Caribbean – Page 2 – Snapping The Globe

Broke-Down Buggies

As I get older and realize how much there is in the world to see, laying around on vacation, just doesn’t do it for me anymore.

Recently, I read an article written by a journalist who was sent to enjoy an all-inclusive resort. Having traveled all over the world, the writer was apprehensive about having nothing to do but eat, drink and work on his tan. In the end, he learned that his body needed to unwind and he loved the laziness of his days.

I wish that I could say that I reveled in laziness and walked away from my most recent trip to an all-inclusive resort feeling relaxed and revitalized. Truth is, I can’t sit still for that long…that’s just me.

I finished that book I had placed on the back burner and after losing thirty pounds, finally dared to wear a bikini and bronze up my stomach to match my legs. My husband hadn’t been able to accompany us and my teenage sons really didn’t want mom hanging around while they were trying to impress the ladies. What else was there to do?

Having spent a lot more money on two jacuzzi suites than I had planned, I originally told my boys that there wasn’t going to be any excursions away from the resort.

That vow lasted about two days.

Laying in my lounge chair, shaded by a broad blue umbrella, pina colada in hand, I perused the internet, attempting to find something that we could all enjoy that didn’t drain the last of my recent paycheck.

Dune buggies.

As we were driven from the airport to the resort, I had noticed a group of dune buggies crossing the road a few miles prior to our turnoff.

This could be fun.

Arriving at the departure point and signing the obligatory waivers, we were asked to step outside so that our buggies could be assigned. I was told that we were waiting for another family, however, we could leave promptly if we paid extra for a private tour…only fifty dollars…per buggy (we had two).

“No thanks.” We opted to wait.

Our wait was short lived and with the other participants’ arrival a few minutes later, we were strapping on helmets, buckling in, forming a single line and soaring down Dominican back roads.

One of the selling points of this tour was how muddy everyone was going to get…it was recommended that you not do the tour if you can’t give yourself to the idea of being covered in muck! They went on to elaborate on how refreshing the cave swim would be after the spattered adventure. I guess it hadn’t rained in a while, because the only mud puddles I saw were near the shower area at the starting point. The real problem was the dust. Bandannas or something to cover your nose and mouth was recommended (they even sell them if you forget), but what you really need are goggles. As a contact lens wearer, I spent most of the ride squinting as I tried to keep the dust of my eyes or wiping the tears flowing down my cheeks from the pain of the dust abrading my cornea under my lenses. Thankfully, I had relinquished all driving rights to my oldest son.

Driving along the country roads, through colorful villages, we passed grazing cows and children who gleefully ran along side our buggies. The roads were bumpy and narrow and we traveled together in succession. Finally, we pulled up next to a small hut and shut down our buggies. Here, we were educated on the production of cacao, coffee, tobacco and Mamajuana (a Dominican aphrodisiac elixir) and were given a choice to sample the coffee or hot chocolate. These products were available for sale as well as other Dominican handicrafts.

Once the presentation was complete, more driving ensued until we arrived at the part of the tour that promised a swim in a picturesque cave. A large grouping of buildings hawking food and souvenirs lined either side of the stairs to the cave and many buggies were parked here. By the different types of vehicles, it was quite evident that many different companies come to this location.

As we approached the stairway, we were taken aback by how many other people were trying to make their way to the cave. Finally reaching the entry to the small body of water, we noticed that people were being instructed to jump into the cool water and immediately make their way to the guide rope leading to the water’s exit.

That’s it.

No languishing in the water.

No swimming.

No enjoyment.

Get in. Get out.

Then, fight your way up the stairway and get ready to go.

Not really what was advertised.

I am guessing that they don’t make money while you are swimming…why swim when you can peruse the cheap souvenirs at Dominican Walmart or Dominican JCPenney?

Let’s just say, I’m glad I stayed out of the water and kept an eye on the boys’ belongings. That was really not worth getting wet.

Back to the roads. The longest stretch of our drive was before us, retracing our steps back to the road past the starting point. It was now our turn to hold up traffic and cross the highway on our way to Macao Beach. As disappointed as I was with the cave stop, this picturesque location made up for it. One of the last ‘resort free’ coastal stretches in Punta Cana, Macao Beach offers an idealistic shore with amber sands, coconut trees and beautiful, seaweed-free, blue water! This time, I was getting wet!

Placing our belongings behind a log, we waded into the azure waters and attempted to enjoy the brief stretch of time allotted for this stop. Hard to do…there were so many people on the beach, we had to keep a close eye on our end of the log so as no one attempted to walk away with our stuff.

Finally, noticing our guide’s summons, we reluctantly toweled off and jumped back into our buggies. Crossing the highway once again, we made our way back to the companies headquarters.

Instead of immediately jumping into the safari-style truck which was to take us back to our resorts, we were herded to a small area in order to view pictures that were taken during our ordeal. I had noticed someone taking photos a couple of times during our tour, yet, apparently, everyone else had “gotten the memo” about the photographer. There were only a couple of shots of me and my boys, yet there were countless images of other families posed at the cave, the beach, holding parrots…where were the parrots? I even heard another family negotiated the $50 price tag, yet, when I pointed out that we were only featured twice, never briefed on the photo opportunities and I would pay $20, I was rudely shut down.

Time to go.

While it was nice to be able to enjoy a different aspect of Punta Cana, there are many other companies which offer Buggy adventures. Our dune buggies were in poor working order, seatbelts not connected, bald tires and buggies being hot-wired in order to start them. While parked at the cave location, I was able to inspect other company’s vehicles and while in short supply, there were others in much better condition. Still, while I was happy to venture out from our resort for a while, I would think twice about partaking in this type of adventure.

Take my advice. Go ziplining, book a tour to Santo Domingo or take a cab to Macao Beach.

You will be much safer.

Next time, I while reading my book under my umbrella at my all-inclusive resort, I may have to remind myself about Buggies Extreme…only then might I truly appreciate laziness and relaxation!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

No contact Information will be provided as I do not want to promote this business. Thank you.

The Amber Coast

In the northwestern part of the Dominican Republic, between Cofresi and Cabarate lies the “Amber Coast”.

The Amber Coast was discovered by Christopher Columbus, and is the site of one of the first forts in the Americas, Ferte de San Felipe. The popular beach town, Puerto Plata, offers many resorts and a look into its Spanish colonial past with beautiful architecture, museums and a host of landmarks.

