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After visiting the southernmost point in the continental US last year, we felt motivated to visit the eastern most point flying the US flag, Point Udall, USVI! A breathtaking view from the desolate point overlooking … well, the ocean. The guide book suggests visiting at sunrise; wasn’t much going on at midday. You don’t need a guide book to tell you this is a monument to federally funded programs.

Tucked away, off the beach and shopping trails is a section of the island known as the rain forest. Before going further I have to mention, everyone explains it isn’t technically a rain forest since hurricane Hugo ripped all the cover. Recovering but they are still a few inches of rain fall short of the true rain forest criteria. Back to the Mt. Pellier Domino Club and home of the beer drinking pigs. You go to the bar and buy the pigs a couple of O’Doul’s. In spite of the pigs having a lot of nasty teeth our host assures us, “Oh, day don’t bite, honey”. We carefully place an unopened can in the gaping mouth and crush - beer everywhere. There is a lot of slobering and back comes the can. We asked why O’Doul’s? She said they used to drink real beer but by early afternoon and about thirty beers the pigs would just go to sleep “and dat ain’t good for business”. There is a lovely memorial to Buster the pioneering pig who started the business some 30-years ago, apparently quite by accident.

Seth runs Gecko Island Adventures, the ATV tour. You start at Rainbow Beach, through the rainforest and along the tops of the mountains on the northwest corner of the island. You must be tired of superlatives describing the views by now. Here’s another, most spectacular views ever. This is also the most fun ever and none of us wanted this to end. Seth has only lived here a year and a half, but you know he really loves this place. We saw him stop to pick up litter on the trail. He takes excellent snaps of you with your camera. Thanks, Seth.

We are chilling and blogging on Saturday. Passively avoiding the invasive life form known as boat people (cruise ships) that the local businesses so rely on. Many businesses in Frederiksted don’t even open when there is not ship in port. I won’t miss them at all.

Lizard Tour 2010 Continues ...

Ground Hog's Day in the Virgin Islands

Early this morning the "Ground Lizard" saw his shadow; six more weeks of paradise.

Since our last blog we visited more of the beautiful island of St. Croix. The tour began yesterday morning. The brochure said we could find Sweeny's Bus Tours across the the street from Government House, downtown Christiansted. We drove up and down every street around Government House and couldn't find a single bus tour office. Getting nervous that tour departure time was near, I asked a charming fellow in a modified truck that said Heritage Safari Tours on the door, if he knew where Sweeny's was. Yes, that's me, he smiled. And again I realized that traditional mainland thinking wasn't going to get us where we needed to go.

First stop was the botanical gardens. We smelled and sampled fresh herbs growing in the ruins of the old plantation kitchen. Kitchens were separate from the big house in case the open cooking fire got out of hand, you would still have a roof over your head. The kitchen had, in fact, burned to the ground.

From the gardens Andre bounced us over to Cruzan distillery. The fermentation vats are open and in a building without any real walls. We can only assume that the additional ingredients would add to the flavor. A ten minute walking tour ended with thirty minutes of product sampling.

Whim Plantation was a lovely restoration of an early 18th century Dutch estate. The main house was three gigantic rooms with 18-foot high ceilings. A center hall flanked by a dining room and bedroom. Nice to visit, we could never live there.

Lunch was seaside at Turtles, a great little sandwich shop in Fredricksted. Stuffed with tropical sandwiches and still happy from Cruzan, we sped through the rain forest and Columbus' landing at Salt River Bay.

Leapin' Lizards, It's Vacation

St. Croix is such a beautiful place

However, we did encounter some difficulties traveling. But, I guess that's why not everyone is here!

Delayed in Newark because they forgot to roll the plane over from the parking lot. Just made it onto the super-tiny, little plane out of San Juan. So much fun, we almost forgot to be scared. Luggage misplaced enroute. (Not to worry, it showed up, we're not naked)

The first morning we already had guests for breakfast, Mr. Lizard.

That was yesterday. Today's project is getting He driving on the wrong side of the road. It's worse than you can imagine. The steering wheel is on the correct side, you drive on the left side of the road and there is all that screaming from the back seat. Yikes!

Anthony and Ilana Rivera

It was a beautiful wedding for this

beautiful couple....

Congratulations !

Ambulatory Surgical Center

Health Fair

WHAT A GREAT EVENT!!

Mascot Day

Well... beat the drum and hold the phone...the sun came out today!!! We're born again, there's new grass on the field.....well..not so much today, it was cold and windy at the stadium but we had fun anyway with all the mascots from the different teams....a great band, lots of food!!!

Great day....

Ilana's and Anthony's Shower

It was a great shower, beautiful gifts

delicious food..It was a great afternoon..

Congratulations to the happy couple !!!

Can't wait for the wedding!!