This was a trip like no other! I cannot believe I had so much fun!! That's because I was with my niece, Phyllis, and her mother, Gloria. What didn't we do?
I flew from New York to San Juan on July 13th and returned to NYC on July 20th. From New York (JFK) to SJU and SJU to NYC I flew Delta. From San Juan to St. Croix (STX) and STX to SJU, I flew Silver Airlines. Seaborne has been bought over by Silver. The STX to SJU trip on July 20th was on a newer Silver Airlines plane. It was a nice plane. I will not entertain the minor delays.
The purpose of the trip was to celebrate Mother's 100th birthday on July 16th. I visited Ma's grave twice.
Phyllis was our designated driver. And driving she did! We drove all over the island and visited family and friends. On July 15th, we took a hike up Mahogany Road (badly in need of repairs) to Annaly Road (better than Mahogany Road but does need to be repaired. Almost at the end of Annaly Road, we noticed that the road had begun to be repaved. We then walked down Creque Dam Road (paved, better than Annaly and Mahogany Roads). We made a wrong turn which caused us to lose time. Once we completed the walk, we headed to Rainbow Beach for a cold drink and then walked back to the car, parked at Frederiksted Beach. Total walked? We walked 10.8 miles in 4 hours. Would have been less had we not taken a wrong turn,
On July 17th, we met Papo (Phyllis' brother) and we hiked to the location where he has a camp. For this trip we were accompanied by Daisy and her family, Guilito and Yaira. We ate Ital (also written as I-tal) food (no meat and definitely no pork), chit-chatted with Papo and his friends and then hiked back to where the truck was parked. On our way back, we stopped in Rainbow Beach for a swim and to have a cold drink. Papo said that if one soaks in the sea after a hike, it relieves the pain. It appears to have worked. Unfortunately, we did not keep track of time it took us up and down the hill. Papo mentioned the height we were at but I cannot recall what he said.
On a few occasions, we went "torching". In the week I was on the island, we caught about 16 crabs. We searched the area around Rainbow Beach, La Grange, and St. Patrick's. Phyllis made a cage for the crabs to house them while they are "purged". The land crabs have to be cleaned for about 2-3 weeks before they can be cooked/eaten. Gloria was in charge of feeding the crabs and cleaning the cage. I suppose she will make a delicious crab and rice!
How was the weather? Hot but not as hot as what I came back to in NYC. It rained at times for a few minutes.
I used the Lumix and cell phone to take photos. I will post the photos by date taken.
San Juan Airport July 13, 2022
The Silver Airlines plane that took us to St. Croix
InterCaribbean plane. I have no idea the destinations it flies to. (It appears airline travels to many of the Caribbean Islands, including Puerto Rico, but at this time does not include St. Croix.)
Silver and InterCaribbean planes
Paintings on wall in my room, #405, at the Sand Castle Hotel. July 14, 2022
July 14, 2022
Umbrella and chairs at Sand Castle Hotel
Pool and bar area
First Target Wall
Artwork on side of one of the buildings in Marley Housing
Another view
It's a beautiful work of art!
Flamboyant tree
Close-up of tree on left
July 14, 2022
A close-up of the flowers on the Flamboyant tree above
More artwork on a building in Marley Houses
My walking tour continues July 14, 2022
A better view
Display in park next to the house where Miguel García and family once lived, Strand Street. Similar display are all over Frederiksted. You will get to see more later on. My niece and I took photos of all artworks seen. I think we got all.
Same park as above, artwork on water tank.
At the end of the park, right next to the beach, is this beautiful flower.
July 14, 2022
Who painted the hibiscus?
Rusted chains and a conch shell eastern view
Same as above western view
What was once Holy Land clothing store and later a grocery store Apartments were on 2nd floor Corner of King and King Cross Streets
July 14, 2022
On King Cross Street, northern side
What was once the Apothecary Hall Corner of Queen and King Cross Streets
A closer view
Hurricane or fire?
Was once a barber shop. Tomás was the barber.
Harrigan Court has been demolished. What's next?
Location of former Harrigan Court
You can see part of the Court that was once displayed in this location.
The walking tour continues
July 14, 2022
Northeast corner of King Cross & Prince Streets. House being repaired after damaged by hurricane.
Frangipanni Inside the yard of the Anglican Church
Inside the church
Bell in the church's yard
The Church's yard and the sign on Fisher Street
Written on bell seen above
One of the markers in the graveyard
Tree of life?
On a wall on Fisher Street, next to Queen Street. House seen on right was once residence of Delamos family.
Frederiksted Beach, The Pool
July 14, 2022
Sign by the Frederiksted Beach
The pool being repaired
What the pool area will look like once renovations completed
Architect view
A better view
The artist(s)
More Artwork
Side wall of Claude O. Markoe School. And who is the person in the mural? Asta Williams.
Artist of above mural
Northside
A beautiful Baobab tree. Looks more like 2 trees
Baobab and more
July 14, 2022
Another view of the Baobab tree
A second tree on the same area
Tree on the left, Baobab
The fruit of the Baobab tree
One side of the entrance to the Baobab trees
The area now houses the Feather Leaf Inn Prospect Hill Road
The area from across the street Butler Bay, St. Croix
A rooster on boardwalk across the street from Marley Houses.
