St. John, Sugar and Snorkeling
 The next day, I awoke early and took a short taxi ride to Red Hook, a bustling harbor town where one can catch the ferry over to St. John island. A mere 20 minute ride and you arrive in Cruz Bay, the starting point for everything on St. John island. Once there, I boarded an open-air taxi and the native tour operator began telling us all about the history, flora and fauna of this wonderful place. As we drove through heavily forrested/jungle area I saw wild goats and boars, bananas and breadfruit, coconut and papayas. Our guide would stop ocassionally, in the middle of the road, (where, by the way..they drive on the LEFT side), to climb into the jungle and procure a piece of tree or shrub, breaking it open and passing it amongst the passengers. What a delight to see and smell these tropical delights.
Back on the road, we continued around the island and through a brief mid-day shower, finally came to the 1718 Annaberg Sugar Plantation/Mill ruins. This place once hosted a thriving sugar making operation by the Danes with the manpower of native slaves. Here you can see the remenats of the old windmill and sugar cane reducing sluces, slave quarters, storage facilities as well as one of the most breathtaking vews of Leinster Bay.
After a wonderful lunch of Mahi Mahi at a local bayside eatery, we all climbed back aboard to continue our journey past Maho Bay and Cinnamon Bay until we reached Trunk Bay. Perhaps one of the most photographed bays in all the Virgin Islands, this National Park boasts an underwater, self-guided snorkeling expedition where you the swimmer, can view exotic fish and corals as they appear in the wild at your own pace. Just offshore, in the warm water, there is a small island surrounded with sunken block signs which point out most of the different corals and fish that swim nearby. I was fortunate to see many hundreds of colorful fish and corals of every shape and design. Even a large but very gentle stingray swam by seeming to wave "hello" .
All in all, this was a most enjoyable day and quite a learning experience. The sights, sounds, smells and tastes are forever burned into my mind's eye and I will remember them fondly always! For more information regarding St. John and it's diverse resources, click here (you will NOT be sorry).
Today's Quote:
To me, the sea is like a person—like a child that I’ve known a long time. It sounds crazy, I know, but when I swim in the sea I talk to it. I never feel alone when I’m out there.-Gertrude Ederle
7:07:00 AM 
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