My husband and I have considered visiting the Saint Kitts and Nevis, a twin island tourist enclave in the Eastern Caribbean. After the pandemic in 2020, we started toying with the idea of spending one week with the possibility of staying for another week more should we like the place. However, our plan always took a back seat since traveling outside our usual grid needed more scheduling and preparation.
When we received an official invitation from their government to visit, we didn’t hesitate. We immediately confirmed. I was supposed to attend the Global Summit of Women in May but chose to go to Saint Kitts instead. However, the date had been pushed to July so it was too late to go to Madrid for the women’s summit.
Edmund and I realigned our schedules to maximize our trip to the US. We left Manila right after our favorite apo’s second birthday. Spent 4 days in San Francisco to shake off some jetlag and next thing we knew we were landing in St. Kitts. So here we are, exploring this new world to us. It’s our first time here in the Caribbean.
We’re not beach goers, me mainly because I don’t swim, I don’t like the sun, I don’t like the humidity. I do like waterfront cafes, boardwalks, the sound of the waves, and the smell of the ocean. But no swimming for me.
This morning we met St. Kitts’ top echelons in government, and businessmen, executives, and some local entrepreneurs.
They were all excited that we were in attendance and we’re all ready to see what this twin island paradise as they call it has to offer.
Our initial impression was, hmm, para tayong nasa Pilipinas, humid kasi. And all the plants, trees, flowers, can be found too way back home. Coconut trees, suntan, calachuchi, mango trees, kakawati, etc.
The locals don’t seem to be demonstrative but as we interact with them, they are warm and friendly.
St. Kitts and Nevis, which used to be St. Christopher, has a peculiar history. Their culture is an interesting blend of African, European mainly British, French, Spanish, Canadian, and other indigenous influences that evolved over centuries and reflected in the way they live, through music, fashion, architecture, dance, food, and arts.
Christopher Columbus discovered the islands. And why is his name very familiar to us? Because he’s in our history books and test papers. He was an Italian explorer expert in celestial navigation who was hired by the Spanish monarchs I presume to be Catholics, to explore the oceans to find some islands and sure he did. Even after his death, many people honored him by naming their places after him, for example, British Columbia in Canada, Columbus, Ohio and District of Columbia in the USA. Remember the gorgeous Miss Universe contestant from South America introducing herself, shouting, from Columbia!
I am grateful to be given the chance by the heavens to be here. Not everybody will have this chance so let’s inhale the Atlantic ocean’s breeze here in St. Kitts and Nevis.
