nevis

I spent a few weeks in Nevis earlier this summer, and it was an incredibly unforgettable experience. I was a Nevis newbie, and not quite sure what to expect, but I was blown away with the island for numerous reasons. Their motto or slogan is "Nevis, Naturally…", which pretty much says it all. The island's topography and foliage is stunning---rolling mini-hills, skyscraper palm trees, bright coral flowers, and at the center of the island, the Nevis Peak, which is a semi/perhaps active volcano. Plus, there are beaches. Win win!

Apparently Columbus passed by Nevis and thought the fog around the volcanic peak was snow, so he called it "Our Lady of the Snows"or "Nuestra Señora de las Nieves". And to Columbus' credit, the foggy volcano really does resemble a snow-capped mountain. My mother and I had such a memorable time exploring the island and discovering all it had to offer. We wandered downtown, went to the Alexander Hamilton museum, shopped for produce at the local market, read OK magazines at a British expat cafe, and so on. The people there were so kind, both expats and locals, and they had this extreme pride for their island, which was beautiful to see. 

There are several gorgeous boutique hotels on the island, like The Hermitage, Montpelier, Nisbet Plantation, Golden Rock, etc. Montpelier and Golden Rock still feature the traditional sugar mills on their property, which seems like such a sincere homage to their Nevisian roots, and I think it's beautiful for present day tourists and locals to experience. Several pictures above are of the Montpelier pool and the view around the pool area. Following church (at a local church with breathtaking views) we ate Sunday lunch (twice) at the Hermitage because it was that good. Most notable was the pumpkin soup with hints of curry followed by a mango chicken pasta. Sigh.

This trip fell right before I officially graduated from my masters program, and it was such a refreshing and much needed break from reality. I cannot wait to go back with Brad and show him this beautiful treasure of an island. Nevis, Naturally...