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TRIP REPORT DIALOGUE - Day Three, May 19
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Robin in NC
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:19 pm
- Location: Kernersville, NC
TRIP REPORT DIALOGUE - Day Three, May 19
Monday dawned sunny and clear, which was true of most of the week. We had the occasional very brief shower, and it rained hard at night once or twice, but the days were gorgeous. We also didn't have the Sahara dust, or the Montserrat ash, or the Venezuelan smoke, or whatever that is. Montserrat made things the slightest bit hazy on our last trip, but this time it was as clear as, as clear as...
O.J.'S CONSCIENCE?
Ooh, you have a mean streak. I like that in a Forum. Anyway, this was going to be our first beach day, but unfortunately Gary's ankle still wasn't quite ready for sand and salt. So he and Pam took a villa day while Jeannie and I took Jeff and Teresa for their first snorkeling experience. I chose Maho because it's just so easy, and snorkeling was reported to be pretty good. And it's beautiful, of course. But on St. John, that goes without saying.
AND YET YOU SAID IT ANYWAY.
We headed to Cruz Bay Watersports in the Lumberyard to rent our equipment. I had a problem getting a good seal on my mask last time, because I have a beard. I thought maybe if I bought my own mask, it could somehow be custom fit to work for me. But the ladies at CBW said it would make no difference, I wouldn't get a good seal no matter whose mask I use. So I rented. We all rented belts too, based on how much easier it was for Jeannie on our last trip, and everyone agreed it was a good decision. You feel like a dork wearing it, but we really did like the freedom of not having to worry about swimming.
WE HOPE THERE ARE DORK PICTURES IN YOUR LAST REPORT.
Every picture of me is a dork picture. So we drove to Maho, arrived around 10, and easily got a parking space. We set up under some shade, then headed out to snorkel. Honestly, I was a little disappointed. We didn't see many fish, the coral was okay but not great, and I could only stay at it for five or ten minutes, and then the slow leak in my mask would cause me to surface and drain it. After about an hour, I headed in. Jeannie and Teresa came in a while later, and both had seen turtles, Teresa saw a small one and Jeannie's was larger with a remora hitching a ride. A few minutes later, Jeff motioned that he was swimming with a turtle, and they were all really excited. They all saw them in the center of the beach, and not far from shore.
YOU DIDN'T SEE ONE?
No. I still had several more beach days, though, so I didn't despair. Turned out the first one I saw was when I looked at Jeannie's photos. She got one of the DiCAPac camera bags for our digital camera, and it worked well. I mean, it's not as user-friendly as a dedicated plastic housing would be, but for occasional snorkelers like us it was just fine. I don't have Photoshop, but thank heavens for Picasa http://picasa.google.com/, which did wonders in improving all our photos, especially the underwater shots. After a couple of hours of relaxing, we headed back to the villa for sustenance.
YOU DIDN'T STOP FOR SANDWICHES AT DELI GROTTO? DON'T YOU SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY?
No and yes. That night we went to dinner at ZoZo's and we supported the economy very generously. In the meantime, I'd like to say we went back to our hot tub, but it wasn't working. During our orientation, our villa rep said that it needed a part, and it was being sent down FedEx. Someone would be by to install it on Tuesday or Wednesday. I told Jeff, "That's happy talk. There'll be no hot tub this week." And I was right. I realize things break, and St. John is a difficult place to get parts. I'm just glad it wasn't the pool...I wouldn't have shown such equanimity.
EQUANIMITY? THAT SOUNDS LIKE FRIENDSHIP WITH HORSES.
So that night we headed to ZoZo's for dinner. I'd made a reservation from home for 6:00 so we could have a sunset viewing at the rail, and it didn't disappoint. I can't quite say the same for ZoZo's. We started with antipasto and bruschetta to share, and both were delicious. Jeannie had mahi, Gary enjoyed a double-cut pork chop, Pam and Jeff had the beef tenderloin special, and Teresa and I had osso bucco. I chose that dish because I'd seen reports on my dining blog from others who'd had it and loved it. May I admit that I've never had it before? I hope Becky at least will forgive me, I look at her exquisite cooking and gourmet palate and feel so, I don't know. Help me, Forum?
