bermuda - country number 3.. day number 5..
i really like bermuda a lot. i will keep this short and simple and to the point. i could live here. today i met an amazing woman - aggie who owns a little cafe that i literally fell into for no reason but to meet this woman today. except i didn't know it until i left. aggie's cafe is located down many winding stairs in what seems like the basement of a house. i stumbled down the stairs because i was totally taken by the iron gate and had my camera and was about to take some shots when she appears... "welcome welcome, please come in, will you come in?" absolutely. i kept climbing down the stairs to find the cutest little yard that unfolded to the harbour of hamilton, bermuda's city. i go inside and notice quickly the amazingly unfried beautiful organic menu. i'm instantly in love. then the endless babble begins - we talk of the pros and cons of being in the organic business and she tells me of the farming that her brother does for the cafe and about her chickens and goats and we swap stories of prep and cafes and community. then we begin to talk about the food co-op that i used to co-organize in antigonish. immediately she associates - we both used the same supplier in new brunswick... talk of trade and shipping begins - with us' strongholds on goods passing thru their country all goods have so much duty that she now has to make due with the little bit of products she can get.... saturday.. i wish i was here saturday - she invited me to the farm.
regardless, an amazing morning where the sun was perfect - i sat still long enough for a bird to eat from my hand (i know, i know i should know better) i left the cafe with a full belly (best lemonade i have ever had) and with a hand full of cookies - she offered - i couldn't resisit...
sitting cliffside a little while ago and reflecting, in the future yeah - i think i am going to get wrapped up in the business again. there is something that makes me feel lighter when i know that i am giving something to people to make them better - healthier.. wholesome... dirt in nails, veggies in hand, full belly, happy earth - happy people.... sounds good to me.
Be Well, tread lightly
-S
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Sunday, April 02, 2006
....waking up to the memory of what sun on skin feels like...
I am in Nassau for this work mission. Nassau, Bahamas. After an endless day yesterday that began too early and hasn't stopped yet I am a bit woozy... Last night I went to see Broken Social Scene with a good pal and his lady. Met up with a bunch of kids I lovve and havn't seen in months - always a treat. The band was hip shakin' toe tappin' madness! What a scene. This group always had the stage packed - with special guests Feist and Amy Millan from Stars... and many many more musicians jumping in and out of tunes it was quite a carnival!
Pretty amazing music...
How come my pals tell me in words to update my blog and the only comments I get are random and anonymous and are about porn? This may be my last blogged entry...
So I arrived here at around 1 pm. My favourite part of every trip to the Bahamas, hands down, is the cab ride from the airport to whereever I am staying. Today's cabbie was Reginald. In the Bahamas folks know that they are ambassadors for their country and taxi drivers act more as tour guides - most of the time. Telling them it's your fourth time in the area kind of gives them the idea that they have got it made - they don't have to sell their country to folks cause they're back...again. So Reginald was a cat, quite a guy - HUGE grin.. Me: "How you doing today?" Reginald, "I am doin wonderful, I am just sittin here praising the goodness of the lord...thhhaaass right - yess ma'am" I love the accents, the mannerisms it's really warm and welcoming.
Jacquie, Shawn and I went to the Fish Fry tonight for eats and drinks. We have been putting off going there for the last few years and so this visit we thought we would think of all of the things we have always wanted to do... hence the fish fry. The fish fry is a small strip of about 12 restaurants in shacks. They sling local dishes like Jerk Chicken, Lobster, Mahi Mahi, Grouper, Conch, Macaroni Pie, Plantain, Beans & Rice, etc etc etc... and then drinks... Beers run at $3 a pop or 2 for $5; all others are around $4 or $5 depending on quality of alcohol used in the drink I guess. The Fish Fry is well known because of it's popularity with the locals. It's a great place to grab authentic local food while mingling with those amazing storytellers of the southern islands... also definatley not an ideal spot for a vegetarian... (however I play by my own rules - if you are in another country and you want to experience a culture - sometimes you just have to taste it....(within reason)...
I think we missed out tonight. We did meet the usual folks who come up and sit at the table and welcome you to the Bahamas, and wish you a pleasant stay - but thats not really all that unusual here. My favourite character of the night was an old man - dressed to the nines- suit, top hat - happy as can be - walking and singing his heart out. Cup in one hand and HUGE JUG of Carlos Rossi wine in the other...where was my camera?.
