Finally got to Orient Bay

This is Paul again.

Saturday was gorgeous: the calm before the storm since on Sunday the Netherlands vs. Spain final of the World football cup was going to take over all concerns on the Dutch side of the island. Actually, I didn't know anyone personally playing on either team so wasn't too worried who won, though it would have been nice to have seen what would have happened on a Dutch island if the Netherlands had won! Lots of talk about a day off! It was not to be. I joined a group of faculty at a party in an apartment building near the school hosted by Dewey (teaches Pathology) & his wife Joanie. Not only were they marvelous hosts but they have, something dear to the Lehmann family, a pug. She is old and grey and reminded me so much of our Tuppence, especially showing that wonderful ability to drop years off her age when a piece of food would end up on the floor.

On Saturday, I went with the librarian around Fort Louis (again). This time I made sure to photograph the interesting signs saying things like there was a door that has been removed, or there was a cistern that was removed. Also a couple of new verandah holderuppers. It was good to have someone with me who had been to Grand Casse - the gourmet capital of the island since there is quite a muddling entry to the town involving backtracking. We had lunch at the open-air barbecue area. A massive lunch with beer and water for the cost of a lunch at the college cafeteria. Some things are really very reasonable here. Then we went on to Orient Bay which neither of us had been to.

It is a glorious bay and this has a long beach of lovely white sand. It doesn't fall away too fast so you can paddle or walk in the water for some distance. It is clearly a full service beach with beach chairs and umbrellas for rent (including access to toilets and a free drink with the rental) and you can rent out canoes, go parasailing, or rent jet skis etc. But in spite of the commercial nature, it remains really lovely. The far south part of the beach has a clothing optional area. While you are allowed to wear clothes, we both felt we had gone far enough as we approached it seeing we were not even in swim things.

On our return we drove over the mountain and stopped to buy our hurricane buckets. Having a waterproof bucket is highly recommended for storing vital stuff in case of a hurricane. Then looked in at a store that basically caters to restaurants. My great find was a 70cl bottle of gin for $1.45 (no tax here). This price is pretty much the same what one pays for milk! The gin was labeled very regally, with crowns and something like like "Since 1848," but had no indication of the country of origin. However, it doesn't taste at all bad if diluted well with tonic and lemon.

A fairly active day and I fell asleep immediately while the Saturday movie was being shown at the college!

Looking forward to my trip to Toledo!