Cruising...continued...St Croix and St Thomas

St Croix was the friendliest island. I loved its people. In my first hour on the island, I walked with my camera and met a 22 year old man. I asked him about the buses. We ended up talking for a half hour about Rasta living, Iphones, and what it was like on a cruise ship. He would walk me to where I could fetch the local bus. If you want to truly get the flavor of these islands, you need to take the local bus. Here we would meet Pop’s, an old man with an island remedy for every ailment. I would find out that ginger is a cure for virtually everything.  One with cancer would simply need to use the extract of Lili leaf with olive oil made into a tea. Chris would recommend some baby aspirin and together, I figured they could save the world. I met Cynthia while waiting for the bus and after our long bus ride together; we bonded on just about everything. Finally on the way home from seeing the sites, I met a young woman that was 5 months pregnant. The girl who was transplanted from the Dominican Republic fascinated me. Her beauty was undeniable and her personality was truly exquisite.  I longed to photograph these people and hope that someday I can do a trip for just this. There is nothing I would enjoy more than capturing the beauty of island culture via its people. I hope someday that I can make the opportunity arise.  When commercialism is removed from culture, the people stand out more not for what they have, but who they intrinsically are.

Stepping of the boat in St Thomas was like pulling into Clinton Crossing shopping mall.  We would quickly escape the area and find another beach.  People were feeding some milk bones to thousands of fish and the kids were in awe over the colors of the fish swirling around them. Kate would spot a shark and I learned that Peter could walk in water.  Jacques Cousteau he is not. Our last stop would bring us back to Puerto Rico where we would just explore its surface in old San Juan.  Unfortunately, every trip must end and San Juan was a beautiful place bid it farewell.