Saturday, March 05, 2011

Saturday, March 05, 2011:

We’re going this morning to walk around Fort Christiansted, then Evonne and I are going to shop a little more since we saw a couple of jewelry stores we didn’t get to yesterday! =)

Then we are planning on coming back and cooking steaks and sitting by the pool!  John is having sun withdraw!  It was cloudy this morning, but looks like it is clearing up…so it’s a good day for the pool!

We got to Christiansted, parked and took our tour through the Fort.  It never really was used in a battle though!

 Camera's just can't do justice to the colors of the water!

 Below left is the customs house where they paid their taxes, and the building next to that was the scale house where all the crops and produce were weighed and .... taxed!

 This is a little hotel across the bay.  You have to take a water taxi to and from.  I understand they have a nice beach and a good restaurant!

 The entrance to the Fort!

 This was the bell outside of the canteen.

 John, Gerald and Evonne checking out the cannons!

 We put Evonne in a jail cell...and even she had to bend over!

 This is where they stored all the ammunition and powder (that they never used!)

 Ferns were growing between the rocks and bricks.

 Views from the top of the fort:

 Gerald was carrying my purse...he has a bad back now!

 John was reading the tour guide/book and telling about the fort.

After we went through the Fort, all of us walked on the boardwalk and down the boardwalk a little until we hit the shops.  

 This is where the Brew Pub is:

The boys wanted to go home, so Evonne and I stayed and went further down the boardwalk.  We stood by the Harbor Cam a little while, and then off to shopping we go.  We went through many shops looking for something just right for Evonne’s living room but never got anything but t-shirts and coolie can holders! 

We found an art store called Many Hands and went in because it had lots of local art – rather than all the stuff “Made in China”.  It was run by a man named Robert, and he was very nice and very talkative.  During our conversation it became clear he was not from around here.  I figured it had to be Ireland, but I didn’t know if it was the North or the South.  He does a very good job of hiding the Irish brogue but it would slip. Of course, Evonne made the comment he was not from here and asked him where he was from.  He is from Dublin, Ireland. We had a great conversation with him.  He told us lots of stories of his family and adventures, how he came to America and from all his travels, likes it there the best.  He was a successful businessman and restaurateur in the US, making pizza, ice cream, even won an award for clam chowder in New England – and didn’t like to eat any of it! He likes it here to because it’s very laid back.  It was a delightful conversation.  We even looked at the art in the shop! Some great things!

Of course, we also happened by a few jewelry stores while we were shopping and was looking at some tanzanite rings…and boy was it killing me!  Great bargains – and here I without a job to buy any! ARG!  Evonne and I did buy Crucian hook rings (there was a sale) so I did get a jewelry purchase in!

Gerald called checking up on us, and we had him come pick us up and take us back to the house. The boys had stopped by the store earlier and picked up some groceries for dinner.  We had a salad, baked potatoes, garlic bread, caramelized onions mushrooms and garlic, and Evonne cooked the steaks.  It was all so good!

Evonne and Gerald cooking away in the kitchen (actually it's Gerald getting in Evonne's way in the kitchen!)

Tomorrow the boys are going to golf again and we are going to the Whim Estate auction!