both for the map and to laugh with ... it’s just no fun making silly mistakes when you have nobody beside you in the pax seat to laugh at you.
4. If you’re driving from North Hill towards Shoal Bay East, if you can see St. Martin/Sint Maarten across the sea, you are going the wrong way.
5. There are lots of little grocery stores in Anguilla, and they were all, and I mean all, out out high SPF tanning lotion, and mosquito milk.
6. When you go to Anguilla the week after Bankie’s Moonsplash festivities, the shelves seem to be devoid of tanning lotions, mosquito repellent and I won’t even hazzard to guess what else!
7. Getting lost is h
alf the fun. I now know my way around every nook and cranny of that island!
I finally made to Gwens hungry, and exhausted from driving! I ordered the ribs, and a Carib. For dessert, another Carib. I must admit, I was a bit disappointed in the meal, possibly because it was late in the day for lunch, but the ribs seemed a bit dry and bland, and the pasta salad was definitely overcooked. Maybe I had been oversold, and led to over-anticipate because of all the hype on all the forums?! But ya know what? Who the heck cares ?! ... Because, I was there for the beach, the beach and more beach ... and oh my goodness, what a beach! And I got to see beaches I hadn’t planned to
see, while trying to find the one I wanted to see!
Once
Once
I was sufficiently fed and watered, I took a long walk along the beach and was again thoroughly confused, as I could not locate or recognize the establishments I had read about on the travel forums. I realized later that Shoal Bay and Shoal Bay East are not the same place, and that it is a loooong walk around the point to get from one to the other. I think. No worries, I headed back to Gwen's generally vicinity, and had a swim, a snooze, and another Carib to replace lost fluids due to the constant sweating! I had a quick chat with Gwen and her husband, and also with a flirtatious local scam artist. What fun! A definite “must return” kind of place. My meal and three beer were so inexpensive, that I thought perhaps there was a mistake on the bill!
That evening, I stayed in and supped on a veritable feast of left-over stew chicken from Tasty’s. This is eve
That evening, I stayed in and supped on a veritable feast of left-over stew chicken from Tasty’s. This is eve
n better served as leftover fare, the next day. Veggies still firm, not overcooked and the flavours have time to meld. Dessert was a local West-Indian style pastry/bun, which I picked up at one of the many grocery shops that I stumbled into earlier that day. I christened the brand new coffee maker in the room and tried to make Vietnamese-style coffee with condensed milk, and the fresh supply of Columbian from the Dominican Republic, which the Hughes' kindly left in the fridge for me.
Tuesday was another hot, beautifully cloudless day. Perfect morning for my West End adventure. Breakfast was at Straw Hat. I had met the manager and chef the day before, and they were very welcoming and cordial. Nice conversation, terrific breakfast of their signature quiche, from my seat at a table facing the sea! Then, the fellow who looks after the chairs for Straw Hat set up an umbrella and two chairs for me. When I protested that I was fine without the second lounger, he responded with a “well you never know who might come by to visit ...” Knowing that Meads Bay often attracts
celebrities, I perched myself gracefully upon my my lounger, waiting for Sting, Liam, Denzel ... but, alas I just used the second chair to house my bo
ok, beach bag, and extra towel. Nobody came by to visit :(It was very quiet on Meads Bay. So I decided to take a nap. Isn't that what everyone does after breakfast? It's hard work eating all that good food! I fell asleep to the sound of the waves lapping on the shore and woke about 2 hours later! Great! Just in time to drive around and look for somewhere to have a light lunch.
My drive took me first to Rendevous Bay. I parked and began walking the beach. Now, I had not taken many pictures up until now, because I thought I would do one more d rive around the island later in the week and take some snaps of all the places I had stumbled across during yesterday’s driving session, in addition to photos of the places I had seen intentionally. So,
My drive took me first to Rendevous Bay. I parked and began walking the beach. Now, I had not taken many pictures up until now, because I thought I would do one more d rive around the island later in the week and take some snaps of all the places I had stumbled across during yesterday’s driving session, in addition to photos of the places I had seen intentionally. So,
as I pondered where tomorrow’s drive would take, me I took my camera out to get a few shots of Rendezvous. Karma had different plans for me, so as soon as I resolved to start shooting, a gigantic rogue wave rolled into shore and drenched both me and my cheapo, but reliable little HP. That was the end of my photographic tour of Anguilla ... over before it even really started.
