Two Weeks in Paradise, Day 1- We're special

Travel discussion for St. John
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mrsb
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Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:45 pm
Location: PA

Two Weeks in Paradise, Day 1- We're special

Post by mrsb »

Preceding our departure was months of organizing coverage for our business and cats. I think I had about 3 hours of sleep each night the entire week before. I'm stressed out beyond normal.

We packed our cooler and one suitcase full of dry food stuff and several more bags. My mom gave us a ride to the airport (scary!) We had an 8am flight on AA from Philly to San Juan. Used the check in kiosk an headed to the security gate. The line was about 80 people long. A man came up to us an asked for our boarding passes. Right this way he says and we skip the whole line and go to the x-ray machines. Wow- love those upgraded tickets. We're special :) I hear a woman commenting that we are taking off our shoes. I have to wonder if some people just show at the airport and do not hear anything about the new regulations. Must not have a tv or radio or friends.

Our flight was on time :shock: We were business class (no first class on these flights). Had take off coffee and then a nice breakfast of egg and sausage quesidilla and bagels or biscuits, fruit, coffee, orange juice. They really feed you well in business class. I thumbed through the skymall catalogue again. Why is it that I think I need that stuff? Flying over San Juan, Puerto Rico looks very beautiful. We landed and had to deboard for a security check and clean up. Waiting around the airport it was crowded and not nearly enough seats for all the passengers. People overflowed into the walkway making for tough maneuvering. No smoking area for us either. I'd settle for a closet at some of these airports.
Back on the plane- we're up, we're down and land early in STT. I got my first rum punch ever since we arrived on time this year. It was good. No one hawking for tips either but I did tip. Finally some smokes across the street after 7 hours. More drinks at the airport bar while we wait for Mom & Dad B coming in on Spirit. Luggage comes- we have so much luggage. The porters keep pestering us. One gets upset and makes a remark about us stacking luggage to roll it. Oh well. I don't see the need for a porter to walk 100 feet to the taxis. We had a nice taxi ride. Arrive at the new ferry dock.It's nice and clean. A small snack stand and bar are open and some guys selling CD's. The porter also wanted to wheel our luggage inside there- no- it's even less of a walk than the airport. Sat on the top of the ferry and talked to a couple who had a Westin time share. The wife kept calling it St John's. Finally arrive.

Lois from Caribbean villa's picks us up and C&C had left the key for the Jeep Liberty with them. All is well and head to Villa Allesandra. Caribbean villas provides renters a bag of booklets and now some chips and salsa. An improvement over last year. Everything is as we left it last year. A few new pieces of art decorate the villa. Our drink order from Mixolgy was delivered as promised. It may have just been delivered or the fridge was set too warm but everything was still warm. I looked at the receipt again and realized that one case of 36 bottles of water was $18 !! We unloaded our coolers and dry goods, got cleaned up and headed to Cruz Bay for a dinner at Morgan's Mango.

Well- I read and re-read the restaurant closings and Morgan's was supposed to be open. They were not. They were closed for that weekend for maintenance. We are disappointed because we had a really good meal there last year. We decided on Paradiso instead. Very nice place. The wait staff were very attentive. MrB & Dad B had the tuna. They said it was delicious. MomB had lobster ravioli and a spinach salad. The ravioli looked and smelled so good. I tried something different than I ever do- fish!- mahi and shrimp in some sort of broth with a side of polenta. The closest I come to eating fish is a tuna fish sandwich. I tried it, it was good but still I am not a fan, maybe better if not in the broth. I always find the word polenta to be funny. Is it not just what used to be called mush? Sorry- no food porn from this night. We were hungry.

Back to the villa for some star gazing. All in all a good travel day. Tomorrow- Trunk Bay.
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mbw1024
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Post by mbw1024 »

yeah, a report! off to a good start! scooting past a long line is never a bad thing!
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waterguy
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Post by waterguy »

Great start
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jayseadee
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Location: New England

Post by jayseadee »

Great start.

Happy to meet someone else who's not shy about bringing luggage.

thanks,
janet
pjayer
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Post by pjayer »

Two whole weeks! How lucky! Looking forward to reading the rest.
Last edited by pjayer on Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Kentucky, because everything there happens 20 years after it happens anywhere else. – Mark Twain
PA Girl
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Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:55 am

Post by PA Girl »

Sky Mall? too funny. Hubs finds something on every page that he has to have and always takes the catalog with him. (Of course I throw it out as soon as we land)
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mbw1024
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Location: The Garden State

Post by mbw1024 »

PA Girl wrote:Sky Mall? too funny. Hubs finds something on every page that he has to have and always takes the catalog with him. (Of course I throw it out as soon as we land)
Hey, are we married to the same guy? LOL First the Fiji water, now this!!!!!!!! :)
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Jerseyboy
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Location: NJ

Post by Jerseyboy »

Thanks for the first part. When I read the topic, I thought liamsaunt made yet another trip to STJ! :? :lol:
PA Girl
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Post by PA Girl »

MB - I would wonder if they weren't seperated at birth! One of these days, we will be on island at the same time and we will have to get them together.
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kellyanna
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Location: SE Arkansas

Post by kellyanna »

Great! Bet your pets couldn't wait to see you two!
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RickG
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Location: Coral Bay, St. John

Post by RickG »

Hey Amy, I want to go back. Now.

Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
Kentuckygirl
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Location: Kentucky

Post by Kentuckygirl »

The commment about taking off your shoes is too funny. :shock: Great start!
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naturegirl
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Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:44 am

Post by naturegirl »

MrsB,

How was AA business class. Was it roomy? Did they serve champagne/vodka with the orange juice?
Beautiful picture.

Looking forward to Trunk Bay.
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mrsb
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Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:45 pm
Location: PA

Post by mrsb »

AA business class is great. They serve whatever you want. We had champagne on the flight home. We used ff miles to upgrade.
When will I see St John again?
naturegirl
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Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:44 am

Post by naturegirl »

Good to know! The breakfast sounded yummy! We upgraded using ff miles as well.

When should we be expecting day 2?
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