usvi-on-line
10 days on the rock - part 1
10 days on the rock - part 1
We're on Island now and having a wonderful time. I'll take a stab at a "trip in progress" report.
After 8 months away from STJ the wait has been pure torture, think Dick Chenny approved water boarding. Up Saturday morning at 4:00 am, only for St John is such an ungodly hour tolerated. Unfortunately I'm feeling rotten, some kind of stomach bug. We try to head out the door and it just isn't going to work. On the phone to Delta and God bless some sweet soul there, she rebooks us for the next day. The tickets we purchased carried a $150 per ticket up charge to change and an increase in air fare so the total hit was going to be $750. We hit the lotto on ticket agents and she goes to her manager and gets us changed free of charge. After squaring the tickets away it is back to the sick bed for the day.
Sunday we're up at 3:00 am as the new flight arrangements leave an hour earlier than the original flights. Damn the bad luck! But there is an up side. We get in an hour and 20 minutes earlier than originally planned. Now we're talking!
The flights down were great. Both actually left a few minutes early. I'm a big guy and I spring for 1st class when traveling any distance, just makes it much more comfortable, and it was.
We arrive STT a few minutes early. We traveled carry on only so we were off the plane in a jiffy! We had Christopher's taxi pick us up at the airport and he shoots us over to Dohm's water taxi dock pronto. The water taxi was waiting on us and it is a BIG water taxi. They had just brought a big group in from Virgin Gorda. We jump on the taxi and it is full speed to Cruz Bay. Faster than you can say,damn I love this place, we're on Island. Pick up the car at Cool Breeze and are in Coral Bay in less than an hour and a half from touch down. Love it!
Up the hill to the house and toss our stuff on the floor and it's off to skinny's for a burger. Ahhhh, life be good.
The next day is spent lounging around the pool and boring ourselves silly by commenting on how absolutely wonderful the weather is in season. It really is great. No humidity and the breezes are to die for.
We did make a run to Lilly's grocery. Drained my 401K to load up on groceries for the week!
That night it is off to Shipwreck Landing for blackened Mahi Mahi. Yum, with a capital YUM!
We've lost count of the exact number of times we've been here but it is sneaking up on a dozen. In all that time we've never stayed on the Coral Bay side before. We generally stay oven near Ditfliff. On this visit we plan to see the things we've not seen before.
Tuesday starts with Haulover. We snorkeled the South side. The water temp is glorious. Didn't see much in the way of fish but it didn't matter. Just being in that water, seeing that blue and enjoying the moment. It was great. We walked over to North Haulover but the water was a bit choppy. So it is off to Vie's for Conch Fritters. What a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. Sitting on the picnic table at Vie's just wasting time. Back to the house for a nap and conversations about how lucky we are.
Tuesday for dinner we decide to stay in. Kate, my darling bride, if you read this please know I love you dearly, but that was the worst meal either of us has cooked in 33 years of marriage, and that counts the time you tried to poison me on our honeymoon with those lethal chili dogs you cooked while we were camping in the great wild north! Folks dinner last night consisted of Mac and Cheese with some corn and carrots thrown in. While that will never get a 5 star rating it doesn't come close to describing how terrible this meal was. Apparently there must have been some worker dissent at the Kraft factory the day this particular box of Mac and Cheese was made because the Mac portion was apparently ground up rubber tires. The "Cheese" portion resembled orange concrete mortar mix. (NOTE TO SELF: Tonight we're going out!) However the entire night was not a culinary loss as desert was a banana and Oreo cookies.
Today I got out the St. John off the beaten path book and looked up favorite snorkel spots. We decided Tektite looked interesting. We started at Lameshur, another first and snorkeled over to Tektite. It was a nice snorkel. Saw some turtles and a couple of 'Cudas. If you haven't snorkeled from Lameshur to Tektite before it is a nice snorkel but keep in mind that you have to swim back from hence you started (oops forgot that part). It's a good haul for a couple of old farts. Once we drug our beaten old bodies back on the beach and caught our breath we figured we had a well deserved meal coming our way. Off to Miss Lucy's for lunch. The food was good and the location...... well you know the location, it just can't be beat.