Back in the car and off I went. Did I mention it was really hot? So hot, that my thoroughly soaked clothes were dry in record time. My short funky haircut dried even faster. Note to self: leave t
Back in the car and off I went. Did I mention it was really hot? So hot, that my thoroughly soaked clothes were dry in record time. My short funky haircut dried even faster. Note to self: leave t
he expensive hair products at home - they seem to have a chemical reaction when exposed to Anguilla salt air. My hair was standing on end - sort of like Ed Grimley. But I didn't know this at the time. And thus, I made my grand entrance at Trattoria Tramonto. The place where all the stars come to lunch... where the walls are lined with photos of the owners and staff, taken with the likes of the Clintons, Robert De Niro, Snookie (OK, maybe not Snookie, but you get my drift, right?) All said and done, a very casual looking setting greeted me. Worn wood, shutters and mostly lots of open air, not too many walls. Almost a large, rambling shack really. Love at first sight for me. I think this is my latest favourite place among all my favourite places on earth. And that is saying something ... not because I am a food snob, but because there is really no shortage of great Italian food in my life, so I don't go out of my way to seek out Italian restaurants when I travel. But I just instantly felt at home here. First of all, the setting is just so peaceful and post-card perfect, with just enough (not too tall, not too scruffy) palm trees for natural shade on the beach, great sand for walking on, the most beautiful hues reflecting off the waters, and a killer view of St. Martin. What more can a gal ask for? Oh, yeah ... a working camera! No such luck.
Aside from the aforementioned natural beauty and ambience of the setting, what made this place special (and I haven’t even mentioned the food yet) was the absolute graciousness of the staff. It was quite late for lunch (I think there is now a pattern developing here) ... but a charming waitress made sure I was aware of all the special, and she didn’t even flinch or bat an eye-lass at my Ed Grimley up-doo.
So, from simply wanting a bottle of mineral water, and a nice place to sit while I figured out what to do about the camera, I ended up ordering a fabulous salad - baby arugula, baby spinach topped with wild boar prosciutto and shavings of the most delicious artisinal parmiggiano. I wish I had written down the exact description of this salad. It was YUM! On the side, they serve a little plate of bite-size pieces of fresh focaccia, just like my mamma makes! Naturally, I had to get a glass of white wine to go with this impromptu feast. Nicely chilled, it went down like lemonade - but with the added benefit of provoking a wee buzz. Two cappuccinos later, I was ready to hit the road. Recently, I ran across my visa statement, and I saw the finally tally for that lunch - YIKES! But it was worth every penny. Food - spectacular. Setting and service - priceless!
Later that day, I vowed to eat a light dinner ... or perhaps no dinner. Then I went down to Sandy Ground/Road Bay and ended up at SandBar. Sidled up to the bar, ordered a gin a tonic. And the next thing you know I am chatting with some ex-pats and first time visitors. Then I run into the journalists from the “channel crossing.” I enjoyed a wonderful sunset, great company and apparently ... three quarters of the tapas menu!
OK, back to my day job ... and my bottomless pit of academic assignments ... more later.
Aside from the aforementioned natural beauty and ambience of the setting, what made this place special (and I haven’t even mentioned the food yet) was the absolute graciousness of the staff. It was quite late for lunch (I think there is now a pattern developing here) ... but a charming waitress made sure I was aware of all the special, and she didn’t even flinch or bat an eye-lass at my Ed Grimley up-doo.
So, from simply wanting a bottle of mineral water, and a nice place to sit while I figured out what to do about the camera, I ended up ordering a fabulous salad - baby arugula, baby spinach topped with wild boar prosciutto and shavings of the most delicious artisinal parmiggiano. I wish I had written down the exact description of this salad. It was YUM! On the side, they serve a little plate of bite-size pieces of fresh focaccia, just like my mamma makes! Naturally, I had to get a glass of white wine to go with this impromptu feast. Nicely chilled, it went down like lemonade - but with the added benefit of provoking a wee buzz. Two cappuccinos later, I was ready to hit the road. Recently, I ran across my visa statement, and I saw the finally tally for that lunch - YIKES! But it was worth every penny. Food - spectacular. Setting and service - priceless!
Later that day, I vowed to eat a light dinner ... or perhaps no dinner. Then I went down to Sandy Ground/Road Bay and ended up at SandBar. Sidled up to the bar, ordered a gin a tonic. And the next thing you know I am chatting with some ex-pats and first time visitors. Then I run into the journalists from the “channel crossing.” I enjoyed a wonderful sunset, great company and apparently ... three quarters of the tapas menu!
OK, back to my day job ... and my bottomless pit of academic assignments ... more later.
Labels:
Anguilla,
Caribbean,
Gwen's,
Island Harbour,
Meads Bay,
Road Bay,
Sandy Ground,
Shoal Bay,
Straw Hat,
Tasty's
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Update from "Guarda La Yarda" - Nonna C's Canning Factory
Over the next few weeks I am hoping to clean up my blog, delete forever the blogs that I started but will never finish or even attempt to follow through, and finally learn how to post photos artistically and effectively. I am even toying with the idea of moving away from Blogger and going elsewhere to host my blog, as I move away from travel stories (interspersed with a few rants here and there) to a whole other set of themes.
