06/26/11, 06/07/20
June 2011 - Page 30

María, José, and I visited the island from June 16th to June 23rd.  The first anniversary of Ma's death
was June 18th.  We stayed at Palms at Pelican Cove.  Though I would not consider it  a 5 star hotel, it
was very nice.  The hotel is located on the beach in La Grande Princesse and the area had a constant
tropical breeze blowing.  The food at the hotel's restaurant was excellent.  The hotel only has 40 rooms
in 2 buildings.  We booked the trip (air, car and hotel) via American Airlines and had no problems
with any segment of the trip.

St. Croix was very hot.  Very little rain fell while we were there but the island was very green.  
The most eastern end of the island, which tends to be dryer, was very green!
The
following
photos
are
of the
hotel
and
views
of the area.
Our room.  María looking out.
This gentleman would come routinely to the beach to check
his fish traps. The fish caught was for sale.  Here he
is seen pulling the trap back into the sea.
The Noni fruit.  Click on Noni for more information.
Soldier (Hermit) crab on stairs of room.

Left to right at Ma's grave (Frederiksted cemetery)
- José, María, Nilsa, and Phyllis.
Left to right - Nilsa, María, Phyllis, & Jorge
An old house in Little La Grange being renovated
Avocados, also called Pears on St. Croix.

Many years ago there was a chapel here.  One of the
hurricanes knocked it down.  For many years there was a
shrine on the grounds and eventually this structure was
built.  It appears as if it is not being used.  During my years
in St. Patrick's School we'd walk to Montpellier for a retreat
(pilgrimage) and spent most of the day at the site.  Click here
to see black & white photos of original chapel.
Look closely under the tree, to the right, and you can see
what's left of the shrine.  See St. Croix 13 for column that
was once part of staircase to chapel and a photo of shrine
Christiansted - Fort Christiansvaern and bandstand.
Gallows Bay as seen from King Christian Hotel.
Fort and Scale House.

IN CASE YOU CANNOT MAKE IT OUT:

THE BAOBAB TREE, KNOWN LOCALLY AS GUINEA ALMOND
OR GUINEA TAMARIND, WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ISLANDS
FROM AFRICA WHERE IT IS HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM AS A
SACRED TREE DUE TO ITS UNIQUE APPEARANCE AND
IMPORTANCE AS A SOURCE OF FOOD, WATER, SHELTER
AND FIBER.  AFRICAN LEGEND TELLS THAT THE BAOBAB
LOOKS SO STRANGE BECAUSE IT WAS PLANTED UPSIDE
DOWN WHEN THE WORLD WAS CREATED.

IN AFRICA, IT IS OFTEN FOUND IN THE CENTER OF VILLAGES,
SERVING AS A MEETING PLACE JUST AS THE BAOBAB IN
GROVE PLACE, ST. CROIX HAS BEEN THE GATHERING PLACE
FOR MEETINGS OF WORKERS FROM EARLY DAYS OF THE
ISLAND’S LABOR MOVEMENT.

THE OBLONG VELVET-LIKE FRUIT, WHICH HANG DOWN
SINGLY ON DROOPING STALKS LIKE A RAT CAUGHT BY ITS
TAIL LEND THE NAME “DEAD RAT TREE”.  THE FLOWERS OPEN
AT NIGHT AND ARE POLLINATED BY BATS.  ST. CROIX HAS
MORE BAOBABS THAN ANY OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLAND.
Flower & fruit of Baobab.  This tree is found in the parking lot
on Strand Street (aka Government Parking Lot), Christiansted.
This is a hill close to the hotel at Carambola.  This hill is
part of the route used by the athletes during the
Triathlon. It is very steep and has many turns, thus
the name The Beast!
The refuge starts next to the Frederiksted Pool/Beach and
extends to Sandy Point.  Various birds and turtles come to
the area to mate, lay eggs, etc.
María and José at one of the many shelters at the
Frederiksted Pool/Beach area.
Prosperity Beach, Frederiksted, north of Rainbow Beach.
On this day, I had been growing my
hair and beard for 1 year and 5 days!
On June 20th, I cut my hair and beard off! After a year
and 7 days my promise had been fulfilled!
Beautiful and
fragrant Frangipani
Kaylah
Kaylah and René
María and Nilsa,
and Nilsa's
pouch
José, Jorge, and René
María and Gloria at the Casino
View from Nilsa's house in St. George's, looking
southeast.  Airport's contriol tower can be seen (1).
Gooseberries.  More sour than lime.  More sour than lemon.  
The only way it can be eaten is by making it into a candy
(preserve).   Click on Gooseberries for more information.
The Castle on the hill, East End, Christiansted.  
Home to a Duchess.
A pineapple growing in friend's yard.
Looks bigger due to zoom. Same size as Harrigan at left.
This trap is placed in the sea.  Since the man had no boat, he'd
walk into the sea and place it as far in as he could.
Bait is placed in the trap before being taken out to sea.  
The fish get in but cannot get out.
New display outside Harrigan Court Housing Complex.
A beautiful sunset!
For more information, please go to Family 28.
Also see St. Croix 10 for full view of tree.
Also see Fruits 1.
(1)