Amber Cove Cruise Center, a short distance northwest of Puerto Plata, was opened in October of 2015, to much fanfare, as cruise ships had not visited the area in almost thirty years.

Sailing into the Bay of Maimon, early in the rainy morning, we had our first glimpse of the port with its overwater cabanas, pristine shopping area and resort-style pool complete with waterslides and lazy river. The port also offers a great transportation hub in which visitors can access rental cars and taxi services.

Our original plan had been to enjoy the facilities offered at Amber Cove, but since we had missed out on our day in St. Kitts, we decided to book an excursion to explore another part of the island.

Meeting our guide, Daniel, we were soon on our way to the province of Montecristi, to the small seaside community of Estero Hondo, home to the country’s Marine Mammal Sanctuary. The sanctuary, a natural refuge for the endangered manatee, is about a two hour drive from Amber Cove along narrow, winding roads, through vibrant and colorful communities.

After our arrival, we were divided into two groups, one to kayak through the marine preserve and the other to head to the observation area. Part of the first kayaking group, we paddled through the estuary, admiring the large numbers of aquatic birds crossing the tranquil waters. We all hoped to have a close encounter with the manatees that live in the area since there are very few places in the Caribbean where one can see the manatee in its natural habitat.

After a bit of paddling, we entered a larger part of the estuary where and we noticed the other members of our group on the observation deck on the shore. Scanning the mirror-like surface constantly, we were disappointed to only see a manatee minimally break the surface twice. Extremely difficult it was from our vantage point at the waters surface, it was a bit of a letdown to not have seen more of the amazing, docile creatures from a closer distance.

While paddling back, we admired the clams attached to the mangrove trees and as we neared the seashore, we dragged our kayaks onto a beach across the channel. Walking along with our guides, we marveled at the large number of seashells resting on the rough sands.

Our guides motioned for us to follow as they waded into the shallow waters to cross over to a small island. As we neared the island, the waters were only ankle deep and we proceeded to enter a grove of trees teeming with squawking birds overhead. The waters were littered with the remnants of hatched eggshells, feathers and even a small bird that had obviously fallen from his perch and drowned. It was perilous walking through the area with so many birds overhead and much to his dismay, one of the members of our group was bombed! Yes…poop!

Quickly making our way out of the grove to the other side, we found ourselves in a protected area; waves crashing on the other side of the reef and calm waters surrounding us in clear, swimming pools. Languishing in the beautiful, clear waters, we rested a moment and admired the view.

Checking our watches, we realized that as much as we would have loved to hang out in this stunning oasis, it was time to head back and make the switch with the other group.

Shedding our lifejackets, we followed Daniel to the Visitor’s Center. An orientation with a ranger from the sanctuary informed us of the lives of manatees and how this particular group of about forty, is one of the largest populations of this species that exists on the island and possibly throughout the Caribbean.

We then boarded an open-air safari truck and headed down the overgrown road to the observation platform. From the high vantage point, we soon saw the water’s surface breaking. Though the manatees did not stay at the surface for very long and we mostly saw only their backs or noses as they came up for air, we did see many during our time observing the water’s surface.

Soon it was time to head back to the Visitor’s Center for a quick bite to eat and time to make the lengthy drive back to the cruise ship port.

A little later than we had anticipated our arrival, there was no time to check out the shops and we had to make a mad dash back to the boat for our departure.

As we sailed away, we watched the port and the Bay of Maimon disappear. Thinking of my love of architecture, I was a little wistful that I had not seen more of the area and nearby Puerto Plata. Though we have been to Dominican Republic before, it seems that the northern coast may offer a bit more charm than the packed resorts of Punta Cana. And, after speaking with our tour guide, it seems that there are many other outdoor activities (Damajuaga Fall, ATV tours, cave snorkeling) we would have enjoyed.

Oh, well, there only so much you can squeeze in to a seven hour day in port. Sigh.

Amber Coast…I’ll be back.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Estero Hondo Marine Mammel Sanctuary

Runner’s Adventures https://www.runnersadventures.com/
To visit Estero Hondo, visitors may book an organized tour (see above link) or drive on their own. From Amber Cove, take the road to Montecristi, pass the village of Villa Elisa, until you reach Punta Rucia. The protected area is in this vicinity.

By Land and By Sea

Two forts, one city.

My favorite thing about San Juan is its two forts, Castillo San Felipe del Morro and San Cristobal. Having visited both two times before, you would think that I would look to find something else. Well, there are lots of other things in Old Town, but I never tire of these old structures…truly a photographers dream!

Castillo San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal, are two forts that were built to protect the city, the former from attacks from the sea and the latter, attacks from land.

Exiting our cruise ship, the first thing on my agenda was San Cristóbal. Near the port, I knew that it was a short walk that would take me through Plaza de Colón and to the gates of the fort. Starting early, to make the most of our short time in San Juan, I could beat the crowds, photograph to my hearts content, still stroll the city and also see El Morro.

Castillo San Cristóbal, a San Juan Historic Site, stands guard at the eastern gate, the land entrance, to the walled city of Old San Juan. After 149 years of construction, the fort was completed in 1783, although modifications were made throughout next century. The fortification covered about 27 acres of land, sitting on a hill originally known as the Cerro de la Horca, and basically wrapped around the city of San Juan allowing entry through its heavily guarded double gates.

Although the largest fortification built by the Spanish in the New World stood ready to defend the city against land attacks, not much action was seen. A land attack by the British in 1797 (under the command of Sir Ralph Abercrombe) did not make it as far as the fort and until 1898, the only dilemma was a 24 hour mutiny by soldiers living inside the fort against the Spanish crown. Finally, in 1898, the first shots of the Spanish-American War were fired when Puerto Rico was under military attack from U.S. Navy warships. Though the Spanish military attempted to retaliate, its old cannons and the fort could not withstand the assault, surrendering within 24 hours. Only six months later, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States.

After Puerto Rico’s acquisition, the United States maintained an active military base at the fort with the additions of concrete pillboxes and an underground bunker control center during World War II. In 1961, once the U.S. Army vacated the premises, the U.S. National Park Service gained control and San Cristobal and El Morro were designated as museums and both were also declared as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.

