A tale of two parties.

     Here is our official "Greeter' meeting some guests at the ferry dock. Who could they be?
     Well, Joanne and Dave Rogers of course. Our former next-door neighbors from Dolphin Cove. Once again they have come down to partake of 'de island climate'. No wonder, since it was snowing the day they left Connecticut. After a winter like they've had they could use a little 85 degree weather..... and we have just the place to offer it.


 
    What better way to start off a vacation than with a spirited hike on one of de island trails.


      We loaded up the Jeep and headed out for a trek up Ram Head Point. This spot is at the east end of the island and is pretty remote. Back in the 1700's a group of West Indians committed suicide here rather than return to work for the plantation owners. They jumped into the sea. Their native revolution lasted only one year and ended here. Wow is it windy out on this point. My hair blew off. Jim's too. Joanne, of course, looks perfect.

     After the hike back downhill Dave, Jim and Bob took a dip in the ol' Caribbean Sea. Boy did that feel good! Then it was off to lunch at a local dive.

     The next day we went for a kayak tour of a spot called Hurricane Hole. Our guide Liz gave us the finer points of kayak operations. Snorkeling was on the agenda too. Then there was a great lunch. We were watched over by a herd of hermit crabs. They wanted our lunch, but settled for crumbs.

     Of course we took Joanne and Dave out to the site to see the progress on our house. Since the driveway is dug up again it was a little scary climbing up the hill.  Look, it's raining on Tortola.
Minutes later the sun came back out. Such is life on this rock we call home!

Party-time. Yes, time for a 'painkiller'. Yummmm.
    

     OK, now it's time to tell about a different kind of party. Every year there is a fundraiser for The St. John School of the Arts. This year the theme was 'Hooray for Hollywood'.  Everyone was supposed to come dressed as their favorite movie star. There was even a red carpet to walk.

   
  
     Look it's Louie B. Mayer and
Samuel Goldwyn from MGM Studios. Wonder who that starlet is with them? I bet those guys are trying to get her in for an audition and a little session on the casting couch. Typical Hollywood producers! Nice cigars guys. Are they Cuban perchance?


    

     Of course Louie and Sammy are working the room. Here they are chatting up Charlie Chaplin. Maybe there's another silent film in the works. I think Louie lost his moustache? What a fake. Look at Sammy pretend to be listening. He's really more interested in that trophy Charlie has.



    

     The fundraiser was a huge success. Something like fifty thousand was raised to support the school. And a trip to New York with seats to a Broadway show was raffled off. Amazing.
Anyway, Louie and Sammy had a great time. I don't think either of them smoked the cigars.  These guys were 'hot' in their suits. And I mean temperature hot. They couldn't wait to get back into t-shirt and shorts!
     Flip flops rule!