It was time for another journey to another island, so we headed to Newark where this was our gate and Seva showed off her new watch which told time in a slightly blurry way at close range as we recorded the watches of the extended family taking the trip before we boarded to this sad meal though I was allowed to bring my water on board (which would not be case on the return trip) and so on we went until we reached the airport in Antigua and out of the darkness emerged Uncle Lloyd who would later turn out to be a life saver as we moved away from the airport and waited until the rental car arrived to take us to our house where this was our room complete with dressing room and bath, this was the living room and here was the kitchen with its elegant door stop. The views down to the sea were delightful

and so after admiring our patio and pool and spa and making some ice for later we headed down to the water where this gentleman posed with Peter, Seva and Suzanne after directing us down the beach to the wedding spot to the wonderful views that didn't quite hold up in the dark and to The Beach which would house our first dinner where drinks were served and Peter and Seva and Suzanne and I could start to relax as shrimp and the hummus plate were served along with water and my pasta Suzanne's Ceasar salad and Peter's fish (fear not reader, Seva was fed but had the same as me, hence no photo) and concluding with coconut ice cream for Peter before we trekked up the hill and to bed.

The next morning, after checking out the view again and the pool with its plantings and the rental car complete with local license plate and the neighbor's pool that lay below our orange trees, we headed to the Epicurean where in the midst of numerous power failures, these groceries were purchased and back at home were assembled as Suzanne made the coffee and Seva (with her new watch) preserved our ice and made more as I admired the cereal box the coffee pot with the various coffees and poured myself a bowl of cereal to which I added milk before eating. Seva then made sandwiches for the trip as coffee was drunk and the soaps, one for each couple were compared and ingredients recorded. We began our journey to Carlisle Beach by driving through the town past the local hero where fruit was being sold off a truck near the 24/7 club and we drove on past the Spy security company with our first stop at Darkwood Beach where the group checked out the water and the sand as they explored the beach before Peter took these pictures of me against the beach backdrop. Next we came to Carlisle Beach where this frigate (the national bird) soared overhead even as we discussed politics with our new found English friend who loved a small town in Iowa. After a few shots of the beach we settled in until this boat pulled in and began to attract the locals in what appeared to be a forced march (with little emotion) and gave a theme (one of many) to our trip as we were forced to devise increasingly creative stories about the ships activities

even as we marched down the beach admiring the sailboats as Peter showed the wind up car he had found and we headed to this building where the drink menu was impressive and in our enthusiasm we forgot to ask Monique how much the drinks cost but our shock at the $17 price was turned into access to comfortable chairs from which we could eat our sandwiches and enjoy the view as little children and Seva

enjoyed the water at this all inclusive resort that allowed families as I took self portraits and then captured Seva and Peter coming back from their swim

before we returned to the car which was parked by a tree that the local children told us grew calabash fruit (but not casaba melon because melons don't grow on trees). Next we headed to Shirley Heights where we heard the music and watched the crowds as the sun set

before recording the music scene and the sales person and deciding to head back to town. Once back at our place, we admired the sugar apples we had purchased along with small bananas and tomatoes and the famous black pineapple. Unfortunately the situation of their purchase was too unusual for me to capture photos so this will be left to the imagination. With the basic ingredients drinks were mixed sugar apples were ignored pineapple was cut and the nuts were ready to go with the pineapple that garnished our drinks before we headed to the Coconut Grove where we took the obligatory phone booth picture studied the menu and then gathered at the table where Suzanne sat before a view that couldn't be captured as bread was served along with Caesar salad onion soup a pasta dish for me various fishes for Suzanne sword fish for Peter and shrimp for Seva as the moon was visible (only to keep growing day by day) and we were able to record the rules of Antigua Village on our way back home.