Over the years, with the city’s growth, part of San Cristóbal and a large segment of the city wall was was demolished to allow for flow of traffic in and out of the city.

The fort has two entrances, one off of Norzagaray Street and one off of Munoz Rivera Avenue. Since I was coming from the cruise ship terminal, I entered from the latter, however, the former is much more dramatic and one used by those coming from El Morro along the route near the water. If you choose to enter from Munoz Rivera, make sure to exit from other entrance to admire its sweeping ramp and grand appearance.

There are many things to see within the fort that can be observed with or without a guide. Three popular tours offered include, The Tunnels Tour which offer treks through the tunnels of the fort and include historical information about these hidden defenses, The Outworks Tour, which brings you to the outworks to see the land defenses and the The Lantern Light Tour, offered twice a week, which informs of soldier’s lives within the fort. In addition, every hour on the hour, free 20-30 minute Daily Orientation Talks are led by park rangers which explain life in the fort.

Since I had opted not to participate in one of the daily walks or tours, I was on my own with my map, looking forward to seeing all of the things that make San Cristóbal special.

Beginning with the short movie that is run continuously throughout the day, on the hour and the half hour (Spanish on the quarter and three quarters of the hour), I learned about the battles and the construction of the forts. Some of the relics from the forts times of battle are also on display in the Visitor Center.

Continuing through the long tunnel, I then found myself in the heart of the fort. There are so many passageways to explore, it is quite a bit difficult to determine, at times, which way to go. Some of the main items you want to make sure you see are:

Tunnel Systems: There are many tunnels to explore throughout the fort, one in particular, leading to the dungeon.

Cisterns: These extremely large cisterns were used for the transport of water during the times of the Spanish Colony and also used as bomb shelters during World War II.

Santa Barbara Chapel: Located in the central plaza, the chapel was built for the fort’s occupants to offer prayers and worship. Santa Barbara is the patron saint of persons in danger of fire and explosions and for this reason, the chapel was especially important to the cannoneers working with their dangerous weapons.

Military Uniforms: A display of uniforms of the soldiers gives insight into how uncomfortable these men must have been in the Caribbean heat. Made of wool and/or cotton, they were layered and included coats and tights.

Living Quarters: Beds, uniforms and dining tables are displayed to show how the troops’ quarters looked when the fort was in use. Make sure to check out the window shutters with graffiti etched into it…ships, dates and Spanish words.

Cannon Balls: There are many piles of cannonballs, weighing approximately 200 pounds each, on the upper level of the fort.

Flags: Check out the flags blowing in the breeze, the United States flag, the Puerto Rican flag and the Cross of Burgundy flag. The latter is a white flag with a red X and was t he Spanish military flag used from the 16th to 18th centuries to identify warships, forts and regiments of troops loyal to the king of Spain.

Sentry Boxes (Garitas): Located around the outer walls of the fort, the garitas offered a vantage point to watchmen who were guarding the shore. One particular garita, Garita del Diablo, located by itself close to the water in one of the oldest parts of the fort, is of particular interest to tourists. Legend tells that guards on duty in this garita, would disappear, taken away by the devel. Though stories must have run rampant during this time, it was more likely that the guards took advantage of the garitas remote location to escape. Though this sentry box is inaccessible to tourists, it can still be seen. There are many other garitas that can be entered and used for photo opportunities.

Outworks: To the east of the fort is a large stretch of lawn along with some buildings. This is the Outworks of the fort. Take a walk around the area to the the layers of defense (moats and walls) from a different perspective.

With so much to enjoy here, take your time to see all parts of San Cristobal. In addition to the photo opportunities it provides within its walls, its city and coastal views are incredible! I could see both the Carnival Sunshine and Royal Caribbean’s ships docked as well as other beautiful buildings throughout the city. Make sure to stand along the water side and take in the panoramic views of the coast from Old San Juan to Condado and beyond…truly spectacular!

After leaving San Cristóbal, it is approximately a one mile picturesque walk to Castillo San Felipe del Morro along Calle Norzagaray. Since I wanted to stroll through the center of town, doing some shopping along the way, I used Calle Fortaleza then, Calle Clara Lair to the Old City Gate. Walking along the outer walls on the Paseo de Morro, I walked along the water, looking out to El Canuelo, another smaller fortification on Goat Island, and made my way through the grounds of Castillo San Felipe del Morro to the front entrance.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro, or El Morro, as it is affectionately known, sits high atop a bluff overlooking the entrance to San Juan Bay. One of the largest fortifications built by the Spanish in the Caribbean, it took over 250 years to complete (1787) and was built to protect San Juan from invaders by sea.

After crossing the bridge to the fort, I showed my receipt from San Cristóbal and began my own tour of El Morro.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro, named in honor of King Philip II of Spain, lies on the northwestern-most point of the islet of Old San Juan. Construction of the citadel and its surrounding walls began in 1539, on orders of King Charles V of Spain, seeking a way to defend the port of San Juan by controlling entry to the harbor. The final design, drawn up in 1587, was based on Spanish military fortification principles of that time and similar structures can be seen throughout the Caribbean and Latin America in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and Honduras.

El Morro’s six levels rise from the sea to a height of 145 feet and offer an imposing sight to those arriving by sea. Nevertheless, El Morro suffered many attacks over the years, from the English in both 1595 and 1598 and from the Dutch in 1625. During the Spanish-American War, U.S. Navy ships fired upon El Morro, destroying the lighthouse. As mentioned above, the war ended with the Treaty of Paris, in which Spain ceded ownership of islands of Puerto Rico to the United States.

After the U.S. acquired Puerto Rico, many government buildings, including El Morro, became part of a large U.S. Army post, Fort Brooke. The large green space in front of El Morro was filled with a hospital, officer’s quarters, officer’s club and sports facilities. The U.S. Army also added a massive concrete bunker to the top of El Morro to serve as a Harbor Defense Fire Control Station, during World War II, to watch for German submarines.

In 1961, the fort became part of the National Park Service when the United States Army officially retired from the fort. Declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, the esplanade was cleared and restored giving citizens and visitors a wide open space to enjoy the sunny Caribbean days. Today you can see many people flying kites in the afternoon trade winds, a beautiful site with the castillo in the background.

While walking through the ancient fortification, make sure to take in the case mates, where countless arms were fired and the chapel, where no doubt many a soldier prayed for redemption and safety. As with San Cristóbal, check out the sentry boxes, or garitas scattered throughout the structures upper levels.

