A NEW ISLAND TO EXPLORE

January 27, 2016

Today we went ashore for the first time on St. Croix, one of the U. S. Virgin Islands, and it quickly moved up the list of our favorites.  We walked a grid of 4 streets by 5 streets and covered lots of history, saw great things, and were out working on our farmers’ tans for about two hours.

First stop was Fort Frederick (we were docked in Fredricksted – there is one other major city on the island, Christiansted).  The earliest part of the Fort was erected in 1760, and I hope they are putting our admission fee to its upkeep, because it is a nice stop and the museum exhibits they have are not your run of the mill stuff.  There was one section of sea glass, one of sea shells, one of local lore – things like stilt walkers.  Climbing the steps to the top afforded great views.  And the lady who took our money told us to go to the top first, because we would be too tired to go up if we explored on the ground first.  The nerve!

We always look for old churches and were not disappointed.  St. Patrick’s was only a couple blocks away, and a beautiful building.  For the first time on this cruise, we found candles to light and say a prayer, and I lit one, and said a prayer for all the readers of this blog.

Our next stop, Apothecary Hill, was not where our map said it would be, and by that time, we had been out an hour, and time to head back. 

We stopped in a local grocery store to get a Coke and a Mountain Dew.  While we waited to pay, a local was sorting through dried tobacco leaves, chose several, paid and left.  I asked the proprietor if his customer was going to make cigars.  He laughed and said, “No.  He is going to burn the tobacco, having selected the darkest and thickest leaves, and then mix it with marijuana.  Some people believe it makes a better high that way.”  I asked if marijuana was legal on St. Croix, and he said, definitely not, but they always find a way.  And if you only buy for your own needs, the police usually don’t bother you.  So put that in your bong and smoke it.

We walked back along the shore and hunted sea shells.  Bonnie picked up a couple of small ones for her collection.  We were careful to be sure they were not inhabited, because we didn’t want to bring any critters on board.  I took some photographs of the beautiful blue water and the bright clear sky.

Back on board we had lunch and then stood on Deck 3 watching the stragglers come back for all aboard – 3:30 p.m.  The last of the stragglers were back on by 3:45.  We heard a member of the crew say there was still one out, but the gangway came up, the ropes were cast off, and we were on our way to San Juan.

Entertainment tonight was slim (and none had left town).  Usually the last night they put on a great show, but there were only a couple of comedians, and most of the acts are rated R.  We went to the PG-13 act at 8 p.m. for a couple laughs (and not many than that).  We got a couple of glasses of ice and came back to Stateroom 1111 to blog and prepare for shut-eye.

Tomorrow San Juan.  Until then.

TTFN!