Wimble's Whirlwind Tour, Saturday, December 23, 2000

Today we began winding down the vacation. We decided to go once more into Basseterre to see if any celebrations of Carnival had begun yet, even though we were told that nothing would happen until probably 7:00 pm. When we booked this vacation, we believed Kathy would have to work the day after Christmas, and we didn't know about the Carnival celebration that happens between Christmas and a couple of days after New Years. So, we are actually going to miss the biggest party of the year.

Apparently the whole island turns out and bands line the streets. People come out dressed or in costume and dance and party almost around the clock. There is also the Masquerade, which I had never heard of before. It's a special performance, often or usually put on by certain families that have been doing this for generations. It involves special costumes and is a ritualized dance. The Masquerade will come to your place, place swords on the ground, and perform the ceremony. There is also another element involving men on stilts.

Besides a few people blaring music from boom boxes, mostly trying to hawk CDs, there was only one band set up and playing. They were set up behind the old Treasury Building, which is in the process of being preserved as a historical site. I believe the band was called "The Small Axe" band. I'm not sure how many people were in the band because several people were just lying about on the stage. About a dozen very large speaker boxes were lined up in front of the stage, and the volume was deafening, particularly since there was only a little more than a dozen people listening - all moved as far back as they could. Probably so they had at least a fighting chance at saving their hearing.

We got into town around 2:00 pm. Chefee, our taxi driver, told us to watch out for our money. He said that people come in from other islands and cause a little bit of trouble, so we should keep our money in our pockets and not flash it around. We milled around the streets for a while, then went upstairs at the Ballyhoo to have a drink and watch people milling around in the Circus. Around 4:00, as the few remaining shops that stayed open on Saturday began to shut, we found Jimmy, one of our previous taxi drivers and headed back to the inn.

That evening, we met some more guests and had a great, long conversation. While working on this web page at around 10:00 pm, someone drove up the plantation road with a public address system blaring out music. They drove down into that area with the shacks that we hiked down before, came back up near the inn and left.

Click to go to Friday, 12/22

Click to go to Sunday, 12/24

Saturday, December 23, 2000

THE CONTINENTAL

ISLAND STYLE FRENCH TOAST

BANANA PANCAKES

WEST INDIAN SCRAMBLE

OMLETTE OF THE DAY

EGGS ANY STYLE

OATMEAL

A SELECTION OF COLD CEREALS

SIDE ORDERS

FIRST COURSE

MAIN COURSE

Platters

Sandwiches

DESSERT

STARTERS

SALAD

ENTREES

SELECTION OF HOUSEMADE DESSERTS

Click to go to Friday, 12/22

Click to go to Sunday, 12/24


		Saturday began with an ice storm (photo left). Ok, maybe it was just ice dumped out by the maid. I thought I'd try to make those of you who are buried in 28 inches of snow in the Midwest not feel like we were rubbing in the perfect temperatures we have down here. Of course, there is that little matter of sudden rains, and the "Great Nevis Downpour" of yesterday. We went down for a late breakfast today. As usual, Jose Gecko was guarding the restaurant (photo below). When I walk the gardens here, it's like a scene from Jurassic Park - a herd of little lizards go running ahead of me. Well, between them and the frogs, I guess they do a good job of keeping the insects down.

