Main drag cruising no longer legal,
            so what of this cruising cruise?
         Life as it should be, for all, for all times.
         Island hopping, day by day.
         Doing in seven, what real cruisers just do.
         Sailing yachts, motor yachts, or seaplane;
              moving along when the senses say move.
         But for us, it is do it all in seven,
              an appetizer for the good living.
         Make the best of it---that's what we do with life.
         Visit with the islands, wonder and explore.
         Discover them as if for the first time.
         Stay away from the trodden path, take time,
              do it slowly, look closely at the new surroundings.
         Walk the toads of St Thomas, St Maartin, not only city streets.
         Climb the hills, find the perfect view
              hiding around the next curve.  The work and sweat
              makes the scenery sweeter for the senses.
         Talk with the natives, listen to their song.
         Just don't act like a damn tourist.
         Go to the churches and synagogues, pause and pray.
         Pay respect to your predecessors.
         Stroll past British and Danish consulates,
              feel the international touch drifting in the air.
         Just over the pass across the mountain ridge,
              there's an overlook.  Looking out and down, palm groves
              along the beach, sailing yachts resting on turquoise waters,
              hills and peaks on this island and
              those across bright blue seas.
         Don't you know, there are more places like this.
         So little time to find them, so little time
              to savor their flavor.
         Back in the city, sidewalk cafes,
              open air dining in Yesterday's place.
         Imagine how it use to be, old world romanticism, in exotic,
              far away places.  But pause and think, you're here now.
         Read each islands' soul in native faces, sense its spirit
              in other traveler's faces.
         Traveling travelers, those who travel months without end,
              those who work the odd jobs while visiting the world.
         There are paths and trails to follow, old abandoned roads
              and steps to climb up hillsides.  The thing to do
              is walk where the natives walk, see the things they see.
         In Grand Case, there's ribs, charcoal grilled
              with rice and other local side dishes,
              cooked by the street side.  Dining off paper plates
              in beach side shacks.  How else should it be.
         In Marigot, there are open air markets, city shops,
              narrow streets.  Narrow streets in all the cities.
         In Phillipsburg, port city things, grand hotels, tourist stuff.
         In Charlotte Amalie, another Grand hotel of the past,
              transformed into modern day mall.


         Other place names, each with their own events, experiences
              and memories.  Now you can claim, "I've been there."
         La bus ride, did you do one of these?  Micro bus with local
              shoppers, laden with bags and baggage.  Tourist shoppers
              with more parcels.  Now it's over the hills, around the
              curves, through the mountain.  Do it the local way.
         Small restaurants in use to be homes, resort relics of past
              generations.  How nice it would have been to dine there
              and there, or that one over there.
         Going places, doing things, meeting people that's the main thing.
         Then they are those who make connection with nature's thing.
         Climbing to the top of rock cliffs, to view the big picture,
              to experience the Zen of being, of just being 
              in the here and now.
         Must not forget those who make connections together,
              who share the walk along city streets, white beaches, and
              mountain trails.
         There are other big pictures, but not from high places,
              night sailing within sight of lights, strung out in lines
              along the shore, spread out up hillsides,
              clustered together in coves and bays.
         Signs of life, romantic life, the night life on islands.
         Imagine what it could be!  Let it happen during the night
              when mystery hangs in the air.  The darkness breeds
              romance, let it happen.  Visions of fire light,
              along the shore, when wooden ships sailed this way.
         Real life senses, clouds hung on mountain tops, just hanging out
              while the wind blows.  Gentle slopes down to bays and coves.
         Ridges ending as cliffs over the sea.  Houses surrounding
              church steeples in their midst.
         This is the Caribbean, ad-van-guard nudist beaches,
              surfing by wave and wind, sunning or strolling on the beach,
              everyone a-la-naturale.  No inhibitions, no worries,
              let the spirit be free.
         This is the place where natural beauty in surf, beach, palms,
              cliffs blends well with youth in fine physique.  The perfect
              unlined tan for the perfect lines of good form.
         On each island, tours, mini cruises, scuba diving, sub diving,
              party boats, and all the other touristia events.
         Points of interest, historical places, flower gardens and
              beautiful vistas.  It's all recorded on film, tape or mind.
         Yes, recorded in the mind, all the senses, the smell, the
              sight, the sound, the taste and the touch
              being a part of tripping.
         The sounds of different languages, the smells of rain forests,
              the tastes of local dishes, the sights of grand vistas,
              the touch of lovers' hands while in famous cities.
         Exploring on ones own, creates opportunity for special adventures
              the excitement of walking narrow roads with no sidewalks,
              the chance meetings of other travelers.
         St Thomas, St Maartin, Barbados, Martinque, you've been to them
              all now, they are a part of your life now.  Guadulope,
         St Lucia, Dominica, you've seen them too, you've sailed the
              south Caribbean and seen the Virgin Islands.