St. Lucia: Friday, May 2nd to Monday, May 5th

Friday, May 2, 2008: Shopping and Snorkeling

We started our day at Breakfast again...yummy and for a change of pace we went shopping to get things at REAL stores, unlike in Dominica. Prices are labeled on the items...imagine that! I bought some shoes, a super Caribbean sun hat (see picture to the right), a new bathing suite (my other one broke...I know Mom is happy as she thought it was an old lady suit), and some other tourist things like sun block, anti-mosquito candles (for my apartment) and surprises for the family. We also picked up some odds and ends for the island like some medicine that isn't easy to get and other things we can't get on our island (which is just about anything you can think of...medical school isn't for the faint of heart let alone tackling medical school in the 3rd world country--if I can live through this, I can live through anything).

Anyway, we headed straight to lunch after changing for the beach. We went to the Mariner Restaurant (the place right off the ocean). As usual, it was a yummy lunch. We checked out the snorkeling and decided that we wanted to give it a try. It was amazing to see the fish and undersea wildlife; however, it wasn't fun to get salt water up your snorkel and panic that you are going to die of salt water poisoning until you stand up and breathe. It took us a while to get the hang of it, but it was very fun after we got it down--that is until the water got super choppy and obviously we were not that good so we ended it for the day. Some people can dive down and look all over while snorkeling, which involves some gymnastics of the breath to ensure that the water doesn't come down the snorkel when you are returning to the air. I am not that good (neither is Farley). Nonetheless, it was great! After that, we retired to the beach to read our books and enjoy the view. As usual, we moved over to the swim up bar for a juice later in the afternoon. That evening, we went to dinner at the usual Monarch restaurant and the evening entertainment was TEM ("Total Eaaarth Moooovement!"--can you hear the St. Lucian accent?). They were amazing! They were a rock/reggae/awesome band. They did covers and also original material. Every St. Lucian bad/performer needs to cover the following songs, Bob Marley, 'No Woman, No Cry'; Lionel Riches, "Hello"; and Sting, "Fields of Gold." Total Eaaaarth Moooovement wouldn't be held back by just playing the usual songs, they expanded their repetoire to things like R. Kelly, "Remix to Ignition" which for those of you unfamiliar with the song is a catchy (and a bit naughty) danceable R&B song. I thought I must have been hearing things wrong when they started that song. Their original music was great and my favorite was the song about "music being my drugs....don't need nothing else." Perhaps the USA could use this catchy Reggie inspired song to keep kids off drugs. After the performance, we walked around the restaurants and clubs, but didn't' want to go to any of them. Rather, we went to the Rex Royal and looked over their grounds. It was beautiful at night (see below pictures) and as we were taking them we were approached by an unusual character: a drunk pirate bride. That's right, this woman got married on the pirate ship earlier in the day. We noticed the ship in the harbor but had no idea that one could commit their life and love to another while dressed in pirate appropriate garments and on a pirate ship. Maybe it isn't such a bad idea, if the someone got too wild you could make them walk the plank: could be fun!

Saturday, May 3, 2008: Dancing with Fire Breathing Men

We enjoyed the usual routine: breakfast at the Monarch, beach, lunch at the Mariner, beach, pool, sunset, and get ready for dinner. My favorite St. Lucian businessman boats around the bay on this little boat selling fruit and veggies (I wish we had someone who did that in Dominica, see the picture to the left of "The Fruit Man"). I just loved his little boat, but I was afraid that he might sink in his boat (check out the cool picture). Saturday night we had dinner at the Monarch again: it was Mexican night (not their best, but okay). Below is a picture of us outside of the Monarch restaurant after dinner. Then we retired to the lobby/bar for the night's entrainment. It was another cover band, "Thhhe Access Baaaand" not access band, but "Thhhe Access Baand." Farley was getting drinks at the bar and missed the lead singer serenading me with Lionel Richie's "Hello" (because every Caribbean band MUST cover this song). He claims that he only left me for a moment, but they same me a verse and a half as well as the chorus---I guess his timeline was a little off. Toward the end of the first set, they played Barry Manilow, "If You Like Pina Coladas." Farley and I had been waiting for one of the bands to play this song as we like to mock it, so we had to dance (which set us up for the rest of the night).