My favorite part, however, is the restored lighthouse. Sitting 180 feet above sea level, the lighthouse was completed in 1908. On the upper levels you can also see the same three flags flown on San Cristóbal…the U.S. flag, the Puerto Rican flag and the Cross of Burgundy flag.

Looking out at the massive grounds, the property spreads out along 70 acres, including the killing grounds and the esplanade. Nearby, you can see the nearby Cemetery of Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzi.

An interesting fact about El Morro was that it was used as a film set in 1996 for the movie, Amistad, directed by Steven Spielberg, representing a fort in Sierra Leone, where slaves were auctioned in 1839. Interesting indeed, since slave labor was used to build El Morro.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro is a most amazing structure and if you arrive or depart on a cruise ship, you are in for a treat! In the afternoon sunlight, you glide right by the Old City Gate, Paseo de Morro and the regal El Morro perched high on its promontory. One of the most beautiful sights of Puerto Rico!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Castillo San Cristobal

https://www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm
San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Hours: Open daily, 0900-1800, closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Admission: Adult, $7.00, Children under 15 years, free. Admission covers entrance to both forts.
Tunnels Tour: English, 1030, Wednesday, 1030 and 1430, Saturdays. Spanish, 1430, Wednesday and 1030 and 1230, Sundays. Approximately 1 hour, maximum group size, 15 people. Sign up at the front desk prior to the tour.
Outworks Tour: Spanish, Saturdays, 1430, English, Sundays, 1430.
Lantern Light Tour: Spanish, Sundays, 1800-1900, English, Tuesdays, 1800-1900. Ranger led.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

https://www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm
Address: 501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Hours: Open daily, 0900-1800, closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Admission: Adult, $7.00, Children under 15 years, free. Admission covers entrance to both forts.
Tours: El Morro, Keystone to Protection of the Spanish Empire Tour, English, Saturdays, 1030 English and Sundays, 1430. Spanish, Saturdays, 1430 and Sundays, 1030. Short informational talks are available every day in the main plaza of Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes when visiting either of the forts as some of the flooring can be uneven, slippery and offer lots of stairways and bring lots of water, especially on hot days as the heat is intensified by the stone.

The Red Gate

Everyone likes to make an entrance.

In 1634, construction began on strong city walls which were to protect the city of San Juan from enemy attacks. Completion of the twenty foot thick masonry walls took 148 years and six gates (puertas) were constructed to allow access through the walls into the city. Each of the gates was protected by a sentry box (garita) to shelter the guards and the entryways were secured at night with no access until morning.

The San Juan Gate (Puerta de San Juan) was the formal entrance to the city and was the point of entry where Spanish dignitaries arrived. After access was granted, these dignitaries, made their way up the cobblestone streets, to Catedral San Juan Bautista (also known as San Juan Cathedral), to thank God for their safe voyage.

The other five gates spaced throughout the three-mile wall were used to transport materials and supplies and also to allow for everyday traffic. Today, only Puerta de San Juan, and inestimable landmark, is accessible to tourists and is a must-see in the historic city. Located southwest of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the gate is continually open and after passing through, panoramic views of San Juan Bay, the busiest ocean port in the Caribbean, Isla de Cabras (Goat Island) and a small Spanish fort, El Canuelo, across the channel can be appreciated. The path, through the gate, leads to Paseo del Morro, the National Recreation Trail which skirts the coast, following the city walls (La Muralla) from the gate to the notable citadel.

As you approach the gate, you will notice an inscription, Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. The verse comes from The Sanctus, “Holy”, a Latin hymn from Catholic liturgy and means, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”.

As I made my way through the gate, I made a stop to inspect the sentry box on the coastal side of the wall. Following Paseo del Morro’s flawlessly paved path, I marveled at the waves sometimes pounding the shore on one side and the ancient wall on the other, repeatedly marked with garitas. At the end of my one and a half mile trek, I suddenly realized that the path ended. Many people will tell you that you should retrace your steps back to the San Juan Gate, however, along with a German family, I found an entrance to the grounds of El Morro fort, a remarkable structure that was next on my list.

And the story of the fortified city continues…

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

San Juan Gate

https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/la-puerta-de-san-juan-san-juan-gate/
Address: Cll Caleta De San Juan, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission: Free
Getting There: From the Cathedral, follow Caleta de San Juan westward.

Maria Was Here

In September, a massive category five hurricane devastated Puerto Rico and many other Caribbean islands, killing 547 people.

We noticed that our cruise itinerary included a stop in San Juan. Speaking with my travel representative, I was told at the time of booking that while Puerto Rico was still recovering, they were anticipating being able to accept tourists and cruise ships by the time of our arrival.

We were still a bit skeptical as to the condition of the island, but we had been to Puerto Rico before and we didn’t feel the need to book an excursion or feel that we had to go out and see anything, if the island was not quite ready.

Since our day in St. Kitts was cancelled the day before, however, I was antsy and ready to get off of the boat to stretch my legs. Not long after the doors were opened, I was on my way to check out the city.

First heading to San Cristobal Fort, I then made my way though the city and thru Plaza de Colon, stopping to admire the colorful Christmas decorations. After my visit to San Cristobal, I headed west past the throngs of cruisers (both Carnival and Royal Caribbean were docked) eager to spend their money in the many establishments in Old Town.

Although a few buildings were still boarded up, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the most of the Spanish colonial buildings in Old Town appeared to be in good shape and open for business, their colorful architecture standing strong with Puerto Rican flags proudly flying in the morning breeze.

As I continued through the city, stopping at the the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, passing through the Old City Gate and strolling along the fortified walls of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, I looked out at the Bay of San Juan, over to El Cañelo fort on Isla de Cabras (Goat Island), thinking how peaceful the blue-green waters now appeared. Never…ever…could I imagine how these seas must have looked and the power they unleashed a few short months ago.

Speaking with a shop owner, I was listened in horror as he recalled the storm’s wrath as the hurricane destroyed his home and what he and his family experienced in the aftermath. You could see the joy in his face as he expressed how happy he was to see people walking through the cobblestone streets, eating at the restaurants and shopping in the stores.

