We started from Anegada early this morning, while we were still sleeping. Since we all slept late (except for Captain Allan) we settled for coffee with the prospect of a big burger lunch, which turned out to be the perfect choice.
After lunch, Gayle, Dana, and I set off with Captain Allan for a short mile-long ride in the dinghy for a choice snorkeling spot. Dana’s been having problems getting a good facemask fit because of his mustache, and ended up staying in the dinghy with Allan.
Gayle and I snorkeled for close to an hour. Once again, I would have stayed in all day. The fish --- big, small, brilliant jewel-toned blue, blue and yellow striped, a huge one that looked iridescent, brain coral, fan coral that looked brownish red but when you got up close had bright purple veining on it. . . unbelievable.
I think I could float around on the surface of the ocean for days. I just never get tired of it.
We stayed for well over an hour, then took the dinghy back for the "required" post-snorkeling nap. We’re just now enjoying appetizers and wine before we go in to Trellis Bay for dinner and the full moon party.
This party reportedly ends with the burning of something on the beach, very "Burning Man".
Trellis Bay at least has a dock, and as we arrived it looed like the party was in full swing. There was a short string of gift shops, the kitchen and a bar.
One of the gift shops specialized in Raku pottery, evidently a Japanese method of firing on the enamel. They planned a demonstration for later in the evening. The pottery was beautiful, yet a little pricey.
The second shop was purely souvenir-type stuff, and the third specialized in island crafts. Probably the nicest selection of real island goods we had seen yet. I was tired of checking labels to see that things were made in China.
The kitchen was serving up a buffet which included macaroni and cheese (who knew?) plantains, cole slaw, veg, barbecued chicken, jerk chicken, some other kind of meat, curried goat (no, thank you) and ribs. Lots of food, none of it 5-star, but filling. Drinks were sold via tickets: purchase drink tickets and present tickets at the bar. The first crowds were treated with a glow-in-the-dark martini glass to pour your drinks into, basically a plastic martini glass with a glow-stick portion. The glass was two layers of plastic, with space in between --- crack the glow-stick to release the liquid into the space and your drinks would look like they were glowing.
There was a very burned out, seemingly extremely intoxicated juggler for added entertainment. We had spotted this character on Anegada the day before; evidently he lives on that island. He was your typical aged hippy, complete with Rasta hat and thin, straggly long hair and beard, and little round eyeglasses that only made his beady little eyes look smaller. We could only watch him "juggle" until he started with the fire juggling --- we didn't want to be witness to a possible fiasco.
There were four structures sitting on short stilts a little way out into the water. Each was at least three feet tall: all made out of steel with intricate patterns cut out of them (figures, dolphins, fish, and other patterns). They were each filled with fuel, paper and wood. At sundown each was lit and burned into the night. We met the man who makes these. He's truly an artist. They would make the most beautiful fire pit.
There was also a woman who was doing henna tattoos. She and her husband were Indian. While Gayle was having a sea turtle henna tattoo done, I asked the man how they ended up in BVI. He is an accountant, and can do his work from anywhere. His wife has opened a spa on Tortola, givng facials, massages, etc. They had been there at least 8 years and had raised children there, too. When I was having a traditional Indian foot henna tattoo done, I mentioned that I had seen henna tattoos done at the Fremont Indian Festival, but most of them were more Americanized, and not necessarily traditional Indian.
The guy almost jumped out of his shoes -- turns out he has a sister who lived in Fremont, but he had lost touch with her. I told him I would try to help find her, so he gave me her name on his wife's business card. Small world!!
The live band had cranked up their instruments and people were beginning to dance on the beach. Then we were treated with a performance by what looked to be a family group of "Jumbies". These are performers dressed in native Jamaican costumes but walking about on stilts at least 6-7 feet tall. . . AND on sand. They walked around, they danced, they challenged audience members to a dance-off, and posed on the beach for picture-taking. The oldest seemed to the the dad, then there was a young man maybe 19 years old, one around 15, a girl who might have been 12 and a little guy no older than 9. They were really talented!
We left before the party ended, as we didn't want to get caught in the very intoxicated crowd leaving.
We miss everyone only because we wish you could all be here with us, but we’re still having a good time.
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