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Overdue trip report 04/01/09-04/07/09 - Days 2-7
Overdue trip report 04/01/09-04/07/09 - Days 2-7
Day #2 Since Miles Away has the SAME coffee maker at that we do at home, we made it the night before and set the timer. So we awoke to fresh coffee and lounged on the deck in these amazing cushioned chairs with ottomans and soaked in the view over Fish Bay. Packed the cooler. Six Corona lights, LIMES, sandwiches, trail mix and fruit, (and water) Packed the jeep and headed out to Francis Bay. Never been to FB before, which is something I still cant believe because it quickly became our favorite beach this trip! My husband flew his kite, we snorkeled, relaxed and had an amazing beach day. Headed back to the villa, fired up the grill and the blender and called it a day.
Day #3 We are early birds on island and work up and quickly fell into the coffee on the deck, with Nina Simone, Jimmy Buffet, and Bob Marley on the Ipod dock, routine. Today was our Reef Bay hike day, so I packed the backpack with lunch, water, bug spray, sunscreen, towels and we headed to the NPS Headquarters building in CB. If you are going on the hike, go inside and check in at the desk. Give them your drivers License and they will give you a card to put on your dashboard so you can park in the employee parking lot. Our hike was full, 36 people in two taxis headed off to the trail head with our guide. You pay the taxi drivers $6pp cash. Our guide was great, but slow going, so hubby and I went ahead. What a great hike!!! Petroglyphs were cool and there is so much to see. Guide told us to head to Genti Bay, so we had lunch at the Reef Bay Sugar Mill ruins and hiked over to Genti Bay where we met up with others from our hike that went ahead. We swam and waited for the rest of the group. The boat the Sadie Sea came to pick us up and I decided not to swim to the boat (we saw two small sharks), but around 10 people did and the rest of us took the dinghy. Sadie Sea served rum punch and water and we headed back to CB. You pay the Sadie Sea $15pp. We stopped at Starfish on the way back to Miles Away and picked up beer and water. Enjoyed the BEAUTIFUL pool at Miles Away and grilled, blended and chilled.... another great day in paradise!
Day #4 Morning routine repeat, packed the cooler and the jeep and headed to Jumbie Beach. We were on the north shore road so early and had the overlooks all to ourselves. Parked at Jumbie and headed down the stairs. We went down to scout it out and unfortunately the water was a bit rough for snorkeling so we soaked in the view and decided to head to Francis, because the snorkeling had been so good the day before. We had a beautiful day at Francis, met fellow forumites Marcia and Bob from IL, snorkeled with a mellow turtle and just let it all soak it. STJ magic was working and all of the hustle and cares of home, just melted away!! Later that day we headed to Coral Bay, hubby bought me a gorgeous birthday necklace at Sugar Apple in Cocolobo plaza, and we headed to Vies. We LOVE Vies!!! The MOST amazing conch fritters on the planet. So after red stripe and fritters we walked over to the beach and did a late afternoon snorkel. Headed back to the villa, for shrimp and lamb chops, red wine and movie from MA’s great DVD selection.
Day#5 Coffee and breakfast repeat, it was a bit overcast and we had a shower or two, so we headed to the Starfish and browsed the shops, bought a book in the bookstore and some items in the pharmacy and headed back to the villa, for a villa gravity day. Ipod on and lounging by the pool. Cheeseburger in paradise lunch, with blender drinks. Took a late afternoon drive out the Fish Bay Road and then out to Ditleff Point. They are currently building two gargantuan homes, so we wanted to walk around out there before they get the gate working to keep people out. It was so serene at the tip of the point, but bittersweet since it is obviously going to come to an end. There are a couple of viewing platforms on a few of the lots and the views from them are amazing worth the climb!
Day#6 What a beautiful morning and our last full day on island... BOO HOO!! Coffee routine repeat and we packed the cooler and the jeep and headed to Little Lameshur. We were the first to arrive and there was a deer on the beach to greet us! WOW! LL is an amazing beach and we really enjoyed the water and solitude there. Soon several additional jeeps arrived and we met some really neat people (Lisa and family from Southampton) and snorkeled and enjoyed the day. We left LL and headed to Estate Condordia ecotents to check them out. A super nice lady named Jen took us on a tour and showed us a few tents and all I can say is WOW what a great set up and definitely would like to try them out one day, hubby and I love the outdoors. The new restaurant and pavilion is beautiful and views are amazing! We even met the owner, as he was on island to celebrate is 80th birthday (they were throwing him a surprise party later that evening) Loved the vibe and the location and energy of Concordia and definitely try to stay there one day! We proceeded to Skinnys for a birthday painkiller and Love City Market for some water and shopped around the Jolly Dog for a few items. (Can you see the East End pull here???) Back to the villa for my birthday dinner of Mahi Mahi and blender drinks! Watched some TV and called it a night!
Day#7
BOO HOO, time to go!! One last coffee routine and got organized to pack up. Cranked the Ipod dock and time really started going by soooo slow! Straightened up, packed up and said good byr to Miles Away, a truly AMAZING villa. Dropped the garbage, stopped for gas and headed to STJ car rental. Returned the jeep, and went to Connections to check our bags. We had a yummy breakfast at JJs and shopped around. Bought a STJ bead for my pandora/trolls bracelet at Freebird and a beautiful new sweatshirt and coasters at STJ spice. We took the 11am downtown ferry and waved goodbye to our beloved STJ. Our trip was amazing and good for the mind and soul, hubby and I returned recharged and relaxed and reconnected. That is what makes STJ truly magical and I afraid we will never vacation anywhere else!! Now I just have to learn how to put pictures in my posts! That’s my goal for my next trip report! THANK YOU so much to the forum for all the advice and guidance and really helping me make our trip as seamless and stress free as possible!!! You guys RULE!! Feel free to message me with any questions. Have a great day!
