usvi-on-line
St John, June 9-16
St John, June 9-16
I've only finished writing up the first two days but at this rate it will be September before I finish it all. So here is my attempt at a trip report.
June 9
US Air looked like it was leaving Dulles for Charlotte on time. We were all loaded and ready to go but then it seemed that we were missing a first officer so we had to get another one from somewhere. An hour later someone showed up and then we were on our way!! We went through the usual baggage scramble at Cyril E. King Airport and then off to Red Hook for the first time in years because the Charlotte Amalie ferry was not running. I really don’t like the ferry at Red Hook. Long lines, porters throwing your luggage everywhere, hot, crowded…… But then, the ferry started to move into the water and my St John smile could not be suppressed.
The Viva rep who met us was a very friendly lady named Gyasi. She walked us over to the taxi area where Levi from L&L was waiting with a pretty new Jeep Liberty. We followed Gyasi to Chocolate Hole and past the gash of land that will one day be the Pond Bay Club. We turned left up Iguana Rd., a vertical drive of patched concrete, holes and rocks to Andante by the Sea. It is a challenge but worth the trip up that hill. My husband loves driving on St. John and I am happy for him to do it because it makes me nervous.
Andante is a very nice villa with great views. Our Mixology order was on the counter waiting for us. We were on the 4:00 PM ferry from Red Hook (our latest arrival ever). I brought mixed nuts, cheese and crackers and nuts and there were snacks from the villa owners, so we hunkered down with our Mixoloy order and our food and enjoyed the Villa our first night.
June 10 Sunday
We went running. Yes, we are gluttons for punishment but there is nothing like running up and around Maria Bluff to make you feel like you worked out especially if you’ve been desk bound for a while. I then packed snacks and drinks and we headed for Honeymoon Beach. It was on my list of things we haven’t done. We parked at Caneel and walked from there. I listened to much grumbling from my spouse because of the length of the walk. I turned onto the beach as soon as we got the opportunity but I should have walked us closer to Salomon because the snorkeling would have been better but as soon as he saw the beach, the grumbling stopped. Honeymoon is a beautiful place. The snorkel from the point we stopped at Honeymoon to Caneel wasn’t so great but we didn’t care, we were back on St. John. One very minor gripe, there was only one other group on the beach when we arrived. They were over to the middle. Then another couple showed up and parked about 15 feet from us!! Oh well, maybe one of them was complaining about the walk.
We went to Rhumb Lines for dinner. We’ve enjoyed it in the past but not this time. The hot spices overwhelmed the scallops we ordered. We also got a corn and shrimp fritter appetizer which was good but the aioli it came with was also overly spiced.
Will try to post pictures on my next installment.
June 9
US Air looked like it was leaving Dulles for Charlotte on time. We were all loaded and ready to go but then it seemed that we were missing a first officer so we had to get another one from somewhere. An hour later someone showed up and then we were on our way!! We went through the usual baggage scramble at Cyril E. King Airport and then off to Red Hook for the first time in years because the Charlotte Amalie ferry was not running. I really don’t like the ferry at Red Hook. Long lines, porters throwing your luggage everywhere, hot, crowded…… But then, the ferry started to move into the water and my St John smile could not be suppressed.
The Viva rep who met us was a very friendly lady named Gyasi. She walked us over to the taxi area where Levi from L&L was waiting with a pretty new Jeep Liberty. We followed Gyasi to Chocolate Hole and past the gash of land that will one day be the Pond Bay Club. We turned left up Iguana Rd., a vertical drive of patched concrete, holes and rocks to Andante by the Sea. It is a challenge but worth the trip up that hill. My husband loves driving on St. John and I am happy for him to do it because it makes me nervous.
Andante is a very nice villa with great views. Our Mixology order was on the counter waiting for us. We were on the 4:00 PM ferry from Red Hook (our latest arrival ever). I brought mixed nuts, cheese and crackers and nuts and there were snacks from the villa owners, so we hunkered down with our Mixoloy order and our food and enjoyed the Villa our first night.
June 10 Sunday
We went running. Yes, we are gluttons for punishment but there is nothing like running up and around Maria Bluff to make you feel like you worked out especially if you’ve been desk bound for a while. I then packed snacks and drinks and we headed for Honeymoon Beach. It was on my list of things we haven’t done. We parked at Caneel and walked from there. I listened to much grumbling from my spouse because of the length of the walk. I turned onto the beach as soon as we got the opportunity but I should have walked us closer to Salomon because the snorkeling would have been better but as soon as he saw the beach, the grumbling stopped. Honeymoon is a beautiful place. The snorkel from the point we stopped at Honeymoon to Caneel wasn’t so great but we didn’t care, we were back on St. John. One very minor gripe, there was only one other group on the beach when we arrived. They were over to the middle. Then another couple showed up and parked about 15 feet from us!! Oh well, maybe one of them was complaining about the walk.
We went to Rhumb Lines for dinner. We’ve enjoyed it in the past but not this time. The hot spices overwhelmed the scallops we ordered. We also got a corn and shrimp fritter appetizer which was good but the aioli it came with was also overly spiced.Will try to post pictures on my next installment.
Wolfhound, it cracks me up that your husband went running up Maria Bluff with you, but then complained about the flat and shaded walk to Honeymoon!
We stayed off Iguana Road for our first trip. I remember lots of shrieking the first time we drove up the road.
We stayed off Iguana Road for our first trip. I remember lots of shrieking the first time we drove up the road.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