Monday we awoke and admired our local tree when we saw our favorite catamaran come into the shore below

before we headed into town and took an obligatory phone booth picture before seeing our favorite catamaran (as the stories grew) and the cruise ship that had docked for the day and capturing signs of the town including Natures Eyes, Mama Lolly's where we would return for lunch, and the Australian Ice Cream place. At Mama Lolly's we were happy to see their vegetarian signs and menu before we proceeded to RastaPasta and the Corner and once we found the Kramers, we returned to Mama Lolly's to admire the art work as we met Mama Lolly and took pictures of her foods even as our plates were being assembled which amused Peter Suzanne Seva and me as the sandwiches came along with the smoothie drinks and after a journey to the ScotiaBank and a quick stop at a sidewalk stand where the owner posed with Suzanne after her purchase we drove on by the Public Market got gas as we noted the sign for Obama and made our way to this beach at Coco's Resort (adjacent to Ffryes Point) where this gentleman powed with Peter after selling us chairs and this gentleman came by promising various forms of healing which I eventually embraced as Suzanne and Seva came back from their swim.

to find that beyond admiring the sea where Peter was returning, I was also having my leg treated with strange and odd smelling chemicals even as this gentleman tried to sell me on the idea of paragliding and Peter slowly made his way back to observe that despite the treatment, my treated leg seemed to attract flies while my untreated leg (I did manage to eventually escape from the treatment) did not. All of this amused Suzanne as she marched back from the water

and noted that I had completed my book as our favorite catamaran came in as Seva and Peter tested the waters (and escaped the grip of the catamaran) before we headed to Turner's Beach where a boat in the distance appeared as we read the prayer for the old (which, I suppose begins to include us) and the Turner's menu before watching the sun and settling on the beach with our drinks only to see the catamaran arrive once as we swam and avoided its grip even as the sun began to set so that Peter and Seva settled in at the restaurant and we recorded the sun going down

before bringing out the insect repellent so that Suzanne Peter Seva and I could prepare for dinner and have our drinks as the cat came back and placemats and coasters were out but didn't disguise our gear spread about as the condiments were served and the coke raised Peter's spirits as my vegetable curry Peter and Seva's burgers and Suzanne's lobster salad were served before the moon rose and we headed home later to enjoy a Wadadli, the local beer and the name given to our favorite catamaran and some papaya.

On Tuesday we decided to locate near home at Dickinson Bay but first Suzanne inspected the towels on the line (in one of the few nights when rain didn't make them wetter) and then we walked past this lovely sign to record some concessions on the beach and this touching marker on a palm tree about a couple who met, had their first date, were engaged and were married all at the Coconut Grove at this spot. With this warm feeling, we walked back home and joined Seva and Peter on the patio as I took this self portrait and Seva passed judgment on our sea glass before we noticed the bird in the tree and we decided to go looking for fresh bread at a bakery which had become Chef's World and didn't meet our needs though at Rituals we observed the menu and Peter ordered as Seva and Suzanne sat until he returned with his drink and then we made our way home for my breakfast before heading to the beach where this woman sold us our beach chairs and shade as we admired the beach and the woman reading her book in the water before Seva and Peter decided to ask her what she was reading and Seva brought back the answer (a Jeffrey Deaver book that wasn't so good) as the fishing boat went by and I studied my untreated leg while this gentleman tried to sell me some services while a paraglider in the distance and this rock off shore did little to hide the catamaran that motivated our creative fantasies.

After the cruise people left, we tried the special rum punch of the day along with the cheese and bread we had brought as black birds arrived to visit us (and hope for food).

As Seva and Peter visited with Suzanne and I took this self portrait, we analyzed the tomatoes we'd brought with us as the Sandals boat passed and I made a straight line to see if I was sober enough to take this picture of the moon as this coconut amused Seva and Peter while Suzanne and I wondered about the fate of the people coming to shore in this catamaran

and noted the few who left without my coconut as the ship headed to other ports (or so we think) and the coconut meat was all removed when Seva saw this man cleaning a baracuda down the beach as yet another book came in and after another baracuda picture Seva and Peter posed before Seva was sent off to form a distraction so that we could identify the place from which our neighbors came (ultimately it was Manchester, England, England, across the Atlantic Sea) and we could head home where this cat appeared as we observed the setting sun but our best efforts could not get the cat onto the tin roof (which was probably hot and surely contained a cracker). After a drink a view of my feet a glimpse of the sunset and a pictures of the half moon (which suggested the next day's journey) we headed to the Bayhouse were this was our bread wine and water as Peter's soup Suzanne's salad and Seva's salad led to the fish dish the chicken dish the meat dish and the vegetarian dish as Nico the manager discussed plans for the next day and Suzanne Peter Seva and I all felt relaxed and happy to see the decaf and dessert (one strawberry and 2 coconut) arrive.