After the band's first set a group of dancers came out. They were okay, but not great. Towards then end, they started grabbing people out of the audience. They grabbed Farley, then me, and two other people. We were out dancing with them for probably 20-30 minutes. It was GREAT! We had to do solo dancing (I"m not so great but Farley looked awesome). THEN the fire breathing men came out--you read this correctly I got to dance with FIRE BREATHING MEN!!! After that excitement, the band came back and a just married couple had their first dance to the ever popular first dance song, "Play that funky music white boy." Surely this song embodies true love! Soon after, everyone hit the dance floor and stayed there until the band finished. They might not have been the best band we saw in St. Lucia, but they were probably the most fun. Above is a picture of the "dance floor" when Farley and I were taking a breather. The guy in the white shirt and jeans toward the right of the picture is the lead singer.

Sunday, May 4, 2008: Jazz Festival
The day was pretty much like our other days: breakfast, beach, lunch, beach, dinner, and music. A few changes to the schedule: we snorkeled in the morning (after breakfast and before lunch) because the water seemed to be calmer at this time of day. It was BEAUTIFUL and we saw lots of fish: lion fish, sea anemones, fish that are sand colored on top and blue on bottom, dark blue and brown fish. Amazing! After lunch, we attended one of the opening performances of the Jazz Festival, which was on the beach near our hotel. It was awesome. Some of the bands we heard earlier in the week. There were lots of locals and tourists all sitting on the beach and enjoying the free music. After that, we went back to the hotel, packed, and got ready for dinner. It was another nice dinner and the music was just okay. Overall, it was a relaxing day, admitted a sad one as we had to leave first thing Monday morning. Here is a picture from our last night:

Monday, May 5, 2008: Back to Dominica

Farley insisted we get matching t-shirts to commemorate our vacation, so here they are. We got up early and finished packing for our trip home. We were able to have one more breakfast before leaving but unfortunately we didn't eat much in anticipation of the boat trip. We arrived at the dock early and there were many other Ross students at the dock and they all seemed to be at the same hotels (not intentionally), but we were at another resort and didn't see any of them. I think it was nice that we weren't around anyone else because in just the few hours with them, I realized all they talked about was school: grades, the failure rate, the upcoming semester, professors and the failure rate. Yea, not exactly relaxing! Farley and I didn't have sea sickness this time because we increased the motion sickness medication; however, we were very drowsy the whole time. It was a long day of travel, but it was nice to be back in Dominica-- despite the third world conditions. This island is beautiful!!!

It wouldn't be a true Nicole blog post if I didn't post at least St. Lucian sunset picture, which was taken from the upper deck (above the pool with the swim up bar):

St. Lucia--Tuesday, April 29th through Thursday, May 1st

Once we left the Bay Garden's Inn (the above picture is form our last night at the Bay Garden's Inn) and moved to the St. Lucian by Rex Resorts, we didn't have wireless Internet. I'm going to try and write out some long entries because we did so much in St. Lucia and I will put up a ton of pictures of beautiful St. Lucia.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008: Check into our little piece of Heaven

We spent the day hanging out at the St. Lucian. We couldn't check in until 3:00 so we read books in the bar, had lunch, walked around the three Rex resorts, and enjoyed the beach a bit. After we got checked into the hotel, we went to the swim up bar in the pool. Let me tell you that an all inclusive meal/drink plan can give you more than your money's worth. We drank, ate, and enjoyed the activities to our hearts content--It was such a blast! The below picture is of the hotel lobby/bar where the entrainment occurred at night and the second picture is of the ocean from one of the pools.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008: Beach Bums

We got up early and had breakfast. We rushed and changed into our bathing suits because we had some serious beach bathing to do. The beach in St. Lucia was BEATUIFUL (see the picture to the right...that was my view). The white sand makes the Caribbean sea look so much more blue than in Dominica, with the black sand beaches. The ocean in this bay wasn't as calm as it is in Dominica. There was much more variety in the waves in St. Lucia. For example, at one point they would push you over they are so strong and the next they are almost as clam as bath water. It was strange. We went to lunch at the Mariner's Restaurant, which is right on the water (and part of the all inclusive plan). Next we went back to the beach, then retired to the pool and the swim up bar for the rest of the afternoon. After enjoying the St. Lucian sun set, we got ready and went to dinner. Like a cruse ship, you must get dressed up for dinner. Wednesday night might have been the best dinner, it was a candlelight barbecue on the patio near the pool (with the bar). The food was great and the atmosphere was even better. After that, we went to the evening music and heard a great singer/pianist. Below is a picture from after dinner when we were listening to the singer/pianist. I think the camera was set on the wrong setting so it is a little blurry.

