Am I Blue?

I think all of the Caribbean is beautiful, but this particular day (we were in St. Maarten)

 the water was amazing.

 We took a "taxi" from the ship across the bay.  

The water was clear, smooth and so many shades of blue.  I truly love it here.

Before my first trip to the Caribbean, I had someone describe how beautiful it was, 

but it is something that must be seen to be fully appreciated.  

I should be a spokesperson for their tourism, I would go on and on.

Thanks for visiting this beautiful part of the country,

Jana

Monkey Business

 On our last cruise we had our picture taken with monkeys, but they didn't turn out too good 

(it's called forgetting  my battery charger and trying to use a disposable camera) so just in case you are wondering....they don't work too good.

 Not sure why but Randy didn't enjoy monkeys crawling all over him, 

but me....sure.  I figure how often can I have a monkey on my head.

 This is another way for the locals to make some money.  Crazy people like me who will pay for the privilege of having a monkey put on my head or in my arms.

Even though Randy didn't care about having the monkeys on him again,  the man with the monkeys did manage to get him in the last picture for me.

Not my best hair day, we had been snorkeling all day, 

it didn't seem to bother the monkeys too much.

Thanks for visiting my monkey business,

Jana

Look What Washed Up

 This is the same beach that Loch Ness Monster was in (if you missed it, it was my last blog).  Anyway, we were sitting on the beach relaxing and getting hot.  We looked up and look what washed ashore.  He had every flag he could possibly fit on his little boat and then some.  He sold fresh fruit of all kinds right off his little boat and had a long line of people ready to buy.

What most people were waiting for was his coconut rum punch.  He made them in a fresh coconut shell that he cut open and then added all sorts of fresh fruit to, finishing it off with some local rum.  Randy was hot and thirsty and thought that it sounded great.....FRESH coconut rum, made in a coconut while you wait, all for the low price of just $5.00......It did sound good...

IT WAS NASTY....

but it made a great laugh for both of us when we threw it in the trash.

Thanks for the visit to our coconut rum punch world,

Jana

Loch Ness Monster?

 Randy LOVES snorkeling.  When we took our first cruise I was afraid he would hate it....turns out I was wrong (that hurts to even type that word)

I just love the shoes....it is always said that the shoes complete the outfit,

I couldn't agree more.

 Just wait, the look is almost complete.

 The goggles and snorkel complete our ensemble, don't ya think?

 Love this look....just sayin'

 Now he is ready for some fun.  He will be gone for several hours "exploring" 

and I enjoyed a good book.

 Randy has said he could snorkel 24/7, and I believe he could.   He started out here and went out far enough it was hard to see him anymore.

After all that a long nap was in order......
Snorkeling is such hard work.

Thanks for enjoying our underwater world,

Jana

Sugar Cane Mill

On our tour of Barbados our tour guide stopped at a Sugar Cane Mill.  Our small group enjoyed this in part because most of our group was from farming communities.

 This semi was unloading a truck full of the "good stuff".   I'm trying to figure out how this can not be good for me....isn't this "natural" and "vegetables at their finest"?

A closer look at the sugar cane.....

doesn't exactly look like the bowl of white sugar that I'm use to seeing.

I'm not sure what they call this, but in a nut shell it's the trash from the sugar cane...just so ya know.

I had never tasted raw sugar cane and it was sweet, but not as much as I expected.  Also it was fine to suck on it, but somewhat "splintery", or at least that's how I would describe it.

Here was our tour guide for the day.  He was great.  He was the first tour guides we had ever had that LOWERED the price of our tour because he said that was the fair thing to do. 

We liked him so well we paid the original amount plus a tip.  

He was one of the best tour guides we have had.

Thanks for visiting this "sweet" part of the country,

Jana

St. James in Barbados Part II

 This is a view when you stand at the front of the church and look back.  Above is the organ for the church.  I love the arches and the candles at the top of the church....simply beautiful.

 This is the rig side of the church, and for ventilation they just tilt in the window coverings.  I would love to hear the organ playing, a light breeze coming off the ocean and hearing a sermon here.  

 Here is the left side.  I just love the stone and woodwork.

Some carvings on the inside of the building.  I just loved this beautiful church,

 it is truly a work of art.

Thanks for the visit to Barbados part of the country,

Jana

St. James in Barbados Part I

 As the sign says, this is the oldest church in Barbados.   This was our second time to tour this church, and we enjoyed this visit just as much as we did our first visit.  

I have several photos of the church and so I will do it in two separate posts.  The outside of the church is nice, but it does not do justice to how pretty the inside is.  

 It is not extremely elegant, but I do appreciate the woodwork, the history behind this church and just the over all beauty of it.

Just a little bit closer look at the stained glass in the front of the church.   The people of Barbados are very proud of this church and I can definitely respect that, it is a work of art. 

I will show more inside shots on my next post.

Thanks for visiting this part of Barbados,

Jana

Sugar Mill Windmill

 We have windmills on our farm, but not like this..... the "sales" are so long, doesn't it look so pretty.

It was huge.  

 The mill stopped operating in 1947 and is now a museum.  In 1997 the mill was dismantled for restoration, and reopened in 1999.  It has all original working parts and the sails can turn again after more than a half a century.  It is one of only two working sugar windmills in the world today.  (The other is in Antigua)  During the 'crop' season, February thru July, it operates one Sunday in each month, grinding cane and making cane juice.I thought it was pretty neat, but then again I like windmills.

