Eli Clare 2nd Post

The past few days have certainly been a great change of pace for us on the Harvey Gamage. We spent a few days on the beautiful island named St. Eustacias, the very ideal of a tropical paradise in the Caribbean and a perfect get away for those of us who have spent the past couple of weeks dreaming of going ashore. On our first day ashore we were given the opportunity to go snorkeling near the shores around the islands and it was truly the best activity we could have chosen. After sweating away for the past few weeks, a dip in the Caribbean waters was exactly what the doctor ordered. After snorkeling we spent a relaxing few hours on a beach where we were invited to play a game of soccer with some locals.

The day after we returned to shore and we began to hike the islands dormant volcano called the Quill. It is a strange thing to go from sailing a ship to hiking a mountain and I can honestly say that it was quite the adventure. After we staggered our way to the edge of the crater of the Quill we looked down upon a vibrant tropical forest growing throughout the entire interior of crater. Then after our morning hike, most of us decided to have a pleasant lunch at a popular local restaurant called Super Burger. I will recommend to anyone passing through the Island--stop and enjoy a delicious hamburger and milkshake at Super Burger. As my fellow students and I left to explore the town (with a complicated Dutch name), we proceed to buy from any gift shop and small shop in our path until the time came for us to come home to our home, Harvey Gamage.

--Eli Clare