After a week in the Caribbean, all Rum jokes seem funny! Probably why I picked up this unique magnet for my collection. Happy soon to be Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.
I've written before on the handmade pots I made on my various trips to St. John, but wanted to share one other item I got from the Maho Bay Clay Works. This lovely clay necklace wasn't made by me, but I got as a lovely reminder of my time in St. John. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.
On my second trip to St John, USVI I once again stayed in the tree-house like canvas tent cabins of the Maho Bay Camps. It was relatively cheap, eco-conscious, and amazing views! However, the tents were getting a little worse for the ware. Small holes dotted the roof and screens. Doors wouldn't fully close. But, when you are in paradise, these complaints fade away. Iguanas lounged on the deck. Hermit crabs scurried underfoot (after being captured and released by a young child.) Gekkos in your tent became your friend as they would eat the bugs. Rain would lull you to
Hurricane Irma has devastated so many countries and islands, and sadly I hear my beloved island of St John in the US Virgin Islands has been hit pretty hard. And with Irma heading towards Florida, more devastation is on its way. With St John on my mind, I'm sharing some of my favorite landscape photos I took on my 2011 trip. View of Anna Point and Leinster Bay. Look at that gorgeous color water! The beautiful Trunk Bay. Looking towards Coral Bay and Hurricane Hole from Bordeaux Mountain. Rainbow over Francis Bay and Whistling
Larimar is a stone only found in the Dominican Republic, but you'll find jewelry made from the stone throughout the Carribean as the "Official" stone of the area. It's beautiful aqua blue color does remind you of the ocean waves. I have 3 pieces of Larimar jewelry, all purchased at various places of the US Virgin Islands. The first piece The first piece, is actually my newest acquisition, as I got it right before leaving the USVIs on St. Thomas in Charlotte Amalie at a market usually serving cruise ship passengers. We had arrived by ferry and right after exiting found
I often look for unique sea shells when I'm on vacation, but natural or genuine Sea Glass is like winning a treasure hunt! Sea Glass comes from broken glassware that are tumbled and grounded against the sandy sea floor and can take anywhere from 20-50 years before it reaches it characteristic weathering of frosted coloration and rounded edges. There are rumors that people use to refer to them as "Mermaid Tears", morning drowned sailors. Sea Glass has become so widely used as "gems of the sea" that they actually have a rating, as well as some colors are rarer than
There once was an amazing echo-campground on St. John, USVI. You could stay in these canvas tents in the trees. And you could watch glassblowing artisans use recycled glass to make beautiful things all night long. Sadly, the campgrounds lost their lease and the land was sold a few years back. Which makes Maho Bay Glass souvenirs rare. This is an example of their beautiful work, of a purple fish ornament. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.
Hands on experiences are always the best, and I had a chance twice to visit the Maho Bay Clay Works in St John, USVI and make my own pottery. This was my first little bowl I made, and it actually turned out pretty well! It use to be a nice purple color, but an Irish flag once got caught in some water in the bowl and the color changed slightly. I have another pot at this same trip in 2010, but it came out very weirdly so haven't taken a photo of it. My second trip I was more
Today is World Oceans Day. With so many news stories of rising ocean temperatures and bleached corals, now more than ever is it important to protect this important part of our ecosystem. So today I share some of my favorite snorkel photography and hope we can all help protect the oceans. Above is Waterlemon Caye, off of St. John USVI. The large school of fish you can see are Sergeant Major, my favorite fish. Here you can see more Sergeant Majors near Isla Tortuga, Costa Rica. I like this fish as it reminds of me the coloring of Flounder from the
When you exit the St. Thomas airport, you are greeted with a sample of Curzan Rum. Then when you get off the ferry in St. John, you get...another sample of Curzan Rum! Not that I'm complaining at all! But on my second trip to St. John, I was happy to find a new store had opened up. It was a "Pour Your Own Rum Bar" featuring a locally made Rum: Bones Rum! Now usually I'm not a fan of dark rum mainly as its not great on its own, but Bones is smooth and tastes good every way you want to