Junkanoo in Green Turtle Cay

Well - it's rained in the Abacos the last few days, but the sun is back today.  We have been hanging out at Green Turtle Cay since Friday, hoping for a weather window to help sail us back to the States.  Not a bad place to hang - lots of fun stuff happening, lots of fun people to hang with.

Friday and Saturday was the Island Roots Festival.  We enjoyed a fresh conch salad.  The chef had the conch waiting in the lagoon right behind the booth.  He picked one out of the water, rapped on it strongly with a hatchet a few times at the top crown to create a little hole, then pushed a sharp tool through the hole, and stuck his hand into the big opening to pull out the conch.  He chopped the conch very finely, added thinly sliced green pepper, onion, LOTS of sour orange and lime juice - the real stuff squeezed from the citrus - tossed it all together and served in a medium-sized deli cup for $10.  We also had fresh grilled mahi.  YUM!

Saturday night was the Junkanoo Parade.  Kids from all over the Abacos come to participate.  It put us in mind of the July 4th parade in Chelmsford.  Although the costumes were a bit more exotic.  They marched all around the park to the beat of the drums and rhythm of the horns, and the girls had a little choreographed dance.  The theme was the four seasons.  Very fun!

Since we've been hanging around, we rented a golf cart (the preferred method of transport on these islands) and checked out the other resorts on the island, we went for a walk on the beach, we shared happy hour with cruising friends, we learned how to play Dominos, we shared a potluck with other cruisers, we voted in a conch blowing contest, we toasted Greg's birthday with friends and the original "Goombay Smash" at the Blue Bee Bar.

Birthday Celebration!

Cruising Friends - Eric, Pat, Greg, Sharon, Radeen, Hayden

Hoping to be able to head out later this week.  We are waiting for North winds to abate - the last thing we want when crossing the Stream is north winds to steep up the waves when the current is running from the South.  Til then -