Thursday, May 1st, 2008: St. Lucian Labor day

Pretty much everything was closed on the island for the Labor Day holiday and the locals were enjoying the beautiful beaches. We went to breakfast early again and headed right down to the beach. Again, we read books while lounging on the beach and again we went to the Mariner's Restaurant for lunch. After lunch we rented a paddle boat (for free...all inclusive is GREAT). Farley can't remember if we went snorkeling or paddle boating first, but I'm pretty first we went paddle boating first. Anyway, this stupid boat wouldn't go in a straight line for the life of me. We had to keep going back and forth to try to go straight, but we ended up just going in circles. It is a good thing we had no where to go. We paddled around like crazy people for about 30 minutes, then the water got choppy and thankfully we managed to get to shore, rather than drifting off to sea and ending up in Martinque. Upon returning the paddle boat to shore, we realized that this stupid boat had a rudder much smaller than needed. After that fun, we went back to the pool to read books and enjoy the swim up pool bar (are you catching a pattern yet?). After the beautiful sunset, we got dressed up for dinner. This time we went to dinner in the Oriental Restaurant, which is the fancy dancy restaurant in the hotel. It wasn't included in the all inclusive plan, but we got a credit but we were careful and didn't spend too much more (below are pictures of us in the restaurant and the food). The entertainment for the night was "Diamond Steel." Boy, did I LOVE the steel orchestra. They were crazy fun! They danced and played great music. They did lots of covers of songs that one would expect, such as "No Women, No Cry" and they did even more things that you wouldn't expect such as Shakira, "Hips Don't Lie"; Enya, "Only Time"; Gershwin, "Summertime". The funny thing was that there was one girl in the group, who was positioned right in the middle of the group. She was the only one who didn't dance. She stood with her arms crossed between songs and had a "very serious" look on her face the whole time. The rest of the group was dancing and laughing the whole time.

Paradise...Day two in St. Lucia

I have my land legs back and I'm much happier for it. I am not a sea lover AT ALL. Today was a great fun day. Had a so-so breakfast at the hotel, went shopping in a mall that actually puts prices on the goods and at a REAL grocery store, walked around the area and retired to the pool to relax. I don't have all the pictures uploaded, so please see Farley's post about the day for his beautiful pictures and much better description of the day.

I had a little discussion with the Caribbean cell phone company that wasn't so pretty today. We were never told that if we left the island of Dominica we would be charged crazy roaming fees, even if we are using their network on another island. I was charged $148.00ECD for a 16 minute conversation. Lets just say after 2 hours on the phone and the mid-level manager making a racial comment about me when she thought she had me on hold, then hanging up on Farley after he took the phone from me: I got my partial refund. It just seems wrong to charge roaming fees when someone isn't told those fee apply, you are still on the same network and the phone (unlike U.S. phones) doesn't tell you that you are roaming. I did email the Medical School to let them know about my educational conversation....the new incoming students should know to ask lots of questions.

After that, which I was able to laugh at much quicker than I anticipated. We enjoyed our books by the pool...we are saving the white sand beach for tomorrow when we change hotels to the Rex St. Lucian (the all inclusive place right on the Caribbean Sea). I should end this post soon as Farley and I just had dinner on our balcony and are heading down to the bar for our complimentary cocktails. The balcony here is nicer than our balconies in Dominica, but our views in Dominica are a million times better (the sea) and the view here in St. Lucia is of the courtyard.

Just for you Mom, a picture of my hair down after going swimming. I don't have any makeup or anything, but I know you wanted to see a picture with my hair down Mom.

I'm a land lover!!

Farley and I took off for St. Lucia today. In fact, I'm writing this little note on the balcony of the hotel overlooking the bar/live band. We decided to save some money and take the ferry system to St. Lucia. We left our apartments at 9:00 this morning for the capital city of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roseau. We were at the ferry dock about 2 hours earlier than we needed to be, so we enjoyed the view of the sea from the deck. Then we boarded our boat. I was so excited, having taken my anti-nausea medicine hours previously and the boat was beautiful and well kept. Well, I always feel yucky on a boat, but I usually don't take medicine so I thought I'd be okay. I was wrong.

