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T.R. STJ Kicks Like a Mule or Impressions of a first-timer.
T.R. STJ Kicks Like a Mule or Impressions of a first-timer.
Greetings Island Travelers.
First time for me in fact my brother invited me along with his two college aged sons on spring break. Couldn't say no since he picked up the airfare and my wife said to go and check it out.
Bro has been several times and STJ is his fave. We met up in STT as he was coming in from Chicago. Bam right in the van to Red Hook ...Did the Titanic thing at the front of the ferry. Rental car, Starfish & villa you guys know the story...
Squared away & ready for dinner hit Woody's for the tail end (small pun) of happy hours. I love this place. I think it is the finest example of a quintessential "dive-bar" I have ever been in. The wait staff truly understands customer service. They could not have been any nicer and pleasant. It is ALIVE in there. Not wanting anyone to think I OBSESS about drinking TOO much, I can only say that later in our trip we stopped again to take advantage of of their generous THREE HOUR "HAPPY HOURS" to set a personal best record of the 4 of us having 16 beers and 4 dinner plates costing $48! before tip. Now that's something! When you see locals going in the food has to be good.
Day two beach jeep cooler snorkel I think I've got that technique down- just be careful backing up between the palms. Heard and then saw the water truck- Wow! You gotta REALLY watch out!
Day Three rented the dinghy with the bigger motor- 30hp Large swells a lot of wind & spray until we got past Hawksnest. Not exactly what we had envisioned like buzzing along over smooth flat water in the brilliant sunshine. It was overcast and starting to rain we went into Little Cinnamon swan a bit since it was better than getting rained on. It let up and we made some turkey and cheese sandwiches. Still a bit overcast we continued down to Waterlemon. It cleared up nicely by mid afternoon. Snorkeled like crazy every where we went. We were getting cooked the El Presidente` and Caribes were sublime. The sun the puffy white clouds light blue and dark blue water...Aaahhhh yes this is IT. Coming back I mentioned on the Q-T that my brother Chris and I would do an impromptu to man over board drill by simply rolling off the side of the dinghy as his son were in the back. Was so funny! We are swimming around innocuously yelling Help I've been drinking beer and fallen over board. Ribs at that guy down town rums and our featured tour CD Neil Diamond. Sing along and have some silly fun. Younger twin did I mention sons were twins? Anyway the younger one is something of a math genius but as is so often the case he has more than his fair share of foibles and general geekeness.He starts belting out Mr. Bo Jangles. Very funny.
Day 3 Chris and I are up out on the deck w coffees and these huge binoculars like the ones border guards use- we checking out all the building going on looking out over Hart Bay So we want to get going after a while and the kids are just not getting up! Chris hollers up into the loft JANGLES!!!C'mon Mr Bo Jangles!!! Saturday March 17 Chris's birthday. Cooked from our day on the sea we hunkered down at Vies just past Haulover. Big round leafy trees looked like or at least seemed like we were sitting in a big green igloo on the beach. Hollowed out and packed with all kinds of furniture inside. Enjoyed meeting Vie very quite and unassuming. Chicken Conch fritters and Honey on Johnny cakes simply outstanding. Celebrated BD at Skinny Legs and decided to rent the dinghy again because it was just too much fun.
Um..Next Day Got to boat place on time skipped video and headed out for snorkel on Henley, Ram Goat & Rata cays The current was ripping and we would drop two guys off at the end of the cay & let the current fly them down start up and pick them over and over. Henley was the best. The sun was really out and water visibility was excellent. I suggested that we go out for some deep water and we made our way over to Carval Rock. We got up close to it wow it just towers straight up ALL rock! I hop over the side and instantly know this is a very bad mistake. I thought I was passing out or that there was something very wrong with my mask. All I could see was dark blue nothing else no fish, no bottom just all blue I waved my hand in front of my face just to make sure. I could see my hand crystal clear. It was like being out in space. Then the thought of how I must be silhouetted from hundred of feet below made me realize I was the only bait in the water. No trouble getting back into the boat. Went into Gibney it was still morning and quite So beautiful. Just stunning. Everything I ever imagined about beaches in paradise. Warm water powdery white sand palm trees my heart was very full. The perfect hour. Snorkeled, walked the beach, had a slice or two of cheese some grapes a beer. Wow kicks you right in the face. Yeah the wife is going to love this place....First trip just her & I later the kids can come. More beaches and cays and snorkeling Maho Francis turtles pelicans lot of swimming! Miles all around Waterlemon then out and along Leimster point I though I joined the friggin' navy seals.There was a free beach concert we stopped in on people hangin'' out. Shoot for Tuesday was the band wanna be reggae whatever was interesting to know about the Oppenheimers By now Chris and I are laying on our backs on the sides of the dingy dragging a foot in the water. Woodys those beer batter shrimp are the best.Villa- hot tub, pool, tunes yes Jangles was dancin'
Last full day we have been running pretty hard and quite frankly over stimulated. Shopped MJ Deli is so good. Maho beach.
Departure was smooth concerned with weather woes I had missed it was that frozen crap. Taxi stopped at mountain look out on STT.
The dinghies are not to be missed I will do that again worth every dollar.
STJ is really a fun place and I think a really good value compared to other Caribbean destinations. Pristine beauty as a result of the park system is really nice and lets everyone enjoy it. I also really enjoyed not having to do the hotel lobby thing.