On Wednesday we realized that we had spent many days building up to the half moon, so that it was time to go see Half Moon Bay where we posed in front of the beautiful beach

and then walked around until Suzanne and I posed and then began a trek through the rocks as Peter attempted to find a passage to the next beach (there are 365 to reach) as Seva and Suzanne sat before Peter returned and we admired where we had come from as we headed back

and met this couple from Yellow Springs, Ohio who were nice enough to take this group picture of us and then Peter took the camera and recorded Suzanne, Seva and me walking down the beach me testing the water and my careful attempt to use just enough lotion to get an even tan on my face before I walked down the beach in the other direction and back.

At this point, we realized it was time to get back in the car because time was passing and so we drove past the sign honoring the best perform minister to Harmony House with a great view down to the sea and this menu from which water came first after which Suzanne Peter Seva and I had bread with butter and olive tappenade salad with balsamic vinegar and oil water champagne pasta (which was a bit too oily) shrimp and a lobster dish before we admired their lobsters in the tank and headed down to the dock where the boat waited on their beach and as we observed the half moon our captain launched the ship

through which it was hard to get pictures of the real Green Island until we landed and saw the main lizards under this tree and then headed to the neighboring beach

where for that moment the purple sandal was the only sign that life had been there and so we enjoyed sand and sea and explored finding some nice shells before Peter returned from his snorkeling adventure and this gentleman asked where he was as we admired the views from the island

and then from the boat (of the island) on the ride back. On our journey back home, we paused at Long Bay to check out the beach though the ride there was enough to convince us we would not be returning. Back at home, the blender was fired up and this mystery picture was taken before the vegetables were cut and cooked up

this wine was opened and the eggs were made to go with the wine glasses and make this delightful dinner at home as my admiration of my treated leg was only interrupted by the popsicles that were there to eat.

Thursday was our last full day on the island, so after the towels were set up to dry we noticed that the catamaran of tales had appeared at our local beach and drove into town where this protest picket line was assembled in front of Shoul's and made our way past the directorate of gender affairs and around the large cruise ships at dock to Mama Lolly's where I recorded the outsider art

and then to the cigar store where we got some Cubans and then began our trek to Hawksbill Bay but got lost along the way with these ducks and this horse stall unable to help us find our way but fortunately the map and advice from an English gentleman led us to the beach with an excellent view of the hawk's bill rock and Seva and Peter settled in and we all ate our lunch from Mama Lolly's before exploring and returning with remarkable sea glass as Peter brought even more and Suzanne showed off our wonderful collection of glass and shells and still more glass so that we could enjoy the beach and record the size of the moon as Suzanne sat and Peter swam before clouds arose and the surf got bumpy suggesting that we adjourn to the car to sit out the rain on our windshield before we headed back past the truck with the ad for women who prefer their men dry with a stop at the shoppers area for supplies that we could serve with our home made rum punch by the pool as we watched out favorite catamaran pass us by and prepared for dinner with views of the moon. Dinner was at Le Bistro where we were impressed by the menu and its many pages as bread and wine (in life sized goblets) arrived with a cork to admire along with carrot soup and onion soup and pumpkin soup and boulliabase and this was the opened onion (French, of course) soup before our main courses of chicken fish and more fish arrived with their vegetables and I had my pasta before the chocolate grand mariner dessert and the banana dessert which together with their card ending the meal so that we could go back and enjoy our cigars and call it a night.

Our last day, it seemed like the only picture to take was of Seva with the ship that had been around us for our whole time on the island (and my finger seems to have stuck on the button)

but then Suzanne made some purchases from this lady because she couldn't find Ragamuffin and as drops of rain fell with the power off at home, this short movie characterized what happens at the end of a vacation and if we had any doubts, the airline food reinforced the message that our time in paradise was over. When all was said and done, I was very happy to share our events with Claudia Johnson who wrote this wonderful review