We Made It To Saint Thomas!!
Raymi and I are feeling very grateful to have made it out of Minnesota ahead of the Polar Vortex. Our connecting flight was in Atlanta and just a few hours after we were cleared for takeoff in Atlanta the FAA cancelled 1,500 flights due to the horrible winter weather.
This is our fourth year back to St. Thomas and St. John’s. Each visit we’re blown away by the laid-back vibe and natural beauty of the white sand beaches and the turquoise water. Everything happens at its own pace here and nothing is guaranteed. Internet, cellular service, and even electricity can go out in a moments notice. This forces you to relinquish whatever control you think you might have in life, be more flexible, patient, and go with the flow.
We also get to know the local culture on a deeper level every year. A lot of the people who live here fulltime seem to realize they may not have all of the modern amenities but they have a wealth of things that matter. Who needs internet when they’re surrounded by this beauty? We’re now three days into our trip and have visited Sapphire and Lindquist Beaches and we were one of only a handful of people on both beaches. It was pretty much just us and the doves today on Lindquist.
Last year there was still quite a bit of rebuilding going on after the devastating one-two punches of hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017. This year things are almost back to normal but many of the small business didn’t survive the equally devastating 18-24 month lull in tourism. A few of our favorite haunts are gone.
Two nights ago we took the sky lift up to Paradise Point to watch the sunset over Frenchman’s Bay. The transition was beyond breathtaking.
No trip is complete without a trip to Duffy’s Love Shack, our favorite tiki bar on the island (which is basically a shack in a parking lot). We had a painkiller in honor of our friend @dougkarr who tried his first Duffy’s painkiller last year. Memories of the good times we all had there came flooding back.
On the island, if you’re eating outside and feel like something’s watching you it’s not paranoia but probably just a chicken. They run loose everywhere. The roosters begin crowing between three and four AM in the morning, I feel sorry for light sleepers.
That’s all for now. In the next few days we plan on a trip to Water Island and St. John’s which we’ll share the details of...IF we have Wifi!
Have a fabulous weekend!
Eric
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Very cool! I haven't been to St. Thomas in decades... Making me jealous, but it did hit 80 degrees here the other day, so I'm still better than Minnesota, eh?
It's likely changed a lot since you've been there. It was almost completely devastated by the two hurricanes in 2017 but it's bouncing back nicely. We flew in last night to 15 degrees and ice covering everything. It's not much better this morning. I feel so lucky to have been able to get away though. I'm recharged and ready to get stuff done. : )
I actually was looking at the quality of these pictures and I'm totally blown away by your topnotch ability to be descriptive by all means wow, what a sight!!! More than amazing st. Thomas
Thanks, @josediccus! This island is so inspirational it's easy to be descriptive.
An excellent review of your trip and your photos showed me these amazing places in full beauty. You are right, after the winter frosts, it is one delight to plunge into this tropical paradise and admire the fantastic sunset a lot, well done! Thank you Eric
Lucky you to have escaped the cold! This looks like paradise. Love the sunset pics especially. Enjoy the island life!!! :)
Thank you, Katrina! It was such a nice break. We feel recharged now and ready to take on 2019. : )
wow great, beautiful pictures my dear friend.
I love this
Glad you enjoyed them!
Your post superstition gave me an idea of how to handle my writing, maybe I'm not as good as you are, but I'll try!
Cool, I'm glad it sparked an idea! All it takes is practice. Writing fiction is so easy to fall in love with once you start. The more of it you write, the more you learn to "color outside of the lines", that's where the magic is.
Awesome to enjoy that have fun time there enjoyyyy
Beautiful place. Sunset and night view pics of the place are very beautiful .
Howdy sir ericvancewalton! amazing shots and fun commentary, glad you made it out of the frigid weather in time!
Thanks @janton!
Oh wow, it looks absolutely iddylic Eric, and those photos of the setting sun is just amazing, enjoy the vacation captain Morgan and the warmth too ;)
Ahoy matey (in my best pirate voice)! : ) It was one of the most memorable sunsets I've ever seen. Those last two minutes you could actually see it set behind the ocean. Thanks!
Man, that looks amazing <3 I envy you. Have a great time!
We feel so grateful to be here right now. Thank you @honeydue!