		The photo on the left shows one view of the restaurant. It is built on the ruins of the sugar mill for the plantation. There is a bar area behind which is more enclosed by the original stone walls and has seating for more than a dozen. To the right is a pool area. The pool is perhaps long enough for some short laps and is spring fed. The whole area is covered with a canopy but is otherwise open. I usually take an umbrella down with me as the rains seem pretty unpredictable. Kathy usually brings along a shawl as the constant winds can make even the moderate temperatures seem cool in the evening. So, what's on the menu? Here are the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. The dinner menu changes everyday, and Sunday has a different breakfast menu and a brunch menu.
	THE CONTINENTAL Island Fresh Fruits of the Season With Muffins or Pastries Served with Yogurt and Granola $11.95 ISLAND STYLE FRENCH TOAST Laced with Rum and Orange Served with Guava Sauce or Caribbee Honey $10.95 BANANA PANCAKES Fluffy Pancakes Filled with Sliced Bananas Served with Maple Syrup or Caribbee Honey $10.95 WEST INDIAN SCRAMBLE Fresh Eggs with Hearts of Palm, Green Pepper, Onion, Ham and Tomato Sprinkled with Grated Cheese $10.95 OMLETTE OF THE DAY Served with Housemade Toast And Choice of Bacon, Ham or Sausage $12.95 EGGS ANY STYLE Served with Housemade Toast And Choice of Bacon, Ham or Sausage $9.95 OATMEAL Served with Caribbee Honey, Toasted Coconut and Raisins and Housemade Toast $6.95 A SELECTION OF COLD CEREALS Served with Banana $6.95 SIDE ORDERS Seasonal Fresh Fruit - $6.95 Pastries for Two $6.95 Bacon, Grilled Ham or Breakfast Sausages $4.95 Coffee/Tea $2.50 Price in U.S. Dollars - 10% Service Charge and 7% Government Tax Added Guests on BP, MAP, LITE MAP or Packages-All Breakfast Items are included on your plan FIRST COURSE Soup du Jour $5.95 Caribbean Conch Fritters $6.95 The Royal Palm's famous "Kittitian" Beef Patties $6.95 Garden Salad of the Season, choice of dressing $6.95 MAIN COURSE Platters Ottley's Warm Lobster Wrap Served with rice pilaf and fried plantain $24.95 Chef Pamela's Royal Palm Salad With Grilled shrimp, breast of chicken, honey cured ham, gouda cheese, tropical fruit and vegetables atop leafy greens $19.95 Coconut Crusted Island Style Chicken Served with rice pilaf and fried plantain $16.96 Sandwiches All served on housemade bread with creamy cole slaw and cumin fries Grilled Mojo Marinated Breast of Chicken Sandwich Tender breast of chicken marinated in lemon and fresh herbs, with fried plantain, crisp bacon and tomato, toasted coconut dressing $13.95 Ottley's Cheeseburger A flavourful eight ounce burger with your choice of cheese $12.50 Tuna Melt White meat tuna salad and sliced tomato served open faced with melted gouda cheese $9.95 Beer Batter Flying Fish With sauce caribe $14.95 "ABLT" Avocado, bacon, organic lettuces and tomato on housemade bread $9.95 Items may also be served as Salad Platter Atop crisp garden salad with housemade bread. -- Extra charge $2.00 Balsamic vinaigrette, creamy basil or lemon casear dressing. DESSERT Ask your server for today's selection of housemade desserts Prices in U.S. dollars - 10% service charge and 7% government tax additional STARTERS CHA CHA CHOWDER With Leeward Island Shrimp, Tomato, West Indian Pumpkin, Corn and Dill or GRILLED ASPARAGUS ATOP CURRIED ASPARAGUS CUSTARD With Chevre Vinaigrette SALAD GARDEN SALAD OF THE SEASON With Buttermilk Dressing ENTREES GRILLED MAHI MAHI Atop Cherry Tomato and Basil Cobbler or PLANTAIN AND SPINACH STUFFED PORK TENDERLOIN In Applewood Smoked Bacon Jacket With Guava Sauce SELECTION OF HOUSEMADE DESSERTS FIXED PRICE DINNER: Soup or appetizer, salad, entree, dessert and coffee or tea - $60.00 Menu items available a carte - Plate charge for shared entree: $10 Prices in U.S. Dollars - 10% Service Charge and 7% Government Tax Additional 15% Service Charge will be added for parties 8 or more Today we began winding down the vacation. We decided to go once more into Basseterre to see if any celebrations of Carnival had begun yet, even though we were told that nothing would happen until probably 7:00 pm. When we booked this vacation, we believed Kathy would have to work the day after Christmas, and we didn't know about the Carnival celebration that happens between Christmas and a couple of days after New Years. So, we are actually going to miss the biggest party of the year. Apparently the whole island turns out and bands line the streets. People come out dressed or in costume and dance and party almost around the clock. There is also the Masquerade, which I had never heard of before. It's a special performance, often or usually put on by certain families that have been doing this for generations. It involves special costumes and is a ritualized dance. The Masquerade will come to your place, place swords on the ground, and perform the ceremony. There is also another element involving men on stilts. Besides a few people blaring music from boom boxes, mostly trying to hawk CDs, there was only one band set up and playing. They were set up behind the old Treasury Building, which is in the process of being preserved as a historical site. I believe the band was called "The Small Axe" band. I'm not sure how many people were in the band because several people were just lying about on the stage. About a dozen very large speaker boxes were lined up in front of the stage, and the volume was deafening, particularly since there was only a little more than a dozen people listening - all moved as far back as they could. Probably so they had at least a fighting chance at saving their hearing. We got into town around 2:00 pm. Chefee, our taxi driver, told us to watch out for our money. He said that people come in from other islands and cause a little bit of trouble, so we should keep our money in our pockets and not flash it around. We milled around the streets for a while, then went upstairs at the Ballyhoo to have a drink and watch people milling around in the Circus. Around 4:00, as the few remaining shops that stayed open on Saturday began to shut, we found Jimmy, one of our previous taxi drivers and headed back to the inn. That evening, we met some more guests and had a great, long conversation. While working on this web page at around 10:00 pm, someone drove up the plantation road with a public address system blaring out music. They drove down into that area with the shacks that we hiked down before, came back up near the inn and left.