Returning to St John

[Linward]

I have taken my wife to a number of beautiful places and islands, but our trip to St John 2 years ago is the only one that, when we were leaving, elicited tears from her. So, for our 30th anniversary, we will be be returning.

Before we made our first visit, I asked the members of this forum what to expect; what was so magical about St John that it drew their hearts. Your responses were amazing...and intriguing. And you know what? We found it (or got it) while we were there. It has an immanence (as RickG described); but it also has a transcendence which is ineffable (at least to me).

So now, that we will be returning, I ask you dear forumites to tell me: Can you return and find the same essence, the same enchantment that you experienced on you first visit?

[Kealani]

St John brings a peace to me that no other place can. I find it everytime I return. I'm sure the magic will still exist for you too.

[Xislandgirl]

I think that the island still captivates you but you have the comfortable feeling of coming home.

I think returning is better than the first trip.

[jwwj]

Linwad, like you, my wife and I have traveled to many beautiful places and for us there is no other place like St John. We were hoping the second trip wouldn't be a let down and it turned out much better than the first and I can't really tell you why other than the peace we feel there. It is like others have said, like coming home. Other places we have gone might be more beautiful but they don't touch my soul like St John.

[psufan]

My family and I have been there twice and are planning our 3rd trip in May. It is the only place all of us even considered even after 2 trips. It is a place that never loses its charm at least in our hearts. I always tell my friends and co-workers that it is the only place I can go and totally empty my mind of all those things that clutter it on a normal basis. When we returned the last time I had totally forgotten all my passwords for my work computer and made a wrong turn on my way to work that first time back. How can you possibly beat that for relaxation! I had tears in my eyes on the ferry ride to the island and the ferry ride back to St Thomas. No, it definitely does not lose its charm. It is the best mental therapy you can possibly get!

[Captain Jack]

We are returning in December for our 7th time, and each time the Island has something different to offer. It is an island of adventure, many things to see and do. We discover something different each time we are there. The first trip is magical, but the trips only get better time after time. STJ is a special place in paradise. The magic is always there waiting, you just have to return to find it again.

Hi! My name is Steve and I'm a STJ addict............

[Wanda Creech]

I am a STJ addict also.
We have been going for 10 years
and it keeps getting better and better. It is magical,
but it has that home feeling every time you go back.
We revisit our favorite places but always find
something different about them. We try new beaches,
we still have not been to all of them, and we have
new favorites. There is no place like St. John.

[lazylane]

We will be making our 9th trip in December....so in answer to your question, positively yes. If anything, you will become more and more addicted. Believe it or not, there are still things that we have not done or seen, so I guess we'll just have to keep going because I know that magic will always be there! Happy Anniversary, BTW! We also celebrate ours on island! This year is 26!!

[PSUWethr]

Hello, my name is Elisa and I am a STJ addict. Even with our upcoming 30th visit in two weeks, I am so excited. It feels like coming home. I can't wait for the peace and quiet, the tree frogs singing at night, the roosters at sunrise and the lazy beach days. Most of all, I love the people.....I hate coming home and usualy bawl my eyes out as the ferry leaves the dock. I have travelled many places that I have enjoyed, but was ready to come home....but STJ is different!

The magic of STJ is all evident by this forum....you are in very good company!

[BuffaloGal]

I have to say, we're addicted to this little island. Our first trip was 4 years ago, and my husband and I are anxiously awaiting our 5th trip. Each trip we enjoy the familiar things we love and still manage to find new things to explore. The nice thing is, St. John is a place where you can just enjoy being together. And the experience gets better and better. Celebrate your 30 years together and enjoy it in the most beautiful corner of the world I've ever been to! Congratulations and have a wonderful time!

[Nancie-Pa]

Hi, my name is Nancie and I'm a St.Johnaholic! I agree with all of the above accolades about our beloved Island. If we could bottle the magic that draws us all back, we could all retire and live out our lives on STJ. Wouldn't that be great

Happy Anniversary and have a wonderful trip!

[Nic in KC]

I agree that return trips are even better than the first trip. There really are no words to describe the way St. John makes me feel. It's a feeling of peace that I've never experienced anywhere else. Even today, I got the St. John Spice Newsletter and upon seeing the picture of the building, I felt my body simply relax as if I'd just stepped off the ferry.

If only that were true! Congratulations on your 2nd trip and I look forward to hearing about the magic when you return!

[mahojim]

Guilty as charged; STJ Addict.
As everyone else has mentioned, the charm of the place never loses its' luster.
The only difference between my other 14 visits compared to my first would be the familiarity that one gets after being there more than a few times.
Recognizing who,where & what helps me feel more "at home", which is wonderful. As another forum member said,there's still so many things to discover even having been there so many times. THAT, too, is a delight.
As much as I've experienced while there, there are still so many incredibly new things to enjoy.
To me STJ is a cure-all for the way a lot of people back home act/react. I try to bring its' serenity home with me, and practice the laid back patient lifestyle that oozes out of every delicious, beautiful person,place, & thing on STJ.
The only thing I enjoy more than being there is sharing a trip with someone who never has. It's a thrill watching friends recognize its' beauty for the first time, and also seeing them gellify into "Island Time".
Go!
We all want to hear about your wonderful anniversary experience!
Smiles-
MJ

[cool breeze]

STJ truly has a mysterious magical aura that continues to draw us all back. My wife Cindy and I discovered this beautiful little island some 12 years ago while on a cruise to STT but never actually set foot on the island, we sailed to honeymoon beach and snorkeled for the first time in an area that was simply put, "beautiful". It was some nine years later while I was planning our 20th wedding anniversary that the island that seemed surreal on that particular day drew my curiousity back into that little piece of heaven in the Carribean. We have returned every October since our initial visit. The one of many special moments that captured the mysterious effects of the island were when Cindy turned to me on our second visit and said "I can't explain this feeling I have but I am so happy to be sharing this experience with you that I could cry" So as you can imagine addiction was an understatement at that point. Have a fabulous 30th anniversary.

CB

[liamsaunt]

For me, it gets better every time. You have the comfort of returning to a familiar place, but there's always somewhere new to explore, plus old favorites to revisit.

I have to tell you, John and I are going to Bermuda next week and I am already regretting not picking a STJ trip instead!