My trip report (really) Part I

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Xislandgirl
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My trip report (really) Part I

Post by Xislandgirl »

I will try and keep up the tradition that so many have set and provide a detailed and witty report, but I make no promises.

Day 1 June 7

We were up early,I suggested 3am and Chip told me that I was being too anxious. Too anxious? How is that possible. We were at the airport at 5:30 for our 7 something flight. We had checked 2 bags and each had a small carry on and our cooler that was packed with bacon, sausage, cheese, dried salamis, chicken, egg beaters, and steamers for Ruth. The very powerful TSA agent ripped apart the cooler and looked at me sternly with the rock solid frozen egg beaters in his hand
"What is this?"
"Eggbeaters, it says so on the package" I replied
"This could be anything, I don't know that they are eggbeaters." He remarked with a very stern look on his face
"OK" was my response
"Well, you can't carry them on"
"OK"
"would you like to do anything with them?"
Hmmm, yes I would Mr TSA man. I would like to bash you in the head with them
"No, just throw them out"

Little did I know that the outside pocket of the cooler had ripped some time ago and Chip's missing Leatherman had slipped into the lining of the cooler. They let that through but took the every popular Terrorist egg product!

Our flight was on time and very uneventful except for the wonderful fligh attendant. She was a riot and when I asked her for a mimosa, she offered me a vodka and cranberry since she did not want to open a big bottle of champagne. We laughed and I obliged. She came back with a beautiful mimosa and said that she had found some small bottles of champagne. It was perfectly made with fresh squeezed OJ ( I love miles upgrades to first class)
She came back a few minutes later with a care package for us; 2 bottles of champagne, 2 baileys, 2 rum, and 2 brandy. Perhaps she thought we were newleyweds. :lol:

We landed in San Juan and decided that we needed to have something to eat since we would not be at the villa for a few hours so we stopped in at one of the fine dining establishments that they have to offer. $12 chicken tenders is my kind of meal :roll: While enjoy our culinary delights we were listening to the people sitting behind us
"Remember, there is no S on St John. It will make people mad."
"Make sure that you say good morning and good afternoon to people, they are very polite"

This would turn out to be someone that I helped on the Trip advisor board and would meet on our last day.

We arrived in STT on time and got our luggage, not without some stress. (well,not too much, I did have a shot of rum right off the plane)
Will our luggage arrive? What if it is lost? Why did I abandon the cross packing initiative?
It was all for naught, our luggage arrived. We waited for Rachel as she was on her way from Red Hook with another Forumite and made it to the 3 ferry with a few minutes to spare. We sat on the front of boat and panic set in
"where is my phone?"
"I don't know"
"I can't find it, did I drop it"
"I don't know"
"Call Rachel, see if it is in her van"
Panic mode is in full swing and I can feel the tears getting ready to pour and then I even think I hear my phone ringing. Oh, this is really bad.

Then I see Rachel with my ringing phone in her hand. I am instantly calm and just as I grab it from her and give her another hug and get back on, the ferry is off.

We arrive at the dock and I leave Chip to collect the bags as I make my way to Ruth. She has a small bag of goodies for me in exchange for 2 pounds of only 24 hours old steamers. Chip had a covert operation with Ruth and she hands me a few boxes, I have no idea what is in them but I am excited for the surprise. We go through the motions and get the car and head to Ilios. We were thrilled with the house to say the least.




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We unpack and have a drink (thanks Ruth) and head into town. We stop at Gecko Gazebo for a drink, Tyler was bartending and was in RARE form. We head over to Fishtrap for dinner. My great friend Sharon (from Stone Terrace) is working there and I am anxious to see her. We have a wonderful meal, really great. Chip had Mahi with black beans and cumin sour cream and I had Corvino with a red pepper cream. This is not the Fish Trap I remember. It was very good.

After dinner we head to the Quiet Mon for a drink and realize that we are way too tired to be in town so we head back to the house for a quick swim and head to bed. The open air layout lets me fall asleep to the breeze and the tree frogs. It is wonderful.

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mbw1024
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Post by mbw1024 »

hey, what's in the boxes??????
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jectac
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Post by jectac »

Keep it coming!!!! Loving the report. By the way, what is a Leatherman?

Tracy
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shoemak38
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Post by shoemak38 »

was the knife for cutting lace :twisted: :twisted: after all that rum :oops: :oops:
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patr
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Post by patr »

Great start X - can't wait for installment #2! Tell us more about the house.

I enjoyed the eggbeater story - you gotta love those TSA agents! :wink:

Who is Rachel? Private taxi? How does the cost compare to a regular taxi? Please give more info!!
Patr

~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
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Robin in NC
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Post by Robin in NC »

I love trip reports like yours that read more like short stories than simple reports. Nice to hear about the changes at Fish Trap...looking forward to the next installment.

Robin
Kentuckygirl
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Post by Kentuckygirl »

Great start! I want to know what's in the boxes too.
Patr,
Yes, Rachel does drive a private taxi. We used her too. She is very sweet. She charged us $25pp from STT to Red Hook, because it was only the 2 of us. On the return trip, we had a few of our friends with us too, so she charged $20pp.
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California Girl

Post by California Girl »

Wow, you really got your vacation started without wasting a minute! (phone stress aside - you left all your stress on STT!) You go!! Excellent!

I just checked out Ilios and am wondering how I ever missed that one! It's gorgeous! Do they pro-rate if you don't use all the bedrooms?
Xislandgirl
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Post by Xislandgirl »

They do pro-rate. If you can live with out ac and enjoy the open air (more on that in the next installment) it is a great house!
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islandgirl
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Post by islandgirl »

:lol: :lol: the Real trip report!!!! cant wait for the next installment. tsa is a real pain...next trip we plan on sending everything down, including clothes, food etc, wont even do a carryon. that tsa guy was just harrassing you x.
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bert
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Post by bert »

islandgirl wrote:: tsa is a real pain...next trip we plan on sending everything down, including clothes, food etc, wont even do a carryon. that tsa guy was just harrassing you x.
Nah, he was just doing his job. Protecting all of you air travelers from terrorists that try to bring BOMBS on the plane in liguid or gel form. If you read all the signs on the way in to the check point you would not be surprised.

peace.... bert
Xislandgirl
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Post by Xislandgirl »

bert wrote:
islandgirl wrote:: tsa is a real pain...next trip we plan on sending everything down, including clothes, food etc, wont even do a carryon. that tsa guy was just harrassing you x.
Nah, he was just doing his job. Protecting all of you air travelers from terrorists that try to bring BOMBS on the plane in liguid or gel form. If you read all the signs on the way in to the check point you would not be surprised.

peace.... bert
I understand his job, it was his "I am the supreme being" attitude that I was making fun of. It also struck me as funny that they did not see a "weapon" but targeted eggs.
It is all in good fun, Bert.
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California Girl

Post by California Girl »

I'm with you X! It's the consistency of the screening that seems to be the issue. The Leatherman tool got through, but the eggs didn't. Stupid. I went to New Orleans with my laptop in my suitcase (first time I traveled with one, I didn't know you were supposed to take it out.) and I breezed right through. On my way back, I had to take it out of my suitcase.

As I said, "consistency". No wonder so many people are so confused about what you can take and what you can't.
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liamsaunt
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Post by liamsaunt »

Terrorist egg product :lol:

I am eager to hear more about Ilios. The pool is certainly beautiful!
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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