No Real Updates, Mostly Just Appreciation & Observations
First off, Iâm terrible at writing in a timely manner I have multiple teachers who could attest to that. On that note, thank you to Terry Linehan & team for dealing with me! Secondly, Iâm still shocked I live in paradise. Now letâs get down to the point of this Tumblr & get everyone who cares in the loop!
Quick recap with my little detour in Florida. I couldnât be more appreciative for the hospitality Laura & Bobbea showed me or just getting to hang out with one of my best girlfriends before moving. Then of course finishing up last minute adventures with Evan made it feel just like we were back in the good olâ state of Maine. It was great to be able to relax & reset before so many changes were about to unfold. That all sounds kind of cheesy, but either way Iâm thankful it was apart of the journey & I had a blast. So hereâs to everyone involved in the Florida chapter of my adventure, thanks loves!
Now the St John part has a lot to cover &, to no surprise, will most likely be all over the place just like a conversation with me.
Big thanks to Kelsey & Jack for letting me bombard them with questions & picking their brains before moving down and then their hospitality & showing me around once I got down here. Seriously, the help you guys have given me is invaluable, especially for people I had never met before coming down here. So thank you Wyatt & Emma for that one too! The only reason winging this crazy adventure was even mildly possible is because of reaching out to network & make random connections. Itâs been incredibly cool to see how all of that works out.
I know everyone has seen pictures of the Caribbean, but I was still shocked at what I was seeing while flying into St Thomas. Just going to state the obvious observations real quick. Itâs rather really blue or just clear and much warmer in January than back home on the best summer day. The salt air down here isnât as strong; you can be standing right next to the water & it smells as strong as if you were a few miles into Portland just getting a waft. Although this is one one of my favorite smells in the world, I think Iâll figure out a way to liveâ probably while by frolicking in the ocean. My last mind blowing observation is how different the sand feels between your toes, but donât worry, even in paradise it still gets everywhere & you canât get rid of it.
People had mentioned how hilly it was down here & that the drivers could be somewhat scary. By no means did I comprehend what they meant by either of those statements. I did not fathom that landscape even existed like this or that you could then even build on it. They drive on the left side of the road down here, but you still have to he careful incase some tourist forgets that minor detail. Also, drinking & driving is basically fine as long as you donât crash, but make sure to keep your seat belt on & to stay off your phone! Seriously, they will pull you over & ticket you for those offenses. I was informed that the seatbelt law is so you donât spill your drink while taking all these crazy turns & suddenly it made a little bit more sense. Now while walking around thereâs not much, if any, room on the side of the roads for pedestrians. Basically, picture walking around on the side of these tight bending roads, but continuously on hills similar to Elizabeth Street & Brackett Street on Peaks Island or State Street & Melon Street in Portland while hoping everyone is sober enough to stay in their proper lane and not take a turn to wide⊠Weâll call it exhilarating. The silver lining to these bubble butt building hills & unwelcoming conditions for pedestrians is that you can always try to hitch hike, actually you just call it hitching down here. I never would of expected to hitch in my life ever, but itâs actually pretty safe down here (of course you use your judgement & keep your wits about you). Donât use your thumb to signal you want to hitch though, you simply point in the direction youâre going. Sometimes you get a ride right away & others not so much, but so far I have met some pretty cool people through it!
The alcohol laws down here are so incredibly relaxed that itâs kind of mind boggling coming from the States. I have only been carded once & people were incredibly surprised to hear that. As I mentioned earlier, you can drink and drive with no shame. Bartenders will ask if you want your drink to go & you can even walk around or into another establishment with it. Last call is more of a loosey goosey kind of deal (there may not even be a real one) & you can drink with your bartender. Everything I have known about the laws of alcohol have just been slapped in the face.
I just realized these have all been more observations instead of the play by play of my first survived fortnight of going coastal in the US Virgin Islands⊠Probably did that out of order, per usual, but I guess that means the next blog post will be way more interesting!
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