ST. JOHN'S ISLAND, AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLAND

WE LEFT EARLY IN THE MORNING, AROUND 7AM, FOR ST. JOHN'S ISLAND, AN AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLAND.  WE GOT UP AROUND 6AM, AND LEFT THE HOTEL IN ST. CROIX, AND WERE OFF TO TAKE THE ANTILLE'S AIR BOAT., WHICH IS AN AIRPLANE THAT LANDS IN THE WATER, AND FLOATS.    AS I REMEMBER THE AIRBOAT HELD AROUND 10 PEOPLE.  IT WAS MADE OF METAL, INSIDE, AND OUR SEAT WAS RIGHT IN BACK OF THE PILOT.  WELL, THE ENTIRE TIME, I SIMPLY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE PILOT.  I WAS SO SCARED.  I SIMPLY LOOKED AT A SMALL RELIGIOUS MAGAZINE, CALLED THE DAILY WORD, WHICH I ALWAYS CARRIED WITH ME. 

THE ANTILLES AIRBOAT SEEMED TO BE FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO WORK, AND THEY WERE USED TO THIS!

J KEPT REASSURING ME , THAT IF THE PLANE WENT DOWN, IT WOULD SIMPLY LAND IN THE WATER, WHICH IT WAS MADE FOR. 

THAT DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL ANY BETTER.

SO, THE ANTILLES AIR BOAT FINALLY LANDED IN THE WATER.  ON IMPACT, IT MADE A LARGE SPLASH OF WATER, UP ON THE WINDOWS.  I NEVER LOOKED UP, I WAS PETRIFIED.

FINALLY, IT WAS ALL OVER, AND WE WERE READY TO START OUR FUN TRIP ON THE ISLAND.

AT THAT TIME, ST. JOHN'S WAS VERY RUSTIC, AND I THINK THERE WAS ONLY 1 HOTEL THERE...................SO, WE DECIDED TO DO THE POPULAR THING, AND GO CAMPING!

BELIEVE ME, I AM NOT A CAMPING PERSON.GIVE ME A NICE HOTEL, AND SOFT PILLOWS, AND ROOM SERVICE...AND I AM HAPPY!

HOWEVER, I TRIED TO BE PART OF IT, AND EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING, SO WE TOOK A SMALL CABIN.

YOU COULD CHOOSE 1 OF 3 THINGS............TO SLEEP ON THE GROUND, OR IN A TENT, OR IN A CABIN.

YES, AND WHAT A CABIN IT WAS!  THE WALLS WERE MADE OF SCREENS, THE BEDS WERE COTS, AND THE FLOOR WAS CEMENT.  IT WAS ONLY NIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE 2 COTS.  NO TOILET, NO KITCHEN, AND NO RUNNING WATER.  COMMUNAL BATHROOMS WERE AT LEAST A QUARTER MILE AWAY, WALKING DISTANCE.  THE OUTSIDE OF THE CABIN HAD METAL POTS AND PANS, FOR THOSE WHO WANTED TO COOK, ON A BUNSON BURNER. 

THE ROOM WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH LIZARDS....AND THE BEST PART, THEY WERE CLIMBING INTO THE COTS...................NEED I SAY MORE!

THE BEAUTY OF THE PLACE WAS THAT IT WAS SEVERAL FEET AWAY FROM THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE OCEAN...............IT WAS IN A FOREST...............ALL TREES, AND BIRDS, AND WILD ANINALS ROAMING ABOUT...............THE HUMIDITY WAS UNBEARABLE.  NO SHOWER OR RUNNING WATER..............

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE STAYING IN PARADISE....THE GARDEN OF EDEN..............

IT WAS LOVELY, BUT I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT. 

I BECAME COVERED IN MOSQUITO BITES.

THAT NIGHT, UPON ARRIVAL, WE TRIED TO ENJOY IT.  WE HAD A MEAL AT THE MAIN LODGE, AND AS I REMEMBER, IT WAS A TERRIBLE, RUSTIC, MEAL...........DRIED UP SANWHICHES FROM A VENDING MACHINE.......  WE THEN SAT OUTSIDE WITH THE OTHERS, GAZING AT THE STARS AND SKY, AND THEY PUT ON AN OUTSIDE SHOW, ABOUT THE PLANETS.........

LATER, AT NIGHT, I COULD NOT SLEEP, AS THE LIZARDS WERE LIKE HUNDREDS, CRAWLING INTO THE COT................AND IT WAS HOT AND HUMID.

MORNING DAWNED, AND I MUST SAY, IT IS BEAUTIFUL TO BE THERE, AT THE SIDE OF THE OCEAN , ALONG WITH NATURE.

J QUICKLY MADE RESERVATIONS ON THE NEXT ISLAND, ST. THOMAS.  HE KNEW I COULD NOT TAKE ANOTHER DAY OF THIS, AND CAMPING JUST WASn'T FOR ME.