In the meantime, I thought I would share a few photos from late summer in Guarda La Yarda. Like any self-respecting transplanted Italian, my mother, at age 82 and struggling with health issues, still insists on maintaining a vegetable and flower garden. In the fall, she and my father (who suffers from macular degeneration and insists that he is now completely blind, therefore unable to assist in chores) set up their makeshift factory in the garage, order a few bushels of field tomatoes to supplement the back-yard harvest (a necessity to them, since the kitchen garden is a mere shadow of what it used to be in the days before dad lost his eye-sight, and ultimately any interest in keeping a vegetable garden)from reliable (read Italian) source, and toil away to produce dozens upon dozens of jars of the freshest sauce imaginable. I always say I will never can my own tomatoes, but I must admit that the product that is lovingly housed in mamma's jars is far, far superior than anything to be found on store shelves .... even that passata that comes right from the Campania hills.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Bucket List - *Revisited and Revised*
... or ... "phew, I got these out of the way ... so what's next?"
So here is an incomplete run-down of a few goals that I can safely strike from the list:
1. Learn to type (seriously, I was over 30 when I learned to type without looking at the keys!)
2. Live in the Caribbean for a year (well the actual job lasted a full 12 months, but I travelled back and forth from Canada to St. Kitts and Nevis several times, so maybe my cumulative time on island was more like 7 months. I think it still counts, right?! If not, no problemo, I'll just go back and wrap this one up a little tighter.)
3. Get over my fear of flying (see #2 - hmm, you're not suggesting that this fear is what led to the demise of my short-lived tropical live/work adventure?)
4. Visit London and Paris, and throw in a return to Rome (still not over fear of flying when I did this.)
5. Have a chat with Mona Lisa while accomplishing #4
6. Get over my fear of driving (yep, I actually learned to drive around the same time I learned to type. Sad, but true.)
7. Go back to school for Social Work degree
8. Buy a house (single females are still underrepresented in the housing market)
9. Go back to school yet again for Graduate Social Work degree (MSW)
10. Sell the dam house and start travelling again!
11. Get braces and fix that painful bite once and for all (and get a beautiful smile in the process! Hopefully, a beautiful smile - the result are yet to be determined as braces only went on a few months ago!!)
12. Go back to St. Kitts after 16 year absence, for my big "milestone" birthday (Ok, who am I kidding keeping it a secret - it was the Big 5-OH!) .
I'll stop here for now. Number 11 was a few years ago. I am now coming up to a "half milestone" in a few months, and I am definitely feeling the urge to celebrate. Except, I am not sure where I will go or what I actually want to do to mark the occassion. I may put off this celebration for 6 months and pull out all the celebratory stops next June when I go to my graduation ceremony. Why they make us wait so long, I just don't know. We'll be done with internship in early December, so it seems like such a long wait to collect that diploma. Why can't they just confer it by mail in February - a Valentines Diploma! Certainly that scroll will have much more significance for me than roses and chocolates. Or have a separate off-campus ceremony. If my classes were several hundred miles away from the school, why can't they do the ceremony where the classes were actually held? Besides, the University of Windsor is in, well, Windsor. With no disrespect meant towards the citizens of that lovely town, it really is not where I envision doing my big semi-milestone birthday - slash - graduation celebration. Seriously, if you were in my shoes, would you really want to spend this momentous ocassion in the city above Detroit?
Hmmm, as I look at what to modify, delete from and add to my bucket list, a thought occurs -- I have never actually attended any of my graduation ceremonies. Not high school. Not university -- for either of my first two degrees. So, perhaps this is as good a place as any to start my new and improved bucket list - either #12 on this page ... or #1 on my yet to be accomplished page ... Go to my grad school grad!! Since I will be joining the mere 2 percent of the population who successfully complete their masters degrees, I believe I have much to celebrate.
At a time when others are thinking of early retirement, I am launching the second half of my second career (and you thought I did that 2 years ago when I quit my job and started my own business, huh?!)
But you know what is really pressing on my mind today? Just like so many younger folks, my big worry right now is: 1) will I find the right shoes to wear under those gawd-awful robes?
And 2) more importantly, will my braces come off on time for the graduation ceremony?
And when I am stuck at home ... I head out to an old standby ... Welcome to "Guarda La Yarda"
Also known as, "doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door ..."
It is hard to believe that I had a hand in helping all these little beauties along.
And when I remember, I do pause and give thanks to the heavens, because as sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, winter is right around the corner. And the chair that I usually occupy during Guarda La Yarda season, will look something like this:
And let me be clear, this was NOT shot in B&W and was not photo-shopped or digitally altered in any way. Some winter days are just THAT gloomy ... and cold ... brrrrrrr .....
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