Week 1

Hard to believe it's been a week already!  I have absolutely loved every minute of it ... okay, there are funny stories here and there, plenty of changes to adapt to, etc., but it really is amazing that I haven't had any reservations, hesitations, or thoughts that this was the wrong decision.  It hasn't even felt like vacation.  It has just felt right ...

Jen and I had a great weekend - busy!!  Poor girl, one of the last times she visited me in Charlotte, we ran a 1/2 marathon and she helped me move.  This time, we spent 10 hours each day touring the island and were exhausted by the time we got home.  I really owe her a relaxing vacation!!

Started off Saturday with a delicious Ghirardelli frappe (just as good as a Starbucks fix!) for breakfast at a cute little place called Polly’s on the Pier, hit the beach, then drove to the other town on the island, Christiansted, in search of a jeep and lunch – we were successful with the latter.  I had originally convinced myself that I would be okay with a stick shift again, but after some of the intersections we went through and having to turn right crossing into traffic, I quickly realized that getting used to driving a stick AND getting used to driving on the left side of the road were just too much!  Luckily this jeep only had the hard top and not a soft top - so not quite what I was looking for anyway (go figure, that has been the only available jeep I’ve found so far – seems they are sold the minute they are advertised).  For those of you betting I would end up with a Vespa … not on these roads!  We were lucky our little rental car made it up some of those hills.  Hit the North Shore to watch another amazing sunset and had a fun dinner with a server and bartender from Missouri … fellow Cardinals fans!

Sunday we got up and went for a run - I think that had to be the most difficult two miles I have ever run - wow it's hot here, even early in the morning!  Drove from my apartment on the west end to the eastern most point of the US in exactly one hour - the time it took to listen to the Kenny Chesney “Be As You Are” cd.  We then found the one sports bar on the island that has the NFL package so we could watch the 49ers/Panthers game.  Jen and I have been to a game every year since 2000 (9 – 49ers, 1 – Panthers/ Rams), so in finding a place to watch it, we still considered this our “annual Niners trip”.  At least their loss was to the Panthers, my other hometown team, and of course I’ve gotta represent for the Tailgate Rescue Crew!  (Hated I missed the slam dunk contest at this week’s tailgate – love the pics and youtube videos!)  Unfortunately we missed the beer-drinking pig (though I promise a full report when I make it), but had my first experience at the local Kmart.  Ended up in the middle of a couple of political parades and a street fair on the way home – Sundays seem to be quite festive around here.

Got up bright and early today to get Jen back to the airport, then as I was sitting on my balcony working, I looked up and saw a cruise ship docked in my “front yard” – now that’s something you don’t see every day!  Other than taking an SUV for a test drive (think I’ll hold out for that Jeep!), tonight has been the first night that I haven’t had plans since I’ve been here.  I laughed when both BK and Dport told me today, “Just try not to burn yourself out!.....not typically something I would expect to say to someone living in the Caribbean” and “YOU HAVE TO RELAX”.

Excited for what week 2 has to bring!