For a few minutes before it all became dark, the sky took a very interesting spread of tint – almost purplish/pinkish color. I guess “Violet” is still one of the seven colors of the sun. To the eyes, the pigments looked more pronounced than depicted in this picture.

This is from my iPhone 11. I wonder if a later iPhone or my mirrorless (which I was not carrying) could have done an even better job.

Returned to the hotel after a hectic day. After freshening up, went to grab a drink by the bar. This is what hit me first thing! We cannot see the sunset because of the mountains. But the streaks of sunset colors made for a beautiful sky! It was like the palm tree was bursting in flames!!

Remember the picture I had posted of spotting St. Croix for the first time from the plane?

We went to that beach after lunch to relax in the sun!

Turned out today was St. Croix Carnival day. People here take it really seriously. The women’s accoutrements were off the charts. They loved nothing more than posing for the camera.

One interesting side observation. The two last vehicles in the parade were two trash trucks. People were taking turns to pick up every bit of plastic glass, beer can and confetti left behind. That is some serious fun followed by some serious civic duty!

Lunch break in Frederiksted

At first I thought somebody put a while shell on top of the cactus. Upon closer inspection, I realised it is a beautiful cactus flower!

Nikita and I went down this trail to check out the secluded beach there.

Fairly steep trail going down to the beach. Not too many people visit it. The turtles take advantage of that and have made it their nesting area!

This is regarded as the easternmost point of the USA (at least that you can travel to). Interestingly the westernmost point of the USA (that you can travel to) is also called Point Udall. That is in Guam. These were named after two brothers.

Now, technically, these are NOT the easternmost or westernmost points of the USA. That would be a part of uninhabited Alaska which is actually on the other side of the 180 degree longitude.

But I was not going to pick up a fight with the local inhabitants!!

Buck Island! Seen from top of the hill at Point Udall – the east end of the island.