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May 31, 2005
The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
My wife and kids negotiating The Baths on Virgin Gorda. It has been over 2 years since we were there I think - time to go back!
Posted by afinta at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)
May 27, 2005
Historical Map of St. Croix
This is a really neat old historical map of St. Croix I found on the web. I had to download it a piece at a time and stitch it all together by hand. I am thinking of printing some as posters. It has all the estate and plantation names and locations of all the windmills.
Posted by afinta at 03:17 PM | Comments (3)
May 26, 2005
Cloud over St. Thomas
Just another day in the Virgin Islands - the sun was setting and throwing a beautiful light on this huge cloud.
Posted by afinta at 04:43 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2005
WICO to shift night traffic to Crown Bay
The Daily News has an article today about the Crown Bay cruise ship dock.
"We will be shifting some of our night traffic into the Crown Bay port," Thomas said, speaking at a session of UVI's 11th annual Summer Institute for Future Global Leaders of the Caribbean. "The West Indian Co. will basically be a daytime operation." "
I think this whole project is in a bit of trouble - I have heard rumors that there are basically no tenants, and the rents are very high. If ships are not regularly scheduled how are the potential tenants going to survive? I want this project to work for the benfit of the island, but it seems to have a long way to go and a lot of hurdles in the way. Read the article here.
Posted by afinta at 12:36 PM | Comments (2)
Stingray at Jumbie Bay, St. John
Trying this one again. There was a problem last time but I think I have the bugs worked out now. This ray almost swam over over feet. Scared my friends a bit I think -
Posted by afinta at 12:22 PM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2005
Copper Mine Point, Virgin Gorda
The Coppper mine ruins on Virgin Gorda.
Posted by afinta at 05:29 PM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2005
All of Water Island is now officially part of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
From the Daily News:
Gov. Charles Turnbull executed the quitclaim deed for the territory to purchase the final 200 acres of the island owned by the U.S. Interior Department for $10 on Monday, St. Thomas-Water Island Administrator James O'Bryan Jr. said. On Wednesday, the document was officially recorded in the Tax Assessor's Office, solidifying the transfer."This is a proud and historic day for the people of the Virgin Islands as we have now taken full ownership of the fourth largest island which comprises the Virgin Islands," Turnbull said in a written statement issued Friday.
Water Island, at 500 acres, is the fourth-largest island in the territory and is located south of the Sub Base area. For years, the federal government leased land on the island to people who developed it over the years. Since the early 1990s, those tenants began purchasing the leased properties - 250 acres in all - directly from the Department of the Interior. Jurisdiction over the land purchased by those owners transferred to the territory when they were sold, and the territory has been receiving property taxes from those lands for several years.
In 1996, the transfer of remaining federal land on Water Island began with 50 acres - most of the island's roads, beaches and other public areas - switching hands from the Interior Department to the territory. The intent was always to eventually transfer all of the government-owned property to the territory, O'Bryan said.
Click here for the whole article.
Posted by afinta at 04:41 PM | Comments (0)
Water Lilly, St. George Village Botanical Garden, St. Croix
Visit the St. George Botanical Village Garden website.
I think this is a water lilly, if anyone has a more specific description let me know. Took this at the botanical garden a couple of years ago. The garden is great and should be on your to do list if you vacation on St. Croix.
Posted by afinta at 04:23 PM | Comments (0)
May 20, 2005
Sugar Estate, St. Thomas
Maybe some of you will recognize this view of Sugar Estate. You are looking at where the post office and hospital are now. I think Ronnie sent this to me by email - if I remember correctly this land used to belong to his family. Maybe he can comment on this and fill us in with some more facts.
Posted by afinta at 06:00 PM | Comments (1)
May 19, 2005
Cruz Bay, May 2005
Posted by afinta at 05:42 PM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2005
The Baths, Virgin Gorda
The Baths on Virgin Gorda. One of the coolest places in the world. This photo includes the bonus of my oldest, Jane Marie. She is 5 in this photo which was taken about 2 years ago I think.
Posted by afinta at 04:23 PM | Comments (2)
May 17, 2005
Storm over Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Took this about 3:20 PM here. Thought it was neat because you couldn't see the harbor but you could see all the way to St. Croix on the horizon. The weather hasn't exactly been great lately but for most of the late morning/early afternoon it was just perfect here. More rain is forecast but who knows...
