Another Stamp In My Passport (St. Kitts Weekend)

Saturday morning sunrise

Goodbye Saba

I just arrived back on Saba from the gorgeous island of St. Kitts. Our school puts on trips midway through the block so that you can get the opportunity to see more of the Caribbean while you are staying here. This semester the island was St. Kitts and at 7 a.m. Saturday morning about 50 of us boarded a ferry to take the two hour boat ride. We woke up to a gorgeous sunrise on the rock and made the rounds to each of the dorms to make sure everyone was awake. Coffee in our cups we headed down to the school to hitch a ride with some of the locals who were also jumping on the opportunity to get away. We ended up in a truck with a very nice local couple who told us about some of the history of the island on the way there. They said that 50 years ago they bought their furniture from St. Kitts because there was nothing on St. Maarten yet. They also said that St. Kitts was the island you headed to if you needed to see any type of specialist doctor and sometime it would take two days to get there because they were sailing and depended on the wind. I love this island! Everyone is so friendly and hitching is the only way to get around.

We all boarded the ferry and climbed up to the outside upper deck so we could watch as the island faded into the distance. Its such a strange place but it has so quickly become home and especially after seeing another island I realize how much I appreciate it for all its quirks.

Soon we arrived at St. Kitts and got off the boat and headed straight into the bustle of downtown which was very different from Saba. There is obviously a lot more poverty here and you just don't feel the same sense of security. We were put in shuttles and taken to the gorgeous Marriott Hotel and as we drove along the coast you realize just how stunning this island is. It has lush green mountains but also has beautiful white sand beaches and endless crystal clear caribbean waters and is much much larger than Saba.

We checked in and after grabbing lunch headed directly for the beach and pools where we spent the majority of the rest of the day. We did get some studying in because I think we would all feel stressed and guilty if we didn't at least try to not fall behind. Later that evening we headed out for the most delicious Caribbean style dinner. We had everything you could every dream of as we sat on the beach at picnic tables watching a storm out over the ocean and being surrounded by good friends. The food was AMAZING and the owner Cathy and her daughter were so warm and welcoming, we felt so well taken care of and I don't think I have ever eaten that much food but every single plate on the table was empty by the end of the meal.

After Cathy's we headed down the beach to a little spot called Mr. X's Shiggidy Shack for karaoke and dancing on the beach followed by a midnight swim in the ocean and pools at the hotel. It was a magical evening and we all had so much fun!

After another day lounging in the sun we headed home to beautiful Saba and our studies! It's another stamp on my passport but its so much more than that as I was able to gain some more perspective and get off this island so I can come back refreshed and ready to work hard.

The main pool at the Marriott

THE BEACH!

Studying in the shade, that may have
been the most comfy studying area I have
ever studied in... I need one of those chairs.

Dinner at Cathy's

The Ferry

Hard to tell if he's studying or napping

Sunset on the way home

Gorgeous sky!