CRACKER BARREL?
No, no. I enjoy eating well, I've just never had that particular dish before. And I have to say it was like an elegant pot roast.
BECKY JUST STOPPED READING.
I hope not. We didn't have dessert because of all the goodies we had back at the villa, and only two drinks and our total check was $325. Really not bad for the very good meal we enjoyed. Very good, but not great. I really had high hopes, and maybe I had created unreal expectations in my mind that nothing could have lived up to. You know how the blockbuster movies everyone talks about sometimes leave you unexcited, but the small films you feel like you "discovered" are often lifelong favorites? Maybe it's like that. And it wasn't just the osso bucco, everyone was pleased but not overwhelmed by their choices.
WOULD YOU GO BACK?
Definitely, but since this was just our second visit, and we only have one or two top-of-the-line dinners, I'll probably try La Tapa next. Back at the villa we turned out all the lights on the veranda and the pool, and were startled by how many stars we could see. I live a few miles out from the city, and I haven't seen anything like that for a long time. Really reminded me of how insignificant I am.
OH, WE ALREADY KNEW THAT.
You're so encouraging. Okay, tomorrow J&T snorkel Ditleff and Gary's eager to go to the beach.
O.J.'S CONSCIENCE?
Ooh, you have a mean streak. I like that in a Forum. Anyway, this was going to be our first beach day, but unfortunately Gary's ankle still wasn't quite ready for sand and salt. So he and Pam took a villa day while Jeannie and I took Jeff and Teresa for their first snorkeling experience. I chose Maho because it's just so easy, and snorkeling was reported to be pretty good. And it's beautiful, of course. But on St. John, that goes without saying.
AND YET YOU SAID IT ANYWAY.
We headed to Cruz Bay Watersports in the Lumberyard to rent our equipment. I had a problem getting a good seal on my mask last time, because I have a beard. I thought maybe if I bought my own mask, it could somehow be custom fit to work for me. But the ladies at CBW said it would make no difference, I wouldn't get a good seal no matter whose mask I use. So I rented. We all rented belts too, based on how much easier it was for Jeannie on our last trip, and everyone agreed it was a good decision. You feel like a dork wearing it, but we really did like the freedom of not having to worry about swimming.
WE HOPE THERE ARE DORK PICTURES IN YOUR LAST REPORT.
Every picture of me is a dork picture. So we drove to Maho, arrived around 10, and easily got a parking space. We set up under some shade, then headed out to snorkel. Honestly, I was a little disappointed. We didn't see many fish, the coral was okay but not great, and I could only stay at it for five or ten minutes, and then the slow leak in my mask would cause me to surface and drain it. After about an hour, I headed in. Jeannie and Teresa came in a while later, and both had seen turtles, Teresa saw a small one and Jeannie's was larger with a remora hitching a ride. A few minutes later, Jeff motioned that he was swimming with a turtle, and they were all really excited. They all saw them in the center of the beach, and not far from shore.
YOU DIDN'T SEE ONE?
No. I still had several more beach days, though, so I didn't despair. Turned out the first one I saw was when I looked at Jeannie's photos. She got one of the DiCAPac camera bags for our digital camera, and it worked well. I mean, it's not as user-friendly as a dedicated plastic housing would be, but for occasional snorkelers like us it was just fine. I don't have Photoshop, but thank heavens for Picasa http://picasa.google.com/, which did wonders in improving all our photos, especially the underwater shots. After a couple of hours of relaxing, we headed back to the villa for sustenance.
YOU DIDN'T STOP FOR SANDWICHES AT DELI GROTTO? DON'T YOU SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY?
