Iguanas and Chickens and Kittehs - Oh My!

So, today's adventures started out with a boat trip around the point to the town of Charlotte Amalie.  The boat is pretty much a water taxi.  Seats about twelve - has a colorful "captain" known as Captain Stew.  He looks like he's probably a retired engineer whose hobby was boating. We figure he retired to St. John and works as a boat captain to keep out of his wife's hair all day :-)  He was pretty awesome, though - regaled us with local lore on the trip over.  He'd steer the boat for a minute then talk for 3 or 4 minutes (while the boat moved by itself closer to shore...) then turn around just in time to steer again, then talk again.  It was pretty funny.

In town we split up - Derrick wanted to climb the 99 Steps and see Blackbeard's Castle.  I wasn't so keen on that idea, so stayed in the shopping district to browse around.  We met up an hour or so later.  Derrick admitted his trip was kind of a bust as everything at the top of the 99 Steps (really 103 steps) was closed.  

I have decided I am an animal magnet.  First there was the iguana:

We have since seen several more.  I am sparing you more iguana pics.

Then today the Park Chickens complete with crowing rooster:

And finally - my personal favorite - the Coco Joe's Kitteh.  Here's how it went down: We were at dinner - an outdoor "seriously RIGHT in the beach" restaurant.  I spot a feral cat prowling around the outskirts of the dining area.  Of COURSE, I have to see if I can get near enough to pet her.  I didn't get that close, but she stopped and meowed and flipped onto her back and "talked" with me for a minute.  I went back to the table.  Quite a while later, as we were finishing, I hear a "meow" below me on the beach.  She came back to find me and ask for a treat!  I couldn't believe it.  That cat was smart enough to figure out a human that talked with her might be one to givet a little something.  Worked like a charm!  I told her I would trade for a picture :-)

More tomorrow - can't decide if we are going to get on the ferry to St. John's or go to Coral World - a local aquarium.  Either way, it'll be fun.