I got really hot, my erector pilli contracted (the muscles that make the hairs on your arms and legs), I had goosebumps, I was sweating like a pig, and then it happened: I got sick. This lasted for the two hour trip to Martinique. There we stopped and they straightened up the boat and new passengers boarded. Then there was another hour and twenty minute ride to St. Lucia. This time I was prepared, once we left the guarded waters of the island I promptly put my head between my legs. You really know that your a medical student when you are paying very close attention to your symptoms to try and figure out why your body reacts in such a manner rather than being concerned about being sick. We finally landed in St. Lucia and if I do say so myself, the customs guy was kinda mean. Geeze, I wasn't rude to him and he was mean to everyone---even a single women traveling with a small child.

We made our way to our hotel for the next two nights: The Bay Garden Hotel. We will then move onto an all inclusive hotel just down the road for the final six days of the trip: The St. Lucian by Rex Resorts. Believe it or not, this island is very different than Dominica. If you were to base it solely upon the land, than no they are not very different. However, St. Lucia has a lot more money and is much more developed. Today was the first time I've seen a stop light since leaving Miami in January.

I'm still not feeling up to par so I think I'll end this little note. St. Lucia is beautiful and I wish you could all see it too. If you check out Farley's post, you can see a pictorial of our trip. In the end, I'm glad we took the boat despite the rough trip. Flying would have been much more expensive and we probably would have had to fly to San Juan, if we could get a flight into St. Lucia at all. See, the international Jazz festival starts in a couple days so St. Lucia is a hopping spot right now. We have to leave to start the semester before the big names of the festival play, but we should be able to catch some great jazz before we leave (besides the blues/R&B at the bar in the hotel).

Exams and St. Lucia

I don't get to go home for the semester break. I miss home, family, good food and wine, my comfy bed, and of course consistent hot water. It is so expensive to get from the beautiful island; thus, I don't get to go home. In fact, it is so expensive that I can go to St. Lucia for a week at an all inclusive resort for hundreds cheaper than it cost to fly back to Miami; so, goodbye Dominica, hello St. Lucia! I'm pretty excited about this trip. Farley and I both get sea sick, but that isn't going to hold us back. We are planning on taking the ferry. We will GET to stop in Martinique ( I think in the little Paris), then on to St. Lucia. We might stay the night in Martinique and have wonderful French pastries, wine and I'm sure wonderful coffee. We would go to Martinique for the whole vacation, but it is on the Euro, which is makes it very expensive (they are French). Anyway, I'm excited for our vacation. I can't wait to sit on a white sand beach and having a nice Caribbean drink while reading a book (that isn't titled, "Human Anatomy" or "Pulmonary Physiology: The Essentials"). This trip is giving me the energy to keep studying hard, even when I'm tired.

Since we can't go to St. Lucia for the whole three week vacation, I intend on spending my time on my local black sand beach. You know, the one that is about 50 feet from my apartment (see the above picture from the west side of my building that puts me right on the beach). I think I'll go hiking on the Carbrits (the two "mountains" in many of my pictures). I might even see if I can talk Farley into taking a boat ride up the Indian River to see the amazing parrots of Dominica. There are also islands tours at the beginning of the semester, which we can participate in. It will be great!

But before, I get to enjoy the wonders of the Caribbean, I have to attack the upcoming exams. I've been having trouble concentrating the last few days. Farley and I decided to take a nice walk in the ocean (see below picture--I can't seem to post to my blog without including a sunset picture), went to dinner at Subway then headed to the anatomy lab. I think the mental break (I did get some work done, just not as much as usual), is exactly what I needed as I feel like myself again. I'm ready to attack pulmonary physiology.

Before, I can attack pulmonary physiology, I have my last anatomy lab of the semester: posterior mediastinum. I just love the mediastinum: it is where the magic happens. The mediastinum is the space between your lungs and there are SO many things located in this little space: your heart, great vessels, thymus, lymph nodes, and many other exciting visceral structures. It is just jam packed with important structures. I'm ready to be done with anatomy lab for the semester, but I'm excited about the information we've been covering in anatomy. Learning the muscles organ, insertion, blood supply, nerve innervation and function is just a lot of memorization and isn't the most interesting thing to me. However, looking at the heart, lungs and other important structures is so much more interesting. Our semester is finally starting to intertwine, for example, pulmonary in physiology, anatomy, doctor patient and society and histology. SO much better!

I never post pictures of the mountains, so here is one. I've never lived anywhere as green (literally, this place is a giant rain forest).