SO, WE LEFT AS SOON AS WE COULD..........

J SURPRISED ME.  HE HAD MADE RESERVATIONS AT THE FRENCHMAN'S REEF, A VERY EXCLUSIVE HOTEL IN ST; THOMAS.  THANK GOD HE KNEW I NOW HAD TO BE SPOILED, AT THE FREBCHMAN'S REEf, AFTER EXPERIENCING CAMPING.

DIRTY, SWEATY, FILLED WITH MOSQUITO BITES, WE TOOK A BOAT TO ST. THOMAS.  I WAS A LITTLE EMBARRESED TO ARRIVE LIKE THAT, BUT SOON I FORGOT OUR CRAZY EXPERIENCE IN ST. JOHN'S ISLAND.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURES!.............FRAN

 

1979....THE AMERICAN AND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

JANUARY 1979 SOON ARRIVED, AND I HAD TAKEN 5 WEEKS OFF FROM WORK, AS AN RN , IN THE HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK CITY.  WE DECIDED TO GO "ISLAND HOPPING," IN THE CARRIBEAN

WE ARRIVED FIRST IN ST. CROIX, AND STAYED IN A LOVELY HOTEL, WITH A LARGE BALCONY IN THE ROOM, OVER-LOOKING THE COCONUT PALM TREES.

THE FIRST EVENING UPON ARRIVAL, WE WALKED NEXT DOOR, TO A LOCAL FESTIVAL TAKING PLACE.  WE ENJOYED SOME LOCAL FOODS AND SIPPED TROPICAL FRUIT DRINKS...........THE SMELL OF BAR-B-QUE WAS IN THE AIR!

THE NEXT DAY, WE WALKED AROUND, AND CAME TO THE SHOPPING AREA, WITH OPEN OUTDOOR CAFES...........MANY OF THEM, AND THE PEOPLE WERE ALL LOUNGING AROUND EATING ICE CREAM, OR SIPPING TROPICAL FRUIT DRINKS!

 FROM THERE, WE STROLLED TO TAKE A VIEW OF THE BEAUTIFUL OCEAN.

WHILE WALKING AROUND THE OUTDOOR CAFES, WE WERE SHOCKED TO MEET SOMEONE WE KNEW FROM NEW JERSEY.  HE WAS THE OWNER OF A STORE IN THE HOLIDAY INN IN WILDWOOD CREST, NEW JERSEY.  WE STOPPED AND TALKED TO HIM.HE WAS TAKING A FEW MONTHS CRUISE THROUGH THE ISLANDS, AND ALSO HAWAII.....AND POLYNESIA...............HE WAS SITTING THERE RELAXING, SIPPING A COOL DRINK!

AT NIGHT, WE WENT TO THE LOUNGE AND RESTAURANT FOR A NICE DINNER!  WHILE THERE, WE MET A FELLOW, NAMED PAUL, WHO WORKED THERE PART TIME.  HE WAS AN INDIAN FELLOW, IN HIS 20'S OR 30'S, AND HE ENJOYED TALKING TO J, WHO WAS ALSO INDIAN.

THE NEXT DAY, PAUL CAME AND PICKED US UP...HE TOOK US AROUND THE ISLAND.  WE WENT TO SEE THE BRANCH OF FAIRLEIGH DICKENSON UNIVERSITY, AS J, MY FRIEND, HAD BEEN WORKING IN FDU, AS A PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS, AT THE TIME.

NEXT. PAUL TOOK US TO THE LOCAL AREA.  HE TOLD US HOW WHITE AMERICANS HAD RECENTLY BEEN MURDERED THERE ON THE ISLAND, BY LOCALS.  AT THE TIME IT WAS A BIG ISSUE, AND AFFECTING THE TOURIST TRADE.

HE TOOK US TO A LOCAL BAR.  NEED I SAY, I WAS THE ONLY WHITE WOMAN THERE.  I WAS NOT UNCOMFORTABLE, BECAUSE AT THE TIME, I WAS LIVING IN MANHATTAN, AND USED TO PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND NATIONALITIES.  HOWEVER, I THINK THE LOCALS FELT A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE.  PAUL TOLD ME THAT AS A WHITE TOURIST, I WOULD NEVER COME HERE ALONE...IT WOULD BE UNSAFE.  BUT I WAS PROTECTED BEING WITH PAUL AND J, WHO WERE OF COLOR, AND PAUL WAS A LOCAL.

SO WE SAT AT THE BAR, AND I SIPPED FRUIT JUICE, AND WATCHED GENERAL HOSPITAL ON A VERY OLD TV, THAT WAS BLACK AND WHITE, AND WITH DISTORTED PICTURES!

AT NIGHT, PAUL CAME BACK AND PICKED US UP AT THE HOTEL.  HE WAS AN EMPLOYEE AT HESS PLANT, AND HE DROVE US OUT, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN, TO SEE HESS.

