blog.DazMan.com

So you all haven’t heard from me in awhile and I got news some people in the States are worried about me. I appreciate the concern but not to worry. I am in the West Indies, have rented an apartment for a month, am alive and well, having a great time in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Where is St. Vincent and the Grenadines you ask? For your convenience I have attached a map. I am staying in Villa, St.Vincent which is a few minutes drive to downtown Kingstown.

Here is a picture of me at Fort Charlotte, the view in the background is the Port of Kingstown, St.Vincent. The last time I was in the West Indies in October 2000 there was nothing but sunshine and blue skies. With all the hurricane activity that has been going on in the states, some of the hurricanes come this way first but mostly as tropical storms. When I sat down to write this email it was a sun shinny day, now a tropical storm has arrived. The last hurricane to hit here was Ivan. Ivan did do some damage here and washed away a lot of sand on the beaches, some of the beaches are smaller. There are some black sand beaches here.

 Sunday I walked to the beach.  I took a slight detour.
When I got to the end of the detour this is what I saw.

Why am I in the West Indies you may ask? A friend, Pam, who I’ve know for 25 years sent me an email in September and told me to get myself here as soon as possible. These past two years have offered me some challenges and she is well aware of everything that has happened in my life over the past two years. She figured here is where I could get some peace, quite and rest. She was right and everyday she makes sure I get out and do something. She and some friends are working on a stage production so I get to hang out at the rehearsals at Peace Memorial Hall. Our big event this week will be to catch a plane to Mayreau and then catch a sail boat through the Grenadines.

This is my favorite place in St. Vincent. The last time I was here spent many hours in prayer and meditation on the beach looking at these islands in Indian Bay. Pam’s apartment is less than a block from here and this is the view you see from her apartment. Her apartment is a 20 minute walk from where I’m staying. The tall island to the left is Fort Duvernette, the island in the center is the grave site of a man who used to own a lot of the St. Vincent land, and the island to the right is Long Island.

The apartment I rented is upper left corner unit. For the first 2 weeks at night I was the only person in the building. Which I thought was pretty cool. Where I am staying has a state of the art two story gym with 8 studio apartments on the top floor with amazing views of the Caribbean Sea. The gym is called “Fitness Quest” and the apartments are called “The Guest House”.

One day I was watching CNN and they said tropical storm Beta was headed for the southeastern Caribbean. I went on the balcony and thought this was tropical storm Beta arriving in the Caribbean. The locals have assured me it wasn’t Beta. Whatever it was made for some interesting weather. . .
 

Okay I am going to end this now. Pam stopped by.  She teaches a ballet class in downtown Kingstown at Peace Memorial Hall, so I rode into town with her since starting this email. I like going into downtown Kingstown because it reminds me of Wellston in St. Louis during the 50′ & 60′s. Got a couple of more pictures I want to share with you then I am going to cook my dinner.

Seems everywhere I go they have these recycle containers.
Guess it’s become a universal thing.

My first morning in St.Vincent.
I wake up and go to the balcony and there was a rainbow.

Peace & Blessings To All!
Love You Mama.

Darryl
31 October 2005

PS: Also had a great weekend in New York before I came here. Got to see the Lion King had an 8th row center seat. Was lost in the subway system for over 3 hours one day because they were doing some work on the tracks and had to re-route the one train I know. I didn’t feel so bad about being lost because native New Yorkers where just as confused yet very helpful. Think about it, being lost for 3 hours underground! All one sees are the subway walls.  
 

I did make it to Ground Zero which was a moving experience. The day I went several family members of people who where in the World Trade Center on 9/11 where having a tribute. They were dedicating a bell. Each one would go up to the bell, say the name of their loved one with a brief comment then ring the bell. All their comments struck a nerve, the one that really got me was when a mother said her son’s name and that he never had the chance to meet his daughter born on September 11th.

Ground Zero

Ground Zero

1. Stephen ROberts says:

   February 20, 2010 at 6:24 PM

   Hello Sir,

   I am the present operator and found your comments about fitnessquest quite interesting, it would be quite nice if you can post those comment on tripadvisor for me. Thank you and when can we look forward to your return to fitnessquest, we would indeed have something special and exciting for you.

   regards
   Steven
2. Karl Eklund says:

   February 27, 2010 at 10:16 AM

   Try the svg-blog as long as you are here. We live just over the top of the hill you are at the bottom of.
3. Mary Hanna says:

   July 21, 2010 at 10:04 AM

   Thanks for the effort you took to expand upon this post so thoroughly. I look forward to future posts.
   There are various sea vessels involved in shipping to caribbean. It may include box boats or container ships, bulk carriers, tankers, ferries, cable layers, dredgers and barges.