Trip Report April 4 - 11
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 11:57 am
Hi, first time posting to this forum. My wife Sharon and I live in Seattle. We spent a lovely week as guests in Reef Madness Villa with my wife's sister Marcia and brother in law Randy. Spent our time doing typical island things, including a highlight island hopping adventure on Captain John's Palma Bella. He just posted the video, so the cat is out of the bag, so to speak. Ruth and Ron came along as well. Quite an introduction to the islands, as I had not been to the Caribbean before. My photo's aren't up to some of the other shots, but here is one I took after my walk of wow. We are going back in January, so I have a return visit to look forward to!
I also write poetry as a hobby, and here is my ode to the island and to Marcia and Randy's fabulous villa!
Happy Hour on Seagrape Hill
Painkiller
Jet lag works well as a base. Add two parts
mirror world traffic, one part hairpin turns,
hugging cliff faces. Finish with a float
of wild donkey brays. Shake well and serve chilled
over surf dashed rocky promontories.
As you top the final white-knuckle rise,
You’ll find your past has faded to a trace
of worry, which blows away like spindrift
torn from a Caribbean breaker’s crest.
You tumble into rum laced dreams at last,
scenes punctuated by reggae rhythms
reverberating up from Coral Bay.
Eye-opener
A rooster cracks the dawn like an egg, and
Drops the sun neatly into the bowl of morning.
Swirl in the susurrous sing-song of bananaquits
Queueing for their daybreak sugar fix.
Sip gingerly, and let the tropic ambrosia
Soothe away the remnants of last night's excess.
The questions of the day simplify themselves
With insistent island logic.
Island Smoothie
A roller coaster ride in your rented four-by
Exposes picture postcards at every curve.
On Maho Beach, lapping waves deliver
The necessary astonishing shade of blue.
Add a sprinkle of finest white grained sand,
A squeeze of sun-screen and you're off
To pursue elusive fins
Of every imaginable hue.
Night Cap
Seagrape Hill again, the lights of Coral Bay
Dancing among the sailboats rocking at anchor.
A shallow draught of the evening trades
Sifts your hair, seeking lost sailers,
While the moon shepherds cloud shadows
Over Hurricane Hole, tarnishing
The rippled silver of the sea.
Last Call
You twist around along the seat back’s ridge,
As the sun ladles shots of molten gold
Down the furrowed braid of the ferry’s wake
Offering one final tempting tasting.
Bartenders jealously guard proportions
Of their popular concoctions. Likewise
The alchemy that has transformed this place
In which you find yourself will resist your
Attempts to probe its elusive nature.
Accept the gift from those knowledgeable
In the arts of release, and drink deeply.
You will return.
------------
Be kind! And I hope to see some of you at one of the Sunday gatherings down the road a piece.
I also write poetry as a hobby, and here is my ode to the island and to Marcia and Randy's fabulous villa!
Happy Hour on Seagrape Hill
Painkiller
Jet lag works well as a base. Add two parts
mirror world traffic, one part hairpin turns,
hugging cliff faces. Finish with a float
of wild donkey brays. Shake well and serve chilled
over surf dashed rocky promontories.
As you top the final white-knuckle rise,
You’ll find your past has faded to a trace
of worry, which blows away like spindrift
torn from a Caribbean breaker’s crest.
You tumble into rum laced dreams at last,
scenes punctuated by reggae rhythms
reverberating up from Coral Bay.
Eye-opener
A rooster cracks the dawn like an egg, and
Drops the sun neatly into the bowl of morning.
Swirl in the susurrous sing-song of bananaquits
Queueing for their daybreak sugar fix.
Sip gingerly, and let the tropic ambrosia
Soothe away the remnants of last night's excess.
The questions of the day simplify themselves
With insistent island logic.
Island Smoothie
A roller coaster ride in your rented four-by
Exposes picture postcards at every curve.
On Maho Beach, lapping waves deliver
The necessary astonishing shade of blue.
Add a sprinkle of finest white grained sand,
A squeeze of sun-screen and you're off
To pursue elusive fins
Of every imaginable hue.
Night Cap
Seagrape Hill again, the lights of Coral Bay
Dancing among the sailboats rocking at anchor.
A shallow draught of the evening trades
Sifts your hair, seeking lost sailers,
While the moon shepherds cloud shadows
Over Hurricane Hole, tarnishing
The rippled silver of the sea.
Last Call
You twist around along the seat back’s ridge,
As the sun ladles shots of molten gold
Down the furrowed braid of the ferry’s wake
Offering one final tempting tasting.
Bartenders jealously guard proportions
Of their popular concoctions. Likewise
The alchemy that has transformed this place
In which you find yourself will resist your
Attempts to probe its elusive nature.
Accept the gift from those knowledgeable
In the arts of release, and drink deeply.
You will return.
------------
Be kind! And I hope to see some of you at one of the Sunday gatherings down the road a piece.
welcome!