My friend Bryan visited last week, and I couldn't have asked for a better week - he brought the perfect mix of fun, relaxation, and support. The goal for the week was working on my St Croix "bucket list". I can't believe how fast almost five months have gone by already. As much as I have accomplished here so far, there are still so many things I've yet to see or do or places to eat that I would regret missing out on if I don't make it there before I leave. So here goes ...
On Sunday (after some P90X stretching to start off the day relaxed), Bryan volunteered to be my exploring partner - I've been wanting to take my jeep on Scenic Drive - for the fun of the four-wheel drive and the views from the top. Well I wasn't quite sure how to get there or which direction to go (of course, I had a specific point in mind for a photo op but no idea exactly where it was) - but we made it! And to top it off, we returned just in time for the Reggae Brunch at Eat at Cane Bay - something I found on my 'to do' list from October 20 - again, hard to believe I hadn't been there until now (of course, I will say in my defense, brunch is served from 11-4 and the music starts at 3 - so there just haven't been many times where I was thinking of brunch that late in the afternoon!).
Before his flight even took off, Bryan decided to get certified for scuba diving. Of course diving has been on my bucket list since I got here ... and you might recall NOT seeing any posts about my adventures diving. My friend Jeff has been wanting to take me out for months. I had never had any desire to go scuba diving before moving down here (given I've never been crazy about or comfortable snorkeling), but if living in the Caribbean for six months, I decided I at least needed to try it. Jeff and I had a day in November when we planned to go (and the newness and excitement of the island outweighed my fear), but we got rained out. Then the longer I've been down here, the more leery I seem to be about it (even though pretty much everyone I know down here does it and loves it). So we scheduled another date in February ... and I called and chickened out that morning. Well I sure couldn't just drop Bryan off at the dive shop for his discovery dive and not hear the end of it if I didn't go as well, so he inspired me to dive with him. We even started off the morning with yoga getting in the right frame of mind by relaxing and focusing on breathing, but long story short, the course ended up pretty much as I had anticipated ... I failed =( At least I can say that I had on all of the equipment and was breathing underwater through the regulator for a few minutes at a time, but during the skills test of taking the regulator out of my mouth (ummm ... how are you supposed to breathe?!?!? I had FINALLY got comfortable breathing with that thing in my mouth, now you want me to drop it ... underwater?!?), my panic mode was to stand up out of the water, take the regulator out, and breathe on my own. I just couldn't envision having that panic attack being more than a few feet underwater ... so that's where I called it a day. But I can officially say I tried!
Thursday night (after a headache of a day with power, internet, and jeep issues), our team finally won trivia - for the first time since I've been down here (combining forces with the A-team proved to be the winning combination)! Unfortunately I spent the majority of the night in the parking lot with my jeep, but I did contribute one answer to the winning team ... so that still counts, right?
We rounded up the Friday Night Dinner Crew for a meal Villa Morales - one of the local restaurants with true Caribbean/Latin flare - where I ate (and enjoyed) stewed goat! I will definitely go back and next time want to try the buttered conch.
Saturday morning we got up early to make the hour trek across the island to the eastern most point in the US to watch the sunrise - that was amazing, totally worth the trip! We ended up hiking the trails to Isaac's Bay and Jacob's Bay, then hung out at the beach at Chenay Bay, followed by lunch at Cheeseburgers in Paradise. Crossed four things off my list by noon!
I have tried my best to continue the streak since Bryan left (and surprisingly I have taken to yoga this week - we'll see how long this lasts!). On Sunday, after shooting a two minute video for the Major League Baseball Ultimate Dream Job audition (not on the STX Bucket List, but I could technically put that on my lifelong bucket list as the chance of a lifetime working for MLB!!), I headed to Lisa's to hang out with her at their pool. I had only been up there one other time and made a mental note to come back with my camera - they have a view that should be on the cover of Caribbean magazines! We really had a fabulous relaxing day - just sad we don't do it more often!
Monday proved to be a crazy day at work, but no meetings were scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Given that Coconuts and Rhythms both have free wireless internet, I had "working from the beach bar" on my bucket list. So I headed to Coconuts for a late lunch and a productive afternoon (true!), followed by a call at 5:20 from my boss needing assistance "this afternoon". Needless to say, I spent the rest of the night working from home ... but it sure had been nice up until then!
I almost crossed off working from Rhythms on Thursday when I lost power, internet, and water! Ugh, it's one thing to have my computer with me over an extended lunch; it's another when we have a crazy busy day and I need back-up internet options! Luckily at least the power and internet were back up after my lunch break, though it took until Friday night to have running water (I swear, when it rains it pours ... and I feel like it hasn't stopped for the past month straight! I will kiss the ground when I get home being thankful for reliable essentials!).
Last night me and the "Fantastic Four" had dinner at Tutto Bene ... absolutely one of the best meals I have had here! Homemade sweet potato goat cheese ravioli in a mango rum brown sugar sauce ... WOW!!!
While not officially on my bucket list, I have learned to make it a point to stop and watch the sunset every chance possible. One of my favorite things about the island is that time literally stops around here for people to watch the sunset. And I have lost track of how many green flashes I have seen! I am really enjoying the position of the sun right now, where I don't even have to leave my balcony to watch it set behind the water. Ah ... one of the many things I will miss most!!
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