Tuesday, 21st January
Anse Chastanet
After breakfast the first event we had signed up for, for today, was a lecture on how Anse Chastanet makes its own chocolate, supplemented by a tasting of about four of their chocolates. Like the rum tasting the lecture was given by a member of staff (Daniel), and again for an 'ordinary' member of staff he was extraordinary. Knowledgeable, fluent, and with just the right degree of humour. The chocolate is made exclusively from cacao pods grown on the estate owned by the hotel, and for the time being the finished products are only available at the hotel. (We had been given a couple of bars by Peter at the end of the orientation tour, so knew already how good the chocolate was.)
By coincidence we had met Daniel at breakfast earlier in the day when Jo asked about a particular type of bread. (Casava bread). So it was a bit of a surprise to find Daniel giving the chocolate lecture. But all became clear when someone asked Daniel how he came to be working in the 'Chocolate Lab'. He said he used to work in the bakery, and that required starting work at 5:00 am in a hot bakery (since the 'base' temperature here is about 24C I hate to think what it must be like in the bakery!) At the beginning of Covid in 2020 he was asked if he would like to work making chocolates. The moment he walked into the air-conditioned chocolate lab, he said his decision was made. (As a side note, the hotel remained open during Covid with a 99% occupancy rate. Each room has its own front door, making it ideal for keeping one's distance.) The hotel boasts a normal occupancy rate of 95%.
Walking down to the chocolate demonstration I realised that my trusty trainers were falling apart, literally, and that tackling the steps at the hotel could end up with me 'taking a tumble' - something to be avoided on holiday! So after the chocolate tasting it was off to the boutique where I bought some 'beach shoes'; these are very awkward to put on, but once past that hurdle are reasonably comfortable (for walking along the beach, anyway). I don't feel too bad about the trainers; I think they were about twenty five years old!
The new beach shoes had their inaugural trip along beach and track to Anse Mamin. Jo enjoyed some reading before lunch, but rain arrived just about lunchtime, shattering our previous observations about early morning and late afternoon showers. This was torrential; I felt very sorry for the bar staff, rushing between the bar and tables in the pouring rain. (The tables were under large gazebos.) I struck out on a limb and had a beef burger, possibly the first time in fifty years. Anyway, it was a revelation, but I don't expect to eat another in the next fifty years, unless it's here! Salad for Jo. I ordered a pina colada and somehow ended up with two. One being delivered to our table under the gazebo and the other to our thatched 'sunshade'.
The second event we had planned for today was an art class for Jo. After lunch, and after the rain had stopped, we walked back from Anse Mamin to our room. Jo went off to her art class whilst I lazed around and had a thorough shower to get rid of the morning's sunscreen. (I hate sunscreen with a vengeance - but know better than most how essential it is.) Feeling refreshed, I went to meet Jo from her art class. The art class was working on 'Caribbean time' so had only just started! I declined the tutor's invitation to join in, and just watched. (The tutor is Naja Misaki Simeon, also known as Sakey)
On Tuesday a cocktail party is held in the Beach restaurant followed by a buffet on the beach and in the restaurant. Thanks to the late running art class we missed the cocktail party, but luckily not the buffet (and the cocktails are always available anyway!) We had the choice but decided not to have a table on the beach fearing it might rain again (it didn't), but got a table in prime position for helping ourselves to desert. By chance we found ourselves next to one of Jo's art 'classmates', Steve, and his wife (not the lady in the art class photo). They had retired from Manchester to Devon a few years ago (but were only about 2 when man landed on the moon!!). Conversation wasn't helped thanks to a steel band playing in the distance, but that didn't hamper us too much, and we had a very pleasant evening.
