For this, my fourth year doing the challenge, I've decided to share place names from the Virgin Islands. For such a small spot in the ocean, it seems like every rock, cove, hill and house has been christened. The names are a unique mix of Spanish, Danish, Dutch, French, English and African, to name a few.
Enighed Estate, St. John
I dare you to pronounce it correctly. :)*
On a low hill just outside Cruz Bay, is the Enighed Estate Great House. Build between 1750-57 it was destroyed by fire at the turn of 20th century and all that remained, while I was child, were its ruined walls and grand old staircase. In 1979 extensive reconstruction was begun. By 1980 restoration was complete and the beautiful building became the Elaine I. Sprauve Library. You can read more about its history HERE.
The front
The back
Other E Names:
Emmaus Moravian Church and Manse, at Coral Bay This is a wonderful article with pictures about the church.
Europa Bay, St. John
Elephant Bay, and Elephant Rock, Water Island. Water Island makes up part of the harbor of St. Thomas and is the fourth Virgin Island.
Elk Bay, St. John
Emancipation Gardens, St. Thomas
This is a time-lapsed video (not by me) of the road going out to East End, the eastern most point on St. John. When the road was bulldozed in back in the late 50's we were the first people to take vehicles over the road. Mom drove our jeep, The Yellow Dragon. Dad was on his Allstate motorcycle. It was quite a journey.
*Ee-na-head. Did you get it right?
That white replacement building looks impressive up on the hill. I like the library in yellow and green...Are they Swedish colors?
ReplyDeleteIs that road in the video a joke or just a way to get to the water and then return up the mountain?
Lovely pics! I've never seen anything about the Virgin Islands before so I'll come back and explore daily with you, if I may. :)
ReplyDeleteJemima at Jemima's blog
Thanks for including the video, Bish. If it weren't for the telegraph poles and the sea at the end in could almost have been a drive down an English country road.
ReplyDeleteLovely stuff. I wish we had such nice-looking libraries round here!
ReplyDeleteGreat restoration. We could use some of that on STX. The video was fun. Finally, a movie where they are driving on the correct side of the road. Anymore, when I see a movie where they're driving down the road I get a little freaked because they are always on the 'wrong side of the road'. I understand it's harder to make the transition back to the right than it was to get used to 'life in the left lane'.
ReplyDeleteI assume the Enid M. Baa Library is a government building, by the colors.
Nope, didn't pronounce it correctly. I think I got stuck on the "nigh" you see in Shakespeare, meaning near.
ReplyDeleteLovely pics! Thanks for giving us a taste of the tropics today!
What a cool place for a library!
ReplyDeleteI love old buildings. That first construction reminds me very much of what was used at the Fort on Mackinac Island (build the end of the 17th century and one of the oldest US buildings I've seen)--it has been repaired and all, but all in keeping it historically accurate. It's a very cool place to visit.
ReplyDeleteLoved the video! And no, I didn't get it right :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks really run down.
ReplyDeleteThe colors are what fascinate me. On islands and in tropical climates those vivid yellow and blues or greens make my heart sing. Put them in a different setting and they just don't work.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the Yellow Dragon?
That's it! I'm packing my bags. Be over as soon as I can count out the change in our spare cash jars.
ReplyDeleteYou are moving St. Thomas up closer to the top of my list!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteLove the pics! So envious! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Bish .. loved the video and the photos .. amazing .. and no - I had Enid!!
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary