(I'm so far behind on keeping this blog updated. So, short version with pictures for now:)
5:00am alarm
granola and fruit, out the door by 6am
dragging luggage up the hill and over the drainage ditch
only waited a few minutes in Richland Park for a bus to come
held suitcase between my legs - so awkward
short trip to Arnos vale stop by Masseys again
walked across street to bus stop on other side
waited probably 10 minutes for bus headed towards Georgetown
suitcase next to me, backpack on top, so got charged for two seats, but that's okay
told driver I needed to go to "Diamonds Village Gap" - just like Allie said
slight confusion, but eventually said okay - thank goodness
got out in the middle of nowhere, but there was a bus stop that said Diamonds, so I knew we were right
guy immediately said hey you here to see california girl? Ha - only white person in the small village - everyone knows her
text her to let her know we were walking up, so she left to walk down towards us
15 minute hike up, but about 2 minutes in, a nice guy stopped and asked the same thing and then told us to get in - thank goodness
hike would have been awful and I'm so tired, it's hot, up hill, just no bueno
stood up in back of jeep - no seats - and held on for the bumpy steep ride up to Diamonds village
guy dropped us off right in front of Kate's house - another couchsurfer/Peace Corps volunteer from San Diego (we even passed her and he kept going so she had to walk back - not very far at all)
She has a great place, great wifi, and a cat - no hot water, but I'm kind of used to that by this point
She had birthday party to get to for another peace corps worker so she left
could have slept all day but eventually decided to try and make it all the way up north to Owia Salt Ponds
walked down to Diamonds Village Gap and waited with two other locals for maybe 10-15 minutes - which feels like eternity in the hot sun
flagged down a bus - I thought on my own, but turned around to see local guy behind me - probably stopped for him, not me
another crazy bus ride, but a pretty short one
got dropped off in Georgetown and waited maybe 5 minutes for another bus to Sandy Bay
even more crazy bus ride actually scared for life
like, craziest one yet. Driver seemed enraged and just nuts.
got out and end of route - parking lot in little village - middle of nowhere and started walking
no buses up north on Sundays
loooong walk, saw one car going the other way
kept walking through the hills in the hot sun - ridiculously hot
finally heard a vehicle coming so I stuck my thumb out
turned around to see ambulance
thought no way this will stop -- but sure enough, he did
i got in the back of an ambulance in St. Vincent for a ride to the Owia salt ponds
salt ponds are really just a carve out spot where the ocean waves don't really get to
calm water, coral and fish for snorkeling, and grew view of the ocean protected by big rocks
two other american groups there - one family on a church trip and two american girls on vacation
they had a car and offered to drive us back in to Georgetown - or even to Diamonds village gap
ordered "chicken and chips" up top before leaving - only food around
stopped for groceries in Georgetown - not much selection at all
no fresh fruits or veggies
started talking and over shot drive back by quite a ways - almost to mesopotamia
totally missed Diamonds village gap
had to get out at gas station and start walking back opposite direction - what a pain
nice guy stopped when I stuck my thumb out and took us all the way back to Diamonds village gap - which was a long ways back
had to walk up the hill to the village, kate not home yet, but Beans (the cat) was excited to see me
saw truck full of bananas on the walk up
rice and beans / onion, garlic, carrots, spinach, sweet potato and soy chunks with curry seasoning
another peace corps guy, Robbie, showed up, and is going to hike volcano tomorrow with us
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