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A week in paradise - Day 5 (Festival, shopping, Hawksnest)
A week in paradise - Day 5 (Festival, shopping, Hawksnest)
This day (June 28th) we decided would be a break from the beach routine. We knew that the food fair for the Festival '09 kicked off at 1pm, and that there would be lots more vendors in and around the city park. We also had not been around Mongoose Junction yet, so that was where we started.
I had called the Suttons the night before to let them know we were coming to town and would park the car all morning so Conrad could look at the leaky tire. I stopped for air on the way in to keep from damaging the tire, which was a good thing since the one-way street that runs by his place was completely closed at the intersection just past the Beach Bar. You had to drive the loop up past Gallows and circle back into town. There was a bunch of heavy equipment all down in front of the Suttons and in the corner of that street. Plan B was to go ahead and park at Mongoose while we had breakfast at Deli Grotto and then shopped for awhile. A couple of hours there and we drove to see if we could park at the Suttons again...NOPE road still closed. We found a spot at Slimman's lot and wandered the Festival, buying a few souvenirs and listening to the Love City Pandragons, which was awesome
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702500793/" title="DSC_1113 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/370 ... 2794_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_1113"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3703310120/" title="DSC_1115 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3521/370 ... 28cb_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_1115"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3703323290/" title="DSC_1129 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3518/370 ... 2a73_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_1129"></a>
These kids were really getting after it, and it was really hot, too. There was no breeze in the park. Lots of colorful dresses, dancing, etc. It was a great thing to be able to see and experience on our first trip. It was so hot that we didn't feel like eating hot food from all the vendors, even though it smelled pretty good. We escaped the heat over at the High Tide and shared some food and a few cold drinks. I have to say that I became a fan of the Lime-n-coconut drink during this trip. Very tasty. I was playfully admonished at the High Tide though for wearing my Texas A&M tshirt, as apparently a big portion of the staff there is from Texas and have been brainwashed into being Longhorn fans somewhere in their lives. We also went up to St. John Spice to shop and introduce ourselves to Ruth. She was there, but her time was being monopolized by a couple of folks and we didn't want to interrupt. We fully intended on making it back (we did on our last day but Ruth wasn't there). Sorry we missed you Ruth.
Check out the next two pictures. The first one is the first thing saw before taking in the "big picture"...very funny IMO:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702528687/" title="DSC_1142 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2525/370 ... bd79_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_1142"></a>
and then....zooming out for the rest of it:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702529601/" title="DSC_1143 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/370 ... 14d3_b.jpg" width="681" height="1024" alt="DSC_1143"></a>
Our original plan was to hit the Beach Bar for happy hour and see if any forum peeps had showed up, but we had been in town all day and were ready to get out and cool off. So we ran to the villa to grab swimsuits and towels (note/tip for next time: always keep a swimsuit and towel in the Jeep!). We decided to hit Hawksnest since it was close and had more parking. A really nice beach, but it was really crowded by STJ standards. We luckily found a parking space, but it was mostly locals enjoying their Sunday afternoon with BBQ's and parties going on up and down the beach. It wasn't a problem, we weren't there to camp out for hours. Anyway, the afternoon was nice and sunny, which made for some good pictures of the snorkeling. I enjoyed this beach more than my wife since she just stayed on/near the beach (thus the rowdier crowd got to her a little more).
The best brain coral I saw all week:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702787190/" title="STJ 2009 491 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2673/370 ... 4b02_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="STJ 2009 491"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3701994769/" title="STJ 2009 506 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2426/370 ... 0be7_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="STJ 2009 506"></a>
Does anyone know what this fish is?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3704533822/" title="weird fish by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/370 ... 1a1d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="764" alt="weird fish"></a>
This is one of my favorites of the trip:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702821518/" title="STJ 2009 526 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/370 ... ca94_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="STJ 2009 526"></a>
This is another one I hadn't seen anywhere else and never saw again...anyone?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702817812/" title="STJ 2009 522 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2561/370 ... bb86_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="STJ 2009 522"></a>
We headed back to the villa for some downtime. We checked on the way through town, and you still couldn't get to the Sutton's place, so more air for the tire on the way back. I made some pizza and a small meat and cheese platter for grazing while we polished off a couple bottles of wine.
My next report won't be for a couple of days...probably Monday, but when I get to Day 6, we head to Cinnamon and dine at La Tapa.
