12-7-17  St. Thomas:

Today we were in one of our favorite places---St. Thomas.  It, too, was hit hard by Irma.  In fact, the cruise ports just reopened a couple weeks ago.

Loved that we were greeted with another rainbow!

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw all the greenery.  I'd seen videos from the storm where the trees where stripped of branches and fronds.

From the ship, St. Thomas looked like nothing had happened to it.

Usually we rent a car here and go to Cowpet Bay, Secret Bay, Sapphire, and even some other places if we have time.  We've stayed here on land vacations a couple times and have found some great snorkeling at a lot of beaches here.  But with the damage from the hurricane, I was reluctant to rent a car this time.  So we took a taxi to Sapphire Beach.   It seems to be the most popular beach for cruisers, (other than Coki which we aren't great fans of) so we figured we'd be able to get a taxi back easily.

On the way there, we did see some of the damage from the hurricane

Arrived at Sapphire to lots of sunshine

and lots of rough water!

Looking towards the point where we usually snorkel  to

Heading in

It wasn't a graceful entrance!  I was pummeled a couple of times.

Although it was rough, it was easy to ride the waves once we got past the break.

We headed towards the point.

Could hardly see anything until we were right upon it.

I'm surprised how well these underwater pictures turned out.

With the big waves, we were afraid of being slammed down on the coral at the point so we made our way back to the beach.

I took a walk along the beach.

We also sat at the bar for awhile and got a soda.  While we were there, their electricity came on!  90+ days without electricity!  I thought it was bad when electricity was out in St. Louis for 8 days!

We met a really nice couple there who had a rental property here.  After  chatting with them awhile, I decided to take a walk towards their rental.  Past more pretty flowers.

I even walked out to the point on land.  First time I've been there by land.

I love the views of all the outer islands from Sapphire!

Looking back towards the entrance

around  the other side of the point.

even the ducks thought the surf was too rough.   This guy was enjoying Sapphire Resort's pool.

Nice pool!

looking over towards the rental condo the couple was telling us about.

Back along the beach by the bar.  Here the palm trees were just beginning to get their fronds back.

The patios of the Sapphire Resort units.  Apparently this side of the island was particularly hit hard.

the beach by the resort units

back by the bar

we sat at the bar and enjoyed the views as long as we could.  It was really windy, too.  The bar tender said the trade winds had just started.  She also said they were a few weeks early.  Good for comfort, but not so good for snorkeling.

We headed out to meet our taxi, but she didn't come back.  But there was a taxi stand there, so we didn't have a problem getting back.

more of the destruction as seen from our taxi ride back to the ship.

View toward Charlotte Amalie as we rounded a corner.

Back to Havensight.  This was the first time we've ported in Havensight.  Usually HAL ports at Crown Bay.  Havensight has a lot more shops.

After wandering around the shops a bit, we headed back to the ship

View towards the shore from the Lido Restaurant

All too soon we were sailing away.

Bet the views from these rooms are great

Zoomed in view of the Wyndham Blue Beards Resort.  We've stayed here before, too, and snorkeling here is great, too.  From a distance it looks like this might have been a better place to go to today.

The resort and surrounding area

shortly after sail away was sunset.  It wasn't the greatest sunset, but I'll take it.

Checking out the moon again

Too late  for Lido lunch today.  Had a Dive Bar hotdog instead.   When Lido opened for dinner, I discovered they make really great soups, too.

On Stage Tonight was Brett Cave (a show that blends Elton John and Billy Joe's high energy.)  He was very good, and the funniest piano player "Ever, ever, ever!".  Although he didn't play any Elton John songs.  But I still really enjoyed his show.  Ken ran into him a couple days later and had a really nice conversation with him.  We've met some really down to Earth performers on HAL cruises.

The Poolside Movie was: Loving Vincent (in a story depicted in oil painted animation, a young man comes to the last hometown of painter Vincent van Gogh to deliver the troubled artist's final letter and ends up invertigation his final days."  We started to watch it, but it was really hot that night (the Lido top was closed) so we ended up going back to our room.

Where we found this little guy.

Wasn't sure what we were going to find in St. Thomas, but I was anxious to find out.  It is still the St. Thomas we fell in love with several years ago.  I noticed all the greenery and beautiful beaches; Ken just noticed the downed power lines (I guess from his 40 years of working for the power company back home) and overturned boats and such.  I was pleasantly surprised by how far it's come since the Hurricane; Ken tells everyone it's a huge mess.   Hopefully all the electric gets back up soon and the island is back to being as great as before Hurricane Irma.

Another port day---no "O" activities today.
O's saying of the day:
"Life is full of delightful treasures if we take a moment to look around"