A WALK IN THE MOUNTAINS

A WALK IN THE MOUNTAINS

A good number of our guests really enjoy activities like climbing Petit Piton or Gros Piton, or exploring some of the other natural wonders and attractions that this area of St. Lucia has to offer.  In actuality, we are no different than our guests.  For example, one day we were sitting around and Julian decided we should go explore an area that he remembers from his childhood.  So, we got a great person, our neighbor, Kendall, to help us navigate to the area we wanted to visit.

Our adventure started off in our vehicle.  We drove around to the other side of the valley we face and drove up behind a bank of mountains.  The road was kind of rough, but we have a vehicle equipped to hand it, shifting into a lower gear, we pressed on.  And we wound our way up the mountains on the other side of our valley.  While we went along, Julian would point out various houses and other landmarks that he remembered from his childhood.  Then we finally got to a place where he decided we should proceed by foot.  There is a lot of farming that happens in these mountains.  You can see some of the fields from our vantage point at Calabash Mountain Villa, but that is only a small part of what is really in this area.  The picture below is of a Christophene arbor.  This plant is one of the staples of great meals around here.  It is a food that compliments any main dish.

It was quite fascinating to listen to Julian's remembrances of his childhood growing up in this area.  He would recall specific incidents, like they had happened a few days ago.  Many of his recollections were humorous ones, so we enjoyed great chuckles as we walked along.  When we got to a certain area, he identified it as an area they had lived in for a while.  He even was able to show us a specific house they lived in, and he was surprised that it was still in halfway decent condition.  As he told us about locations, there were also stories about some of the happenings that went on in those places.  Many of the stories were humorous and others were filled with his remembrances of what was a childhood full of interesting capers and experiences.  It is always fascinating to hear all about childhood experiences that someone can recall like they happened yesterday.  The housing in this area is pretty rustic, and the memories were rich.

Before long we had reached an area that had some very spectacular views of the town of Soufriere.  We were on the mountains that are opposite the side of town that is the waterfront.  Awesome views!  And yes, we were glad we had the camera to get some of these views.  However, as is usually the case, the pictures are great but don’t really capture the magnitude and beauty of the area.  (Of course, part of the reason is that we are not professional photographers.)

As we kept walking, we got to a spot where we could look down and see Calabash Villa from the mountains across from us.  When we are standing on our balcony looking across the valley at the mountains, it looks like one continuous mountain landscape.  However, it is rows of mountains, with roads and houses between the mountains.  It is these roads that enable you to get up to the upper reaches of the mountains without having to actually climb the mountains.  It is absolutely fascinating what all is on the mountains that cannot be seen from a distance, because the roads and buildings are hidden by rows of trees on both sides of the roads.  But once you go up there, you can better understand where a lot of the traffic you see driving around comes from and where they are going.

The other fascinating realization is that there are lots and lots of mountains that you would never see unless you climbed high enough to see over the lower mountains.  You can see in some of our pictures the rows and rows of mountains that exist on this part of the Island.  These are awesome views!  In the above picture of Calabash Mountain Villa, taken from the mountains across from us, you get a sense of the landscape around us.  When you are driving here, you see the trees around the roads, but do not get a full sense of the entire area.  Being able to get high enough up to look down on us really gives you a better perspective of this area.  

If you get a chance to visit St. Lucia, or if you are on St. Lucia, make it a point to go and see these views for yourself.  Aside from being gorgeous views, it also gives you another perspective about this Island.  There are communities that evolve from the natural landscape of this Island.  The terrain helps form small communities that share an area.  People in these communities have bonds that last a lifetime.  Of course, that is not to say that people do not get around to other communities, but there is a special bond between people who attend the same schools together, play in the same areas together, and who have dealt with natural conditions and calamities together.

Written by, Sandra Emmanuel

March 2, 2016
www.calabashvilla.com

Put A Lid On It, Shape It All Up, & Time for Rememberances

After the walls and floors are all in place, the next thing to deal with is the roof.  The roof of Calabash Mountain Villa is magnificent, especially in the center portion of the structure.  We have that very high cathedral ceiling, and as you can see from the pictures, it took lots of reinforcements to ensure it was constructed safely and securely.  The beams, the plywood, and the shingles were all done with great care. 

               




Our next focus is on finishing the walls inside the Villa.  We plastered all of the walls to provide a nice smooth surface; then we painted the walls with colors that reflect the vibrancy of the Caribbean.  

   


And, remember those piles of rocks from when we were first clearing the land?  Well, they are back – as part of the front of the Villa.  The cut-stone facing is from the very rocks that were busted as we began our work.  The cut-stone facing was not in our initial plan, but along the way it seemed the perfect thing to do.  There are other places in the area that have done this and it really appealed to me.  We were really fortunate to have this resource that only cost us 

the time spent busting up the boulders for use.  

What great opportunities have you had to use what you already had, to enhance a project?  Isn’t it sweet when this happens?

