A Shade of Blues

17/08/2024

Unfortunately nature has destroyed our walkway into Port Elizabeth. It is now out of action. 🥲 The cliff-side route over to Lower Bay is still good.
Hoping our local water taxi operators can organise to provide an efficient and reliable water taxi service between the functioning jetties - bookable via WhatsApp 😀.
Just a bit more pollution compared to walking from their engines...and a wish for slow speeds around the swimming and snorkelling areas 🙏

09/08/2024

New airline routes from the USA coming next season 😃

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines says visitors continue to discover the destination despite the impact of Hurricane Beryl on the southern part of the island’s archipelago. Following the passage of the Category 4 hurricane on July 1, which caused severe disruption to parts of the island chain, tour...

31/07/2024

This is how it is in our Grenadines....many still homeless and without money to rebuild after nature punished their daily existence. Hurricane Beryl took control and destroyed homes they have worked hard for...
https://reliefweb.int/report/saint-vincent-and-grenadines/st-vincent-and-grenadines-operational-strategy-federation-wide-national-society-response-plan-mdrs2001-hurricane-beryl-emergency-appeal
You may know my husband spends hours of his time as a volunteer manager of a charity - Action Bequia. This charity has a tax advantageous method for UK residents of processing donations to help these strong, but desperate people. Action Bequia are transferring funds to the local hard working volunteer community groups who have no administrative costs, just hard working people whose mission is to help those in need in their special community.

If you are in a position to make a donation, big or small, to help peoples of our world recover from a hurricane - it will be appreciated 🙏

11/07/2024

On 1st July, 2024, Hurricane Beryl was the first Category 4 hurricane to ever hit Bequia. And so early - the second named storm of the 2024 season!
It was very scary to those experiencing its winds.😱

The SVG Government and the media provided much advance warning and advice to prepare, but it nevertheless left much damage to properties on our island: destroying some homes, removing many roofs, felling many trees and telegraph poles that held the cables needed for electricity and Internet, wrecking boats and walkways across the sea. Thankfully, A Shade of Blues house and roof was not damaged - a big mahogany tree did break damaging fencing, decking and balustrades on the dancing deck - easily repaired. And yes, for future safety that mahogany tree will - sadly - have to go 😢.

Bequia is a strong community and residents make great efforts to help each other.... Already the electricity has been restored in many areas (yes, at Princess Margaret) and our hospitality businesses are up and running again, albeit some without their roofs and decks 🙃.

Donations of help are being received and distributed to local organisations who already have experience managing the needs of the people who are displaced and suffering from a natural disaster - remember La Soufriere volcano erupted recently, also making many in the country homeless?

Some local Pages that keep folk well informed:
Lite FM: https://www.facebook.com/litefmbequia/
Radio Grenadines: https://www.facebook.com/radiogrenadines
OneNewsSVG: https://www.facebook.com/Onenewssvg
Bequia What's On: https://www.facebook.com/groups/122198531593669

If you love Bequia and are in a position to help the people of these islands that have lost so much, these are two organisations where you can be assured your monies will go directly to those with a need - no salaries, all volunteer based:
Grenadines Initiative: https://grenadinesinitiative.ca/
Action Bequia: https://www.actionbequia.org/

If you are in the UK, Kestral is providing low cost shipping for aid items:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/277315040228829/user/100063817562738/?locale=en_GB
https://fb.watch/tgExY5Ae3g/
The SVG Government are providing import concessions on many essential goods - see the list on the US Consulate poster. Duty concessions for barrels has been extended until December 31:
https://www.stvincenttimes.com/svg-government-duty-free-barrels-hurricane-beryl/

Bequia will recover!

So come visit. The amazing people who live there will appreciate your business to help buy that next material needed to repair and restore their properties. (Insurance is so expensive that very few has any.)

03/06/2024

We also have a great massage therapist in our neighbourhood 💆💆💆😊

Double advertisement here/ you now know where to find 'Sunny Spa' and a competent sign painter🤗😌

05/04/2024

Keeping traditions alive. Keeping music live... 👏👏👏

08/03/2024

One special icon of our life just visited - on a day trip from the serene and manicured Mustique 😊

26/02/2024

If you wish to discover the other islands.
A well researched article with interesting background information.. . Can read without subscribing, but must tolerate The Ads!

From volcanic peaks to coral-fringed shores, hopping between the Caribbean islands of St Vincent & the Grenadines is blissfully easy.

