It's finished

It's all done... Tomorrow, I wake up in Kansas.  It's been a great 6 months... bye

My Yin and Yang

See you tomorrow from the  Cul de Sac...

If I only had a Brain... (coral)

Where are the Birds... Where are the Bees???

Is it time to get ready to head back to School???

Snorkeling in the British Virgin Isles

Fish are fish and they don't really know much about National boundaries.  So almost all of the fish we saw were similar to the ones we see in the US Virgin Isles.

Except this guy... Never saw him in the American Isles...

Beautiful colors and a whispy tail and extra large feathery fins...

Hard to tell, but this lady is about a foot long...

But, glad to see my favorite fish makes occasional visits across the pond.  The bright clear weather helps really make the colors on the parrot fish pop...

So we'll just call this lady my favorite British fish!

The Baths - Our second trip to England

The baths on the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.  This is one of the trips we have planned since we got here.  Saved it for our next to last weekend.

The baths has nothing to do with cleanliness, the refer to the huge granite boulders that dot the beach and provide natural tidal pools, arches, mazes and scenic grottoes that are open to the sea.

The Baths were "discovered" by Christopher Columbus, and Virgin Gorda was named by him.  It is now one of the most visited attractions in the British Virgin islands.

Everybody gets buggy eyed at the amazing unique look of the beach!  Or maybe this fellow's eyes are still bugging out from 1997 when Tyra Banks filmed a famous cover shot for the Sport's Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

Our tour included time to swim in the clearest water I have ever seen... An amazing blue green color.

Here's Jackie...

And don't get too excited, but there were enough wet T-Shirts to get a contest starting...

The Baths are a "must do" if you get the chance to visit.  Everywhere you look, it's a different picture postcard.

Rainbow over red Hook

I can't decide which Photo I like better...

The Bluest Fish you've ever seen

Rainbows without a raincloud in sight

Many 17th Century Buildings to See

There are lots of beautifully restored buildings and places in "town" (Charlotte Amalie).  This beautiful alleyway is all 17th century buildings, restored to a wonderful tourist attraction of shopping...

Some places just look 17th century.  A restoration project in progress.

What do the tourists buy???

There's a store of all Pirate stuff...

Lots of T-Shirt joints...

Booze is cheaper than anywhere else in the world... You can take 5 bottles home.

And of course, duty free shopping with over 200 jewelry stores.

Something for everyone!

There are over 200 jewelry stores alone in Charlotte Amalie.  Counting all the restaurants and T-shirt shops, there are more than 300, all within just 3-4 city blocks.

How do they do it???

The alleys have been restored.  Some are little more than stucco paved walkways.  But the very prettiest is the PALM PASSAGE.

If you make it this far, there is a place called Fish Face in the passage.  Worth a look, a little boutique, but also a gallery of AMAZING ocean creature photography.

Always shaded, the passage has a great bar, perfect for a stop during your diamond frenzy.

Nice contrast to the bustle and un-restored look of Main Street...

Dollar Cab

The "Dollar Cab"... Actually costs $2, but that's what it's called.  Think the local bus service.

Circles the island, hop on hop off.  Open air safari cab, 16 seats.  Just wave your hand and they stop, push a button and they stop to let you off.

No set schedule, they just have dozens of these.  Wait a few minutes and one will come by.

Not always the most scenic views, but gets you around the island cheap.

Sunrise

Charlotte Amalie for the Afternoon

Only 2 weeks left... Starting to feel nostalgic, had a BEAUTIFUL day, so I thought I would take my last set of "town" pictures...

Even the alleys are beautiful, and convenient rum bars everywhere!

Meeting the needs of pirates for over 500 years.

Here's the bargains, including T-shirts 4 for $10 (just buy them at least a size or two bigger, they will shrink)

All the cool kids get at least one beaded braid in their hair while they are here.

And the tink tink tink of the steel drum band carries for blocks!

Over 200 jewelry stores... And duty free Booze!

It's flowering season for the trees

Don't know what kind of trees these are, but they sure make the island pretty!

the Palm Trees get a Trim

Here's the befores (durings actually)

And here's the after...  I think they took a little too much off the top, but it'll grow out

Blackbeard's Castle

Not much history, but nicely restored, and there are big bronze statues of pirates everywhere...

And the star is this 20 foot tall Blackbeard himself!

And look at these beautiful blue skies finally... After over a week of rain.