Monday, December 23, 2019

Monday, December 23, 2019

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2006. Mattie was four and a half years old and by that point, the tradition of his Christmas train around our tree was set! This was the cutest train. Santa was the engineer and the engine actually puffed out a sweet smelling smoke. This was the cover photo to our 2006 Christmas card. 


Quote of the day: The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The US Virgin Islands are America's paradise, offering an easygoing blend of island ways and American practicality. St. Thomas, capital of the island group, offers every imaginable sport: snorkeling, golfing, hiking, and sailing. Just a few miles away lay St. John and Virgin Islands National Park. Stunning mountain scenery, crystalline waters, and white-sand beaches with palms swaying in the breeze - the US Virgin Islands are truly a slice of paradise. The harbor is easily one of the Caribbean's most scenic. The United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold. St. Thomas has a reputation as a duty free-mecca for shopping.

We got off the ship around 10am. We walked about a mile and a half to pick up a shuttle into the town. Very reasonable fee at $4 a person. In the bright sunlight and heat, it helped to have the shuttle. 

St. Thomas is only 13 miles long and 4 miles wide. It has about 51,000 people living on the island.  

The ship on the right is ours..... the Caribbean Princess. 

There are many chickens and chicks all over the streets of St. Thomas. So different from what lines our streets in Washington, DC. 

The main street in St. Thomas (in the city of Charlotte Amalie). Many of the stores that attract tourists are on this street. 

I read an article about "barkers." People who hang about on the side walks verbally shouting at you and encouraging you into their stores. Apparently there was some sort of law passed to now prevent "barking" at tourists. However, given what I saw today, barking is alive and well and the law is not enforced. 

Though there were six large cruise ships in port today, this main street wasn't truly busy! In fact, Sheila, a woman who owns her own jewelry store on the island, told us that tourists are changing their interests. In the past, tourists came to St. Thomas to purchase hand made linens and jewelry. Now tourists are coming for the beaches and cafes. By-passing the stores altogether! My observation confirmed what Sheila was telling us. 

Frankly the prices of items on the main street are super expensive. The average person isn't able to shop there anymore. 

Which is why several years ago we started walking around and going down each alley off the main street! 

This sign got me laughing! As many husbands are hanging about while their wives are shopping. So this pub capitalized on the situation. 

We spent about two hours in Sheila's store today. Her store is Jackson Jewelry and Gifts. It is an unassuming store, not as glitzy as what is on the main street. However, she knows her jewelry and she personally picks the pieces in the store. 

In fact, before we arrived, Sheila mailed me a Christmas card! After we make a purchase, she always gives me and my mom a Christmas gift too. 

Peter snapped this photo of us with Sheila.

This afternoon, we came back on the ship and met up with my dad. We had lunch together and later sat in the Ship's Sanctuary. This is my favorite part of the day. Typically given the time I get there, I am only there an hour, but it is a special hour. An hour of peace, quiet, and in my case I am trying to rest as I am still under the weather. 

I encouraged Peter to take massages on the Cruise. He went for a hot bamboo treatment today and came back up to the Sanctuary feeling quite good.