There isn’t much going on in Bonaire which is one of the reasons it is so charming. The other reason is the amazing water and fantastic snorkelling.

The weather wasn’t so good when we got to Aruba but we did manage to go parasailing. It was a lot of fun, but oddly more peaceful than exhilirating.

  
We had been to St. Maarten on our previous cruise. Although we had a nice time at a beach there, this time decided to take a ferry to Anguilla for the day. It was amazing. The place is so laid back and relatively undeveloped (cruise ships don’t stop there). And the beaches. Oh the beaches. Unfortunately we didn’t take our camera that day so I found some beach photos online. It really was this beautiful. The sand was amazing, the water was amazing. The little shack where we got some rum punch and fish sandwhiches was amazing. Loved Anguilla.  Will definitely go back to stay for a while.

   
Antigua certainly had its charm and the capital of St. John felt bit like a Maine beach town if you can ignore all the sun and palm trees. The one beach we went to was pretty nice as well.

 
I went to the beach in the morning which was pretty nice and John did a boat trip to the Grand Pitons in the afternoon. 

  
Little Britain with lots of beaches and duty free.

 
Even though we had a fantastic time visting so many islands, there is nothing like a day at sea. Wait yes, there is, how about two days at sea. Such a nice way to wind down and before getting back to Florida.

A little Zumba before leaving St. Thomas

 
We decided to forsake my namesake island for John’s. Even though I lived in Hawaii for two years and have been to Puerto Rico before, there was something very strange to me about these Virgin Islands belonging to the United States. It wasn’t the fact that they use U.S. dollars, all islands in the Caribbean seem to. Maybe it was the overly long Department of Homeland Security annoucement on the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John. Or maybe it was the fact that despite being American, they drive on the left.

At any rate, St. John turned out to be our absolute favorite. The little port in Cruz Bay was cute as a button and the beaches were to die for. And the best part was that there was a National Park Service trailhead right near the ferry that provide an easy hike to three incredible beaches. We ended up spending the day on Honeymoon Beach. Easily one of the top beaches I have ever been to in my life. More remote than the beautiful Lanikai in Hawaii, more pristine than the wonderful pink sand beaches of Bermuda, and water as bright and beautiful as any I have ever seen.

I really want to go back.

After our time at the beach it was a hike back to the port and a surprisingly delicious fish sandwhich before catchng the ferry back to St. Thomas.

Leaving St. Thomas on the ferry

Arriving in St. John