Here are some pics

Linda,

No public photos added to Flickr.

Can you make them public?

Best,

LR

Hi Linda,

I have been enjoying your updates from your PMV! Living vicariously through you right now!! Looking forward to seeing your pic's once you have made them public!

Kat

Try it now - first time ever using that - power went off here at the house I'm staying at for a couple of hours. Go figure - island life at it's finest!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stxlinda

Right on, Linda!! Absolutely awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing! And I saw your other post about family/friends at home not being very supportive--I have lived in a few distant island locations and at first my family/friends thought I was crazy or irresponsible. They thought I'd get "rock fever", not be able to afford to live very well, get hurt or something. They were not supportive at all so it took me awhile before I finally just up and moved to Hawaii almost 12 years ago. I moved by myself and it was the most empowering experience of my life! I truly learned what was important to me and how I wanted to live MY life! Since then, my adventures have continued and I have lived in San Diego, Los Angeles, Grand Bahama Island, Cozumel, Japan and Florida!! My friends/family have accepted that as apart of who I am. Fortunately, I found someone who shares my adventurous spirit! Now, we live in Oregon to be near family for awhile since our children are very young, but we plan to move (and actually settle down for our children's sake) to St. Croix by Fall 2006!!!

Anyway, just my 2 cents!! Live your dreams! Most people rarely regret the things they DID do in their lives as much as they regret the things they DIDN'T do!!!

THanks again for sharing the pic's!! Kat

Thanks for sharing, darlin'! I, for one, really appreciate it~ looks like you got a great place! Go YOU!!!!!!!!

Alix

hey linda,

i just checked out your photos! excellent shots of the pink condos. feel free to check out my photos too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adamgaston

-adam

Adam,

Great pictures! I am not all the way thru them yet, but it does make me want to visit STX all the more. I wanted to ask, the pic labeled 'Coral' and is brilliant red, pink, and yellow - is that under the pier that they are going to dredge? I read in the paper how many are wishing that they don't disturb the wonderful sea life under the pier.

Teresa

teresa-

the pic labeled coral was actually taken at the frederiksted pier. this is one of my favorite underwater pics that i've taken because of all of the beautiful colors.

as to the dredging. it's officially still under debate, although i've heard from a reliable source within dpnr (NOT the same guy i found out about the shells from) that czm (coastal zoning management) has approved the changing of permits to allow dredging. we'll see when, and if, it happens.

on a personal note -

i would hate to see the dredging actually happen. eventhough i am a local business owner (on the waterfront in frederiksted), i would rather see them leave the pier as is. i'm not an expert in environmental research, but any dredging of any kind can not be could for aquatic life. i am a diving fanatic, so to see one of st croix's best (i believe it IS the best) dive sites get damaged would be heartbreaking to me and devestating to west end dive operators. i have friends who own dive shops that may lose out if the dredging occurs. we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

eventhough dredging would allow the largest cruise ships to dock, i think it would be stupid. people on island are trying to make st croix an eco-tourist island. if the dredging occurs, it will show that the eco-tourist idea is good for nothing. how can one promote an idea when they expressly go against it?

some people believe that the only reason they are entertaining the idea of dredging is so that they can get the largest cruise ships to dock in order to fuel them. the cruise lines are basically using st croix as a gas station rather then a tourist destination.

who in their right minds would get off a ship that docks at 10pm when they have all the food and entertainment they need onboard the ship? plus with most local businesses closing by 5pm, there's just no place for passengers to go. if they do dredge (god help us) then the government needs to enforce day time dockings, rather then having them dock late at night to refuel.

sorry to go off, but you asked my opinion. i typically keep this types of topics/opinions to myself. but i have been asked so i will discuss. contact me privately if you have any other questions. 🙂

-adam

I say......"NO DREDGING!!!!!!" To heck with the bigger cruise ships.....the small ones are enough. Is there anything that locals/soon-to-be-locals can do to petition it? I'm not a SCUBA diver, however, I enjoy snorkeling with the best of 'em......I think that mankind, in general, has screwed-up the reef enough. Let it alone!!!!

Alix

Gaston and Alix,

I appreciate your passions for saving the aquatic life. I have read a small bit about this issue. I think the overall view is that getting more ships in will help the economy on STX, however I have seen recent articles on the opinion that STX residents haven't really asked for more cruise ships and live there because of the lack of ships.

I agree that dredging for the sake of refueling ships is not a good plan. Reviews are showing that passengers are not spending money on these trips in a way that will make a drastic change. I hope more thought goes into this and the hestitation on dredging that was to take place earlier may well be a sign that they are rethinking the whole issue. Maybe the solution is to push more hotels, B & B's, etc. to boost economy in a way that isn't hurting the aquatic life.

Anyway, I do hope we have a happy ending.

Teresa

Adam, we loved the pictures! I hope that when we arrive on island, you might be willing to take me diving by the pier. It looks wonderful. I have always been a little hesitant to do a night dive, but if you'd be willing to be my guide, I'd be delighted to jump in. By the way, we looked for your coffee shop one day, but never found it just driving around. We'll make a point of stopping by soon though, when we arrive. Talk to you later.

Mike & Linda

mike and linda-

i would be delighted to take you guys out for a dive or two... or hundred! i can never get enough water time. lately it's been few and far between with working the past 14 days straight at the airport. but i'm planning on getting wet soon.

my friends own a dive shop next to my coffee shop, so we can get any gear you may need. if you have your own, even better. the pier is my favorite dive of the island. let me know when you're coming down. we'll see you soon!

AND WELCOME TO THE ISLAND 'MON!!!

-adam

Where do you work/what do you do at the airport, Adam? That's my first career choice....was in the industry for the last 4-5 years.

alix-

i am the station supervisor for cape air. we're a relatively "large" small airline that flies between the islands. all of our destinations are tourist based. i pretty much do everything. to get involved in the airline industry down here is tough. you just have to get real lucky to be honest.

-adam

My guy will be working for Seaborne as a pilot. Pretty cool. I'm wanting something part-time and I have tons of experience. If you hear of anything opening up, please, please, please let me know. I've been a flight attendant, worked the ramp, and flight operations all for the same company. Have a great day!