standard airport departure photo. we were very excited, 'cause this was our first cruise together.

we arrived in st thomas about 1:30pm on a direct flight from charlotte, and arrived @ the ship by 2:00pm. but since we couldn't get on the ship until 3:30, we went to a bar @ the pier, where, it would seem, all the windjammer passengers were hanging out. we spent the night wandering around the ship. (our ship was the sv legacy, the most "foo-foo" ship in the fleet...i found out that "foo-foo" pretty much means "on-demand hot water"). it is (soon to be replaced by "sv discovery") the largest ship in the fleet w/ about 119 rooms, and it's masthead is a likeness of the owner, complete w/ hawaiian shirt and a beer.

the crew of the legacy congratulated us on our 10th anniversary....(quite a feat, considering it was our 6th anniversary!))

we set sail (whever the sails were hoisted, the captain called for volunteers, i volunteered about everyday we sailed. you also hear about three different renditions of "amazing grace" whenever the sails are hoisted....a bagpipe instumental, a standard rendition, and my favorite, some sort of "whale-like" rendition that had whale calls interspurced throughout the song) about 8:00 am on monday morning...and i was barefoot cruising!!!. we actually sailed out about 10 miles, then came back to st. thomas/water island to spend the day at the beach on water island.

i actually had a "food" problem on this cruise. i wasn't sure what i ate @ the 5:o'clock swizzlers hour this day, but it didn't agree w/ my stomach. as we sat down for dinner about 7:00 and set sail in some very rough stormy weather, i decided i wouldn't make it through dinner, and retreated to the cabin to worship the porcelin gods and go to bed early. saltines and ginger ale for dinner, yeah!

you spend alot of time talking to different people during these cruises, and you find out alot of interesting information. i spoke to two ladies from cali, who were on their 17th cruise with windjammer. they told me that windjammer lost a ship and 30 crewmembers to hurricane mitch in 1998. low and behold, it was true.

we hit st john with shopping in mind, b/c i had promised kristy i'd buy her birthday present on the islands.

i think our best eating was on st. johns. we found a fabulous asian/american fusion bar. after lunch, we posed for another shot w/ the legacy in the background.

the rest of the day, we spent @ cinnamon bay. although the skies were overcast, the snorkeling was excellent, and we got to swim w/ a wild sea turtle!!!

that evening, we dined @ "chateau bordeaux". it was a 20 minute cab ride ($20) to the top of a mountain on st. johns, with a fabulous view. we actually stole the idea from another couple that we overheard talking about making reservations. although we stole their idea, they were nice enough to take a picture for us. it was, by far, the best food of the trip. we did "vogue" for a few pictures on deck before heading out for our fantastic dinner.

the weather was really starting to get to me @ the end of the day. this was our second day of rain and clouds. and since i wanted to shoot alot of photographs, and all i had was 100 speed film, the cloudy weather was really working against my plans.

but the dinner made up for any problems w/ the weather. granted it was expensive, but hey, you're on vacation. we had a bottle of wine, split a goat cheese and eggplant tart, a salad each, and split a dessert. kristy had a local fish and i had a rack of lamb. the chateau recommends reservations, and if you get a good cab driver, (and tip him 5 bucks...hey, you're on vacation...) he'll come pick you back up.....

the town sucked, the restaurant sucked, and this picture sums it all up.

please avoid the restaurant "dove, wine bar", located on the main street. it's a british island, and they obviously don't want american tourists as customers. we found out the hard way.

wednesday night was "pirates, pimps, and prostitutes" night. to eat dinner, you had to wear a costume. kristy and i raided the costume chest first, and came up w/ these costumes. i also had to get my picture taken w/ the "activites mate", kate. (note how she's touching me.....she had the hots for me...i know it.) kate was hysterically funny. after a day of clouds and drizzle, she came up on deck wearing a bright yellow outfit w/ long slender yellow ballons coming out of her head (sorry, no camera at the time...), and a tiara labeled "sun", and mumbling about she didn't want anybody to say they didn't see the sun today.....

