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Trip Report 12/26-1/2 Day 1 & 100 degree difference.
Trip Report 12/26-1/2 Day 1 & 100 degree difference.
Cast & Crew: Betsy (me), Charlie (my hubby), Dawn (my older sister & best friend), Jess (my 20 yr old niece & part time photographer)
We started our St John countdown 284 days before we left, and as Christmas approached we got downright scared. A winter storm warning was announced & 24 inches of the white stuff was predicted. In between all that snow winds were predicted to blow at about 30mph! The plan was to drive 2 cars to Minneapolis, have Christmas with the extended family, and send the kids home in one vehicle. We had reservations at a hotel to park & fly out on Dec. 26th. The roads were horrible, so celebrations were canceled. Hubby & I hung with the kids, packed last minute items, and headed out around 10am. We drove 130 miles in this:
Not my favorite thing, but to get to St John, I’ll do what it takes. Hubby is an excellent driver & we get to town way too early to check-in. Well, hey, we’re sort of officially on vacation now. I mean, we don’t have any kids with us, so what now? Everything is closed…except the casino. So, off we go to blow some cash & grab some lunch.
We then head to the hotel and check in, then chill & watch TV while we wait for my sis & niece. The evening is spent playing a trivia game, then early to bed as our flight leaves at 5:20AM (hopefully) the next day.
Of course, I can’t fall asleep…I mean, c’mon…we’re returning to St John tomorrow…Hello!!! I finally drift off around 11:30, and the alarm goes off at 2:00am. That’s fine, let’s go! We get ready, repack, and hop on the shuttle. To the airport by 3:45, checked in by 4:10, off to the gate, snacks, coffee, pop. Amazingly, after we are de-iced we take off just 15 minutes behind schedule.
Somehow, we arrive on St Thomas 45 minutes early and see Rachel with her smiling face right away. To those of you who suggested her, Thank You!! The hot, steamy weather feels glorious, and we don’t even mind waiting 30 minutes for our bags (keep in mind we left home when it was 22 BELOW zero! Now, we’re pushing our luck for the 4pm Red Hook, but Rachel gets us there with 5 minutes to spare.
We had reserved Star Villa for our stay as they don’t jack the price of it for the holiday. Bob meets us at the dock, loads our luggage, and takes Jess & I to the villa while hubby & sister head for Conrad’s to get our jeep. Bob, who we later decided to call Bob Villa, fills us in on his thoughts of places to eat & things to do. The villa is just up the road past Gallows and the views are awesome. He shows us around and heads out. Jess & I sort out luggage & check out the villa a bit more. Within 15 minutes the others arrive and we head for the deck.
We are all starving and head to the High Tide for Fettuccini & frozen drinks all around. Total bill for 4: $130 (well worth it.) Next stop, Dolphin Market for a few must haves: Jimmy Dean Sausage, English muffins, 12 pk diet Pepsi, 6 pack Pepsi, 2 ltr Coke, Banana rum, Crown Royal, 4 gallons water,
1/2 gallon milk, 1/2 gallon orange juice, 3 pk popcorn, bunch of bananas, 1 guilty carton of smokes, and $137 later and we're outta there. We return to the villa to cool off in the pool. Then we’re all in bed by 8:30, sad I know…but it’s been a long day.
Tomorrow: Cannot sleep in, rent snorkel gear, delicious breakfast, trying to teach hubby to snorkel, and rain at Trunk Bay
We started our St John countdown 284 days before we left, and as Christmas approached we got downright scared. A winter storm warning was announced & 24 inches of the white stuff was predicted. In between all that snow winds were predicted to blow at about 30mph! The plan was to drive 2 cars to Minneapolis, have Christmas with the extended family, and send the kids home in one vehicle. We had reservations at a hotel to park & fly out on Dec. 26th. The roads were horrible, so celebrations were canceled. Hubby & I hung with the kids, packed last minute items, and headed out around 10am. We drove 130 miles in this:
Not my favorite thing, but to get to St John, I’ll do what it takes. Hubby is an excellent driver & we get to town way too early to check-in. Well, hey, we’re sort of officially on vacation now. I mean, we don’t have any kids with us, so what now? Everything is closed…except the casino. So, off we go to blow some cash & grab some lunch.
We then head to the hotel and check in, then chill & watch TV while we wait for my sis & niece. The evening is spent playing a trivia game, then early to bed as our flight leaves at 5:20AM (hopefully) the next day.
Of course, I can’t fall asleep…I mean, c’mon…we’re returning to St John tomorrow…Hello!!! I finally drift off around 11:30, and the alarm goes off at 2:00am. That’s fine, let’s go! We get ready, repack, and hop on the shuttle. To the airport by 3:45, checked in by 4:10, off to the gate, snacks, coffee, pop. Amazingly, after we are de-iced we take off just 15 minutes behind schedule.
Somehow, we arrive on St Thomas 45 minutes early and see Rachel with her smiling face right away. To those of you who suggested her, Thank You!! The hot, steamy weather feels glorious, and we don’t even mind waiting 30 minutes for our bags (keep in mind we left home when it was 22 BELOW zero! Now, we’re pushing our luck for the 4pm Red Hook, but Rachel gets us there with 5 minutes to spare.
We had reserved Star Villa for our stay as they don’t jack the price of it for the holiday. Bob meets us at the dock, loads our luggage, and takes Jess & I to the villa while hubby & sister head for Conrad’s to get our jeep. Bob, who we later decided to call Bob Villa, fills us in on his thoughts of places to eat & things to do. The villa is just up the road past Gallows and the views are awesome. He shows us around and heads out. Jess & I sort out luggage & check out the villa a bit more. Within 15 minutes the others arrive and we head for the deck.
We are all starving and head to the High Tide for Fettuccini & frozen drinks all around. Total bill for 4: $130 (well worth it.) Next stop, Dolphin Market for a few must haves: Jimmy Dean Sausage, English muffins, 12 pk diet Pepsi, 6 pack Pepsi, 2 ltr Coke, Banana rum, Crown Royal, 4 gallons water,
1/2 gallon milk, 1/2 gallon orange juice, 3 pk popcorn, bunch of bananas, 1 guilty carton of smokes, and $137 later and we're outta there. We return to the villa to cool off in the pool. Then we’re all in bed by 8:30, sad I know…but it’s been a long day.
Tomorrow: Cannot sleep in, rent snorkel gear, delicious breakfast, trying to teach hubby to snorkel, and rain at Trunk Bay
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hoosierdaddy
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