Safety 1st

We went to the annual boat parade in the main harbor....loads of people just like back home at a festival. Fun seeing the work that was put into all of the boats floating by...Christmas lights floating by with a few elves thrown in..no, not in the water on the boats. All of the shops typically close at 5, but for this event they stayed open until 9 for Holiday Shopping, jewerly, jewerly and more jewerly...remember duty free shopping....I was not shopping for jewerly! Food vendors too. Another interesting fact, most of the food vendors were private citizens, made their stuff at home and brought in. Local Island fare....good stuff!
Steel bands on almost every street corner. These were mostly the children from the local schools who learn to play the drums in their bands - great music Christmas  tunes via steel drums, loved it!

Also discovered since here that if a driver is caught talking on a cell phone while behind the wheel, an immediate ticket and an instant $100 fine.  You really do not see phones up to ears here either, safety 1st.... I can not imagine what the 2nd time would result in. The speed limit on the entire is 35 mph.The roads are narrow and the potholes are bad...safety first.!

Also discovered that you can walk on the street, shop in a store, drive in your car with an open bottle, cup or can. Yes, it is okay .... Safety 1st??

A friend who works/lives at a local resort had some friends come visit for his birthday. He does not have a car, but for this occasion, rented a Jeep to travel the Island with his 3 friends. Gary and I went down to the "best beach bar" on the Island and found John and his birthday buddies down at "Iggies" celebrating. They had been celebrating all day on the water and in the sun. (typically not a good mix while imbibing) they were having a great time and as we left, early about 8:30 noticed Birthday boy seemed a little droopy in the eyes, we said our goodbyes and walked back to the condo......A few days later saw John again. He told us the end of the story.
Seems that they decided to go across the Island to the Caribbean Saloon. Not an easy drive in the day sober. Potholes, narrow road etc. Loaded up and took off towards Red Hook and the Caribbean Saloon. Apparently both cars went right of center and had a crash. Totaled the Jeep. NO injuries; however, after the police arrived on the scene, no mention of alcohol, got the traffic flowing again, no mention of alcohol, and had both cars towed, still no mention of alcohol, asked the guys if there was anything else they needed or anywhere they needed to go .. Caribbean Saloon. The police took them to Caribbean Saloon.......
Gary and I typically do not drive late ..... safety 1st!