Bequia (“Island of the Clouds”)

13°0′N 61°14′W

7 sq mi (18 km2) 

Pop 4300

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

January 1, 2018

Happy New Year!           

With his head of windblown hair and his beard of whitecaps and waves, we are greeted at the dock with his welcoming smile and his tee shirt that reads, “Livin’ the Dream.”

Here in Bequia locals “Live the Dream.” 

And since there is no convenient way to travel here except on a boat, Bequia is one of those places in the world known only to sailors.  Sailors and their crew and passengers also “Live the Dream.”

Bill and I stop for a coffee at the Chameleon Café (also good Wi-Fi), hike up the hill for a view of the horseshoe bay, and repair to the shore for lunch at Mac’s Pizzeria. We shop at Melissa and Nel’s.

Mel and Nel, as I dubbed them, as well as all the other entrepreneurs, “live the dream” surrounded by family and friends, perfect weather and the ubiquitous funny cigarettes.

At the far end of the beach we find Leonard at “The Original Lion’s Den,” his tiny bar dispensing cold ones.  Leonard is the mentor to many of the young boys on the island.  He does let them smoke a bit but encourages them to work hard and live a proper life.

After a pleasant conversation, it’s back to the dock, into the dinghy and the short motor trip past the assemblage of sailboats to our home at anchor in the bay.

The scene at sunset is splendid.  The mood sublime.

For the moment, I am also “Livin’ the Dream."