We're back at the house now and my darling bride is crashed out and taking it easy. I'm just sitting here on the porch making a very poor attempt to let you all know just how wonderful it is here today. The breezes are the best on any trip we've had here. The humidity is a non-factor and life is good.
Tomorrow we're off to Honeymoon and Salomon.[/img]
After 8 months away from STJ the wait has been pure torture, think Dick Chenny approved water boarding. Up Saturday morning at 4:00 am, only for St John is such an ungodly hour tolerated. Unfortunately I'm feeling rotten, some kind of stomach bug. We try to head out the door and it just isn't going to work. On the phone to Delta and God bless some sweet soul there, she rebooks us for the next day. The tickets we purchased carried a $150 per ticket up charge to change and an increase in air fare so the total hit was going to be $750. We hit the lotto on ticket agents and she goes to her manager and gets us changed free of charge. After squaring the tickets away it is back to the sick bed for the day.
Sunday we're up at 3:00 am as the new flight arrangements leave an hour earlier than the original flights. Damn the bad luck! But there is an up side. We get in an hour and 20 minutes earlier than originally planned. Now we're talking!
The flights down were great. Both actually left a few minutes early. I'm a big guy and I spring for 1st class when traveling any distance, just makes it much more comfortable, and it was.
We arrive STT a few minutes early. We traveled carry on only so we were off the plane in a jiffy! We had Christopher's taxi pick us up at the airport and he shoots us over to Dohm's water taxi dock pronto. The water taxi was waiting on us and it is a BIG water taxi. They had just brought a big group in from Virgin Gorda. We jump on the taxi and it is full speed to Cruz Bay. Faster than you can say,damn I love this place, we're on Island. Pick up the car at Cool Breeze and are in Coral Bay in less than an hour and a half from touch down. Love it!
Up the hill to the house and toss our stuff on the floor and it's off to skinny's for a burger. Ahhhh, life be good.
The next day is spent lounging around the pool and boring ourselves silly by commenting on how absolutely wonderful the weather is in season. It really is great. No humidity and the breezes are to die for.
We did make a run to Lilly's grocery. Drained my 401K to load up on groceries for the week!
That night it is off to Shipwreck Landing for blackened Mahi Mahi. Yum, with a capital YUM!
We've lost count of the exact number of times we've been here but it is sneaking up on a dozen. In all that time we've never stayed on the Coral Bay side before. We generally stay oven near Ditfliff. On this visit we plan to see the things we've not seen before.
Tuesday starts with Haulover. We snorkeled the South side. The water temp is glorious. Didn't see much in the way of fish but it didn't matter. Just being in that water, seeing that blue and enjoying the moment. It was great. We walked over to North Haulover but the water was a bit choppy. So it is off to Vie's for Conch Fritters. What a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. Sitting on the picnic table at Vie's just wasting time. Back to the house for a nap and conversations about how lucky we are.
Tuesday for dinner we decide to stay in. Kate, my darling bride, if you read this please know I love you dearly, but that was the worst meal either of us has cooked in 33 years of marriage, and that counts the time you tried to poison me on our honeymoon with those lethal chili dogs you cooked while we were camping in the great wild north! Folks dinner last night consisted of Mac and Cheese with some corn and carrots thrown in. While that will never get a 5 star rating it doesn't come close to describing how terrible this meal was. Apparently there must have been some worker dissent at the Kraft factory the day this particular box of Mac and Cheese was made because the Mac portion was apparently ground up rubber tires. The "Cheese" portion resembled orange concrete mortar mix. (NOTE TO SELF: Tonight we're going out!) However the entire night was not a culinary loss as desert was a banana and Oreo cookies.
