St. Croix – Christiansted (U.S. Virgin Islands) – August 2012

 I know you’ve seen this standard opening before.  But I just have to note that some of these pictures were posted originally with the travel blog write-up (original link below).  Now instead of a select few, I’m sharing just about all the pictures.  Please be sure to visit the original blog link for more details of the original visit.

 With the rental vehicle secured, I drove around the island to get a feel of what the area was like.  I stopped at the closest of the two “cities” on the island, which was Christiansted.  Many of the buildings had been here for decades, and they showed that island-weathering, so were in serious needs of fresh paint.  I did take some time “to be a tourist” (which I was) and visited the boardwalk.  I also did the self-guided tour of historic Fort Christiansted.  Not long after that, the battery in the camera died because I hadn’t charged it.  Oops.

 

https://traveljournalbydave.blogspot.com/2014/06/st-croix-us-virgin-islands-august-2012.html

 

St. Croix – Arrival in Paradise (U.S. Virgin Islands) – August 2012

 I know you’ve seen this standard opening before.  But I just have to note that some of these pictures were posted originally with the travel blog write-up (original link below).  Now instead of a select few, I’m sharing just about all the pictures.  Please be sure to visit the original blog link for more details of the original visit.

 Those of you who know me have already read the blog which detailed the whole trip.  That has a lot of the pictures of where I stayed and some of the more trivial items.  I wanted this to showcase what I saw during my first morning on the island.  This was the room which I was assigned, and it had the best view as I faced the sunrise, and didn’t see any other portion of the hotel on either side.  Of course after breakfast I walked the beach for a bit, as well as some of the grounds.  I’d be staying here for a week, so I wanted to see as much of it as I could.

 

https://traveljournalbydave.blogspot.com/2014/06/st-croix-us-virgin-islands-august-2012.html

 

Boldt Castle – The Unrestored Portions (Alexandria Bay, NY) – June 2012

 I know you’ve seen this standard opening before.  But I just have to note that some of these pictures were posted originally with the travel blog write-up (original link below).  Now instead of a select few, I’m sharing just about all the pictures.  Please be sure to visit the original blog link for more details of the original visit.

 The upper two floors of Boldt Castle hadn’t been restored yet.  Neither had the basement catacombs.  Some of the third floor was in progress, as you can see by one of the shots.  But what was interesting to me, and kinda-sorta historical was the graffiti which had been placed here.  That was a record of the people who visited, and all those marks were being wiped away as the castle was restored to what it was meant to be.  I wonder if “Tiger 77” and “blue ink Austin” and “Terry Dixon” (who visited in July 1977) ever got to come back.  Or even see this blog posting to know their marks have forever preserved by my pictures.

 The upper portions also contained the stained-glass skylight.  The lower portions has a pool, unfinished fireplace, and a series of catacombs which lead back out to the island (presumably how the servants were meant to access the Castle).

 Keeping in mind that as I write these words (2025) it’s been over a decade since these pictures were taken, so I’m sure much has improved since then.  I’m about due for another visit to see what it looks like now.  If you get the chance, you should go and visit.

https://traveljournalbydave.blogspot.com/2014/05/boldt-castle-alexandria-bay-ny-june-2012.html