Back in Chicago!

Today is Labor Day and I just realized that I didn't do a new blog post yesterday. I am back in Chicago for a few days for my dad's birthday and I completely forgot about the blog as I am now on Chicago time. I have to be honest, things are very different here! I loved seeing my family and friends and I loved catching up with everyone. Chicago is exactly how I left it although a little warmer than the 47 degrees Fahrenheit that ushered me out of Chicago three months ago. And for the first time in a very long time while here, I was actually able to relax. I had no emails to answer or pressing work issues to think about. I had the opportunity to just be here and that has been amazing and something that I don't think would have been possible if I didn't move to St. Croix.

Things are nice here and it has been enlightening not to have broken a sweat even once over the last five days (I don't think I go more than two days without doing so back in St. Croix). My face is also very dry here so I can't wait to get back to my permanent spa-like face feeling in the humidity of the Caribbean. I did try greeting someone at the grocery store the other day and I think that person just though I was confused. I guess that was a stretch but the food on this trip was great and everyone was very welcoming. I am missing the beaches like crazy and I am also missing my new friends. I am so used to the people on St. Croix that it's strange not to hear a "Good morning" or "Good afternoon" for so long.

I think it's good to take trips back from St. Croix because it puts into perspective the reality of island living. No matter what anyone says, it's very different. I didn't really go to any stores while I was here over the last few days because I am so used to only shopping for what I need now and I don't need anything right now. The reality is that St. Croix is a tiny anonymous island in the Caribbean, but on the island everyone knows everyone and you have a bigger sense of community. Chicago is a huge city with many people and everyone knows where it is, but people keep to themselves and it's much easier to be anonymous in the big city.  These two worlds can never be merged but I do wish there was a door that I could just walk through and be in my newfound community one moment and with my family and old friends the next.

Activity Review: 

Cruzan Rum Distillery...

Located a little bit off Centerline road in Fredriksted, Cruzan Rum has a great tour for a rainy (or even sunny) day. I met a really good now friend on my rum tour (she was my amazing tour guide) so I hope everyone is so lucky. The tour takes you on an actual walk through the distillery showing you the rum actually being made. I had never seen any type of alcohol being made so this was pretty cool and I imagine kids would like it too as the mixing bins are huge and the molasses truck is pretty cool.

The tour guides are very knowledgeable and I learned a lot about rum that I didn't even know to ask before. Apparently, you can use rum in more than just Pina Coladas! At the end of the tour, you can taste a few of the rums and have a few mixed drinks. I am not a huge alcohol drinker but it was fun to see how different each rum tasted and how they taste in different mixed drinks. For the entry price of $7, you can't really go wrong here and out of town family and friends will probably really like it as well. For address and other info, visit http://visitstcroix.com/cruzan_rum_factory.html.