Maria will forever leave its mark on the beautiful island, if not visibly, absolutely in the residents’ minds. Though many parts of the island are still without power, the residents are forging ahead, attempting to attain normalcy. The first steps involve getting tourists to come back, however, many are quite shy, since a large number of hotels are not back to operational standards. The return of cruise ships, however, is a lifesaver, as tourists are able to see the progress and spread the word that Puerto Rico, is indeed, on the word to recovery.

Throughout the island, the people of Puerto Rico would like the world to know, “Our island is officially open for tourism and ready to welcome you.”

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Puerto Rico

http://puertoriconow.seepuertorico.com/
Tourism in numbers (according to the Puerto Rico Tourism website): 107 attractions are open, 70 daily flights are operating, 122 hotels are operating, 15 casinos are open, 4000 restaurants are open, 156 travel agencies are open.

The Island of Pioneers

Christopher Columbus visited. So did John Glenn. Why not Carnival?

Grand Turk, the capital island of the Turks and Caicos is now home to a state of the art luxury cruise ship center opened by Carnival in 2006 and frequented by several cruise lines.

The thirteen acre complex is located at the southern end of Governor’s Beach, the best beach on the island and offers a variety of shops, restaurants, a large pool, cabanas and the largest Margaritaville in the Caribbean. The 3,000 foot pier can accommodate two ships each day and serves as a launch point for shore excursions. Shuttles, taxi, rental cars and scooters are available for those who wish to venture out onto the island on their own.

Grand Turk has the second largest population of the Turks and Caicos and the main city of the island is the historical Cockburn Town, filled with colonial style buildings and ruins. The Turks and Caicos National Museum is one of the highlights of the island along with the lighthouse and popular activities such as diving and whale watching.

Having visited Providenciales a few years ago, we knew what amazing beaches were to be found in the Turks and Caicos and decided that our Christmas Day was going to be a relaxing one, enjoying the sun with our toes in the sand and a drink in our hand.

Once we made our way down the lengthy pier, through the duty free shops and past Margaritaville, we began to search for a good spot to set up camp. Since my son had been here during the summer, he said that the chairs on the last rows were free, but the ones immediately in the front on the water were for rent. We decided that since it was Christmas Day, we wanted to be able to look at the beautiful, turquoise water instead of other people and paid $5 per chair and umbrellas. (Since the trip, I have been reading about scams involving locals on the beach and now I am not sure if these chairs should have been free as well. In the future, I would check with Carnival before disembarking on Grand Turk).

The waters on this beach were pristine and my sons enjoyed snorkeling and swimming throughout the day. After some time, I decided to walk around and get a feel for the property.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus is reputed to have made landfall on his initial voyage to the New World. Almost 500 years later, U.S. astronaut, John Glenn, splashed down near Grand Turk, after becoming the first American to orbit the earth during the 1962 Mercury Space Mission. The cruise ship center showcases a memorial to John Glenn and the historic event featuring a statue, replica of the Friendship Seven space capsule and placarded information.

As I walked to the southern end of the beach, tourists were building amazing sand sculptures in the shape of a turtle and an alligator. A little farther, I stopped to admire the statue of a breaching humpback whale, which highlights one of the prodigious events visitors can enjoy each season, from January to April.

Finally, making my way back to my waiting lounge chair, I took a few minutes to visit the craft market. Necklaces, carvings, paintings, shells and various other items were offered for sale.

Rejoining my family, we hung out on the beach for a bit longer before heading over to the Margaritaville pool. Guests swam and danced to the music while enjoying cold buckets of beer, margaritas and snacks. Many also took their turns on the Flowrider, surfing and body boarding on the jetted water, while others looked on hoping for a wipeout!

Before long, departure time was approaching and while I hated to leave this idyllic island, I really didn’t want to have to run down the long dock to the boat at the last minute and miss its departure.

As we stood on the upper deck, we waved goodbye to Grand Turk as we sailed away into the sunset.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Grand Turk

http://www.grandturkcc.com/
http://turksandcaicostourism.com/grand-turk/

Walkin’ On Sunshine

Cruises…we’ve taken a few.

Summer vacations, spring breaks, birthday trips. In recent years, these occasions are when we have opted to travel via cruise ship. Never, however, had we taken a cruise during Christmastime.

Christmas on a cruise ship seemed so exciting to me…decorations throughout the ship (that I didn’t have to put up), the cruise director leading Christmas carols, Christmas dinner being cooked, served and cleaned up and my whole family spending time together lying in the sun while we traveled from port to port.

After convincing our children that this was a much better idea than traveling to cold-weathered Europe and having to figure out where our Christmas dinner was going to come from, we booked our rooms and packed out bags.

Despite the long drive from Virginia to Port Canaveral, we were in high spirits when we boarded the Carnival Sunshine. The weather was warm and as we sailed out of the port, we called our families and wished them an early Merry Christmas.

Though not one of the largest ships we had been on, the Sunshine was still much bigger than the ones used for the shorter 3, 4 and 5 day cruises we had taken in the past.

The Carnival Sunshine, was christened the Carnival Destiny in Venice, Italy in November 1996 and was the first passenger ship ever built to be over 100,000 tons. After sixteen and a half years of service, she received major renovations to be classified as one of Carnival’s Fun Ships and became the Carnival Sunshine on May 5, 2013 with her rechristening in New Orleans on November, 17, 2013.

Checking out our rooms, as we boarded the ship, we discovered nothing more than we had anticipated. Our boys’ room was outfitted with two twin beds plus a third pull-down bed from the ceiling and our room was rearranged into a king bed. Happy to find it clean and neat, we were thrilled to meet steward, Alexis, who did a wonderful job at accommodating two of our children’s late sleeping habits in his attempts to clean the room daily. He and the entire staff always had a smile and treated us with amazing towel animals!

Initially, our time was spent exploring the ship, discovering where the things that interested us were located and attempting to enjoy some relaxation. It was nice to see the ship decked out for the Christmas holiday and we even added to the spirit of things by bringing our own Christmas trees, stockings and door decorations.

As with any cruise, however, there can be some challenges as with good times.

