Photo Journal: S.O.S. Stranded in St. Thomas

Hey Lisa, should we be worried that August is hurricane season in St. Thomas?”

 

Nahwww. Come on, what are the chances?”

 

Apparently they’re pretty darn high.

 

Rewind. For 5 sparkling days Izabella and I frolicked along the coast of St. Thomas; swimming, snorkeling, boating, beaching, sunbathing, regaining our general sense of sanity. Woo-sa.

 

The day before our scheduled departure, the island’s hurricane alert level slowly crept up the storm charts. While normal people rushed to the supermarket to stock up on essentials like flashlights, batteries, food, water — oh you know, general necessities for survival; we stocked up on Twinkies, potato chips and white rum (all arguably as essential). Yup, we had decided that this hurricane wasn’t really happening. So instead of storing bathing water and rationing meals, we ate our precious stock of “food” and prepared to head back to day jobs that awaited with bated breath. And of course, right on time, category 4 Hurricane Earl comes barreling through with 135 mph winds and torrential rain.

 

With no electricity and running water, we were forced to dust off our wits and tackle the situation head on (move over MacGyver and Bear Grylls). For the next two days, we cooked random frozen meat using propane gas tanks, watched the Fringe on the iPad until it powered down, invented new cocktails with melted ice cream and played poker until we were too tipsy to play our hands out.

 

And despite the fact that we tried to make the best out of the unexpected and unwelcome visitor Earl, our extra days under house arrest gave us perspective on how much we take our daily conveniences for granted. And how small and powerless we are in the face of Mother Nature.

 

When the storm finally passed, the sky opened up and showed us a few different hands of its own. And even in our un-showered, stir-crazed state, we watched the morning sunrise in silent awe.

 

stt
stt2
stt3
stt4
stt5
stt6
stt8
stt7
stt10
stt11
stt12
stt13
stt14
stt15
stt17
stt19
stt21
stt22
stt23
stt24
stt25
stt26
stt27
stt28
stt29
stt30
stt31
stt32
stt33
stt34
stt35
stt36
stt37
stt38
stt39
stt40
stt41
stt42
stt43
stt44
stt45
stt46
stt47
stt48
stt49

Write a Comment

9 Comments
  • Thank you for all your hard work…I know it can’t be easy to post such awesomeness~
    You provide a bit of tranquility in our long hectic days…

    15 May 2013 at 11:59 AM
  • Felipe
    Reply

    I agree with Spicycocoa, i could think of worse places to be stranded in… and it does sound like you had a good time waiting for Earl to pass. St Thomas looks pretty amazing, great pics Lis.

    10 May 2013 at 10:25 AM
    • It’s all fun and games until you can’t flush the toilet or shower or turn on the a/c in 100 degree weather… ha

      10 May 2013 at 8:04 PM
  • Izabella
    Reply

    What a fabulous adventure! This trip was the beginning of my long-standing love affair with boating/sailing and the Caribbean. Thank you Earl for making this trip even more memorable, and thank you Lisa for capturing it so beautifully.

    10 May 2013 at 7:13 AM
    • Have any sailing trips planned, Iz?

      10 May 2013 at 8:03 PM
  • When can i get stranded in St. Thomas? Can you sign me up pls? ;)

    10 May 2013 at 12:23 AM
  • Kristin
    Reply

    stranded = best excuse to prolong your vacation!

    10 May 2013 at 12:12 AM
    • yes but my boss had a hard time believing me! I had to link him to the news about Hurricane Earl…

      10 May 2013 at 8:03 PM