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At church again…

I’m drawing a quick sketch of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Devine in St. John’s, Antigua. Quick because the wall behind me was almost as hot as the sun and the humidity was up there, too.  Thanks to Charlie for the photo and waiting in the hot sun. The church was closed for repairs so we could not get inside. It was beautiful on the outside. I hope, but doubt, it will be repaired any time soon.

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Best steak in the world

Wow. I went to El Gaucho Restaurant in Aruba for lunch. It features Argentinean steaks. I had the the 22 oz t-bone. It was unbelievable.  Each bite was better than the last, and I finished the whole thing.

El Gaucho is located at  80 Wilhelminastreet, Oranjestad, Aruba. It’s been around since 1977. [http://www.elgaucho-aruba.com/index.html]

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Hanging out in Grenada

I’m in the capital city, St. George’s. No drawing, just eating today. I have painted here in the past (see my Caribbean portfolio). I’m standing in front of “the tunnel.” It’s the quickest way to get the other side of the fortress hill, but it will test you…. it is a one-way, narrow car tunnel. Walking with one’s body as close to the wall as possible is suggested. Mindless tourists are targets for drivers… really! I’ve seen cars deliberately swerve towards people walking too far from the wall.  Below is the reward, the Ocean Grille, a Caribbean-style cafe. It has an unpretentious, weird, funky vibe. If you visit Grenada on a cruise ship, I recommend a walk through the tunnel to the Ocean Grille.

About to enter "the tunnel"
Panorama of the Ocena Grill restaurant
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Painting in St. Lucia

I decided to paint the Church of the Immaculate Conception (see last post). It could use a little cleaning, but it’s exterior belies its beautiful interior. The fun part about painting in a city is that you meet all sorts of people. They range from interesting to “interesting”. This little boy was with his two pals, heading home from school. Schools were getting out and there were tons of kids from 7 to 17 all over downtown. There was a town square about one block behind me. It was fun and festive. A guy was playing a bongo. People were dancing, talking, laughing. There were four cruise ships in port – a bounty for the local economy for sure.

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I’m in St. Lucia – In Church!

This is the interior of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Online reviews of the church ran from “great” to “so-so”. I thought the interior was beautiful; rich browns and blues, frescos, lots of red votive candles near the altar, and light from windows above. My photo does not do it justice (hey, I’m a painter not a photographer, my camera is my phone).

I suggest a vist if you get to Castries, St. Lucia. Don’t be put off by the neighborhood or the people. It is a poor place, but everyone I met was very friendly.