About St. Croix, VI

I've visited plenty of Caribbean Saints: St. Juan, St. John, St. Thomas, but I've never been to St. Kitts before. Don't call me a procrastinator; it just so happened that I finally made it to this lovely island on the very last day of the year: Wednesday, December 31st, 2008, to be exact.

Curvaceous and verdant, this volcanic island has both gorgeous mountains and beautiful beaches with lovely lagoons peppered for good measure.

We embarked the ultra modern catamaran barefoot and set sail for a beautiful lagoon about an hour away. I managed to sneak off the boat without the mandatory and cumbersome yellow life jacket. When I visit pristine places like this gorgeous lagoon, it takes all the will power I have to keep a bathing suit on... I kept my distance from my fellow travelers and snorkeled to my heart's content. The sun was shining and Nemo, his friends and I had a great time making our way through the crystal clear waters.

Having been left behind a boat before, I made sure I obeyed the signal to return from my snorkeling nirvana just in time to set sail for a lovely, private beach, where a delicious meal awaited us. Chicken never tasted so good before... My hunger duly assuaged, I lounged on the beach and worked on my tan; not a bad way to end the year...

There were native girls on the beach giving people massages using the juice of the aloe Vera plants they carried in their bags. I politely refused. I was having too good of a time savoring the sun's rays all by my little self.

We set sail again, this time back to the big boat, The Solstice. On the way there, I had a long conversation with a girl from New York who had also broken up with her boyfriend in 2008 and who was there with her family, celebrating the end of her mother's chemotherapy. What a lovely ending to a most stressful year in that family's history. The cancer lost and they were celebrating the event together in St. Kitts.

I was ending a less stressful year. As the Solstice departed St. Kitts, the most amazing sunset laid before me. As I stood there mesmerized by the Sun's last glorious rays, I thought to myself: "What a befitting last sunset for such a glorious year! Thank you Lord for this charmed Life!"

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Connection Join The Optimist Group!

To start the new year, I decided to accompany a friend to Antigua for a long weekend of R&R&R&R - relaxation, reflection, rejuvination, and revolution-writing (I don't do "resolutions" anymore - I do"revolutions!").

I had never been to this island, which is smaller than St Croix, and close to Monserrat - which is to blame for much of the dust we experience in ST Croix that I sometimes complain (mildly) about.

It is a beautiful island - it has a very different feel than St Croix. It is MUCH more expensive. I about fainted when I got the bill for my caesar salad and water - $22!!!! And a hamburger was $17!!!  We were staying at a lovely resort - nice but pretty remote. A perfect place, actually, for all the R's.

My primary "revolution" for 2009 - is to stay in the moment - to fully experience and trust in every moment and to not mind whatever happens. If I can be fully present and live In the moment with NO attachment to ANY outcomes - then everything else will fall elegantly into place. God is so good and my journey is to trust completely that whatever happens is part of his divine plan - and all I have to bring to the table is joy and gratitude! So simple, yet so difficult!!!

Enjoy the photos - it is a lovely place - but there's no place like home - and St Croix is such a wonderful home.

Kim Lucas, REALTOR
www.retireinthevi.com
www.kimlucasvi.com
kim@coldwellbankervi.com
340-626-3758

The views from the northwest corner of our island are just spectacular. A small group of us hiked up there on New Year's Day and were greeted by a herd of goats! Then we explored the ruins of a rum factory.  The grounds are so well maintained and beautiful. Gorgeous "Spirit Trees" grace the property, and the hibiscus, bouganvilla, snow flowers, and poinsettas were in full bloom. The first day of the new year was certainly full of beauty, comraderie, and gorgeous weather! Just another day in paradise!  (Can you tell I love living here?!)

Kim Lucas, REALTOR
www.kimlucasvi.com
www.retireinthevi.com
kim@coldwellbankervi.com
340-626-3758

Sometimes pictures can be more powerful than words.  These show how we rang in the new year.

Good wishes to all - hope to see you in St. Croix in 2009!

Kim Lucas, REALTOR
kim@coldwellbankervi.com
www.kimlucasvi.com
www.retireinthevi.com
340-626-3758

What a lovely Christmas we had here! The weather was gorgeous and there was a big turnout at Cane Bay for a HUGE Christmas feast! I've never seen so much food! Three turkeys were fried and people brought every imaginable side dish and dessert. By the time lunch was served (around 2:30 - 3:00), I was so hungry from smelling all the good smells that I'm afraid I bordered on being rude!

Later in the afternoon, I enjoyed a meditation and watched the sun set. It was a wonderful day - but I am about to blow up and I may never eat again.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Kim Lucas, REALTOR
kim@coldwellbankervi.com
340-626-3758
www.kimlucasvi.com
www.retireinthevi.com