Does anybody have a nautical chart that shows the depth of the water around Carval rock? I'd just like to know.
Suds
First time for me in fact my brother invited me along with his two college aged sons on spring break. Couldn't say no since he picked up the airfare and my wife said to go and check it out.
Bro has been several times and STJ is his fave. We met up in STT as he was coming in from Chicago. Bam right in the van to Red Hook ...Did the Titanic thing at the front of the ferry. Rental car, Starfish & villa you guys know the story...
Squared away & ready for dinner hit Woody's for the tail end (small pun) of happy hours. I love this place. I think it is the finest example of a quintessential "dive-bar" I have ever been in. The wait staff truly understands customer service. They could not have been any nicer and pleasant. It is ALIVE in there. Not wanting anyone to think I OBSESS about drinking TOO much, I can only say that later in our trip we stopped again to take advantage of of their generous THREE HOUR "HAPPY HOURS" to set a personal best record of the 4 of us having 16 beers and 4 dinner plates costing $48! before tip. Now that's something! When you see locals going in the food has to be good.
Day two beach jeep cooler snorkel I think I've got that technique down- just be careful backing up between the palms. Heard and then saw the water truck- Wow! You gotta REALLY watch out!
Day Three rented the dinghy with the bigger motor- 30hp Large swells a lot of wind & spray until we got past Hawksnest. Not exactly what we had envisioned like buzzing along over smooth flat water in the brilliant sunshine. It was overcast and starting to rain we went into Little Cinnamon swan a bit since it was better than getting rained on. It let up and we made some turkey and cheese sandwiches. Still a bit overcast we continued down to Waterlemon. It cleared up nicely by mid afternoon. Snorkeled like crazy every where we went. We were getting cooked the El Presidente` and Caribes were sublime. The sun the puffy white clouds light blue and dark blue water...Aaahhhh yes this is IT. Coming back I mentioned on the Q-T that my brother Chris and I would do an impromptu to man over board drill by simply rolling off the side of the dinghy as his son were in the back. Was so funny! We are swimming around innocuously yelling Help I've been drinking beer and fallen over board. Ribs at that guy down town rums and our featured tour CD Neil Diamond. Sing along and have some silly fun. Younger twin did I mention sons were twins? Anyway the younger one is something of a math genius but as is so often the case he has more than his fair share of foibles and general geekeness.He starts belting out Mr. Bo Jangles. Very funny.
Day 3 Chris and I are up out on the deck w coffees and these huge binoculars like the ones border guards use- we checking out all the building going on looking out over Hart Bay So we want to get going after a while and the kids are just not getting up! Chris hollers up into the loft JANGLES!!!C'mon Mr Bo Jangles!!! Saturday March 17 Chris's birthday. Cooked from our day on the sea we hunkered down at Vies just past Haulover. Big round leafy trees looked like or at least seemed like we were sitting in a big green igloo on the beach. Hollowed out and packed with all kinds of furniture inside. Enjoyed meeting Vie very quite and unassuming. Chicken Conch fritters and Honey on Johnny cakes simply outstanding. Celebrated BD at Skinny Legs and decided to rent the dinghy again because it was just too much fun.
Um..Next Day Got to boat place on time skipped video and headed out for snorkel on Henley, Ram Goat & Rata cays The current was ripping and we would drop two guys off at the end of the cay & let the current fly them down start up and pick them over and over. Henley was the best. The sun was really out and water visibility was excellent. I suggested that we go out for some deep water and we made our way over to Carval Rock. We got up close to it wow it just towers straight up ALL rock! I hop over the side and instantly know this is a very bad mistake. I thought I was passing out or that there was something very wrong with my mask. All I could see was dark blue nothing else no fish, no bottom just all blue I waved my hand in front of my face just to make sure. I could see my hand crystal clear. It was like being out in space. Then the thought of how I must be silhouetted from hundred of feet below made me realize I was the only bait in the water. No trouble getting back into the boat. Went into Gibney it was still morning and quite So beautiful. Just stunning. Everything I ever imagined about beaches in paradise. Warm water powdery white sand palm trees my heart was very full. The perfect hour. Snorkeled, walked the beach, had a slice or two of cheese some grapes a beer. Wow kicks you right in the face. Yeah the wife is going to love this place....First trip just her & I later the kids can come. More beaches and cays and snorkeling Maho Francis turtles pelicans lot of swimming! Miles all around Waterlemon then out and along Leimster point I though I joined the friggin' navy seals.There was a free beach concert we stopped in on people hangin'' out. Shoot for Tuesday was the band wanna be reggae whatever was interesting to know about the Oppenheimers By now Chris and I are laying on our backs on the sides of the dingy dragging a foot in the water. Woodys those beer batter shrimp are the best.Villa- hot tub, pool, tunes yes Jangles was dancin'
Last full day we have been running pretty hard and quite frankly over stimulated. Shopped MJ Deli is so good. Maho beach.
Departure was smooth concerned with weather woes I had missed it was that frozen crap. Taxi stopped at mountain look out on STT.
The dinghies are not to be missed I will do that again worth every dollar.
STJ is really a fun place and I think a really good value compared to other Caribbean destinations. Pristine beauty as a result of the park system is really nice and lets everyone enjoy it. I also really enjoyed not having to do the hotel lobby thing.
Does anybody have a nautical chart that shows the depth of the water around Carval rock? I'd just like to know.
Suds
