Top pics from my time in the Virgin Islands!

Dear World,
I had used Flickr to upload a lot of my favorite pictures from the past few years, and it came to my attention that Flickr can actually sell my photos on merchandise without giving me any notice or compensation. While it is legal, I don't quite feel that it is ethical, so I'm going to dump my pictures into my Blogger account instead. So here's some eye candy of some oldies, but goodies! Enjoy :)

This is a green sea turtle in Turtle Cove, just south of the island of St. Thomas.

This is the Reef Bay Sugar Mill. You can sign up for a hike that goes through the forest and out on the beach by the sugar mill. You then swim to a boat that carries you back to where you started at the Visitor Center. It's an amazing time!

While you're on the Reef Bay hike, you'll stop at an area covered in ancient petroglyphs. These are believed to have been carved by the Taino indians.

Trunk Bay is one of the most popular places in the world for snorkeling. The large hill in the middle is surrounded by reefs where the fish love to hang out. There is also an underwater "trail" with signs giving you information about the sealife.

Another popular spot in St. John is the Annaberg windmill. Even though it is ruins of an old plantation, it's in pretty good shape. When you hike up to see it, you can also see some of the British Virgin Islands from the hilltop.

Speaking of the British Virgin Islands, they claim to have invented the painkiller drink here at the Soggy Dollar Bar, in Jost Van Dyke. It is known as a "sunny place for shady people." Definitely a fun trip. This bar is only accessible by boat, so...that's why your dollars are soggy.

Sunset at Cruz Bay is the best way to end the day.

Duffy's Love Shack is easily the most fun and tacky place to drink on St. Thomas. Do you love robotic sharks that play the Jaws theme and spews fog when you order a fish bowl full of alcohol? Great. You'll love Duffy's.

This is the drink you have to order to make the robot shark go berserk. 

Well that's the first batch of pictures I'm taking away from Flickr. Stay tuned for my next haphazard montage of memories!

Love,

Steph

Summer Adventures

Dear World,
There has been so much going on in my life that I have neglected to write about it! So here's a recap for you:

Recap, part 1. First job is officially over. I worked at a 4H Summer Camp, which was amazing because I met a lot of local kiddos and learned a lot from them about life on the islands. My schedule during the summer camp was terrible, because I had the world's longest commute. Here's pretty much what my schedule was like:
5 AM- wake up, shower, etc
6 AM- take the boat from St. John to St. Thomas.
6:20ish AM- get off the boat. Grab a coffee from Mr. Bill at the ferry bar.
6:30 AM- catch a safari taxi.
Wait, what's a safari taxi?
Good question. It's a pick up truck with seats in the bed, complete with a roof. It's really a bootleg bus. So these safaris follow a certain route around the island, and the good news is they're only a dollar or two, depending on where you're going.
Oh, okay.
7:30ish- get dropped off at the University of the Virgin Islands.
7:50ish- get a ride from campus through the project housing that nobody wants me walking through to get to the camp site.
8:00-3:00 camp.
3:00ish- get a ride back to Red Hook from a really amazingly kind woman who didn't have to give me a ride that far, but did anyway because she's a good Christian.
3:45ish- sit at the ferry bar. Maybe grab a beverage.
4:00- take the ferry home to St. John. Walk to the house. Usually got home around 4:30. Wash dishes, get dinner ready (sometimes). Usually pass out around 8 or 9.
Needless to say, that was a terrible schedule and I likely will not do that again. However, still worth it. I met a lot of great people and learned a lot about the island.

Recap, part 2: 
I'm working at a nice retail store (also on St. Thomas) and was just hired as a governess. I have been feverishly looking for homeschool resources on Pinterest. I'm really excited about this new adventure. The family who hired me seem really nice and on par with what education should be about. (Thank goodness!)

Recap, part 3: 
On the weekends, my husband and I have been taking more boat trip adventures, and last weekend ventured out to Coral Bay, which is on the other side of St. John. So, as usual, here are some pictures from my adventures!

I saw this spotted sting ray in Christmas Cove during one of my snorkeling trips! If you look closely, you can see he's got a passenger.

The famous Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke, BVI. They call it the Soggy Dollar because you have to get there by boat. 

Some entertainment at the Soggy Dollar.

A beautiful sail on one of our trips!

Anyone need shark repellent? Haha, this just makes me think of the corny Adam West Batman! :)

So needless to say, I have been very busy seeing the sights of my new home. I am still enjoying it very much and look forward to sharing more soon.

Until next time,

Steph

Island Festivities!

Dear World,

I have been on St. John for a little over a week. Here's all the cool stuff that's happened to me:

1. I got a job within five days of moving here. Yeah, I'm that good. This was weighing on me pretty heavily so I'm glad to have that out of the way.

2. I got a dive camera! There aren't many places on the islands to get cameras nicer than what there is at Kmart (and I did look there...no waterproofs), so I ventured on down to Yacht Haven to a place called Boolchand's. They have jewelry up front, but in the back there is an array of crazy cameras. Some had GPS and wifi in them, but I have a phone for that. I just wanted one that takes pictures underwater. 

If you happen to be on the island, there is another store called Royal Caribbean that carries cameras as well. Just FYI. 

3. I took pictures underwater! My husband and our friends went on a day sail from Bolongo Bay resort, to St. John's Honeymoon Beach. There were good cookies, adult beverages, lunch, and more adult beverages. It was a grand time. Here are some pictures I took:

Snorkelers setting out to follow our tour guide.

Some beautiful purple fan coral.

Parrot Fish.

I'm not sure what kind of fish this guy is...but he reminds me of the book Rainbow Fish.

4. I got to see a barracuda! When it was almost time to head back to St. Thomas during our boat adventure, the captain pointed out a barracuda to us. Then he began feeding it roast beef slices. We got to see his pointy teeth and everything! Here's my picture, although you can't really make him out very well:

What a beast.

5. I ordered a shark tank full of booze. So, there's a very VERY very touristy bar in Red Hook called Duffy's Love Shack. (Yes, they did play the Love Shack song by the B-52's. I'm sure everyone who works there hates that song.) Anyway, after our boat trip we went there for dinner, where I ordered a shark-themed drink, complete with a giant robotic shark on the wall that comes to life for you while the theme from Jaws plays:

I think it would be scarier to be attacked by a robot shark than a real shark.

64 ounces of blue sugary goodness. The shark has "blood" in his mouth. (It's grenadine.)

6. I tried conch fritters! I like to try daring new things, so for my foodie adventure of the weekend, I tried conch fritters. Conclusion: they taste like hushpuppies. Which I like, so I would totally get them again:

Yes, that is a straight-up wooden plank my food is served on. 

Stay tuned for my next adventure! 

Love,

Steph