From Here to There
Our big boat takes us island to island, two small ones ferry us to shore. But the moment our feet touch land getting from A to B and Y to Z becomes a Chutes and Ladders game with rules but no reason.
Mostly, for a variety of reasons, we walk. It's often faster, simpler, offers exercise, the most scenic opportunities and sometimes, it's the only option.
Each island has a system, if they have one. Antigua, St. Marten, Nevis, Grenada and a handful of other islands offer the best transportation with plentiful vehicles that cover the entire island for a small fee. If you miss a bus, another is right behind it. These buses are short vans with rows of seats along the sides and fold up ones in the middle. It can be a tight fit when they fill up with four or five people across carrying boxes, bags and the occasional livestock. Chickens certainly make for an interesting ride.
These buses have names like Miss Cherry Bomb, Daddy's Girl, Island Spice or Mr. Lover Man. Paint jobs are often spectacular and can include flames, iridescence and detailed airbrushed art.
Anguilla has a $5 bus for a five mile ride but I've yet to find it. St. John's system is US Government run and therefore, rarely operating. On the rare days it is, one can tour the entire island in air conditioned comfort on a full sized bus for $1. The same is true in St. Thomas but there, locals use the open air surreys or Gypsy's that for $1 stop and start to your needs.
In the Virgin Islands, ferry boats transport people, cars, or both inter-island. They can carry quite a load but rarely do while racing highspeed, using more fuel than sense. My favorite is a roll on/roll off car carrier that runs between St. John and Red Hook in St. Thomas. It operates on an island-regular schedule and actually has amenities.
There's a drink/snack bar, a couple of Mr. Roberts-style potted palms on deck and the vessel is nicely painted in red, white and blue. Best of all is their crew that claims "We is de bes lookin crew in de islands!" I don't know about that but they certainly are the friendliest.
And what other public transportation offers shots of rum?
Mostly, for a variety of reasons, we walk. It's often faster, simpler, offers exercise, the most scenic opportunities and sometimes, it's the only option.
Each island has a system, if they have one. Antigua, St. Marten, Nevis, Grenada and a handful of other islands offer the best transportation with plentiful vehicles that cover the entire island for a small fee. If you miss a bus, another is right behind it. These buses are short vans with rows of seats along the sides and fold up ones in the middle. It can be a tight fit when they fill up with four or five people across carrying boxes, bags and the occasional livestock. Chickens certainly make for an interesting ride.
These buses have names like Miss Cherry Bomb, Daddy's Girl, Island Spice or Mr. Lover Man. Paint jobs are often spectacular and can include flames, iridescence and detailed airbrushed art.
Anguilla has a $5 bus for a five mile ride but I've yet to find it. St. John's system is US Government run and therefore, rarely operating. On the rare days it is, one can tour the entire island in air conditioned comfort on a full sized bus for $1. The same is true in St. Thomas but there, locals use the open air surreys or Gypsy's that for $1 stop and start to your needs.
In the Virgin Islands, ferry boats transport people, cars, or both inter-island. They can carry quite a load but rarely do while racing highspeed, using more fuel than sense. My favorite is a roll on/roll off car carrier that runs between St. John and Red Hook in St. Thomas. It operates on an island-regular schedule and actually has amenities.
There's a drink/snack bar, a couple of Mr. Roberts-style potted palms on deck and the vessel is nicely painted in red, white and blue. Best of all is their crew that claims "We is de bes lookin crew in de islands!" I don't know about that but they certainly are the friendliest.
And what other public transportation offers shots of rum?
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