Today I got out the St. John off the beaten path book and looked up favorite snorkel spots. We decided Tektite looked interesting. We started at Lameshur, another first and snorkeled over to Tektite. It was a nice snorkel. Saw some turtles and a couple of 'Cudas. If you haven't snorkeled from Lameshur to Tektite before it is a nice snorkel but keep in mind that you have to swim back from hence you started (oops forgot that part). It's a good haul for a couple of old farts. Once we drug our beaten old bodies back on the beach and caught our breath we figured we had a well deserved meal coming our way. Off to Miss Lucy's for lunch. The food was good and the location...... well you know the location, it just can't be beat.
We're back at the house now and my darling bride is crashed out and taking it easy. I'm just sitting here on the porch making a very poor attempt to let you all know just how wonderful it is here today. The breezes are the best on any trip we've had here. The humidity is a non-factor and life is good.
Tomorrow we're off to Honeymoon and Salomon.[/img]
Yay, a real-time trip report!! You've just made my day. I'm lovin' it!! What villa are you staying in? I'm pretty sure you'll never go back to the 'other side' once you've experience the Coral Bay side. My husband won't even consider the 'other side' no matter how great the house is.
Keep the trip updates coming. I've got a about 5 1/2 weeks until my next trip and I'm starting to get itchy so keep 'em coming.
Keep the trip updates coming. I've got a about 5 1/2 weeks until my next trip and I'm starting to get itchy so keep 'em coming.
Bum,
thanks for the real time report, we will be there in a week. Have a great time and look forward to your daily notes.
thanks for the real time report, we will be there in a week. Have a great time and look forward to your daily notes.
<a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/ ... t.png"></a>
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/ ... t.png"></a>
-
StJohnRuth
- Posts: 1989
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:42 pm
- Location: St. John, VI
StJohnbum,
Fun report, thanks!
I agree, that Kraft Macaroni and Cheese stuff is not good. The new St. John Market near the Westin has brands that have not been available to us here previously and I'm pretty excited about this, since we have recently been surviving on a diet of mostly packaged and frozen foods. I can attest that their "Annie's" brand of mac and cheese is far superior to Kraft's. Also, they have "Mama Rosa's" brand of frozen pizza. Worth a trip if you decide to eat in again. Buy a package of mozzarella cheese and toss some on top and you're good to go.
- Ruth
Fun report, thanks!
I agree, that Kraft Macaroni and Cheese stuff is not good. The new St. John Market near the Westin has brands that have not been available to us here previously and I'm pretty excited about this, since we have recently been surviving on a diet of mostly packaged and frozen foods. I can attest that their "Annie's" brand of mac and cheese is far superior to Kraft's. Also, they have "Mama Rosa's" brand of frozen pizza. Worth a trip if you decide to eat in again. Buy a package of mozzarella cheese and toss some on top and you're good to go.
- Ruth
Re: 10 days on the rock - part 1
Great report! Not sure the following is in line with Anthony's new rules, however.
StJohnbum wrote:
After 8 months away from STJ the wait has been pure torture, think Dick Chenny approved water boarding. [/img]
July 2003 - Honeymoon at The Westin
July 2004 - Glenmar, Gifft Hill
July 2005 - Arco Iris, Fish Bay
December 2007 - Dreamcatcher, GCB
July 2008 - Ellison Villa, VGE
July 2004 - Glenmar, Gifft Hill
July 2005 - Arco Iris, Fish Bay
December 2007 - Dreamcatcher, GCB
July 2008 - Ellison Villa, VGE
What a great ticket agent. Too bad there are not more out there; in addition to just being kind it is good for business. How many people are going to read your post about Delta's great service?
Glad you are having fun! Yes, Kraft Mac and cheese sucks. But why do I still eat a spoonful whenever I make it for my kids for lunch?
Glad you are having fun! Yes, Kraft Mac and cheese sucks. But why do I still eat a spoonful whenever I make it for my kids for lunch?
"Sponges grow in the ocean...I wonder how much deeper it would be if that didn't happen."
-
bubblybrenda
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:57 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
