Thursday, January 7, ’10 (St. Thomas, U.S Virgin Islands)

I slept really good last night. So much that we woke up an hour and a half later then we should’ve. So we arrived in St. Thomas this morning at 7am. WE didn’t get off until about 10:30 or so. We take a taxi to Skyride to Paradise Point. While sightseeing, we noticed people drive on the left side of the road. There were some annoying Portuguese or Dutch people on the ride. They got off to go do some Downtown Shopping. Once we got to our stop, we road on a “gondola” up the steep mountain. You can see A LOT from up there! Mom, Amanda, and I took a so called “nature trail.” Wasn’t really a trail, because it didn’t lead us very far. After that, we went down stairs to the Gift Shop. I bought a cross necklace in one of the shops. There were some HILARIOUS Lorikeets (birds) that would take each other’s toy- plastic caps, lids, etc. Then after we finished up there, we went downstairs to their restaurant they had and another Gift Shop. I bought a shirt that proof that we went to St. Thomas. So as we’re riding back down on the gondola, I notice my phone had GREAT service for the first time since leaving Ft. Lauderdale.
After Paradise Point, we took another taxi to Coral World at Cocki Beach. We had a really nice and polite taxi driver named Raymond. On the way, we took soooo many really steep and sharp turns. So Coral World is basically like a Sea World to us except NOT as big, and NO attractions and Water Park. All Coral World has is Marine animals really. We got there just in time to see them feeding the stingrays. Then we went to go see the Sea Turtles, They’re so cute! While Amanda, mom, and dad were having lunch, I went on to go see the tortoises, and they have another area that has a few more stingrays. In the same area, they have a Marine World building that has small marine life in aquariums in there. Then I go back to where Dad is sitting and ask “where’s Mom and Amanda?” Dad says “They’re lookin for you!” So I find them goin thru Marine World. Just mins after I get there, they do a Sea Lion Presentation, and 2 young girls bring out a sea lion named Omar. After hearing that presentation, it made me wanna work with Marine animals more than I wanted to in the past, because I miss learning about them. Last time was when Joe (Alabama) and I went to Behind the Scenes Camp at Sea World San Antonio back in ‘05/’06. Then, Raymond picked us up at the front at 2:30pm and took us back to where we get back on board our ship. But he took us to an observation place for a couple mins so we could take a few more pictures before we left the island.
Once back on board, they go back to the rooms, and rest for a while, and I went up to the Lido Deck, and end up fallin asleep for a good hour or so. I get woken up by Matchbox 20 videos playin on the big screen at 5pm. So I watched those until 6:30pm. Then the movie Up came on right after that. I watched that for a good hour. Bout 7:40 I go back to the room to get ready for dinner. Dinner starts at 8:15, but I left the room at 8:25-No big deal. Thinking I THOUGHT I knew where EVERYTHING is on Miss Emerald Princess… Turns out I DON’T! I got lost tryin to find the restaurant we have been eating at for the past 3 NIGHTS!!! Here comes the embarrassing part! First, I know it’s a formal night, right? So I’m all dressed nicely for dinner. I wore a nice button down shirt with a BRAND NEW pair of khaki’s. So when I ACTUALLY get to the restaurant, I get REMINDED that it’s formal night and HAVE TO wear a SUIT/JACKET to get in. So I go BACK to the room AGAIN, and put on a light sweater to “cover up.” Mom asked the guy if that it was acceptable, and he said “yes.” (I think he said it just so I don’t have to the room again and change for the third time) So I FINALLY make it to the table, in embarrassment, and our waiter, puts out my food. They had already ordered for me! It’s ravioli WITH VEAL!!  THAT was my new food! Amanda told me after I finished it. AND I LIKE IT!!! I knew there was somethin in it, but didn’t know what it was. Apparently, I didn’t mind either! After I finish dinner, it’s about 9:10. I go up to check to see if there’s seats left to watch the BCS Bowl- Texas/Alabama. There was so I got back to the room and change into comfortable clothes for the game. Amanda, Mom, and Dad all came up to see how I was, and where I was sitting. Mom and Dad went off to a show or somethin, and Amanda stayed and watched the game with me. After the 1st Quarter, I go get some Pizza. But there was a 5min wait. I go back to the room and put on a long sleeve shirt, because it was super windy, and too cool for bein out in the Bahamas. Texas lost it 21-38 to Alabama. The game didn’t finish till a lil after 1am last night. Amanda and I come back to the room. Turn on The Ugly Truth. I fell asleep because I have already seen it twice, and Amanda stayed up and watched it all.