Lynda B aka Pipergal
Day #3 We are early birds on island and work up and quickly fell into the coffee on the deck, with Nina Simone, Jimmy Buffet, and Bob Marley on the Ipod dock, routine. Today was our Reef Bay hike day, so I packed the backpack with lunch, water, bug spray, sunscreen, towels and we headed to the NPS Headquarters building in CB. If you are going on the hike, go inside and check in at the desk. Give them your drivers License and they will give you a card to put on your dashboard so you can park in the employee parking lot. Our hike was full, 36 people in two taxis headed off to the trail head with our guide. You pay the taxi drivers $6pp cash. Our guide was great, but slow going, so hubby and I went ahead. What a great hike!!! Petroglyphs were cool and there is so much to see. Guide told us to head to Genti Bay, so we had lunch at the Reef Bay Sugar Mill ruins and hiked over to Genti Bay where we met up with others from our hike that went ahead. We swam and waited for the rest of the group. The boat the Sadie Sea came to pick us up and I decided not to swim to the boat (we saw two small sharks), but around 10 people did and the rest of us took the dinghy. Sadie Sea served rum punch and water and we headed back to CB. You pay the Sadie Sea $15pp. We stopped at Starfish on the way back to Miles Away and picked up beer and water. Enjoyed the BEAUTIFUL pool at Miles Away and grilled, blended and chilled.... another great day in paradise!
Day #4 Morning routine repeat, packed the cooler and the jeep and headed to Jumbie Beach. We were on the north shore road so early and had the overlooks all to ourselves. Parked at Jumbie and headed down the stairs. We went down to scout it out and unfortunately the water was a bit rough for snorkeling so we soaked in the view and decided to head to Francis, because the snorkeling had been so good the day before. We had a beautiful day at Francis, met fellow forumites Marcia and Bob from IL, snorkeled with a mellow turtle and just let it all soak it. STJ magic was working and all of the hustle and cares of home, just melted away!! Later that day we headed to Coral Bay, hubby bought me a gorgeous birthday necklace at Sugar Apple in Cocolobo plaza, and we headed to Vies. We LOVE Vies!!! The MOST amazing conch fritters on the planet. So after red stripe and fritters we walked over to the beach and did a late afternoon snorkel. Headed back to the villa, for shrimp and lamb chops, red wine and movie from MA’s great DVD selection.
Day#5 Coffee and breakfast repeat, it was a bit overcast and we had a shower or two, so we headed to the Starfish and browsed the shops, bought a book in the bookstore and some items in the pharmacy and headed back to the villa, for a villa gravity day. Ipod on and lounging by the pool. Cheeseburger in paradise lunch, with blender drinks. Took a late afternoon drive out the Fish Bay Road and then out to Ditleff Point. They are currently building two gargantuan homes, so we wanted to walk around out there before they get the gate working to keep people out. It was so serene at the tip of the point, but bittersweet since it is obviously going to come to an end. There are a couple of viewing platforms on a few of the lots and the views from them are amazing worth the climb!
Day#6 What a beautiful morning and our last full day on island... BOO HOO!! Coffee routine repeat and we packed the cooler and the jeep and headed to Little Lameshur. We were the first to arrive and there was a deer on the beach to greet us! WOW! LL is an amazing beach and we really enjoyed the water and solitude there. Soon several additional jeeps arrived and we met some really neat people (Lisa and family from Southampton) and snorkeled and enjoyed the day. We left LL and headed to Estate Condordia ecotents to check them out. A super nice lady named Jen took us on a tour and showed us a few tents and all I can say is WOW what a great set up and definitely would like to try them out one day, hubby and I love the outdoors. The new restaurant and pavilion is beautiful and views are amazing! We even met the owner, as he was on island to celebrate is 80th birthday (they were throwing him a surprise party later that evening) Loved the vibe and the location and energy of Concordia and definitely try to stay there one day! We proceeded to Skinnys for a birthday painkiller and Love City Market for some water and shopped around the Jolly Dog for a few items. (Can you see the East End pull here???) Back to the villa for my birthday dinner of Mahi Mahi and blender drinks! Watched some TV and called it a night!
Day#7
BOO HOO, time to go!! One last coffee routine and got organized to pack up. Cranked the Ipod dock and time really started going by soooo slow! Straightened up, packed up and said good byr to Miles Away, a truly AMAZING villa. Dropped the garbage, stopped for gas and headed to STJ car rental. Returned the jeep, and went to Connections to check our bags. We had a yummy breakfast at JJs and shopped around. Bought a STJ bead for my pandora/trolls bracelet at Freebird and a beautiful new sweatshirt and coasters at STJ spice. We took the 11am downtown ferry and waved goodbye to our beloved STJ. Our trip was amazing and good for the mind and soul, hubby and I returned recharged and relaxed and reconnected. That is what makes STJ truly magical and I afraid we will never vacation anywhere else!! Now I just have to learn how to put pictures in my posts! That’s my goal for my next trip report! THANK YOU so much to the forum for all the advice and guidance and really helping me make our trip as seamless and stress free as possible!!! You guys RULE!! Feel free to message me with any questions. Have a great day!
Lynda B aka Pipergal
Pipergal
Great report, sounds like you had a wonderful trip.
Good for you scoring a better flight and a last minute discount on Miles Away. We love that villa; stayed there twice. I was a little bummed when I noticed they recently raised the rental rate.
.
Thanks for sharing!
Good for you scoring a better flight and a last minute discount on Miles Away. We love that villa; stayed there twice. I was a little bummed when I noticed they recently raised the rental rate.
. Thanks for sharing!
Patr
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
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