Happy Monday!
A very interesting weekend, full of lots of unusual activities and people.
A view from the old fort towards the water
It surprises me how much money there is here in the Caribbean, and how many wealthy people come here and live part- and full- time. Many have beautiful homes--that seems a bit of a competitive sport here, building large homes and decorating them! Nonetheless, quite a few of them seem a bit bored.
For example, I was asked to bartend at a charity auction on Sunday for the Historical Society here. The Events Director showed me the ropes and got me started and then went off to supervise the Flea Market and the big auction set up.
My view from behind the bar, with the main auction ahead
I bartended in college, and it's really pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I got the idea of asking someone to cut some fresh sugar cane into swizzle sticks for the mixed drinks. A museum employee was nice enough to do this, and soon I was offering rum drinks (rum is the staple beverage here) with cane swizzle sticks, and instructions (chew on the cane to get the juice out, don't eat the cane itself). Pretty straightforward, with a little chat about how full of minerals the cane juice is--it is actually an amazing fluid, tastes like nothing else. It was also the prime economic foundation of the Caribbean for 200 years!
We had a rush on the bar for "those vitamin cocktails" and I found myself serving up island history as well as cocktails. The upshot for the Historical Society was a lot more drinks sold, and three invitations to drinks and dinner for me!
Pleasant but peculiar experience--I suppose I possess the charm of novelty.
But I am looking forward to going kayaking and snorkeling later this week. Can't do it too early on or I'd burn as red as a lobster.
A view from the old fort towards the water
It surprises me how much money there is here in the Caribbean, and how many wealthy people come here and live part- and full- time. Many have beautiful homes--that seems a bit of a competitive sport here, building large homes and decorating them! Nonetheless, quite a few of them seem a bit bored.
For example, I was asked to bartend at a charity auction on Sunday for the Historical Society here. The Events Director showed me the ropes and got me started and then went off to supervise the Flea Market and the big auction set up.
My view from behind the bar, with the main auction ahead
I bartended in college, and it's really pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I got the idea of asking someone to cut some fresh sugar cane into swizzle sticks for the mixed drinks. A museum employee was nice enough to do this, and soon I was offering rum drinks (rum is the staple beverage here) with cane swizzle sticks, and instructions (chew on the cane to get the juice out, don't eat the cane itself). Pretty straightforward, with a little chat about how full of minerals the cane juice is--it is actually an amazing fluid, tastes like nothing else. It was also the prime economic foundation of the Caribbean for 200 years!
We had a rush on the bar for "those vitamin cocktails" and I found myself serving up island history as well as cocktails. The upshot for the Historical Society was a lot more drinks sold, and three invitations to drinks and dinner for me!
Pleasant but peculiar experience--I suppose I possess the charm of novelty.
But I am looking forward to going kayaking and snorkeling later this week. Can't do it too early on or I'd burn as red as a lobster.