Thanks for the visit,
Jana 

Barbados

I took this thru the window of our tour van (sorry for the reflections).  It is a church on the Island of Barbados.  In the background is the Atlantic Ocean.   One side of the islands is on the Caribbean and drive or in some cases walk and you are on the Atlantic side.  

The Atlantic side is more rugged, windier and yes beautiful.  Even the worst photographer in the world would get a beautiful picture when this is your subject.

I like how there is a contrast between the two oceans, but I still prefer the Caribbean. 

 I guess I'm partial to the white beaches, I think it's the lazy in me.

On the other hand, this is beautiful too.

Thanks for visiting God's  beautiful oceans,

Jana

Beach visitor

I don't know this lady....never met her....

She was NOT my concern when we went to this beautiful beach.

White sand.....blue water.... and a dragon????

Ok not a dragon, but it doesn't belong in my fantasy of a beautiful day at the beach.

The locals didn't even flinch at this creature crawling around on their beautiful beach. I can't imagine laying on the beach, all relaxed and then I open my eyes.......to this.  Oh, the horror of it all.

In all my dreams of laying on white beaches, hearing the tide splash on the shore, feel the sand in my toes,

having rum punch (that's another story) this was NEVER a part of that dream........just saying' 

Sorry for those of you who might (for some strange reason) actually like these things....

I Don't.....

I just want my soft, fluffy dogs back.

Thanks for the scaly visit

Jana

Take my picture....No don't

Normally if you just look at ANYTHING on the islands they want money for taking a picture of it.   Not this man who was selling coconuts out of the back of his pickup.  He would crack them, cut them open for you with his machete ....talk about fresh.  Because he was so nice I thought I would give his business a "plug".  If ever in St. Thomas.....look him up.....Please!!

..

 Heck he saw my camera up ready to shoot and even "posed" for me.   He was very proud of his business and he was glad to pose for the camera.......and then,  at this same stop there was another man who apparently had been handing his goat to people for them to hold for a  picture. .... and of course a "tip".   I was not aware of this because he was leaving and went across the street to sit when we pulled up.

I was just going to get a picture of him and the goat together.  I just thought it would make an interesting photo.   He asked if I wanted to hold the goat, (stupid me, I thought he was just being polite).  I told him no, but thanks.  I didn't know that  this was his way of asking me for money for the picture.   I think he was irritated with me, because this is was my punishment... when I went to take his picture he put his hand over his face. 

Who knew, but I thought it was funny.....I'm weird that way.  

Always have the camera ready....
ya never know when you might get such a great photo of a hand over the face.

Thanks for visiting my great photography.

Jana

Green Thumb....Not

 Everywhere you turn in the Caribbean there are beautiful plants and flowers. 

I don't know what this is, but I thought it was interesting so you get a peek at it as well. 

 All colors, textures

Does the Caribbean have bugs....in Oklahoma this would have holes eaten in it.

 They appear to just grow without anyone even tending to them.

I fertilize, bug spray, water and even sing to my plants and I never get this.....

I know what your thinking and yes they do like my singing.

 The colors are so vivid. 

 I could kill this in 2 days tops...... without even trying.

This looks more like home........well the bushes in the background do at least,

 kind of ............if you added some brown around the edges.

Thanks for visiting my wanna be garden

Jana

People of St. Thomas

Do you know the game where you find the one thing that doesn't fit........It's not like the others.  It's a game played on the show Sesame Street.  I know mature, but it's still a fun game......Let's play 

 First here is a man sitting at the park.  He has his dreads put up in his hat and from the looks of the hat I'm guessing they could be fairly long. 

 Here is the second man.  He has goods to sell in his hat and around his neck, I never did figure out what he was selling.  He was in a hurry and didn't have time to visit.

Here is my last subject.  He too has a hat on, something hanging around his neck and is carrying a backpack full of goodies. 

Any guessing which one doesn't belong......is not like the others.

Man #2.....Why?

He's the only one working.  Both of the other men are just relaxing and watching people go by.

I love watching people, especially in other parts of the world.  They all have a story to tell.

Thanks for visiting the world of St. Thomas

Jana

Puerto Rico

 We got into the airport and got a taxi.  Let me explain the definition of "taxi"......a privately owned, semi run down, possibly dented mini van.  You pay based on where you go, how many of you there are and also how many pieces of luggage you have.  We are still in the United States, but English is now an option.   I wish I had payed more attention in my Spanish class in high school.

 The one thing I always notice is the color.  In Oklahoma I'm not sure I have ever seen houses painted pink, orange, yellow, purple,  green.  Possibly brown, tan or white and the occasional dark red, but nothing this bright......we are definitely near the Caribbean.   I love seeing all the color but not sure I could get Randy to paint our house pink......yet.

 Why this picture?  I didn't know Target rented cars and trucks........who knew? 

 I think we've been getting' cheated around here.

 Palm trees....yep were not in Oklahoma any more.  Also I've noticed that most people don't have any front yards to speak of.   I'm use to mowing for 4 hours.

 Another sign were not in Oklahoma any more....the bars over the windows. 

 Heck we don't have curtains.

This was a pretty landscaped water fountain, but it was not the norm.  It was around their touristy area.  Most of what we saw was like previous pictures. This is closer to "Old San Juan".  

Those of you who know my "Redneck" husband are probably on the floor now, shocked I got him to leave Oklahoma....heck Cleo Springs, but this is actually his second time here........

I can even top that ......he LOVES it.