The street festival
Trip Start
Apr 2001
1
6
Trip End
Apr 2001
Kingston, Grenadines/St Vincent
Wednesday, May 16, 2001
As I headed out I noticed that the crowds were building on the streets. People were setting up stands to sell odds and ends, mostly odds. Others were setting up grills to cook food and sell to the crowd. As I walked along I noticed something I hadn't before. I was the only non-native looking person on the entire island! Blonde hair, non-suntanned skin - I stood out like a neon sign. I didn't think anything of it, and continued on my merry way. However, someone else must have thought something of it. He approached me and asked if I wanted a guided tour. He said it might be a good idea for me to be accompanied on my walk. He said for $5 he would point out the sights and look out for me. Instead of turning back upon learning this, I said "OK".
He pointed out the hospital, so to speak. He took me by the Kentucky Fried Chicken. They are real proud of that. Apparently there was a McDonalds here at one time, but the islanders don't eat red meat and it closed. I guess that explains the cows walking around without a care in the world.
We ended up in the dock area where there was a lot of activity going on. He explained the fishermen had just returned with their catches for the fishing contest. He excitedly took me over to the largest group of men and I saw what they were all watching and nearly passed out. They were cutting up the fish and weighing the results. I think I turned green and ran out of the crowd. I ended up right in front of a man with a bullhorn speaking. He was literally standing on a soapbox talking saying things such as "we wont' stand for this" "They can't do this anymore" "We will put a stop to .....". I was still reeling from the fish guts so the specifics of the soapbox speaker didn't sink in until later.
