Unplugging on Vacation - Exploring Bequia: A Culinary and Cultural Journey to a Hidden Gem in the Grenadines

Princess Margaret Beach

Traveling to a remote island offers a unique chance to experience places where time seems to slow down and local traditions thrive. Bequia, a small island in the Grenadines, is one such destination. Known for it's stunning, quiet beches, friendly locals and rich culture. Some places don't just change your scenery - they change your pace. This beautiful Caribbean island reminded me what it feels like to truly relax. From the moment I arrived I felt myself settling into a gentler rhythm. Unplugging on vacation - what a concept! I tend to be an Energizer Bunny rarely sitting still for long. Here slowing down felt completely natural, what a gift! On this trip with me were my daughters, son-in-law, grandson and my husband.

In this post I'll take you on a journey through Bequia's vibrant culture and delicios food, It starts with a trip to the island of Saint Vincent (SVD), where we caught a taxi to the ferry terminal and boarded the ferry for Bequia. A short 40 minute ride, all the while enjoying the Brown Booby, an open-ocean seabird, riding the current and diving for fish alongside the boat. Once arriving at Port Elizabeth on Bequia we quickly grabbed our bags and found a typical island taxi for the ride to our villa. A typical island taxi is a pickup truck with bench seats along the sides of the bed with a canvas cover to protect its passengers from the sun or rain. That would never fly in the states but on this island it's perfectly acceptable. And FUN!

Island taxi

Bequia, is a small island between Saint Vincent and Grenada yet it remains relatively untouched by mass tourism. No high rises, no major highways, no commercialized all-inclusive resorts and only one gas station for the entire island. This creates a peaceful atmosphere where nature and culture blend seamlessly. We arrived at our villa and began to settle into island life. Beautiful views, waves crashing against the dark volcanic cliffs, the sound of the bananaquit, a sweet island bird, and of course turquoise water as far as we could see. Our first villa offered all of this yet fell short in a few ways - not conducive to a restful time. Insufficient air-conditioning, stopped up plumbing and a dishwasher that did not work led my daughter to find another villa for us to move to.

Seacliff Villa

As we began to explore the island we also discovered that with a view like the one you see above comes a longer taxi ride to any beach, into town for milk and eggs, or to find a place to grab a bite to eat. Once we moved closer to town and across from Princess Margaret Beach we discovered colorful Caribbean style houses, small fishing boats bobbing in the harbor, markets filled with fresh produce and found how friendly and hospitable the locals are. Our place was named Flamingo Villa and is located across from Jack's Beach Bar, a popular spot for locals as well as those arriving by dingy from the beautiful sailboats anchored in the harbor.

Flamingo Villa

I must admit I was so happy to discover a villa that was orange thru and thru. If you know me you know orange is my favorite color and Flamingo Villa did not disappoint. Most everything was some shade of orange with colorful accents of lime green and shades of the turquoise sea. From here we could walk the Belmont Pathway to a variety of cafes and open water views. Princess Margaret Beach was down a short path or we could head down to Jack's Beach Bar where we were always met with friendly greetings and staff who called me by name!

Jack's Beach Bar

For the most part our days were wonderfully uncomplicated. We were perfectly content to spend our days at either the beach or the pool at our villa. There's something refreshing about not feeling the need to constantly be doing or seeing more. In keeping with the gentler rhythm I found myself relishing, I booked a Reiki session as well as a massage with Dani at Sunny Spa. Maybe it was the fresh salt air, but her massage was the absoute best I have ever experienced. I highly recommend her if you visit. As relaxed as I already was, my Reiki session took it to another level. I walked out feeling so ridiculously calm that I hardly recognized myself. That kind of stillness was a rare and wonderful gift.

Another rare and wonderful gift was Chef Patrick Hepburn. One of the true highlights of our trip was hiring a private chef to prepare several of our meals. Chef Patrick made each meal feel like an event rather than just a dinner or breakfast. As someone who loves to cook, I have a deep appreciation for the people who make it look effortless. Watching Chef Patrick create beautiful dishes with fresh Caribbean ingredients allowed me to simply sit back, savor every bite, and enjoiy the experience from a completely different perspective. It reminded me that food has a wonderful way of bringing people together and creating memories that linger long after the last bite. Meeting Patrick and enjoying his absolutely delicious meals was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Here's a link to his website. https://mykookshop.net

Chef Patrick Hepburn

He arrived each time with a bag of food for our meal and a big smile. His presence was always welcome and when I asked him to prepare and serve a 4 pound hunk of fresh tuna he never batted an eye. At each meal he prepared an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Bacon and eggs with toast and fresh island fruits for breakfast, Jamaican Jerk chicken with pineapple mango chutney,

fresh tuna with capers and lemon, chicken in mushroom sauce, fresh steamed veggies, fish cakes, sorbet, and my fav dessert Coconut Bread Pudding.

Coconut Bread Pudding.

I came home inspired - not just by recipes but by the simplicity, freshness and care that went into every dish. Some of those ideas may just find their way into a future Honey Can Cook class.

Ironically, one of the greatest gifts of the trip wasn't something I had planned at all. A few days into our trip my phone completely failed. It was essentially a brick. I couldn;t open it, take a photo, read a text, check email or even look at the time. For the first few hours, I was frustrated and more than a little panicked.

But as the day unfolded, and the days that followed came and went, something unexpected happend. I stopped reaching for my phone. I stopped wondering what I was missing back home. I wasn't bothered that I could not post on social media. Instead, I became completely present.

I noticed the sound of the waves, I lingered over conversations without interruption. I took in the salt air, the warm sunshine, the scent of tropical flowers, and the incredible meals placed before me. I wasn't viewing the island through a screen or thinking about capturing the next photo - I was simply experiencing it.

Looking back, losing access to my phone may have been the greatest gift of the entire trip. It reminded me that some of life's most meaningful moments aren't the ones we document. They're the ones we fully live.

Sunset Bequia

Thank you to L&E Werbitzky