Got to talk to a local kid who was getting Junkanoo sponsors... couldn't really make a word out that he was saying but it's so great to see kids so pumped on their culture. Junkanoo is a huge celebration that happens on Boxing Day - which was the original holiday for slaves here. So they continue to celebrate this day with huge parades - amazing costumes and of course phenominal music. People can have cow bells, percussion or wind instruments - and thats it... The local beer Kalik is named after the noise a cowbell makes when it is played... all pretty neat. So all year people prepare - practice and make costumes for this magnificent festival, it's pretty amazing.
Tonight we are going to check out Senor Frogs (see archived photos from the last time I was there) I don't think we're going to go crazy but you never do know.
Tomorrow morning I have Yoga on the beach, a meeting and a lunchon. I really want to make it to the Marley's new resort and cafe thats on the other side of the island. It's a resort in honor of Mr Bob Marley - completely run by his family with one of the best souvenir shops around... or so i am told... so we will see if that transpires. Taxi's are so expensive here and I was asked not to rent a scooter because some of my pals think it's a dumb idea (meh)... But regardless I think beach yoga is a great start.
Thats all for now...
Take care of each other!
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiney day.
-Stacy
Pretty amazing music...
How come my pals tell me in words to update my blog and the only comments I get are random and anonymous and are about porn? This may be my last blogged entry...
So I arrived here at around 1 pm. My favourite part of every trip to the Bahamas, hands down, is the cab ride from the airport to whereever I am staying. Today's cabbie was Reginald. In the Bahamas folks know that they are ambassadors for their country and taxi drivers act more as tour guides - most of the time. Telling them it's your fourth time in the area kind of gives them the idea that they have got it made - they don't have to sell their country to folks cause they're back...again. So Reginald was a cat, quite a guy - HUGE grin.. Me: "How you doing today?" Reginald, "I am doin wonderful, I am just sittin here praising the goodness of the lord...thhhaaass right - yess ma'am" I love the accents, the mannerisms it's really warm and welcoming.
Jacquie, Shawn and I went to the Fish Fry tonight for eats and drinks. We have been putting off going there for the last few years and so this visit we thought we would think of all of the things we have always wanted to do... hence the fish fry. The fish fry is a small strip of about 12 restaurants in shacks. They sling local dishes like Jerk Chicken, Lobster, Mahi Mahi, Grouper, Conch, Macaroni Pie, Plantain, Beans & Rice, etc etc etc... and then drinks... Beers run at $3 a pop or 2 for $5; all others are around $4 or $5 depending on quality of alcohol used in the drink I guess. The Fish Fry is well known because of it's popularity with the locals. It's a great place to grab authentic local food while mingling with those amazing storytellers of the southern islands... also definatley not an ideal spot for a vegetarian... (however I play by my own rules - if you are in another country and you want to experience a culture - sometimes you just have to taste it....(within reason)...
I think we missed out tonight. We did meet the usual folks who come up and sit at the table and welcome you to the Bahamas, and wish you a pleasant stay - but thats not really all that unusual here. My favourite character of the night was an old man - dressed to the nines- suit, top hat - happy as can be - walking and singing his heart out. Cup in one hand and HUGE JUG of Carlos Rossi wine in the other...where was my camera?.
Got to talk to a local kid who was getting Junkanoo sponsors... couldn't really make a word out that he was saying but it's so great to see kids so pumped on their culture. Junkanoo is a huge celebration that happens on Boxing Day - which was the original holiday for slaves here. So they continue to celebrate this day with huge parades - amazing costumes and of course phenominal music. People can have cow bells, percussion or wind instruments - and thats it... The local beer Kalik is named after the noise a cowbell makes when it is played... all pretty neat. So all year people prepare - practice and make costumes for this magnificent festival, it's pretty amazing.
Tonight we are going to check out Senor Frogs (see archived photos from the last time I was there) I don't think we're going to go crazy but you never do know.
Tomorrow morning I have Yoga on the beach, a meeting and a lunchon. I really want to make it to the Marley's new resort and cafe thats on the other side of the island. It's a resort in honor of Mr Bob Marley - completely run by his family with one of the best souvenir shops around... or so i am told... so we will see if that transpires. Taxi's are so expensive here and I was asked not to rent a scooter because some of my pals think it's a dumb idea (meh)... But regardless I think beach yoga is a great start.
Thats all for now...
Take care of each other!
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiney day.
-Stacy
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