Stomach problems, anyone?

[ShipwreckPat]

Speaking to the eating/drinking out issue, VI law requires all establishments to have their water tested
by an independent lab on a monthly basis. Costs us a
bloody fortune so help us out by buying it!

Pat

[Teresa_Rae]

Pat, I'm not sure what you mean...isn't tap water free at restaurants?

I drink tap water and mixed drinks made with tap water ice cubes at restaurants because of the testing, but I don't trust the filtration at villas.

[islandgirl]

hi, i have had stomach problems a couple times. i think it is from eating the garlic that is cooked into the food and drinking too much pina coladas (the coconut milk). now i carry a supply of tums and zantac just in case.

[ShipwreckPat]

Sorry, I was attempting to be funny. It is sort of a running restaurant joke. If the restaurant is abiding by the law, they would be required to post a notice if their water tested bad. No notice, the water should be fine. In almost all places in St John, they/we try to sell bottled water, not because the tap is unsafe, but it makes a whole heck of a lot more money than giving it away! We find a lot of humor in the folks that want a bottle of water with a glass of ice.

[larlardb8]

Only stomach problems I have encountered have been after a day of drinking.
We usually do bottled water though..easier to take to the beach.
Have never felt bad after drinking tap water or making drinks with ice...but again we usually do bottled because of convenience.

Laurie

[RickG]

We've never had any kind of water-borne illness on STJ. We've stayed in new and old villas and routinely use the cistern water for washing. We do buy drinking water by the gallons and depend on ice that we buy from the ice house.

We do tend to get some kind of stomach issue (not illness) during a long trip, wherever we go. I put this up to the lifestyle rather than anything else. The water, food, drinks and activities are all out of norm. This happens pretty much everywhere we go for five days or longer, in or out of the US. I blame the rich food and drinks. We bring Immodium on every trip to treat the symptom if it happens. In the past, we've tried charcoal pills for hard core beer hunting trips; they seem to help with sulfur management, but not enough to really justify their use.

The only cure is to stay home.

Cheers, RickG

[pjayer]

The only cure is to stay home.

Cheers, RickG

I'll pass on that cure! Might bring on another kind of sickness after awhile.

[delph17]

I just returned from St john where my hubby had an iffy tummy, think it was Mahi salad from caneel bay,i had the same thing once in floida.
Just for some info for all the celiacs out there, i was diagnosed 2 years ago and always travel with my rice pasta, in st john at the new starfish store i found organic pasta sauces,sausages no gluten, taco shells made only from corn and at the dolphin store they had a frozen amys pizza with a rice crust.I was in heaven, we picked up grilled lobster from the fishtrap and added that to the pasta, just stay away from the fried foods and bring your own soy sauce(tamari ) so you can have sushi.
Angie

[pjayer]

Delph17 - Thanks so much for your post. I've been wondering what's available and that info is very helpful. Were you able to find any GF bread anywhere? I use Bob's Red Mill mix at home. I can't decide whether to take the mix and bake it there, or try to carry it already baked with me.

[delph17]

No, I did not see any GF bread maybe one day, i spoke to some of the staff and GF food is always requested, so you never know.
I use the chebe mixes to make breadsticks but i think anything in "powder/flour" form is not allowed thru customs, i tried shipping to Bequia last year and they stipulate no flour, i would bake your bread and then freeze on arrival.
I eat more crackers than bread, easier to travel with.

Angie

[waterguy]

You don't have to worry you aren't going thru customs on the way down to get to the usvi. I have brought special breading no problem