We travelled East, West, North and South
All travels done on July 14, 2022
Point Udall, East End
Seaweed seen from Point Udall. Where is it coming from? Before I leave, I will see lots of it by the Christiansted Boardwalk
The queen size bed in my room No flash used I was in room 405. There were two separate buildings in the area.
Flash used The room was very comfortable. A short walk to the beach. There was a pool between the 2 buildings.
The kitchen, which included a microwave
Sofa bed and dresser/closet, TV, safe, etc.
The bathroom, partial view.
The following photos taken with the Galaxy S-20
July 14, 2022
Phyllis posing behind sign on Frederiksted Beach
Baobab tree
Another view Prospect Hill Road
See the large fruit? Butler Bay Area
The second tree
The residence in the area plus hanging fruits
A different view to photo above
Area as seen from street Prospect Hill Road
More cell phone photos
July 14, 2022
The Feather Leaf Inn Off Hams Bluff Road Butler Bay
The other wall in the area
El Flamboyan Restaurant Machuchal Pieces of fried pork, peas and rice, salad, red kidney beans and a tamarind drink. Delicious!!
Road leading to Point Udall From Cholo's residence
A view of the reef in the area.
A windmill
July 15, 2022
The hotel sign at night
Another view
Saw this at the intersection of Mahagony and Annaly Roads
Where do you want to go?
More signs
Where do you want to go?
The original sign read, "Test your breaks" and it was further up.
As we headed to Rainbow Beach, we came across this sign. Great advice!!
Another walking/driving tour
July 15, 2022
Bethel Methodist Church by Marley Houses
Another view
Front of church. Fence went up since I last visited St. Croix
View with the sun behind me
Artist
Artwork at the Museum of Art on Strand Street
Another figure by the warehouse between Lagoon and Custom House Streets
Mural at Rainbow Beach
July 15, 2022
Right side of artwork, Rainbow Beach
Somewhat complete view.
This, and the remaining photos, are part of what looks like a ritual. A woman praying or mourning.
The above continued
These photos were taken in the same location.
Another view
Loops. As you can see, artwork done in memory of Christopher Seikaly.
Part of the above
July 15, 2022 continued
Frangipanni
Sugar being planted in what is/was Christensen property
A dead tree with arms up in air in prayer
The side view at Marley Houses Above the fish reads, SOS
Artwork in the yard of library, Strand Street
The foundation of what was once Durant Tower King Street
Where the Nesbitt family once lived. King Street
King Street
Sign and artwork
Sand Castle sign during the day.
I am Queen Mary !
A walking tour of Frederiksted
Afternoon of July 15, 2022
Westside of King Street
Same area but different angle
More of King Street
Close-up of second house in photo at left
King Street continued
Was once a 2-story structure. Here once "Chico" Morales had a restaurant
A close-up of the right side of photo above
A new house going up in an area that once was just an empty lot after a hurricane destroyed the home that was there.
King Street continued
Afternoon of July 15th
Corner of Market and King Streets
Was once Brow Soda
Another view of structure that once housed Brow Soda
Across from the vegetable market, Queen Street, close to Market Street
Another view of the same structure
And still another view.
Corner of Hill and Queen Streets
The side/back of structure in photo at left. A Rasta passed by and thanked me for taking a photo of "his" sign.
Queen Street
July 15, 2022
I continued my walking tour. Queen Street
Eastside of Queen Street
Did this house have a porch?
This photo, and next, same area on Queen Street
King Cross from Queen Street
Was once a grocery store. Roof over porch gone. Prince Street
Small house on Prince Street
Prince and Hospital Streets
July 15, 2022
Where Schade once lived
Looking south on Prince Street
A close-up view of Prince Street, all the way to Fisher.
Tree on left, Baobab. I realized tree is on Hospital Street, not New.
Westside of Hospital Street
Hospital Street, close to King Cross
Corner of Hospital and King Cross
Hospital Street. Joseph family's property?
Hospital Street
July 15, 2022
Westside of Hospital Street
The structures here are completely gone. Eastside of Hospital. Min and family once lived in this area and so did the fisherman Stevens.
This and next two photos were taken of western side of Hospital Street.
Where Taco once lived, also next photo.
Queen Cross Street. Where we once lived.
Prince, Fisher and Queen Streets
July 15, 2022
Corner of Prince and Queen Cross Street. Was once such a beautiful house!
Where I once wrote my name in the wet cement. The G is hardly visible. In another photo GEO is visible.
Lots that were once barren now have this 2 story structure.
Another view. Prince Street
Fisher Street. Once Delamos residence.
Queen Street I was chased by a man living in this house. The structure is all boarded up. Squatter?
Queen Street, east side
Corner of Queen and Queen Cross Streets. There was once a house on the corner. Allick family once lived in the home.
Another view of Baobab, Fried Fish and Johnny (Journey) Cake, Goose (iron), and a Brow soda bottle. Taken with Cell phone July 15th and 16th.
Baobab on Hospital Street
Breakfast - Fried fish and Johnny Cake A recipe given below last photo.
Goose (iron). Coal used to make it hot. (I can't believe I forgot to take photo of the opening where coal is inserted.)
An original Brow soda bottle
Mural, cell phone used July 16th
Plaza East Supermarket
See St. Croix N-2 for the remainder of the photos.
The last time I updated this page was... La última vez que actualicé esta página fue... January 18, 2023 - el 18 de enero de 2023