19/02/2024

Bequia has recently had extensive entertainment from foreigners on stage...next weekend we have our local talent to enjoy 🙂

07/02/2024

WHAT WE DO OVER MORNING COFFEE:
Discover the wonderful life stories of our World's entrepreneurs! Just a couple from recent Princess Margaret anchorages:

KOKOMO: Owned by a property developer. Unfortunately the owner of this 74.3 metre tall mast passed in January this year: (MIRABELLA V is currently the largest single masted yacht. KORU, a triple master commissioned by Jeff Bezos', has the tallest masts in the World.)
https://www.boatinternational.com/luxury-yacht-life/owners-experiences/on-board-with-lang-walker-owner-of-the-kokomo-yacht-series.

ROCK IT: Once owned (sold in June 2023) by a failed at academia sandwich shop owner:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_John_Liautaud
https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-46839/rockit.htm

02/02/2024

Bequia is hosting a splendid tall ship today, the last survivor of her kind, the Brigadine Florette. The owner's mission is also very special.
https://www.svflorette.com/en/

About:
Under the company name "Historical Tallship Sailing Ltd", we, the Haynes family, operate and maintain the 100 year old wooden Brigantine Florette. She is the last of her kind, and we offer tour operators, organisations, groups, families and individual sailors a unique opportunity to discover the sea, the land and the people as well as their cultures. We offer and promote environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism. By sailing together, we also support the preservation of our valuable maritime tradition. You can come onboard as voyage crew and actively participate in sailing and onboard life; all in a family atmosphere. We have also supported expeditions and environmental research on climate change and ocean pollution for two generations. With the trademark ECOSHIP and the associated interesting projects such as cargo under sail, with our own coffee brand "VELA VELA", we maintain our values and maritime tradition.

05/01/2024

Bequia is in mourning. A tragic accident has took the life of one of the community's most respected, influential, full of life personalities, as well as 3 other young human beings visiting the island from the USA. We feel for the family members who have lost loved ones. A very, very sad start to 2024.

The local Lite FM Bequia radio station provided live media coverage via Facebook - including the exceptional prompt reaction from the Paget Farm fishing community and especially the divers who immediately responded into action launching their boats without waiting for the government rescue services. With their local knowledge of the waters as well as their tenacity and bravery, the bodies have been recovered from depths of the ocean.

We selected Bequia for our winter home because we appreciated, respected and enjoyed the personalities and behaviours of the local population. This small island has a strong sense of community and folk take care of each other. Yesterday's action by the Paget Farm fishermen's community was exceptionally worthy.

RIP Bob. You will never be forgotten and the Belmont Walkway will never be the same.

More information on the Lite FM page or local media websites:
https://www.iwnsvg.com/2024/01/05/police-give-fishermen-full-credit-for-recovering-plane-crash-victims-bodies/

24/12/2023

Congratulations and a Thank You to all the people who made the Christmas lights so special this year. Truly special.

Grenadine island of Bequia wins overall best illuminated community competition The Grenadine island of Bequia has won th

03/12/2023

Do you see A Shade of Blues?
The first beach is Lower Bay, the second Princess Margaret, then around the cliff to Belmont Walkway, De Harbour / Port Elizabeth and on the other side, Hamilton and Ocar. St Vincent in the background.

Photographs taken by the 73, soon to be 74 year old owner 🙂 on Saturday December 2nd, 2023 after a tough hike / hill climb 👫 Bequia keeps you fit!

For anyone who would like to do this, or any other adventure hikes on Bequia, contact:
“Bushman” (Brent Gooding) 495-2524

24/11/2023

Some of the most exclusive cruise ships visit Bequia. Today we hosted Windstar Cruises Star Pride and Evrima, from the Ritz-Carlton collection.
https://www.cruiseline.co.uk/cruise-lines/ritz-carlton-yacht-collection/evrima/
www.windstarcruises.com/ships/star-pride/
The season is upon us! 😊

19/11/2023

There's plenty boats at anchor, more than normal at this time of year - sign of a busy season for Bequia which helps residents of this special island feel good 😊.

08/10/2023

Sil is prettying up our neighbourhood 🙂. Lovely local art.

27/09/2023

🥰 Sil is a wonderful human being 🥰

02/06/2023

Another choice for inter island flights and an extra from the UK. "Build an international airport and they will come". More flights from the US and Canada too next season.

