Moon Jellyfish

Swimming with a turtle

Dive....Dive...Monkeys....DIVE

The first dive today was to a site called The Old Road.  It proved to be another beautiful spot.  We dropped down rather quickly to 125 feet and saw a large sting ray in the sand.  Don't tell PADI but even Zac made it down there to see it.    Unfortunately, that ate up a good deal of air and dive time.  We saw much of the same things:  lobster, barracuda, colorful fish, jellyfish, and just just incredible coral formations.   The second dive included venturing near a volcanic vent.  It is amazing how the water viscosity changes along with the temperature.  I think my favorite day was watching the jellyfish swim in the water.  When I get home I will post a video of it.  Its absolutely a beautiful sight.   Austin a lobster and we all enjoyed posing with it.  Unfortunately he threw it back into the ocean.

After a long morning of diving, we made out last trip to the grocery store for a few items to finish out the last few days.  Food is extremely expensive here so we avoid eating out.  We have enjoyed almost all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) in our villa.  Breakfast this morning included pancakes, eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and orange juice.  Dinner last night was fettucini alfredo with chicken and a green salad.  Following the trip to the grocery store, we headed to Turtle Bay in hopes of seeing some monkey's in the trees along the road and the famous pig "Wilbur."   We definitely got to see the huge pig but didn't spot any monkey's along the road.   Luckily, a woman that has a six month old monkey as a pet was there at Turtle Bay.  Elle refused to cooperate for any pictures let alone get anywhere near it. 

Then tonight we ventured underwater by the light of a full moon.  Well......we all carried flashlights also.  This particular night dive was rather disappointing.  Austin opted to take us to a spot that he has never done at night.  Compared to what we saw on our first trip here, we hardly saw anything.  No turtles, only a few lobster, and not as much life as we usually see.  But I try to remind myself, every dive can't be the BEST. 

I missed out

Each of us takes a turn to stay behind with Elle and Kent. Of course the day I get stuck in the villa they see this. And not just one nurse shark but three of them. Oh well, life goes on and on.

St. Kitts in November

 

We arrived safely on Friday morning after flying through the night into San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Then a short flight to St. Kitts and the adventure began.  Friday was spent getting settled which proved to be a challenge with twelve people(two of which are under age 1), sixteen pieces of checked luggage (plus a bunch of backpacks and carry ons), and three rooms scattered all over the property.  We ate pizza for lunch poolside and a late dinner of KFC.  The first nights rest was rough for everyone.   But that didn't stop, Dylan, Howard, my Dad, and I from diving first thing Saturday morning.   Diving with ProDivers proved to be as good as we remembered.   The boat ride was smooth (no seasickness), the equipment superb, and Austin was an excellent guide.   My favorite part of the dive was seeing an octopus ink us. We also enjoyed seeing eels, sting rays, barracuda, lobsters, and lots of colorful fish.  Howard and Dylan were able to hold a sea cucumber and I touched the outside of a jellyfish for the first time.  The afternoon was spent moving from our hotel rooms into the two villas we rented for the week.   Some swam and played at the beach.   Elle, Krissy, Howard, and I went to the whirlpool after dark and it was impossible to get Elle to get out.  A trip to the grocery store for perishable items that we couldn't bring with us rounded out the evening.  

A perfect fifty out of one hundred

Syndy Rains had this fun get to know you post on her blog.  Red= I've done it.  Green=I haven't done it.  Black= It will never happen! 

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (when I was 8 years old before they closed it to tourists)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight 
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (in my dreams)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (bought and eaten plenty)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (I hardly ever write a check anymore) 
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Visited Italy