No and yes. That night we went to dinner at ZoZo's and we supported the economy very generously. In the meantime, I'd like to say we went back to our hot tub, but it wasn't working. During our orientation, our villa rep said that it needed a part, and it was being sent down FedEx. Someone would be by to install it on Tuesday or Wednesday. I told Jeff, "That's happy talk. There'll be no hot tub this week." And I was right. I realize things break, and St. John is a difficult place to get parts. I'm just glad it wasn't the pool...I wouldn't have shown such equanimity.
EQUANIMITY? THAT SOUNDS LIKE FRIENDSHIP WITH HORSES.
So that night we headed to ZoZo's for dinner. I'd made a reservation from home for 6:00 so we could have a sunset viewing at the rail, and it didn't disappoint. I can't quite say the same for ZoZo's. We started with antipasto and bruschetta to share, and both were delicious. Jeannie had mahi, Gary enjoyed a double-cut pork chop, Pam and Jeff had the beef tenderloin special, and Teresa and I had osso bucco. I chose that dish because I'd seen reports on my dining blog from others who'd had it and loved it. May I admit that I've never had it before? I hope Becky at least will forgive me, I look at her exquisite cooking and gourmet palate and feel so, I don't know. Help me, Forum?
CRACKER BARREL?
No, no. I enjoy eating well, I've just never had that particular dish before. And I have to say it was like an elegant pot roast.
BECKY JUST STOPPED READING.
I hope not. We didn't have dessert because of all the goodies we had back at the villa, and only two drinks and our total check was $325. Really not bad for the very good meal we enjoyed. Very good, but not great. I really had high hopes, and maybe I had created unreal expectations in my mind that nothing could have lived up to. You know how the blockbuster movies everyone talks about sometimes leave you unexcited, but the small films you feel like you "discovered" are often lifelong favorites? Maybe it's like that. And it wasn't just the osso bucco, everyone was pleased but not overwhelmed by their choices.
WOULD YOU GO BACK?
Definitely, but since this was just our second visit, and we only have one or two top-of-the-line dinners, I'll probably try La Tapa next. Back at the villa we turned out all the lights on the veranda and the pool, and were startled by how many stars we could see. I live a few miles out from the city, and I haven't seen anything like that for a long time. Really reminded me of how insignificant I am.
OH, WE ALREADY KNEW THAT.
You're so encouraging. Okay, tomorrow J&T snorkel Ditleff and Gary's eager to go to the beach.
I must say though...you can't pay for incredible nights and awesome views so i'm sure it was 100% worth it! Keep up the great reports! 
Maybe it's the Gemini in me that likes your dual personality style... whatever it is - please keep them coming!-
Sun4MySoul
- Posts: 524
- Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 1:37 pm
- Location: NC
How could I stop reading your reports? They are the best! 
I have always thought it interesting that the osso bucco is the most popular dish at Zozos. I would think a dish like that would be too heavy to enjoy in the heat and humidity. We tend to stick to mostly fish down there.
Looking forward to reading about your experience at Dileff. I really wanted to snorkel there, but the road was blocked the day we tried to go.
I have always thought it interesting that the osso bucco is the most popular dish at Zozos. I would think a dish like that would be too heavy to enjoy in the heat and humidity. We tend to stick to mostly fish down there.
Looking forward to reading about your experience at Dileff. I really wanted to snorkel there, but the road was blocked the day we tried to go.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
I love your TRs. When you finish this, will you post make-believe reports every so often for entertainment purposes?
BTW, have you tried using vaseline on your beard to help get a good seal on your mask? I read that it helps when you have a beard or mustache, but since I have neither, I can't speak from experience. A leaky, foggy mask drives me insane!
BTW, have you tried using vaseline on your beard to help get a good seal on your mask? I read that it helps when you have a beard or mustache, but since I have neither, I can't speak from experience. A leaky, foggy mask drives me insane!
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
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Bob & Anita
- Posts: 611
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:20 pm
- Location: Charlotte, NC
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maydreamer
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:46 pm
- Location: Cape Cod MA