I REMEMBER IT WAS VERY, VERY LARGE, ALL LIT UP IN THE PURE BLACK DARKNESS OF THE ISLAND........IT HAD A MAGICAL EFFECT ON ME.  WE SAT, IN THE CAR, LOOKING AT THIS LARGE PLANT, AND TALKED.............

THE NEXT DAY, PAUL CAME BACK, AND ONCE AGAIN TOOK US BACK TO HESS...............THIS TIME, IT WAS AFTERNOON, AND HE TOOK US INSIDE TO THE CAFETERIA FOR LUNCH.............THIS HESS PLANT WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL, NEW AND MODERN PLACE.

ON THE 4TH DAY, PAUL ONCE AGAIN CAME TO PICK US UP.  THIS TIME HE HAD A JEEP, WHICH HE HAD BORROWED, EITHER FROM THE COMPANY , OR FROM A FRIEND..AND THIS WAS A REAL JEEP.NOT THE MODERN ONES ONES WE SEE TODAY.  I SAT IN THE BACK, AND THEY SAT IN THE FRONT.......I HAVE VERY SHORT LEGS, AND I REMEMBER HAVING TROUBLE GETTING INTO THE BACK SEAT.BUT I DID IT1

PAUL TOOK US FOR A BEAUTIFUL TOUR OF THE ISLAND...........HE TOOK US TO PLACES MOST PEOPLE NEVER SEE..................HE DROVE THAT JEEP THROUGH MOUNTAIN DIRT ROADS.ROADS THAT WERE NOT PAVED, AND SOME WERE NOT EVEN ROADS.JUST GRASS AND DIRT AND FOILIAGE.

WE WERE ON VERY HIGH MOUNTAINS, OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN BELOW.  TO ME, IT FELT LIKE PARADISE.NOT A SOUL AROUND...............ONLY TREES AND GREENARY, AND BIRDS SINGING.THE BEAUTUFUL SUN SHINING THROUGH THE TREES, AND REFLECTING ON THE BLUE OCEAN THAT WAS VERY FAR BELOW US.

PAUL STOPPED THE JEEP, ON THE MOUNTAIN.  IT WAS AT AROUND A 30 DEGREE ANGLE....I GOT OUT, AND COUOD FEEL THE TREMENDOUS PULL OF GRAVITY...........I LOOKED DOWN AT THE GROUND...................IT WAS SIMPLY COVERED WITH ALMONDS THAT HAD FALLEN FROM THE TREES..I MEAN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS.....REAL ALMONDS.NOT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE IN THE GROCERY STORE....................THE ALMONDS WERE VERY LARGE, AND THE SHELLS WERE A GREENISH COLOR.BIG SHELLS, ALMOST HALF THE SIXE OF MY HAND.

AFTER COLLECTING A FEW ALMONDS, WE HEADED BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

WE DECIDED TO STOP AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT FOR A BIT TO EAT.  PAUL WAS DRIVING AROUND THE PARKING LOT, LOOKING FOR A SPACE.  I WAS IN THE BACK SEAT, AND FOR AN INSTANT SAW IT COMING.........BAM!  WE HIT A CYLINDER POST, ON THE DRIVER;S SIDE WITH A VERY BIG FORCE...PAUL HAD SIMPLY MISCALCULATED.  NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT PAUL WAS VERY SHAKEN UP, AS THE JEEP DID NOT BELONG TO HIM.  HE LEFT US AT THE RESTAURANT, AND HE WENT BACK HOME TO SETTLE THINGS.

J AND I WALKED TO THE RESTAURANT, ALSO QUITE SHAKEN UP, AND WE SAT AND HAD A BITE TO EAT, AND TRIED TO RELAX.....LATER, WE TOOK A TAXI BACK TO OUR HOTEL.........

WHILE AT OUR HOTEL, WE ENJOYED  SITTING ON THE ROOM BALCONY.  WE LOOKED AT THE OCEAN, BUT WE WERE TOLD THE BEACHES WERE NOT THAT GREAT, WHERE WE WERE STAYING/

SO, THAT NIGHT, WE DECIDED TO LEAVE ST. CROIX,  THE DAY AFTER NEXT................................WE MADE OUR PLANS AND HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS............

NEXT STOP WAS ST. JOHN'S ISLAND, ANOTHER AMERICAN VIRGIN ISLAND.

THE PROBLEM WAS, THE ONLY WAY TO REACH ST. JOHN'S WAS BY BOAT OR ANTILLES AIR BOAT.  THE ANTILLES AIR BOAT, WAS A PLANE THAT LANDED IN THE WATER........WELL, I WAS PETRIFIED OF THAT, BUT J INSISTED WE WOULD TRAVEL THAT WAY!

SO STAY TUNED FOR MY NEXT EXCITING ADVENTURE IN ST. JOHN'S.............LANDING IN THE WATER, AND CAMPING OUT IN A CABIN, RIGHT NEAR THE OCEAN!

...................FRAN