Pattern now seems to be to wake early circa 5.00am and ascertain where we are in relation to land or the next port of call. This morning we docked in Charlotte Almera the main town of St Thomas around 6.00am. Ann went off shopping downtown searching for some earrings using the local stone, Larimar.
I opted to stay around the harbour but there are only so many diamond shops you can go into! Believe it or not I have been diamonded? out! With jewellery starting circa $2,000 I have stopped viewing having been in circa 40 stores so far! I looked for the tram skyway but was too late in finding it to be able to ascend and return in time for out booked trip to the Island of St John’s.
Currency here is of course the US$ and apparently I should have taken my passport as well as my cruise identification with me? Customs Officer suggested they might just have to keep me as I had no photo identification. One look at my nonplussed face and they decided no they obviously couldn’t cope with a blue haired old biddy!!!!
With large raindrops spattering down in temps of 82F, we set of on a small ship with approx 100 passengers to the island of St John’s with a population of 5,000. No hospital or medical care available and only a primary school. Secondary kids have to travel daily by boat to the school on St Thomas, about 2 hours 30 mins round trip….this is the hurricane season starting June to November.
As I write this, (Monday evening 9.00pm) the wind is whistling round the ship and we are “shoogling” a little in the high winds!
As I write this, (Monday evening 9.00pm) the wind is whistling round the ship and we are “shoogling” a little in the high winds!
The trip to St John’s was most pleasant and relaxing and we docked in the harbour of the Virgin Islands National Park. I must add that we had anticipated possible rain so were well prepared with our highly fashionable rain ponchos purchased the previous day in San Juan, Puerto Rico!
Caribbean time is as laid back as lots of other places in the world, mañaña, mañaña, mañaña……..Eventually we boarded a totally different open bus as they somehow hadn’t managed to work out they had 46 passengers and only 2 twenty seater buses! This worked to our advantage although his mike and speaker didn’t work and he had to had out to speak to us every time we stopped!
The roads on the island were in good condition but……….a bit like single track roads, the main difference being, no passing places BUT people overtake all the time anyway regardless of whether they can see or not!!!!
In the mangrove areas you can see the enormous termite nests and the smell is pretty overpowering.
Interestingly the vehicle was left hand drive (US) but they still drove on the left side…….. a leftover from British ownership of the islands! It made for many interesting corners.
This is a beautiful island covered in rainforest and totally dominated by mossies! For every one I killed on my person it had managed to suck up lots of red stuff very quickly. I started to pop up blisters like a “blister pack”! Itching is not pleasant in the warm 100% humidity. Still the open bus with the wind and the driving as we screamed up and down and on two wheels round corners, distracted me somewhat!
There are lots of beautiful beaches and that of course is where the majority of passengers on the cruise had opted to go……..we did notice as we passed all that folks were dowsing themselves in bugstuff!
Each corner revealed another gorgeous vista more breathtaking than the previous! It is hard to choose photographs to show the island at its best ….all seem very inadequate.
Each corner revealed another gorgeous vista more breathtaking than the previous! It is hard to choose photographs to show the island at its best ….all seem very inadequate.
Conservation of the reefs are highlighted here however, as in all the West Indian islands visited so far, basis conservation principles and everyday eco practices are not yet accepted as the norm, plastic bottles and bags are deposited everywhere!
It is fascinating to see the colour in everything especially for such a “black and white “ person as moi?
The bright colours contrast incredibly with the deep blue sky, the very dark green of the forest and the incredible turquoises of the sea. Humour is everywhere and life is indeed lived here with “fun” and laughter a key part of it.
This is the place to come for a laid back relaxing beach type holiday (…if mossies don’t bother you)!
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