The Caribbean diaries

And the dream of almost 20 years is realised. I arrived in Saint Lucia over two weeks ago, to have some time to myself before then crossing the Atlantic on the same Blue Clipper Tall Ship.

It’s a funny island, Saint Lucia. I stayed in Rodney Bay in a quirky BnB where the ceiling leaked during torrential rain, the wifi was beyond dodgy and the reception staff would argue and shout late at night. Rodney Bay itself was underwhelming, the main are being nothing more than several shopping malls, the marina further away than I expected. The marina was nice but also quite underwhelming. Maybe the weather didn’t help, as it rained continually during my days there.

The renowned Reduit beach was nice, but fairly jam packed with deck chairs. I found myself comparing Saint Lucia with the stunning pristine white beaches of Sardinia and the crystal clear aquamarine waters of the sea there.

I did a day trip along the coast by boat to the volcanoes and a lovely waterfall, long with sulphur mud baths. Whilst on that trip I got talking to other travellers, as you do, who mentioned a place called Windjammer Landing Resort. So I checked it out and yes they had availability.

It just shows the importance of environment, something I have written about before. It truly is an aspect of our lives which we totally overlook. The minute I arrived there, I felt different. This, this was the Caribbean I had come for. The lesson I learnt was – spend the money and upgrade. It’s safe to do so, and your soul will thank you for it. There I had access to several pools, restaurants, beach bars and cafes, entertainment in the evening if I so choose. A room with a stunning sea view on the cliffs with a balcony and the option of room service. Good wifi which meant I got all my work projects completed before boarding the Tall Ship, including my accounts being submitted way ahead of time which felt so good.

So as I boarded the Blue Clipper Tall Ship, I was more than ready for the adventures to come. A total of ten passengers with a higher number of crew, many of whom, hilariously enough are Irish! I mean where would you get it!! So far half way into the week we have sailed to Martinique and Dominica with Guadeloupe and Antigua still to come. Then some days free in Antigua before heading across the Atlantic, something I have dreamt of doing for decades. The toothache I had turned out to be a sinus infection, and a weeks of antibiotics later, I am feeling fine. The weather has been changeable, but last night we had smooth sailing during the night to Dominica. The ship cut through the water life a knife through melted butter, as they say.

The crew are young and lively and really make the trip. As is the rum punch we are served for aperitif each evening. Later today we have a river trip to see parrots followed by an evening beach barbeque. The biggest decision I have to make is what to have for breakfast, a welcome change after so many horrific years of fighting for my share of my late Mums estate, and then dealing with my late daughter Ruth’s affairs.

Ruth is with me in my dreams so many nights here. It is uncanny yet not totally unexpected. I dream of being back in Wales with her happily skipping into school, as she did as a feisty eight year old. I dreamt of dropping her to her Dad’s mum’s house, then getting lost on the way back. Her spirit is with me everywhere, though it is still hard to fathom that she is in fact gone from this earthly plain. She is however, at peace at last, which is the most important thing. I had those three weeks with here, horrific though they were, I had that time with her. Time during which nothing was left unsaid on either side.

Since a few months ago, there seems to be nothing else to reflect on in relation to Ruth. That feels poignant, yet complete.

I am now in Antigua, still having deep dreams of Ruth and her dad, my mum too sometimes. Maybe it’s symbolising deeper letting go under the recent Full Moon in Leo. I prefer Antigua, love English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour and it’s laid back sailing vibe. I booked into a nice hotel once again, and again, environment made a huge difference. The beaches here are stunning, yet a lot of the best beaches are linked to a private resort. I hired a car for two days to see the island and yesterday coming back from the exquisite Half Moon Bay the car broke down. Maybe a spiritual sign to slow down, or so it feels. So today I did. Tons of painting, back to the hand painted natal birth charts I have been working on on and off.

Tomorrow we set sail to cross the Atlantic and will be at sea for a full month before reaching the Azores, where we spend a few days before then finalising the journey across the Atlantic to arrive in Cascais. It turns out the ship is then doing a mile builder to Monaco so I may join them for that. They are doing a refit in Portimao and it’s funny how there is a great boatyard there so I can look at buying a boat. There is also a great art shop there as well as my great art teacher. I keep being drawn back to Portugal, and this time I’ll stay in the Alvor area for a while to enjoy it’s difference.

Today I found myself writing that boats, books, brushes and beaches and all I need. Add baristas to that list too though! The simpler my life is, the happier I am. I may buy a boat, I may not. We’ll see. There is no rush either way. I find myself longing to paint and it was truly blissful to come across a giant wad of extra watercolour paper aboard the Blue Clipper. Fabriano to boot! I have tons of paint and brushes, along with 100% cotton watercolour paper of my own. I plan on working on simple hand painted natal charts to start with. It all feels so effortless compared to the constant being “on” and marketing with astrology. My soul loves the breather, it so needed it.

It’s been windy today and right now, close to sunset, it looks like there may be another storm brewing. I find myself nervously excited, but glad to be going again. Bari was fine, but too quiet. I love the laid backness of the sailing vibe here in Falmouth and English Harbour. I found myself constantly comparing the Caribbean islands with Sardinia, and lacking. Some of the smaller islands off the south coast of Dominica were most atmospheric – probably because they were French. Worth remembering, that!

So tomorrow is the big day! A month to reach the Azores, after almost three weeks of visiting no less than seven Caribbean islands. Who would have thought it! At sea I’ll be painting and writing up a storm, I might even teach some astrology too! To know I have a wide choices of places to stay when I arrive in Portugal is deeply calming. I already have invites on other Tall Ship trips.

We’ll be at sea during the great alignment of Moon, Saturn, Venus, Mercury, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars. And still at sea when Venus goes retrograde on the 1st March and starts slipping from the night sky. What a planetary feast I have in store!

I have loved the quietness of the last few days after what had been a very very chatty voyage! My soul needs quiet and will do for some time. But I am also however slowly re emerging back into the world. Ruth’s death changed everything overnight. Her spirit is with me everywhere, no need for communication between us. She is simply a part of me, her suffering became mine, until she ended hers.

Away from Ireland, I feel I can breathe again. I love the space and freedom of sailing, nothing to do except haul the sails once in a while, the rest of the time we can quietly look out to sea, or chat, or paint or write or read. How simple life at sea is! How simple all our day to day lives could be, if only we let it!

A simple life is what I live now. I love it so. I’ll sign off now to have a last night in Antigua and will write another blog post while travelling, which will be posted in about a month from the Azores. Who knows what new adventures I will have to recount then, with new guests.

So once again, environment matters folks. It truly is everything. So play with living in totally new environments in the coming months. It is easier than you think, and your soul will thank you for it.