St. Vincent question
 

I had the opportunity to spend 3 weeks in St. Vincent about 20 years ago and have a question I would like to ask. The apartments that we stayed in were beachfront. I can remember walking down to our beach and being able to swim out to a very small island which had a white cross on the very top of it. Does any know what the island was called and who was buried on it?
And if anyone could direct me to pictures of this island it would be appreciated.

Wow! DebbieS is good!
Judging by the name of the link, I guess it's called Memorial Rock, near Indian Bay Beach?

I know the place well. The apartments I stay in every yr finances willing are Tranquility. The walk to the beach is down a short hill. The island you are speaking of is part of my daily view. And yes it is directly off Indian Bay Beach. The locals use this particular beach more than vacationers. The beach most tourists use is Villa Beach across from Young Island. i believe the Mariner Hotel is there. As for your question many yrs ago I did Know the story but unfortunately I don't remember other than a man is buried on the island. I started staying at Tranquility in '92 Lucille and Ceford Providence have been tnhe proprietors for as long as I have been visiting.

Vinceygrl,

We will be in Bequia the first of July. Wondering if we should day-trip to the spot the Pirates of the Carib. movey was filmed to check it out. Do you know the name of place and is it a good day trip with two children 8 and 10?

Also, what is the best restaraunt in town for lunch (fine dining---not 5 star though)?

The set for the town of Port Royal is a fair wau up the east coasat of St. Vincent at Walliabou (or Wallilabou) Bay. It makes a great day trip.

I would recommend doing it by sea, however, as you have a better chance of going in and actually seeing the set (it is fenced off on the land side). The Leeward coast is calm and flat, especially in summer, so there is less chance of mal de mer, but a preventive small dose of dramamine/gravol is not a bad idea anyway. Hazeco and Seabreeze tours are both reputable companies you could go with.

I am not aware of restaurants in the area - we normally picnic and snorkel at Mount Wynne Beach. Your tour guide will set this up for you.

St. Vincent is not known for great restaurants. In Kingstown, the capital, my favourite lunch stop is the tiny 'cheap and cheerful' cafeteria/art gallery called "the Bounty'.

In Villa, the area where most tourists stay, Mariners Hotel restaurant is OK and moderately priced. Young Island is the best but very expensive.

My tip would be to educate your kids now to be ready to experiment with inexpensive local dishes like roti, and not to order hotdogs (they are truly disgusting).

By way of restaur

BTW, here's a webaddress for some photos of the Pirates site on St. Vincent

http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlek/.../text:pirates/

The island in Indian Bay with a cross on it is called Dove Island, I believe

Hi Croix, Agree with curiousx, approaching the site from the sea is your best bet. Fantasea tours runs a great day trip up the coast. A drive along the Leeward coast is nice but long, the POTC set is visible from the road but fenced off. As far as meals on St. Vincent I rent an efficiency apt so I cook for myself most of the time or eat with the people who own the property, I have friends who live on the island and many times I eat with them as well. Lunch in town can't really give you any info Young Island is good but very expensive. If you happen to do the tour to POTC by boat lunch was included in the price. I went when sailing with Windjammer so don't know what the cost might be for individuals as we had a fairly large group. Do you realize you will be in SVG during Vincy Mas? The dates I believe are the last wk of June and the 1st wk in July. Pretty intense if you have never been to Carnival in the Caribbean. If you like pizza Mac's on Bequia is truly some of the best I've ever had. The lobster is most excellent but quite rich, the others are equally as good.

Are you saying the whole island will be chaotic? Not so last year in Castries and Viex Fort and Soufriere.
Is the Fantasea tour good for children 8 and 10?

Thanks.

Looking forward to 4nts in Bequia and then 9 in St.Lucia.

Croix, I didn't realize you would be basing yourself on Bequia. Are you spending any time on the Mainland (aka St. Vincent)? The two are as different from each other as chalk and cheese.

Bequia has more of a tourist infrastructure and excellent beaches. The Mainland offers unparallelled eco-adventures.

You will find more and better choice for restaurants on Bequia (but still skip the hotdogs). Mac's Pizza is a real crowd pleaser. On Low Bay, Chicken at De Reef and crabcakes at Dawns are great.

One very good option for your Pirates trip is to take the day sail from Bequia offered by the 100 foot interisland schooner, Friendship Rose. At $100US a person (all-inclusive), it might be expensive for a family, but it is worth every penny.

Kingstown the capital of St.V will be crazy, full of music and revelry. What have your children been exposed to in their young lives. If they haven't been around large crowds, noise as well as the inebriated soul asleep on the step then Carnival is not for you or them. Much like Mardi Gras only truthfully when I was there in '93 there wasn't any nuduty or flashing. Lots of dancing and singing but could be a little over stimulating. It is something to experience once in a lifetime but I don't think I would do it with children. Outside Kingstown and the other islands should be pretty calm. Curiousx is correct in more restaurant options on Bequia. Make sure you take your kids to the turtle sanctuary. Really an awesome undertaking to try and save the turtles one at a time. Hurricane Ivan played havoc but sanctuary was up and running full speed ahead by first wk in Dec last yr.
Fantasea tour can't say about children as the trip was only adults not designated as such but there were no children on the cruise to participate. Just ask when you do the inquiry. Curiousx has a bit more insight to the tourist type offers. I visit the Mainland and travel with locals so my experience is somewhat different than a regular tourist. I have traveled up and down both coasts by land and sea with my friends not by a tour guide.
Bequia ans Kingstown are as different as night and day. Bequia is more tourist centered. Kingstown is the capital for the entire chain of Grenadines so there is much hustle bustle that you might expect from a fairly major seaport. No matter what you and your family will enjoy. Vincentians to me have always been friendly helpful and very proud of their country as they well should be. It is beautiful with a great deal of history. Another try not to miss although carnival may put a damper on it is to visit the Botanical Gardens.
Have a safe and funfilled trip.
Sandy

Croix - back to Mac's Pizza for a moment - it doesn't serve lunch - just dinner, and reservations are required.

So, for lunch, I would continue to recommend the beach bar restaurants in Low Bay I suggested previously, and also CoCo's in Low Bay (fantastic view and good, moderately priced lunches). De Reef chicken and chips are great and portions are huge. Kids should love 'em

In Port Elizabeth, you'll get a decent lunch at De Bistro (not too far from the jetty), at Porthole (further along the Front Street near the start of the Belmont Walkway), and at the new Mexican Place just at the start of the Belmont Walkway. Also the best roti are at the Green Boley - about 5 minutes along the Belmont Walkway.

Hope this helps
P.S. I doubt Vincy Carnival will affect Bequia at all - other than that a lot of people will be going over to the Mainland for it !

Curiousx, has been awhile since on Bequia in summer, do they have limited hrs during low season? I did have lunch there 1st wk of Dec. and nothing was posted during that time.

vinceygirl, there was no lunch service at Mac's when I was there in May, but I guess it's always worth checking.

Love Bequia. We've enjoyed lunch at Mac's many times (lobster pizza with extra garlic - yummy!) in November and December. They are closed Monday's as I recall. The Gingerbread has great curry. Had a nice lunch and swim at the Friendship Bay hotel - the barstools are swings! There are a ton of places to eat - Whaleboner, Green Boley, Frangipani....Man, I wish I was going!

ME TOO !!!!!