"In The Bullseye Of A Hurricane", Part 5
Leaving Barbados behind, we set a westward course for our next port, Kingstown, hot on the heels of a hurricane. Tomorrow's island, St. Vincent, is my kind of treasure: waterfalls streaming down a jungle covered volcano to countless black sand coves. The history is equally rich, from the Arawaks to the Age of Explorers, from colonization to independence. Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed here, where real pirates undoubtedly marked an X on their maps. And so had I.
Again that evening, the balmy breezy weather was misleadingly melancholy. A rosy half moon winked between clouds above the invisible night horizon. We strode the decks, dined on lobster, and danced the night away. At some point, the irony sunk in, and I quipped with my new friends, "How funny would it be if Hurricane Tomas did tons of damage and became one of the worst in history, and we could all say what a great vacation it was?" The whole idea of it-chasing a hurricane through paradise in luxury with darts-made me giddy with excitement. I slipped down to Snookers to shoot a few more ton-eighty-at-sea attempts.
Soon, reality returned. I held my throw as the captain made his next ominous announcement: "Good evening passengers. Hurricane Tomas has now passed over St. Vincent, which has sustained some damage. Early reports estimate over three hundred homes and buildings have been destroyed, and sadly, six people have indeed died. Others are injured or still missing. As for us, we will still make port in the morning as scheduled, although debris and closures may require some shore excursions or plans to be adjusted as needed."
Instantly, my selfish mindset changed. How could I bathe in emerald waterfalls or snorkel coral reefs or visit movie-sets or look for dart bars while people suffer, with their ripped off roofs and fallen walls? I decided then and there what I would do tomorrow. I, and anyone I could convince, would find the first port driver who would take us to a home that had been hit. I would rather remove the cinderblocks, corrugated tin, branches and debris littering someone's life. Apparently, I wasn't the only passenger looking beyond themselves and this rare opportunity to truly be human. Many offered assistance, and along with Princess Cruises, a sizable donation of food and dollars would be delivered. But that night, I slept on the thought of being someone's helpful stranger.
A new day brought new news, good news. The Vincentians were faring better than expected. Primary emergencies had been dealt with, and local restoration efforts were handling the superficial damage. Life, and the ever vital tourism industry, could continue. There was damage, including closed roads and broken pipes, buildings collapsed and crops destroyed, but today fortunately, we were more valuable as visitors than volunteer.
After a breakfast buffet and "bing", we were off with a driver, out of the bustle of Kingstown, on a winding coastal drive, passing signs of Tomas, and stopping at shanty store for drinks and ice. First, we made way for Wallilabou Anchorage to dance on the docks where Disney and Johnny Depp discovered swashbuckling gold. Nearby, we took a quick dip in a small picturesque waterfall. By afternoon we were at the Botanical Garden, where an original breadfruit brought by Captain Bligh towers over the orchids. The closest thing to darts I found was a boy carrying a long thick piece of bamboo down the road; the driver giggled with his own childhood memories, explaining that the boy is making a 'cannon' to shoot at his friends house, a popular pasttime for kids in the local neighborhoods.
Back on the boat, something else special was happening. After enjoying another rainbow ribboned departure from St. Vincent, it was dinnertime. By chance, three of my new friends were celebrating birthdays: eighteen, fifty-two, and ninety-two! We had the finest steak and champagne the Grand Princess could offer. And, for all the obvious reasons, today was a great day.
Hopefully, my luck would continue in Antigua and St. Thomas.
Over and double out.
