Notes for Visitors
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Shopping
Castara shops provide basic daily necessities. However,
if you are not too tired from your flight, it may be an idea
to stop at the supermarket near the airport and one of the
roadside greengrocers in the Crown Point area of the island
before heading up to Castara, since there will be wider
choice. If Porridge has picked you up he will know exactly
where to go. It is not a bad idea anyway to stock up on
heavier items such as Carib or Stag beers, or wine, if you
want it. Porridge will carry them up the hill when you
arrive at Castara Retreats. During national holidays
(Christmas, New year, Carnival etc) it is wise to stock up
in advance as many places close or run out of things. You
may also find that any of the little shops in the village
choose to close for a day for no discernible reason.
Scarborough is the place to go for such things as camera
batteries, clothes, etc. and there will always be the day
when there is no butter or pineapple in the village and you
are feeling quite desperate for some cornflakes or whatever,
though they usually sell all of these things in the village.
We have discovered over time that the best way of proceeding
is to ask locals where to buy things. People can appear a
little reserved, but this is usually shyness, and they are
invariably helpful. The following are a few of the key
shops:
-
Max and Hazel’s supermarket (just behind the
fishermen’s cooperative, and confusingly called L & H))
stocks a surprisingly wide range of goods given how
small it is. If you don’t see what you need, ask Max -
it may be hidden round the back, or he may be expecting
a delivery that afternoon. He is the only person in the
village happy to change US dollar travellers’ cheques
provided he has enough cash in his till.
-
DJ’s at the junction has a supply of fruit and
vegetables- sometimes a wide selection, sometimes not!
He also sells phone cards.
-
Shona’s, a small shop on the main road up the hill 50 yards from DJ, bakes bread daily, often in the afternoon- check with her. She also does take away rotis at lunch time and main meal takeaways in the early evening - do ask in the morning if she is cooking later in the day, or request her to cook.
-
The women of the village also bake fresh bread and
yummy coconut turnovers on Thursdays and Saturdays in
the communal wood-fired clay oven, at the back of the
school near the beach. They are ready for sale from 11
am or so. Worth a visit even if you don’t buy anything!
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