We are on our way today to meet up with Erwin and his annual
outing of boys cruising the BVIs. Can’t wait to see some familiar faces. Seeing the BVIs from the USVIs was like
peering down a favorite ski trail last ridden long ago. Can’t wait to point the
bow over.
The wrap up on the USVIs (sans St. Croix for now) goes like
this: St. Thomas, while being the most populated, has the most problems. Large
cruise ships and a great port of entry make for an economy on fast food. Ships
come in and hoards disembark, get delivered to ”downtown” via the local
transportation with its overpriced yet lousy restaurants, tee shirt shops, bars
and a plethora of jewelry shops. Barkers descend on the throng like whales
herding bait fish, cutting to the weak, vulnerable and potentially lucrative.
All of the characters are there; greasy salespeople that would make a used car
salesman turn and run, a well-disciplined security team to eliminate the all
too easy grab and go. And, of course, the prey. Not sure but I think footwear
is the single biggest tell. Very new white sneakers, they are as subtle as laser
beacons. Outskirts of town are the usual
Island mix of broken down, funky living conditions, children dressed in school
uniforms, gated resorts and luxury properties. The Island reminds me of strip
mine mentality, leaving the equipment to rust after the numbers go red.
Laura and I used the mass transportation, which are heavy
duty pickups with a seating / hard top arrangement that’s welded or bolted to
the truck frame. They sit about 20 and are called a “Safari”. For 1 $US per ride and 2 for across the Island
they are a handy inexpensive mode. Generally the locals made us feel welcome if
we worked through the sometimes thick cognitive dissidence. The expatriates
were a trip. Fell into 2 groups: 1st those down for less than 3
months, young, looking for something other than the job they were doing. Ok, so
they were all bartenders or wait staff, what did you expect, we’d hang out at a
nunnery? And second, those that have no interest in the “states” and are
planning on living their lives out in their hippy style with the help of food
stamps and cheap rum.
On one of our excursions Laura commented on all the
construction going on. It did seem like a lot until you cut the active from the
inactive sites. About 90 percent were abandoned or stalled, they reached back
in time to when the Incas got beaten off the Islands by the Spanish. Sites left
for dead and overgrown, usable materials long ago pilfered. Construction
techniques follow the common Island mentality.
There is not 5 linear feet of quality workmanship to be found on the St
Thomas public areas. Maybe that’s as far
as you can put together in a day.
We anchored in Red Hook, St. Thomas, had to come back from
St. John for some repair stuff, laundry, fuel, happy hour. Saw some great
things, race horses being swam for exercise with loud snorts of
exhalation. An on the beach baptism of 6
people, each pulled violently backwards by the minister into the clear sea,
giving the devil a “I’ll show you who’s in control!” Amen! Those gathered on
shore howling in delight. We also became
aware of a people movement pattern we called “the migration” of those in the
know. Going to the early bars with the
current, best, offerings of drink and food happy hour specials and working the
streets until they have had their fill. There were a few places that
snare the newbie or casual drinker with something exotic. My favorite to watch
being consumed, is produced at Duffy’s Love Shack and is called the “Shark
Pool” it’s 62 oz. with 6 liquors, presented in a fish bowl that Gary Larson
would be proud of. It is the color of florescent aqua blue and comes
complete with two, three inch rubber Great Whites, jaws wide, menacing, and
liquor filled. The imbiber can either add the contents back into “the Pool” but
more commonly has a mouth to mouth with the savage beast. The bowl
comes with 6 straws (perhaps a suggestion of how many patrons the drink should
be divided by) which by the second round are usually adorning someone’s hat in
a My Favorite Martin-esq manner. You can’t beat this for entertainment.
St. John has a few different personalities. The most
dominate is the US Park System which keeps a tight ship on access and
anchoring. The shores and coves are pristine and they have an abundance of
trails and nature walks. Cruz Bay, the big town on St John has a decent night
life and shopping for most of your needs. A bit too tight for more than a
day. And on the East end, Crystal Bay,
it was labeled an anti-tourist destination and we thought that might fit our
increasingly bohemian life style. Unfortunately it was populated with the
expats that could not afford St. Thomas.
I’ve taken to turning on the Internet and skipping over the
MSN page. The last time I looked, the media bashing had started in full earnest
ahead of the election with only 11 months to go. Very glad not to have a cable
feed.
We were just getting into a pattern of waking up, diving off
the back of the boat, rinsing off, drinking coffee, (we’ve managed to hold off
“cocktail hour” until 4 or 5) and either sightseeing, reading or working on the
boat. Formal cocktail hour and dinner. Rinse, repeat.
On to the BVIs
Bob! Laura! Hello! Sounds like a pretty fabulous cruise so far. We miss you at HYC but Paul and I wish you continued safe, sound and scintillating seas! Lots of love! Wendy
ReplyDeleteI want the recipe for the Shark Pool and Ed says he now needs to move happy hour up to 4:00. Keep posting!
ReplyDeleteIt was great meeting you guys at Cooper Island. Thanks for the recommendation on the DOVE ! Without a doubt, the best meal we've had in the BVI. Fair winds and gentle seas.
ReplyDeleteHi Guys...really enjoyed your latest blog entry. Roger and I loved St. John and were planning on going to St. Thomas on our sail north, but after reading your entry...I'm not so sure!
ReplyDeleteWe're in Martinique now, heading north and hope we'll have a chance to meet up. We'll shoot you an email soon. We know the greatest restaurant in St. Maarten!