Need some help here....

For the last six months I have been keeping my eyes open for storage and shelving options on the island.  Our apartment was built as a vacation rental so we do not have a pantry or even closets.  This really limits my storage space and cramps my style when I love to spend time in my kitchen, cooking and baking.
Anyways, almost everything I have found in local department, hardware or even bargain stores has been ridiculously expensive and of cheap construction.....until last week, when I found this!

Last week, Kris had invited me to tag along and go with him to see his mechanic Faud.  I was waiting for him in the car when I glanced from the shop over to the house, where this shelf was sitting up against the wall.  The wooden shelves were rotten and vines were growing up through the bottom.  On our way home I asked Kris if he thought Faud would sell it to us and he agreed to ask him the following day. 

Apparently Faud was just happy getting rid of it because he let Kris take it for free!

My only dilemma now is I don't know what color to paint it.  I'm thinking that a bright carribean color would be suiting, but I can't decide on just one.

Any suggestions?

Hello Nevis Peak!

This is Nevis Peak.  It is an extinct volcano that rises to the height of 3,232 feet!

Today Kris and I decided to go for a little hike...

little did we know that there was more climbing invloved than actually hiking!

Most of the trail was so vertical that you would have to pull yourself forward using roots or ropes that had been tied to tree trunks by previous hikers.  The hike started out at Peak Haven, a local tourist hotspot, and led us forward through dry forest and then humid forest and then above that was the rain forest.  The only problem with the rain forest was the trail was so wet that it made things very slippery and dangerous so it was hard to look around and really enjoy your surroundings. If you weren`t watching the dirt, planning your next step you would trip and fall and look like this by the end of the day....

All the little slips and bumps and bruises aside, we made it to the top and enjoyed a snack while taking in the view of the Atlantic side of the island.  On a beautiful clear day you can see up to three neighboring islands.  Today we managed to hike the peak without being in the clouds but it was still a little overcast and only got a view of Montserrat.(I know we have it rough!)

Spice it up!

Kris and I have been enjoying a much needed break over the last week.  On thursday we decided to head to St.Kitts for a date night and stay at The Marriott Resort so we could go to the movie theatre there.  It didn't take much convincing for me to talk Kris into staying an extra night to really enjoy ourselves. We laid by the pool....

and went to the spa....

and enjoyed dinner at Spice Mill, right on the beach......

Kris, being such a loving husband, had told them it was our honeymoon.  So we were treated to a special table on the beach and the royal treatment all evening!

FINALS ARE HERE!

Everyone, Meet Kris

See Kris Study

Study Kris Study

Kris officially finished classes on friday this week and now has 3 exams to study for. Next week he will write his Cell Biology exam on tuesday and then his Chemistry and Anatomy & Physiology on wednesday.  We both cannot wait!

I've got a lov-e-ly bunch of co-co-nuts......

......deed-il-e-dee, there they are standing in a row....boom-boom-boom.....big ones, small ones, some as big as your head!!!

Okay...so they aren't exactly coconuts(they are mangos!)but they are still lovely and HUGE!!!

I have never seen or tasted any mangos like these!

In order to preserve these mangos for future enjoyment, today I canned approximately 6 quarts and froze 6 quarts worth of mangos.  Oh, and I also made Mango Crisp.....mmmmmmmmm!

CULTURAMA CONTINUED

On Tuesday, August 2nd, in true Nevisian style, a parade went through the streets of Charlestown.  Not at 12pm like they had told everyone, but 4pm when they finally managed to get everyone organized!

A week ago, a patient at the dental office had approached me and asked if I would like to get involved in the parade.  She was entering a "troupe" and needed more people.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to get involved and learn more about the culture of the people here.  So I said "yes" and signed my friend Daniella up with me.

Sian(the local lady that asked me to join her troupe) called me on Friday last week and told me I could stop by her work to pick up my costume.  I had assumed that we would be dressed in tradional Nevisian colors; Red, Black, Yellow and Green.

This is an example of a folk dance troupe, they perform traditional dances ranging from the French-derived kwadril to African war dances.  The term kwadril is a Creole term referring to a folk dance.  There were several groups in the parade dressed like this with participants of all ages. 

So I stopped to pick up our costumes and this is what I got.............

 

Go ahead and laugh!!! Laughing was all that Daniela and I could do because at this point it would have been so rude to back out.  Oh and just wait, it gets worse!!!

 I should know better than to assume anything on this island!

The idea of our troupe was that we were supposed to depicte a peom that they teach elementary kids in school, about a flying fish and a shark.  I guess we were supposed to be the ocean????

CULTURAMA 2011

Today they had "street dancing" in Charlestown.  When I heard this I thought it would be a great cultural event to take in.  So I hopped on a bus this morning and went to town to check it out(my scooter has a flat tire).  I guess I shouldn't have been surprised but the street dancing was not a competition or a show, it was simply people dancing in the street...and by dancing, I mostly mean grinding.

Regardless it was quite the sight and the energy of the people was amazing. Check this out...

For your viewing pleasure I have posted a PG version of some of the dancing.
I apologize for the sound quality; the music was soooo loud it would pound in my chest and make it hard to breathe!  The poor drivers on the tractors had toilet paper crammed in their ears.

Sunday Funday

On this sunday,  we decided to take the scooter out for a trip across the island to find some ice cream! 

Just to set the stage, I should start by reminding everyone that the grocery stores here turn off their freezers at night to save on electricity.  As a result all of the ice cream you find in the freezer has been paritally thawed and re-frozen several times before you buy it.

After driving to the other side of the island, only to realize that the ice cream shop was closed, we found ice cream at a Oualie Beach.  

Going Bananas

To keep us from going BANANAS while Kris is in school, we try to get out of the house once every two weeks.  This time we actually went to BANANAS for dinner and drinks.  BANANAS is a locally run restaraunt that is found after quite the drive up the mountain.  We each enjoyed their signature passionfruit martini before our dinner.

After dinner we attempted to find a pool table for Kris because he hasn't touched one in 6 months.

Ahhh, Success!~~~sort of~~~as long as you don't mind the rips in the table