Food I must say that we were quite impressed with most of the food offerings on the Carnival Sunshine. For breakfast, we enjoyed both the buffet and the omelet stations at the rear of the ship in the Havana lounge. Most people did not see the breakfast bites located on the side of the bar, but these were Cuban inspired pastries and were absolutely divine! We also enjoyed the breakfast burritos from the Blue Iguana located poolside. Though only open from 8:00 am, we could only enjoy these on days we were not leaving the ship early. Our lunches were mostly taken on the pool deck. We loved the Guy Fieri Burgers and the tacos and burritos at Blue Iguana (the freshly made tortillas were awesome), but also enjoyed the Italian restaurant, Cucina del Capitano, which was by reservation (and surcharge) at night, but open for lunch on days at sea. We enjoyed the Dine Anytime option and only waited a short time on a couple of nights. The waiters worked very diligently each night and most of the food options were good, offering many choices, though I never thought the desserts were worth wasting calories on.

Drinks Initially deciding to purchase the drink package for both myself and my husband, we investigated the details and after some thought, decided against it for me. Since my husband and I were officially booked into two different cabins, we were able to purchase the package for only one of us. If we had been booked in the same cabin, we would both have had to purchase the package, which allows 15 drinks per day, spaced at least five minutes apart. Not wanting the pressure to reach the 15 drink goal per day, I decided only on the soda package. Since we don’t drink much during the day, it would have been hard to reach the 15 drink limit, starting in the evenings, not making the purchase price worth our while. Eventually, my husband started to figure out how to work the system, by going to the bar early on and saving the screw top beers (Coors Light) for later use in the room fridge.

Entertainment My children really enjoyed the outdoor activities located on the uppermost deck; miniature golf, basketball court, large-size chess, ropes course and water slides, pool tables, ping pong. I do have to say that because it was a Christmas cruise, there were many children and this area was always extremely busy, sometimes incurring waits in order to enjoy some of the activities. The pool deck area had a large outdoor movie screen and movies were shown nightly, although we never took the time to enjoy this feature. The Punchliner Comedy Club showcased some hilarious comedians and the themed shows held in the Liquid Lounge were much better than we anticipated and quite entertaining. There were many trivia contests, bingo nights and other competitions held throughout our eight-day cruise, including beer pong and lip-sync battles. We never did make it to the disco that was set up in the Liquid Lounge on most nights, however, there was a Deck Party held in the pool area that everyone seemed to enjoy with line dancing and a Bon Voyage party to say goodbye to Grand Turk and the adjacent docked Carnival Glory, where everyone congregated on the leeward deck, danced and waved goodbye.

Gym/Spa The gym area was well equipped and was not extremely busy when I visited. I did notice some classes that were offered, however, by the second morning, all spots had been signed for and only waiting lists were available. A walking track was also available on the upper deck, however, most people on this level did not seem to pay attention to the fact that some were trying to exercise, pulling chairs onto or walking aimlessly on the track. The Spa was located just before the gym and though we did not utilize any of their services, the waiting area seemed to be quite busy.

Sun Decks Being that it was winter, one of the things I so looked forward to was the ability to lay in the sun and relax with a book. Carnival has a rule that chairs may not be reserved and if vacant for forty minutes, personal belongings will be removed. I never saw anyone enforcing this rule and unless you reserved a chair early in the day, by putting personal belongings on it, you were out of luck for the rest of the day in finding one spot, much less two or three (or five) together. The Serenity Adults Only Retreat is touted as a quiet haven where only adults are allowed to enjoy peace and quiet. On only one day were we able to find a spot in this crowded area, due to another patron reporting teenage cruisers using the loungers. When this group left, we were able to secure two of the chairs. With such a busy cruise (capacity of 3002), I was disappointed to see that more chairs were not made available, especially on the Fun Days at Sea, even though I spotted stacks of chairs still chained up.

Communication One of the challenging parts of being on a cruise is that you can’t use your cell phone to check in with your party…until now. Carnival developed a great app, Carnival Hub, for this purpose. After downloading the app, everyone can sign up and pay $5, for the entire trip, to use the app’s messaging system. After working out, it was awesome to just send a message to my husband to find where they were hanging out, instead of wandering aimlessly, hoping to find them. The other plus about this app is that there is no checking the paper schedules each day. Although they did still deliver these to your room (a huge waste of paper), I would imagine that the app will one day eliminate the paper schedules. At any time of the day, you could check the app for the planned activities and even see what meals were being served and where. The app also offered maps of the ship and access to your on board sail and sign purchases so that you could monitor them regularly instead of at the end of your cruise. Way to go Carnival!

Ports The itinerary for this cruise was Port Canaveral (departure), At Sea, Grand Turk, At Sea, St. Kitts, San Juan, Amber Cove, At Sea, Port Canaveral (arrival). We enjoyed our Christmas Day in Grand Turk laying in the sun on the beach. Looking forward to our arrival in St. Kitts, we were disappointed when, island in sight, we were informed that the winds were too high and current to strong to make it into port safely…yet, there were two other ships already docked. Our initial thought was that Carnival was not being truthful, especially when we heard that five ships were due in port that day, a number that seemed quite high. Eventually, our suspicions were validated when we were told by many of the staff that the port had been overbooked. Most disappointing, since St. Kitts was the one of the primary reasons for booking this particular cruise. Not sure what to expect from San Juan, since the serious devastation by Hurricane Maria, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the beautiful Old Town is recovering and happily receiving tourists again! Our last port, Amber Cove, appeared to be a wonderful place to spend time with its water park and amazing shopping. Since we had booked an excursion and were late to arrive back in port, our only glimpse of Amber Cove was upon our arrival from the boat and when we disembarked to meet our tour guide.

Punctuality The boat departed on time, however, we felt that we were always a bit late into port. This was very disappointing, especially when we were only in port for short periods of time and our late arrival cut into plans for the day. The worst part of the cruise was when we were informed that we would be arriving into port late on our last day due to failing engines. Many people were inconvenienced with departing flights, especially since it was New Year’s Eve and guests were trying to make it home for plans that evening. The ship did not do much to assist in the order of disembarkation, with the whole process becoming a bit of a free-for-all.

When all was said and done, it was wonderful to be with my husband and children during Christmas in a festive atmosphere (and I didn’t have to cook and clean!). Maybe next time, we will try another cruise line.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Carnival Cruises

https://www.carnival.com/

Grand Turk

http://turksandcaicostourism.com/grand-turk/

St. Kitts

http://www.stkittstourism.kn/

San Juan

https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/

Amber Cove

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-to/caribbean-cruises/amber-cove-cruises.aspx

Island Hopping

The Baths.