Virgin Atlantic has announced the introduction of inter-island flights from Barbados to Grenada and St Vincent, beginning June 14. The service will be operated using the airline’s flagship A330-300, a release from Virgin Atlantic said. Initially, flights will operate between the islands twice a we...

14/05/2023

Thinking of a yacht charter? One local option... Ask Canyon.

21/03/2023

Such a joy to get up in the morning and see what is gracing our waters. The World's largest have come to Bequia this season. These last few weeks, photographed from A Shade of Blues, Bequia has welcomed:

The World's Largest Ketch: AQUIJO: 86 m.
https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/inside-86m-aquijo-the-largest-ketch-in-the-world--32163

The World's Largest Private Sailing Yacht: 106 m. BLACK PEARL. Jeff Bezos modelled his new boat after this one.
https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/editorial-features/iconic-yacht-black-pearl

Commercial Cruise Sailing Yachts:
SEA CLOUD 110 m / Sea Cloud II 117 m / Royal Clipper 135 m.
https://www.seacloud.com/en/sea-cloud/
https://starclippers.co.uk/

A beautiful ketch built in Cornwall REBECCA 🙂 https://www.pendennis.com/case-studies/rebecca

And some impressive others:
CHRONOS: https://www.sailing-classics.com/en/our-sailing-yachts/sailing-yacht-chronos/
ALMYRA II: https://www.boatinternational.com/luxury-yacht-life/owners-experiences/ilia-rigas-yacht
ADIX: https://www.pendennis.com/case-studies/adix
MARIE: https://classicyacht.org/boats/marie
MORGENSTER: https://sailtraininginternational.org/vessel/morgenster/
SORLANDET: https://sailtraininginternational.org/vessel/sorlandet/
STAD AMSTERDAM:
https://www.facebook.com/StadAmsterdam/

Cruise ships a plenty this season too!

01/03/2023

Short notice for destination weddings is now available in the Grenadines. Minister of Tourism Carlos James stated on February 27 that the government has published the Marriage Delegation of Powers Notice 2022, which is now in effect and essentially will allow for the facilitation of obtaining a marr...

27/02/2023

What a beautiful environment for a karate club! Bequia nice.

22/02/2023

Looking forward to seeing an old timer still going strong on Saturday 🎶🎵🎶

20/02/2023

Guppy (and the classic style yacht Havorn, superyacht Planet Nine, the Sailing Cruise classic Sea Cloud II, ++) are visiting Bequia just now.
This is a must read story!

https://www.sail-world.com/news/247734/New-member-of-Caribbean-Sail-Training

Laura Dekker World Sailing Foundation: https://lauradekkerworldsailingfoundation.com

09/02/2023

Another successful Music Festival - especially for soca, jazz and hip hop lovers. This part time resident missed The Good 'Ol Days of seriously good Rhythm and Blues. Hey Ho - As time goes by, life changes. Mustique Blues Festival still keeping the Blues vibes alive: https://basilsbar.com/whats-on/ #:~:text=The%20dates%20for%20the%2028th,January%2025th%20%E2%80%93%20February%208th%202023.

Attendees of the Bequia Mount Gay Music Fest 2023 are begging for the return of the Big Band Solid out of Grenada next year, following an outstanding performance last Saturday at De Reef for ‘Fete Nite’.

07/02/2023

For our guests' information - Jack's has updated their opening hours. Live music is back on Tuesday nights for Jammin' Tuesdays 🙂

See Jack's page for menus and for takeaway, call 529 4692. 'Security' will deliver to the top of their steps.

𝐍𝖾ω 𝐎ρ𝖾𐓣𝗂𐓣𝗀 𝐇ⱺυ𝗋𝗌 💫

30/01/2023

Our current guests have been looking for this information as it does affect the peaceful enjoyment of Princess Margaret. Suggest plan a day Friendship side if you prefer our usual peaceful surroundings at 'our' beach. Cruise ships are valued for the important revenue they create for public services in SVG as well as provide some income for Bequia residents. Let's expect to Share our beautiful environment with others from time to time. It's still quiet at A Shade of Blues on cruise ship days 🙂
https://www.cruisetimetables.com/bequia-grenadines-cruise-ship-schedule.html

15/01/2023

Appreciation to divers who made a contribution to the local coral restoration project. 🙂

25/12/2022

Christmas activities in the Grenadines.
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!