Saint John - Friday

A very early start - up at 4am, subway to JFK and a plane to Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands - about a 4 hour flight. A share-taxi across the island and then a ferry to Saint John.

Saint John is an island about the same size as Manhattan (approx 20 miles) but with a population of just over 4,000 (compared to Manhattan with about 1.6 million). It is a US dependancy - it uses US dollars and no passport is needed for Americans to travel to it - but residents cannot vote for President and elect a non-voting member to Congress. It is in the middle of the Caribbean - past Cuba, past the Dominican Republic and next to the British Virgin Islands. Very beautiful, with warm water, lots of great beaches and about 2/3 of it is National Park.

Staying at Gallows Point in a suite right on the beach. Because it is hurricane season (a minor detail easily ignored) prices are reasonable. Furnishings are a bit dated, but the location is incredible and it is very very comfortable.

We have been supertouristing for a couple of weeks now - so a few days of rest and relaxation is very welcome. This afternoon swam in the (very) warm ocean and read in a hammock.