No, not the kind you take when you are dirty.

The Baths on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.

Twenty- four years ago, while visiting St. Thomas, my husband and I booked a boat trip to the British Virgin Islands. One of the stops that day was the Baths on Virgin Gorda. Such an impression it made on us then, we knew that we had to return with our children so that they could see what an extraordinary natural wonder it was.

There are many companies that offer comparable day trips to the British Virgin Islands. After searching the internet, we finally decided on Calypso Tours and the Bad Kitty 2 catamaran. Their five-stop, four island tour gives you an overview of some of the BVI’s most amazing attractions, islands and beaches.

Departing from the St. Thomas passenger ferry terminal, we were all instructed to complete customs and immigration forms, hand in our passports and pay the $60 (per person) Customs and Immigration Fee for our arrival into the British Virgin Islands in Virgin Gorda. With only a peek at our entry port of Spanish Town, we patiently waited onboard while the crew checked us into Customs.

Being cleared, we were on our way, passing the many islands that make up the British Virgins. Our first stop…the Baths.

A collection of massive granite boulders on a white sand beach, The Baths provide some of the most beautiful scenery on the island of Virgin Gorda.

After dropping anchor just offshore and donning life vests, we made the short swim to the beach, many of us holding our Iphones, sealed in plastic baggies, high up in the air! A bit of a risk, but knowing that there was going to be ample photographic opportunities, it was worth it!

Led by our crew, we made our way through and around the colossal boulders, following the natural and man made footpaths and walkways, as they pointed our the many shapes and formations formed by the eroded granite. Climbing and walking through countless natural tidal pools, tunnels, arches and scenic grottoes that opened out to the sea, we eventually found ourselves in the Cathedral….the most photographed of the many rooms which are formed by the adjacent boulders. Tyra Banks fans…you might recognize this as the place of her first Sports Illustrated photo shoot!

After our swim back to the Bad Kitty 2, we were on our way once again with a seagull riding the wind behind us. Our next destination, Salt Island and the wreck of the RMS Rhone.

The RMS Rhone, thought to be an unsinkable ship with its unique brass propeller and iron hull, was caught in a category three hurricane in 1867, and thrown directly into Black Rock Point killing all but 23 on board. Lying in 30-80 feet of water, the wreck is spread out on the ocean floor with her bow section relatively intact. The site is popular with divers and snorkelers alike providing colorful scenery with the entire iron hull encrusted with coral and massive numbers of fish, lobsters, eels and octopus. Film buffs may remember Jacqueline Bisset’s famous t-shirt diving scene in 1977’s The Deep, shot in these waters!

Tired and hungry from our snorkeling adventure, it was now time to motor off to the picturesque Cooper Island.

With only five privately owned properties, twelve hotel rooms, a rum bar, coffee shop, solar powered brewery, restaurant and gift shop, Cooper Island is truly a remote location, perfect for getting away from it all! Thankfully, the facilities are open to guests, day visitors and yachts using the nearby moorings in Manchioneel Bay.

Since, our lunch orders had been called in to the restaurant earlier in the day, we were all seated and served quickly, helping to keep us to our tight schedule.

The last stop of the day was our favorite…Jost Van Dyke.

The smallest of the four main islands of the BVI, Jost Van Dyke measures only three square miles and boasts the nickname The Barefoot Island due to its ultra laid back attitude and large number of bars located in Great Harbor and on beautiful White Bay. If bar hopping is your thing, this is your island!

Wading through the cool, clear waters of White Bay, we made the short walk along the beach to one of the most famous of the bars…The Soggy Dollar. Though our dollars were kept dry in a ziploc bag, we gladly shelled them out for awesome t-shirts, hats and their famous drink, The Painkiller, a concoction of premium dark rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice and Grenadian nutmeg.

The sun was bright, the sands warm, the water cool, the music blaring and the booze flowing…how much more fun can you have?

Sadly, our day was drawing to a close. Climbing on board the Bad Kitty 2, we watched the colorful bars grow smaller as we headed into the deep blue waters of the Caribbean and the setting sun.

St. John was our final stop in order to clear customs back into the United States before heading back to St Thomas. The U.S. is a little more strict than the BVI so tipsy or not, we all had to cover up, act sober, making our way onshore, passports in hand and clear customs.

Thankfully, we were all allowed back in, ending our wonderful day of island hopping in the British Virgin Islands!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Calypso Charters

http://calypsovi.com/
$155 per adult/$95 per child under 12, plus $70 (effective September 1, 2017) cash per guest for BVI customs, immigration, national park fees and port authority fees). Lunch, shopping and gratuity, extra.
Departures from Red Hook Harbor (St. Thomas) and Cruz Bay (St. John)

Cooper Island

http://cooperislandbeachclub.com/

Soggy Dollar Bar

http://www.soggydollar.com/about

Where the Deer and the Tourists Play

The Acropolis…check.

Tulum…check.

Ta Prohm…check.

The Coliseum…check.

Petra…check.

Over the years, my eyes have gazed upon some pretty impressive ruins. Withstanding the test of time (well almost) these magnificent and sometimes mysterious remains mesmerize and captivate.

Honestly, I can’t resist visiting any ruin…big or small…ancient or not so old. The lure of its history and remaining architecture always draws me in, so when I noticed the words “ruin” on my map of St. John, I knew that I had to find time to see what was there.

Cinnamon Bay Plantation ruins lie just across North Shore Road, directly opposite the appropriately named Cinnamon Bay. Parking in the Cinnamon Bay Beach parking lot, cross the road to the beginning of the Cinnamon Bay loop trail and begin your exploration of the historic plantation’s sugar factory’s remains.

An important part of St. John’s history dates back to 1717, when the Danes settled on the island. Founded by Daniel Jensen, the plantation processed sugar cane from the fields into sugar, molasses and rum. While wandering through the Bay, Calabash and Genip trees, you can observe the horse mill where the juice was extracted from the cut cane stalks, the boiling house, where rows of copper kettles continually condensed the syrup to crystal form and the store rooms or “bagasse sheds” where fresh sugar was dried. One of the most impressive structures on the premises is the towering chimney…the rum still.

Further along the Loop Trail lay the crypts of a Danish family that perished on the island as well as the remains of the Great House.

