Robyn McCorquodale: Blog

In my last post I featured two very cute cotton candy-colored dolphins playing in the water. When traveling, you don’t always come across such unique and adorable creatures. However, what you DO often stumble across are camouflaged earth-tone creatures of varying sizes resembling those scary beasts from prehistoric times. It doesn’t seem fair to discriminate, but how can I begin to ogle over the latter without wishing I were back watching pink porpoises play in the Amazon!

Except for a brief homebound cruise from Africa this past Christmas, it’s been years since I performed on a ship touring the Caribbean. For me, it’s typically a two to three-day journey of minimum four connecting flights, crossing several time zones and filling out a lost luggage claim before I finally reach my embarkation destination.

However, I just arrived back home from an engagement in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Most stops I’ve visited before, but every place felt new to me this time, with all new docks, waterfronts and ports leading to overgrown urban jungles of jewelry stores like I’ve never seen before. How any of these stores earn their share of income boggles the mind considering the wealth of shops that overwhelm the typical tourist. How any tourist decides on where to shop and what to buy further boggles the mind considering the few hours we typically have in any port. I guess that’s where the ship port lecturer comes in, because somehow everyone seems to be happy at the end of the day. If this is soon to be you vacationing in the Caribbean, and you wish to buy some unique pieces of jewelry in gemstone paradise, I highly recommend you doing your research in advance. As for me, I bypass the shops entirely on my daily runs exploring the islands.

Yes, judging by looks, laughs, the odd remark and sometimes even cheers from the school kids, I’m a bit of an enigma in port, all dressed in Nike attire, sporting glasses and a ball cap. Smothered in sun block SPF 85+, running in excessive heat and humidity on the shady side of the street if there is one, the route is not so conducive for walkers, not alone runners. No one else is running, and given the exhaust fumes I typically experience along the way, even I question my sanity and wonder about any health benefit to my daily adventuring. However, at least I experience the towns, some back roads, meet a few locals, greet a few dogs and get a bit of cardio in while entertaining the natives. All good, unless of course the dogs decide to chase me. That can also be entertaining though certainly puts a damper on my day. Worst case scenario: tetanus shot is up to date. Luckily, in the Caribbean, the dogs are too zapped of energy to care about some foolish foreigner and at most open one eye lid as I pass by. They look at me as if to say, “Crazy pale-skinned girl, you should be on the beach tanning,” then go back to sleep. Whew. Big relief.

I love to experience new places independently by foot, preferably unharmed. Dogs are seemingly no threat in this part of the world. However, the two locals featured above made me stop in my path and tip toe past only pausing enough to get a quick photo. I do believe that these creatures were a lot smaller the last time I was in St. Thomas and I don't recall them traveling in pairs. Just so you know, the one on the left was nearly as long as I am tall, 5’4.” Not your average Hawaiian gecko for certain, though not the humungous gators and crocks I’ve experienced running in Costa Rico and Borneo either so I should be grateful. You see, there’s a lot to traveling, and adapting to the natural habitat can never be taken lightly. I do what I can to be careful. Then again, perhaps next time I'm in the Caribbean, I’ll forego the run and just go buy a Tanzanite bracelet!