During our travels in the Caribbean sea we have become used to cruise ships but nothing prepared us for the sight of these enormous juggernauts, sometime up to 11 of them a day, moored in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI, disgorging up to 12.000 people daily, most heading straight to the famous tax free shopping district. Needless to say we moved on quickly in search of secluded bays.
Incongruous sight...
St. John the smallest, pristine Island of the USVI turned out to be a little paradise. 2/3 of the island is designated National Park with an abundance of flora, fauna, miles of hiking trails, numerous secluded beaches with many reefs to snorkel. We travelled the length and breadth of the island with the local bus.
A very smart local bus.
1 1/2hr round trip for $1 each
We moored in Great Lameshure Bay where The Tektite Underwater Habitat Museum is based. Tektite was the name given to a research project created to develop the ability to live for long periods underwater in an isolated pressurised state. (we understand that some techniques developed by Tektite were used recently in the rescue of the Peruvian miners trapped deep underground for weeks).
Very interesting.
The site is now used by VIERS (Virgin Island Environmental Station) as an ecological research station. The centre was fascinating.
Chris likened the area to Scotland in the Sun.
Salt Pond Bay, the next bay along is where we swam with Spotted Eagle Rays at close quarters.
They can break a conch shell with their jaw
They were so close!
Our next Port of call was the British Virgin Islands with its world famous beaches, lush mountain peaks and colonial port towns. The BVI are the playground of the Charter Industry, where navigation is eyeball in protected waters. The islands are beautiful but the character has been spoilt by the mighty dollar. We managed to find some quiet anchorages. The downturn in the world economy meant that is was much quieter than usual; a bonus....
Necker Island
Not forgetting Plastic Palm Trees.....
We needed to move on as Caroline was joining us in St. Martin. Our last sight was Necker Island, where Richard Branson has his pad.
No comments:
Post a Comment