After leaving Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Tyler caught our first fish since departing Annapolis. We only had a few hours to go until we anchored in a bay on the south side of Vieques, in the Spanish Virgin Islands. I filleted it (not very skillfully), and Jackie sauteed it that night for dinner.

As soon as we arrived in Vieques, we hopped in the dinghy and went to a lagoon aptly named Mosquito Bay. A moonless night was soon upon us as the adventure began. This bay is the site of one of the world's best bioluminescence experiences. Go to http://www.biobay.com  for some photos of what we saw. Imagine swimming in millions of small sparkling lights and you get the picture. It  was something that had to be seen to be believed.


Anchored in Simpson Bay, St. Martin




After leaving Vieques, Barbara Ann motored into the wind overnight to St. Martin. Finally! Our destination that we had been looking so forward to for so long. It lived up to all our expectations. Divided into 2 parts, one Dutch and the other French, it has something for everyone. Over 400 restaurants and cafes, great beaches, diving, sailing, etc. We anchored in the lagoon after clearing into French customs, and immediately Jackie went shopping. The charming village of Marigot is a taste of France, complete with baguettes and cafe au laits.


A Caribbean Christmas for the crew of Barbara Ann. Anzo awoke to find his favorite snack in his stocking.





No tree onboard, but we did have a Santa frog and some garland; the boys awoke on the 24th to find presents under the frog. Who needs an old tree, anyway?








Jackie's best friend Loriann flew in for a New Year's Visit. Here are the girls shopping in Grand Case, a delightful village on the west side of St. Martin.





After leaving St. Martin, we sailed to the jet-set playground of St. Barts. Manicured and picturesque, it's perfect for those who can afford it.


Here's the world's largest privately owned sailing yacht, Maltese Falcon, anchored in Gustavia Harbor, St. Barts. We took our dinghy alongside her in the evening, when all her lights were lit - most impressive.






After leaving St. Barts, Barbara Ann sailed to St. Kitts and Nevis. Both islands were British possesions until their independence in the 1960's. We rented a car and drove around St. Kitts. It was a little weird driving a car with a steering wheel on the right side, and keeping to the left side of the road. While anchored in a remote bay in St. Kitts, we were joined by the 150' motor yacht Her Honor, with its  new owner, Judge Judy, onboard.




 This old sugar plantation house on Nevis is now a hotel and restaurant. We visited it for the nature trail that winds through the forest nearby. After leaving Nevis, we sailed downwind of the active volcano on Montserrat. The "rotten egg" smell and ash on the deck (we were miles off its coast!) made us respect these forces of nature. After our overnight sail, we arrived at Guadeloupe, one of the largest islands in the French West Indies.




Speaking of volcanos, here we are at the top of a very-much-alive one, called  Soufriere, on Guadeloupe. The hike to it's summit was one of the best we've ever done. Nothing technically challenging, but not for the timid, either. Lawsuits and liability are not an issue in the Caribbean; you could walk right up to the edge of the crater, if you're foolhardy enough.






The other remarkable hike we did in Guadeloupe was to the Chutes du Carbet, a series of waterfalls in virgin rain forest. We were able to get to the base of the closest one, in time for a downpour. I felt like I was in a Tarzan movie. The walk through a real rain forest, in the clouds at times, was worth getting soaked for.






A short distance south from the main island of Guadeloupe are Les Saintes, a group of islands that have been "discovered" by the European tourists visiting Guadeloupe. We visited the old Fort Napoleon, with its museum, which overlooks the harbor, and enjoyed the small village ambience that pervades the place. Here's Jackie and Tyler enjoying a late afternoon repast in Bourg de Saintes.






Finally it was time to leave Les Saintes and head to Dominica, our last stop in the Eastern Caribbean. We only spent one night, since weather considerations were forcing us onwards. We did have time for a very cool guided rowboat tour of the Indian River. Farther upriver from where this picture was taken the river gets narrow, windy, and is completely covered in jungle. If you watched "Pirates of the Caribbean II" you'll remember the spooky river scene with the "voodoo-woman's" house; those scenes were filmed  here. Unfortunately, we got there too late in the day to take pictures.







Dominica is famous for its whale watching. We didn't have to pay for a trip on a whale-watching boat. A pilot whale let us sail right up next to him, while we were leaving the island, enroute to Los Roques. My only regret was not jumping in with a mask and fins while he next to the boat.





To the lower Caribbean