A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and everyone!! In the Netherlands it is almost January 2nd, but not here yet, of course. Yesterday I did my last school test for 2010 and besides that all is pretty relaxed here. I cleaned Guppy some more and did some other small work too because I wanted her to be clean for the turn of the year. I did not light up fireworks by myself because it is forbidden in the Dutch part of the island… However, the bad spirits are chased away still! There was a fireworks show at Philipsburg that lasted for about 20 minutes. With some friends, we were there and
watched it. This morning I tried to get internet access but of course all the places here were closed, so it was very difficult. The only place where I did find internet access was the local McDonalds. Here I am right now. Soon there will be a New Year’s dive-in here [“Plunges” or “Dips”; a Dutch tradition on New Year’s Day] which is a lot funnier than in
the Netherlands because the water is not that so very cold here!!!! Moreover, I would like to say thank you very much to all the people who contributed to my voyage’s fund. Now I will be able to continue my voyage towards the Pacific Ocean.

Laura