kristy and i passed up the tourist traps and looked around until we found an off-the-beaten path restaurant & wine bar. we were dressed in travel clothes (shorts and t-shirts), and were seated w/ no problem. then the local british working class started showing up, and we became invisible. our food took an hour to arrive, while locals were coming in, ordering and leaving during our wait. after complaining twice, and getting ready to leave, the food and check arrives, with a 15% tip already figured in!!! instead of fighting with the manager, we paid the bill and left for the beach. we found a cab, and he wanted $20 bucks to take us to the beach. when he pulled into a gas station and asked for $5 bucks for gas, kristy and i had enough and walked back to the ship.

this day was the one I looked forward to the most. virgin gorda is known for "the baths". it's an area of the island where boulders are strewn all over the beach, making reflecting pools and grottos all over the place. it was here i wanted to shoot the most pictures, and the weather was perfect for it!!!

the photographer, john, fell down while setting up this shot. he was bloody on his hands and legs. ("Thanks!!!!, John" from St Loius)

once we got to virgin gorda, kristy and i hopped on a taxi for the $3 ride to "the baths". (although admission used to be free, the island is now charging $3 admission to get to "the baths"..new for 2003) the most famous pictures you see of "the baths" is one called the "grotto", which shows up on all the post cards for "the baths". i think mine (#2) are better. (in this shot, kristy and i are actually IN the grotto) the beach @ vg was beautiful, and it was here where kristy and i would take our picture to submit to the "travel" section of the "charlotte observer" (you can submit a picture taken somewhere during your travels with the "travel" section of the newspaper, and they might print it in sundays edition...no word yet.....) we spent alot time just climbing the rocks. my best shot of the vacation was taken @ vg, course i also like this shot of my wifey. snorkeling was also excellent!!!

a theme night kristy and i really enjoyed was "wine and cheese" night. (it was also "loud hawian print" shirt night) windjammer was supplying the cheese, fruit, crackers and bread (they baked all of their bread!!), and we were to pick up a bottle of wine while touring virgin gorda (sv legacy is behind me).

while the ship was anchored, we could lay in the netting of the ship, which i did while achored @ vg.

virgin gorda was the first night to experience a sunset, as the weather was cloudy and overcast until finally breaking on thursday. so everyone was up on deck shooting the sunset w/ their cameras. but since the clouds weren't really cooperating, i slapped a sunset filter on my camera, to get the orange-effect. no sooner had i put it on, when i heard "boos" and "cheater" coming from behind me. it seems the boat photographer thought i was cheating to get the perfect shot, and didn't approve. (he, by the way, shot digital, and could've done the same thing in photoshop)

virgin gorda was beautiful!!! no complaints, no problems. there are two restaurants at the entrance to "the baths". one called the "overlook" or the "terrace....", which had air conditioning, and another one, but neither kristy or i can remember the name of it....probably b/c they were known for the best pina colada's around, and kristy and i had two. we also ate a simple lunch there before heading into explore the town. word of advice, stay all day @ "the baths", as there is nothing to "see" in town.

we actually got here thursday night for dinner @ a famous place called "ruddy's". ruddy was famous for his $25.00 lobster buffets. don't let the name fool you, lobster is not on the buffet, only the starches ruddy serves with the lobster. i was first in line and got 1/2 a huge lobster, then ruddy gave me another smaller one as seconds. it was fun to do once, but i won't go back again. the lobster was tough and dry, i kept thinking if i had cooked it, it would have been perfect.... :-(

another beautiful "beach" day!!!! jost van dyke is a known for it's new years eve party. it's the largest thing going w/ like 10,000 people showing up for it, and they all go to this little bar called "ivans". ivan is one lucky bastard.

since the boat was anchored in a pretty remote place, we got to dive (me) off of the boat (kristy).

jamaica has goats all over the place, and the u.s.v.i. & b.v.i. have chickens!!!

your high-dollar yachts and personal sailing vessels anchor in the bay off of ivans, and i was surprised to see half of them getting stoned on the beach. then they would pile into their Ritz-Carlton catamaran's and sail into the sunset. but the snorkeling was outstanding, the weather was beautiful, and i found a whole dollar (us $1) while snorkeling.

ivan lets windjammer set up their lunch buffet @ his bar, and to help him out, you buy drinks from him....but hey, you're on vacation....