Each day as I drive back and forth between my brother’s house in Soufriere to the site of Calabash Mountain Villa, I take in the local community.  I reminisce about my growing up in this community.  A lot of the things that were part of my childhood are still here today.  Many of the buildings are wooden and over 100 years old.  I remember incidents and people as I look at these old buildings.  I remember a childhood filled with love and community spirit.  I remember a time when I could go anywhere without any worry about my safety.  During my time down here, building, I have become reacquainted with some family members and met ones that are new to me.  It is great to have such a feeling of connectedness to the community.  A lot of the tourist sites that I remember from my childhood have been renovated and enlarged to accommodate the volume of today’s tourists.  What have you experienced after going back “home” after being away for a while?  Were things the same or very different?  Were you happy with the changes?  Leave a comment and let us know.

Taking Shape & Staying Motivated

By June 2010 things were really taking shape.  The two wings of the Villa went up first, then we tackled the center portion which holds the kitchen, common area, and on the level below the game room and laundry.

I am sure that people watching the build-out from afar were wondering just what we were up to, what this place was going to look like. But for me, who knew what it was going to be, it was exciting to see my dream take form day-by-day. And at the same time, was the realization that there was a lot more work to be done. As the building was going up, I also took some time to tend to the landscaping. We planted various flowers and foods along the winding path up to the Villa from the road below.

And one of the things that would keep us motivated was seeing those spectacular rainbows as they framed the work we were doing. What kinds of things keep you motivated when you are involved in a huge, laborious task? What would you like to have around to keep you motivated (keep it clean)?

Built Tough Against Nature's Beauty

Once the beams were up; then came the floors and walls. We used cement blocks for the walls. This is really hard labor. Again, hats off to the crew for making sure it was done right, so we would have an excellent structure that is safe and secure for our guests.

You can see from the pictures, steel continued to be an integral part of the construction process. As I took pictures of the construction, it was natural for me to make sure I got the scenery in the pictures. I want you to see what it will be like as a visitor enjoying the surroundings. When I share pictures with my friends, they all say how much they would like to visit and experience this serenity first hand.

What do you think of this setting as a place for vacation? Do you think it will help you relax and really "get away?"

Made By Hand

Once the land was cleared and leveled, we began staking out the building, marking where the columns would be placed, and making sure we were on target with the plans so as we build up, it will be in line with what we planned. Making the columns was the next big task. Those cement columns did not come ready-made. And because of the area, we are building to be able to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.  That meant we needed to make steel-reinforced cement columns. Again, location and resources meant we had to bend steel by hand. I marveled at how my crew went about this task. I watched and learned what it takes. Here are a couple of pictures of them doing that work.

                                    

                  

To make steel reinforced components, we have to make the mold for the cement using wooden planks, put the steel in place, and then pour the cement. Throughout the structure there are steel-reinforced concrete beams and platforms.

Hats off to my crew who worked hard and made sure it was done correctly!

Could you ever see yourself doing this work?

Cool Breezes

Cool Breezes

By Julian Emmanuel

As I mentioned previously, at my brother’s house we can sit on his porch and look across the street at the Bay. Many of the marvelous sunset pictures are right from there.

We watch the birds fly over the water and all the boats and ships that go by. It is also great to catch the night breeze out there too. Of course, often I go just a little way down the street to sit on the jetty.

That is where the breeze is the best (no buildings to block the breeze at all.) So where do you go to cool off when the weather gets hot? Or where is your favorite place to sit and just enjoy God’s creation – nature? I know that if you get the chance to visit St. Lucia and come to Calabash Mountain Villa, you will enjoy sitting and enjoying the natural surroundings here. And we will make sure you get a chance to visit the jetty and enjoy more of the beauty that you can see from that vantage point too.

Fearless Backhoeing

It's time to get back to the work at hand. Our crew has extra challenges that crews working in cities don't have. Up here on the mountain side, there is some equipment that just cannot navigate the slope of the land. We had to search around for someone who was willing to work up here; and who had a backhoe that could maneuver around this space.

We found a real dare-devil of sorts. He was a real blessing because without him our work would have been much harder and taken a lot longer.

Have you ever taken on a project that was more challenging than you had imagined? How did you cope with the challenge? What kinds of compromises did you have to make in your plans?  

The Prince of Wales

Preparing for a Very Important Guest - The Prince of Wales

      

 


There is a lot of activity around Soufriere this week (spring 2008.) Prince Charles, from England, is coming to visit St. Lucia and will spend some time in Soufriere. Though independent, St. Lucia still maintains close ties to England. So everything is getting spruced up for his visit. You see streets being fixed up, everything being washed down, fresh paint on places, decorations going up, and whatever else can be done to present our best "face" for such a special visitor. There is a lot of excitement in the air.

Well, Prince Charles came and visited!! It was a rainy day, but that did not dampen the spirit of the folk one bit. You can see how a community comes alive and an event is a total community experience. That was quite a day. What kinds of events create this kind of community out-pouring and involvement where you live? Do you get that rush of community pride at these events?