Posted by afinta at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)
Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church, Christiansted, St. Croix
The Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church, built in the 1740s. The floor tiles and grave markers were moved from the former Lutheran Church. The Gothic Revival tower was added in 1831 to the Dutch Renaissance main structure.
Posted by afinta at 12:05 PM | Comments (0)
May 16, 2005
Charlotte Amalie at dawn, St. Thomas
Here are a couple of cruise ships coming into the harbor. That is St. Croix on the horizon.
Posted by afinta at 02:46 PM | Comments (2)
May 13, 2005
Coral Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Took this back in 2002 I think. Beautiful day, we were on our way back from Salt Pond probably, which is one of my favorite beaches.
Posted by afinta at 10:21 AM | Comments (0)
Group Doesn't Want to Give Up Land for St. John
From the St. Thomas Source:
May 12, 2005 – Members of the Hassel Island Preservation Trust Inc. are concerned about a proposed land swap between the V.I. government and the V.I. National Park Service. The government is currently negotiating to exchange nine-tenths of an acre of land on Hassel Island for 10 acres of land near Maho Bay on St. John from the National Park Service for the construction of a high school. However, The Hassel Island Preservation Trust doesn't like the proposal because the Hassel Island parcel is the only remaining public land on the approximately 200-acre island, and it houses three historic relics – Cowell's Battery on Signal Hill, Fort Willoughby and the Garrison House. The National Park and individuals own the rest of Hassel Island. Rik Van Rensselaer, president of the Hassel Island Preservation Trust, said Thursday his organization was "disgusted" with the government negotiations. "It's all been done quietly," Van Rensselaer said. "We feel the properties on Hassel Island belong to the people, and if they're going to swap it, the decision needs to be made by the people."There is more here.
Posted by afinta at 10:11 AM | Comments (0)
May 12, 2005
Mr. Joe Wife, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
There is a shell collecting "museum" on Tortola, along the north shore road, east of Apple Bay. The lower half of a conrete house that seems to never have been finished is filled with thousands of shells, room after room of them, lots of other stuff gathered from the sea, and curious home made signs. This is one of my favorites.
Posted by afinta at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2005
Fort Christian, Christiansted, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands
This is one of my favorite pictures. I probably should be using this on the St. Croix home page.
Posted by afinta at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)
May 10, 2005
Charlotte Amalie Harbor At Night, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
This is a shot from our apartment, middle of December 2002.
Posted by afinta at 12:06 PM | Comments (0)
This really bums me out...
This is from the Source this morning:
Gun Violence Interrupts Sunday at the Beachby Shaun A. Pennington
May 9, 2005 – Sunday at Magens Bay is a time that friends and family relax, party, play, frolic in the water and eat. Never before has it been a time when they had to dodge bullets. Not until this week.
At about 3 p.m. Sunday the sharp clap of gun shots interrupted the sound of laughter, music and pounding surf at the beach that "National Geographic" once dubbed one of the 10 most beautiful in the world.
Posted by afinta at 10:44 AM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2005
Reef Bay Petroglyphs, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
I found this on line somewhere - I think a USGS site or something like that.
Posted by afinta at 11:56 AM | Comments (0)
May 07, 2005
Sage Mountain National Park, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
This is just a favorite photo of mine. I love the beat up, weathered, rusty sign. Very Caribbean. This sign is up on Sage mountain near the entrance to the park.
Posted by afinta at 12:57 PM | Comments (0)
May 06, 2005
Whim Great House, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Here is a picture I took of the Whim Great House in 2002. It was a really beautiful day and the light was just perfect. I have a lot of good photos I will be posting from that trip.
Posted by afinta at 12:05 PM | Comments (3)
May 05, 2005
St. Thomas Waterspout
Here is a photo from April 2005 of a waterspout over Charlotte Amalie harbor. There were reports of as many as six that day.
Posted by afinta at 10:34 AM | Comments (3)
May 04, 2005
View from Peace Hill windmill ruin looking NW
Posted by afinta at 04:36 PM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2005
Belize Government ordered to return ownership of telecoms operator
I bet there are a few Virgin Islanders who would disagree with that...
Posted by afinta at 01:09 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2005
View from the Peace Hill windmill ruin. St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Looking east, with Frances in the distance and Tortola in the background.
Posted by afinta at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)
