Christmas Cove

 

As those who do not already know “Moonbeam” is heading back to the West Coast of Scotland for a reality check- no plans further than that yet- we will have to see! We are also running short of tea bags.

Having met several people who have sailed back across the Atlantic west to east and said they did not want to do it again and not fancying the trip with just the two of us we are now in St.Thomas USVI waiting for our ship to come in- the MV Sampogracht   www.spliethoff.com/photos  will transport Moonbeam to Southampton which just leaves us the 600 miles back to Loch Melfort!

 

Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the USVI’s and is dedicated to cruise ships; passengers who flock ashore to the shops in the ‘old town’ to buy diamonds, watches, cameras, clothing and tourist tat. As all the cruise ship destinations are the same do they buy a watch in every port?

 

   

 

   

 

                                                                                                                            At anchor Charlotte Amalie

 

 

We anchored in the harbour and headed ashore to find the Carnival was on and Emancipation Square was full of stalls selling local food and drink and the youngsters of the Rising Stars Steel Band were playing brilliantly in their mobile two storey stage. At the other end of the square another steel band was also playing; both bands having the inevitable solo dancers performing in front of them!

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

Most of the local ladies of varying shapes and sizes were dressed in weird and outrageous costumes! Many people say hello and ask where we are from- hopefully we are distinguishable from the many cruise ship passengers who swarm down the duty-free shopping street.

Perhaps unfortunately we were anchored just a few hundred yards from the stage and fun fair and the riotous noise and bands playing to the early hours woke us several times during the night!

We went ashore next morning to watch the J’Ouvert parade but unfortunately the police cancelled it, presumably due to some violent incident.....great pity as everybody had dressed for the occasion.

 

 

The main adult parade was on Saturday but we learnt of problems with guns and violence and decided just to listen and watch from on the water. Problems in paradise.

 

 http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/much-colour-gyration-at-carnival-2013-in-st-thomas-usvi                      

 

 

 

Fireworks to mark the end of the 2 week carnival

 

 

   

 

103 steps up to Bluebeard’s Castle

 

   

 

                                                                                                            Security at the Governor’s Office

 

   

 

one of the ‘pirate’ ships that takes daysails!                                  Jeanneau, Swan, Rustler, Arcona – all makes represented

 

   

 

Gunboat Cat being loaded                                                               Enormous Cat being loaded – 85’+? – a double lift

 

We were told we were to be loaded 11am Wednesday, changed to 11pm Wednesday, changed to 11am Thursday but our flight to JFK is 1pm so we are leaving Moonbeam alongside the ship to be lifted!

Not ideal.

Next blog will be from the UK!    David & Lynn     Thursday morning 6am