The trail is well laid out, evenly leveled, well maintained and a welcomed respite from the hot, Caribbean sun, with its dense tree covering providing maximum shade. Take some time to wander throughout the interior of the buildings and be on the lookout for the curious deer that meander through the property.

After you are done, cross the road and check out Cinnamon Bay Beach, Resort and Campground where you can rent a cottage, an eco-tent, campsite, kayak, paddleboard or just have a snack or cold beverage at Raintree Cafe. You can also visit the souvenir shop for a special memento of your visit…but alas…no 1717 rum!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Cinnamon Bay Plantation Ruins

https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/prvi/pr44.htm
Take North Shore Road (Route 20) from Cruz Bay for four miles. At the sign for Cinnamon Bay beach and campgrounds, the ruins are on the right side of the road.

Cinnamon Bay Beach and Resort

https://cinnamonbayresort.com/

Two To Sea

Unspoiled beauty? GO find it in St. John.

The smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, St. John is probably one of the most relaxing and pristine places I have ever been. Though I have never stayed on the island, I have made a few day trips, exploring its beautiful beaches.

Originally, settled by the Arawak and Carib Indians, the United States purchased St. John from the Danish West India and Guinea Company in 1917. In 1956, over 5,000 acres of land was donated to the National Park Service by Laurance Rockefeller, assuring it natural preservation.

There are many magnificent beaches that lie within the National Park, some more easily accessible than others. After our arrival on the car ferry, we decided to drive down Route 20 and start with Trunk Bay, one of the most beloved of St. John’s coves.

Trunk Bay, the most famous of St. John’s beaches is also the most photographed with is perfect crescent shape, towering coconut palms, white sands and small island, Trunk Cay that lies just 30 yards offshore. It attracts large amounts of visitors each day and can get crowded. Trunk Bay also is known for its underwater nature trail which offers snorkelers a self-guided path to follow around Trunk Cay. This is one of my favorite things to do in Trunk Bay…the underwater trail is great not only for children and beginning snorkelers, but for all experience levels. Following the trail is fun, but I always seems to get a bit distracted by the abundance of fish and even what’s going on above the ocean. Trunk Cay attracts many brown pelicans and if you pop your head up, you’ll be greeted by a wave of their wings as they watch you glide by. Make sure to continue snorkeling, watching for squid and indigo blue turnicates that seem to thrive here, well past the nature trail and to the far point of the cay. If you feel comfortable and the water is relatively calm, try snorkeling around the entire cay, although not much coral life is present on the eastern side.

It is easy to spend the entire day at Trunk Bay for the relaxation it provides. Walk down the beach, towards the far ends, away from the other visitors, and secure a spot among the trees to get some shade as you may need it…it gets hot! Trunk Bay, unique from the other beach areas in St. John, boasts a Snack Bar, where you can buy lunch, otherwise, make sure to bring a cooler. Because it is located within the National Park, there are no eateries close by. On the premises, there is also a souvenir shop, shower and restroom facilities, public telephones and lifeguards. Beach chairs and snorkeling gear can be rented. It should also be noted that Trunk Bay is the only beach on St. John that charges an entrance fee.

If you are driving your own car, try to head to Trunk Bay earlier in the day. Parking is limited and fills up quickly. Taxis head out to all the beaches in St. John, stopping when requested. Fare are about $6 per person, each way.

After lunch, we decided to drive further into the National Park to see what other beaches we could sink our toes into. The drive, although winding and narrow at times, offers many scenic overlooks.

There were a few beaches that we drove by, Cinnamon Bay, Jumbie Bay, Maho Bay, some with no parking available, so we continued on until we reached Francis Bay. A little remote, Francis Bay wasn’t as crowded as some of the other beaches. We walked a bit to the right and were greeted by a family who offered to give us their spot with a picnic table. Setting our chairs among the trees for the shade they provided, we soon realized that the cool breezes that we experienced at Trunk Bay were not present. We also discovered that while trying to seek cooler temperatures among the trees, there were thousands of tiny bugs eager to feast on our skin! Yikes! Staying in the water was a must!

Francis Bay is a long, wide beach with white sands and calm green water. It is also a popular mooring for many sailboats each night. If you like snorkeling, however, this is another of our favorite spots.

The center of the bay is mostly sea-grass, but you are apt to see sea turtles and stingrays gliding by. Beginning snorkelers may find it easier to swim at the western end towards Maho Bay, where you’ll find snapper, barracuda, eels, and conch, but more experienced snorkelers may enjoy the rocky, eastern shore.

After my husband and one of my sons headed this way, we couldn’t imagine why they were gone for so long. Eventually, my son returned insisting that we grab out snorkels and fins and join them. Never, ever have I experienced something like this! From afar, the water appears to be black, so the assumption is made that there is nothing but sea-grass. When you dive into this area, you realize that it is something extremely different. Billions of silverside fish swim together blocking out the ocean floor and engulfing the waters around you. It is truly mind boggling as to how many tiny fish you are looking upon! The best part, however, is when you see the fish part, making way for the huge, 6 foot tarpon the patrol the area. These enormous fish, swim near you, unafraid, and provide for amazing underwater photography if you’ve brought your camera. Sadly, we did not, but we left excited for the memory, knowing that one day, we will return to see this spectacle once again.

After returning to our picnic table to refresh with some ice cold water, we decided that we were hot, tired and over bitten and it was time to call it a day!

With so many amazing beaches on St. John, it would be hard to catch them all unless staying on the island. We got to visit two! I’d say we had a pretty good day!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Trunk Bay

http://stjohn-beachguide.com/trunk-bay/
Hours: Facilities open 0800-1630, Lifeguards on duty, 0900-1630, Snack bar/souvenir shop, 0900-1530.
Admission: Individual Day Pass, $5, Children 16 and under, free, Individual Annual Pass, $20, Family Pass, $30
Getting There: From Cruz Bay, take Route 20 (North Shore Road) approximately 2.5 miles until you see the signs for Trunk Bay parking.

Francis Bay

http://stjohn-beachguide.com/francis-bay-2/
Admission: free
Getting There: Take Route 20 (North Shore Road past Maho Bay Beach. The road divides just beyond the end of the beach. Follow the road until you read a “Y”. Keep left to Leinster/Waterlemon. Continue about 1/4 mile down the road where you will see the entrance on the right.