The Culps of the Caribbean

With no plans on my calendar today I ventured out to explore the neighborhood. This cow is chained up for grazing so that it doesn't wander off. As you can see it can easily get into the road.  This is a heavily traveled main road around the island. The village of Lodge is located in a gaught (gut) which is a steep valley that handles run off water from the mountain to the ocean.  My apartment is at the top of this valley in the village of Molineaux about a 1/4 mile away. Just up the street is what appears to be an old abandoned church.  It's not.  It is just shuttered during the times it's not in use. In the distance on the north end of the island you can see the island of Eustacius. Closer up.  The island of Eustacius has a massive white cliff side.  From the air you can see a large number of fuel tanks and many oil tankers waiting to transfer fuel for this end of the Caribbean. Selfie at Romney Manor.  Caribelle...

I was led down to this remote beach today that has very limited access.  It's 5 minutes from home,15 minutes if we walk.  Spectacular!  Cannot wait to discover it closer this week.

There is a very long stretch (miles) of black sand beach facing the Atlantic Ocean near me.  I discovered how to get there today. However, getting to this beach is not obvious.  You have to take a 2-track for about half a mile.  Along the way the local wildlife greets you. Here is some of the loosely roaming fresh local beef.   A short while later a host of sheep and goats. Later today I headed into town and saw Vision of the Seas docked at Port Zante. Just on the other side of Vision is a very tall 4 masted passenger ship [which I do not have a picture of]. A large tanker of diesel fuel unloads to the island's electrical power plant. In the distance is Mt. Liamuiga, of which I live at the base of, just to the right. Clouds are often bushing the top of it.

The landlord had informed me when I moved in that he had a new washer and dryer coming for my apartment.  Today at 8am they decided to install it.  At 3pm, after a carpenter, plumber, electrician and some hired muscle, it is now installed.  It looks nice and it works well.   There's just one issue...

I arrived on the island on Wednesday.  I have a few days of island acclimation before I start on Monday.  Here are a few images that I took near my temporary apartment. View to the right of my apartment of sugar cane, palms and the Atlantic Ocean.   View to the left is Mt. Limamuagua (sp) and the village of Molineaux. Waiting for the tourist Sugar Train to cross the road. The Surgar Train circumnavigates the island. An island oddity is that the owner operated public transporation vans are customized with their "handle" emblazoned across the front of them. Some sheep grazing alongside the road.  Also there is a cow here and there loose and grazing along the roadside. Another van, "Carpy" drives this one. My Jeep Liberty on the right, parked in my yard. A view out of my front door with the Atlantic in the distance.

Pictures of the interior of my temporary apartment have just arrived.  It'll do just fine.