I had called the Suttons the night before to let them know we were coming to town and would park the car all morning so Conrad could look at the leaky tire. I stopped for air on the way in to keep from damaging the tire, which was a good thing since the one-way street that runs by his place was completely closed at the intersection just past the Beach Bar. You had to drive the loop up past Gallows and circle back into town. There was a bunch of heavy equipment all down in front of the Suttons and in the corner of that street. Plan B was to go ahead and park at Mongoose while we had breakfast at Deli Grotto and then shopped for awhile. A couple of hours there and we drove to see if we could park at the Suttons again...NOPE road still closed. We found a spot at Slimman's lot and wandered the Festival, buying a few souvenirs and listening to the Love City Pandragons, which was awesome
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702500793/" title="DSC_1113 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/370 ... 2794_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_1113"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3703310120/" title="DSC_1115 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3521/370 ... 28cb_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_1115"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3703323290/" title="DSC_1129 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3518/370 ... 2a73_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_1129"></a>
These kids were really getting after it, and it was really hot, too. There was no breeze in the park. Lots of colorful dresses, dancing, etc. It was a great thing to be able to see and experience on our first trip. It was so hot that we didn't feel like eating hot food from all the vendors, even though it smelled pretty good. We escaped the heat over at the High Tide and shared some food and a few cold drinks. I have to say that I became a fan of the Lime-n-coconut drink during this trip. Very tasty. I was playfully admonished at the High Tide though for wearing my Texas A&M tshirt, as apparently a big portion of the staff there is from Texas and have been brainwashed into being Longhorn fans somewhere in their lives. We also went up to St. John Spice to shop and introduce ourselves to Ruth. She was there, but her time was being monopolized by a couple of folks and we didn't want to interrupt. We fully intended on making it back (we did on our last day but Ruth wasn't there). Sorry we missed you Ruth.
Check out the next two pictures. The first one is the first thing saw before taking in the "big picture"...very funny IMO:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702528687/" title="DSC_1142 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2525/370 ... bd79_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DSC_1142"></a>
and then....zooming out for the rest of it:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702529601/" title="DSC_1143 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/370 ... 14d3_b.jpg" width="681" height="1024" alt="DSC_1143"></a>
Our original plan was to hit the Beach Bar for happy hour and see if any forum peeps had showed up, but we had been in town all day and were ready to get out and cool off. So we ran to the villa to grab swimsuits and towels (note/tip for next time: always keep a swimsuit and towel in the Jeep!). We decided to hit Hawksnest since it was close and had more parking. A really nice beach, but it was really crowded by STJ standards. We luckily found a parking space, but it was mostly locals enjoying their Sunday afternoon with BBQ's and parties going on up and down the beach. It wasn't a problem, we weren't there to camp out for hours. Anyway, the afternoon was nice and sunny, which made for some good pictures of the snorkeling. I enjoyed this beach more than my wife since she just stayed on/near the beach (thus the rowdier crowd got to her a little more).
The best brain coral I saw all week:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702787190/" title="STJ 2009 491 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2673/370 ... 4b02_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="STJ 2009 491"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3701994769/" title="STJ 2009 506 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2426/370 ... 0be7_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="STJ 2009 506"></a>
Does anyone know what this fish is?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3704533822/" title="weird fish by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/370 ... 1a1d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="764" alt="weird fish"></a>
This is one of my favorites of the trip:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702821518/" title="STJ 2009 526 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/370 ... ca94_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="STJ 2009 526"></a>
This is another one I hadn't seen anywhere else and never saw again...anyone?
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34283698@N03/3702817812/" title="STJ 2009 522 by KTinTX, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2561/370 ... bb86_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="STJ 2009 522"></a>
We headed back to the villa for some downtime. We checked on the way through town, and you still couldn't get to the Sutton's place, so more air for the tire on the way back. I made some pizza and a small meat and cheese platter for grazing while we polished off a couple bottles of wine.
My next report won't be for a couple of days...probably Monday, but when I get to Day 6, we head to Cinnamon and dine at La Tapa.
KT
-
msgcolleen
- Posts: 1497
- Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:33 am
- Location: Allen, Texas
What a great day at the festival and fabulous snorkeling! Awesome pics KT! Can't wait for day 6~ 
I've got 2 tickets to paradise~Pack your bags we'll leave tonight!
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