Just got back yesterday from five worderful days on the big virgin. I do understand why they call it paradise!

We had a wonderful time in the laid back atmosphere, "limin"!

We stayed at Mill Harbour Condo's - Very clean and nice for a place to sleep,eat and bathe. It sits perpendictular to the ocean so very few rooms have a view or get the trade breese so it can be stuffy. The folks at Smuggler's Cove - the bar and restrarant there were great and the food was good too! we ate there Sunday- our first night in. The pool is very clean, there is a small beachette behind the sea wall, not great access to the ocean, but the snorkling is okay, they have some artifical reefs between the beach and the real reef that attract a lot of fish. By the way no one told me about the abundance of sea urchins.

You do need a car to go and see everything. Remember to stay LEFT!

Monday - We stayed on the beach in the am, got a car, went grocery shopping (this is enlightening, food is higher than here on the "rock", arranged the Buck Island tour, got loads of info from the locals at the bar about what to see and how to get there - STAY LEFT! We decided to drive out to Point Udall and get one thing off the list. What a view, its kind of fun to be on the eastern most point in the US. We went down town (Christensted) ate at Rum Runners ($11 fish -n-chips to $32 surf-n-turf).

Tuesday - went to Buck Island with Big Beard, full day with beach bbq/ and rum punch,of course - $75 per person. WOW!! I have never seen such beautiful coral in my life... visited with sammy the stingray, saw a sea turtle, and a baraccuda or two, not to close. At the bbq, the mongoose love to show off their stuff and the crabs want in on the action. A great time was had by all 8 of us on the boat. It was like having a charter, this summer off season was great. Micheal,the boat captian and Chris the first mate were fab, we had a SUPER day. Back on land we shopped around some, then headed home to clean up for the Beach BBQ at the Cay - $2 boat ride over, $28 per person for buffet, drinks were about $7 each, a little on the expensive side, I agree about eating in town and going over at 8:30 for the entertainment. The steele drum band was good, the Jumbie dancer was super as was the glass dancer and the fire eater. Entertainment was a little slow in between acts, but they are selling drinks!

Wednesday - went exploring - traveled west to Salt River, stood on the spot, I'm sure that Columbus stood. Cane Bay Beach was next, spent most of the morning there,LOVE THIS SPOT - snorkling, swimming,soaking up sun. Again like having our own private beach, the four of us and about 4 to 6 other people. Ate at the Cane Bay Beach Bar, Burger $3 & drink special $1.75, can beat the price or the food, it wasGREAT! Drove on to Fredricksted, a lot of construction happening in this town, beach there is beautiful, didn't see any seahorses 🙁 We went back through the rain forrest, decided not to stop and see the pigs, we were all tired and live in Arkansas were we have lots of pigs. My friend and I went back to the beachette - the boys took naps in the AC. Went to Breezez for dinner, this is at the St. Croix Beach Club. They have a beautiful sand beach, and there condos face the ocean. This was our favorite spot for dinner, service was excellant, food was stupendious, view was great. Lobster $19 - Malibu Chicken $15 very reasonable.

Thursday - Friends have to go home today - took them to the airport at 8:30 and into customs - we then headed for the rum factory - Great tour $4 per person, and rum sampling after - try the black strap, for someone raised with molasses on the table it is a treat. Now for everyday, give me vanilla in my diet coke! Back to the condo and laid on the beachette. Dinner in tonight, sat on the gallery with a good book.

Friday - Back to Cane Bay for the day. Tried Discover SUBA, not for me, but my husband loved it. I'll just be a beach bunny!!! Sun, Sand, Snorkling, & rum punch! Did some souviner buying in Christenstead, Purple Papaya, found some good jewelry buys, hook braclets of course. Watched the Crab Races at Stixx, drank rum punch, is there anything else? Back to the beachette for the evening. Dinner in again, trying to use up the groceries..

Saturady - LAST DAY in PARADISE, spent morning on the beachette, backto town mid-day for the last minute gifts, really great guy making bowls and hats from coconut plams, nice local gift. Went in to IB Jewelry, talked with Wheaton, very nice guy, and super talanted, bought one of his infinity knot braclets and he has some really nice Cheney, the broken china from the plantations that he puts into jewelry pieces. Also, from Direct Gems, purchased a very nice ring for my husband. This couple, are great to visit with and she does some very nice work. Jan-Mitchell is fab. beautiful glassware and photos. Back to the beachette, gettin' all the sun I can. Dinner at Breezez, we enjoyed it so much the first time. Again it was great, both of us ate for $44(shrimp & salmon) and that was with drinks and dessert.

Sunday - goin' home - We rented from Thrifty, they picked us up for our rental and took us to the airport free. Very nice people!

I'm sure I have forgotten something in this monolog, but the jest is we tried to do everything that was suggested, but we will have to go back to finish the job!
Thanks for all your help!
ANDREA