USVI-On-Line

Day 7 - Jumbie, Lunch at the Tourist Trap again, Dinner at ZoZo’s and packing for our overnight trip to Jost.

Today we opted to head to Jumbie. We were rewarded with all four spaces being WIDE open! YAY! We grabbed a spot all the way to the end on the left hand side facing the water. I like it down there because it’s blissfully quiet and there’s nowhere to go past you so folks tend to glance that direction, see someone there and don’t usually proceed.

This was basically a day for just plain chillaxin’.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Bs ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9M ... 0.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/99 ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9N ... 1.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p- ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9O ... 2.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oa ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9Q ... 3.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Dv ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9R ... 4.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/P2 ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9Y ... 8.JPG"></a>


Cousin Gromit assumed the position (with her nose in a book)…

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QM ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9W ... 7.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zL ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9d ... 1.JPG"></a>

And hubby soaking up some sun...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/M0 ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9a ... 9.JPG"></a>

Once we were good and hungry, cousin Gromit, Tony Stewart and I headed to the Tourist trap for a repeat. As usual they did not disappoint. Sad to say I had the same thing I ALWAYS get: LOBSTAH ROLL. Hey, when you find a good thing you stick to it.

We started with some nachos (YUMMY), cousin gromit had the chicken parm sandwich and for some reason I can’t remember what hubby had. Anyway we just hung out and talked with folks.

We met a nice young couple (either in college or just out of college) from California who were staying at Concordia. They were loving it but regretted not doing some prior planning in terms of getting transportation.

That’s one thing that really can be a pain in the ass if you’re staying out this way. Transportation options are limited. Yes there is a ViTran bus operating on island time, but taxis require one day notice for pickup (according to them). They also said that the little store at Concordia was pricey and without any transportation they were limited to that or what they could walk to.

Concordia does have food options but I think after a few days they were getting somewhat tiresome. So a word to the wise for folks staying out near Salt Pond: rent a jeep.

Apparently the girls dad was a big fan of the TT and of Larry’s. Larry apparently has a serious Jones for deep tracks on blues albums. Apparently the girl’s father had had some good chats on this very subject and had sent his daughter with specific instructions to deliver a pile of blues CD’s to Larry.

That’s what I love about STJ – you just never know. Well Larry was over the moon at his new found booty!

Anyway we all hung out and chatted. At this point in the trip my mind was complete mush. I had given myself over to the pace of STJ and quite frankly would have been completely content to sit there until sundown. But it was grown up night for dinner. Alas, grown up attire would be required.
Time to suck it up and go home to get a shower.

On the way back to Coral Bay I took some shots...

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Zp ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9j ... 5.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Cg ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9k ... 6.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bX ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9m ... 8.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cT ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9n ... 9.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yW ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9q ... 3.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/a_ ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9s ... 4.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PR ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/Sky9v ... 7.JPG"></a>

After some much needed villa R&R we piled into 2 vehicles and headed to Cruz Bay for dinner at ZoZo’s.

Zozo’s has valet parking which makes things a bit easier on the drop off. The Flip Flops were having car trouble and I offered to swing back around and pick them up but they said they were fine. So we grabbed our assigned table and just hung out until they arrived.

We had a giant round table in the middle of the restaurant. The fan above was moving at half the speed of the others around us and the air was pretty still that night. Not much of a breeze. I asked if they could change the fan speed but they said that was as high as it went. UGH!

Here are some shots from dinner (courtesy of my iPhone)

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cg ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SkowN ... 6.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TU ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SkowP ... 7.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/02 ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SkowT ... 0.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8l ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ypwZiy7vU8/SkowU ... 1.JPG"></a>

The setting at Zozo’s is lovely and the food is very good. This was my first visit there and I am glad that I went but in all honesty I don’t know that I would return.

Mind you that this is not a reflection on Zozo’s. It’s just that there used to be a time when I got excited about getting dressed up and going out and having a fantastic meal on island.

However, these days my tastes on STJ are running more basic and quite frankly I would have been just as happy hanging out at Skinny Legs or Island Blues.

Don’t get me wrong. I love a great meal and I appreciate the finer things in life. But I think that from now on I will skip the fancy meals on STJ and just opt for a more casual dining experience that affords me the opportunity to just hang out with folks and chat.

After dinner we drove back to Coral Bay and I scooted into Skinny Legs just before they closed to grab a dessert for cousin Gromit who was babysitting that night. A nice treat! She really enjoyed Skinny’s rum brownie.

We headed back to the house and got packed up for our overnight trip to Jost van Dyke. This was to be an experiment for us inspired by my good pal Vicki H.

When we had previously done a day trip via the ferry on Jost we felt like it was a lot of money ^$60 pp) for very little time (approx 5 hours) on this gem of an island.

So we decided to rent a car and stay overnight at Ivan’s Campground for a night to see how we liked it. Given the fact that Ivan’s is about $65 for a night and the car rental is about $65 for the day we didn’t mind spending the extra money.

We decided not to take our snorkel gear.

I packed:
an extra bathing suit,
hat,
PJ’s,
shorts,
t-shirt,
bug spray,
deoderant,
SPF 15,
iPhone speakers,
iPhone and charger,
sunglasses,
cover up,
two towels,
neat sheet,
my Life is Good nalgene water bottle (filled with water),
and an extra pair of flip flops.

Everything I was taking had to fit into my Kipling Backpack. I just didn’t want to haul a bunch of stuff.

Anyway, with everything packed up and ready to go, along with an outfit picked out for the next day we hit the sack.

Tomorrow (Day - Overnight on Jost (tips for getting there hassle free); Renting a car on Jost (such that it is); Soggy Dollar Bar; Lobster at Sydneys Peace & Love; Hanging with Forumites; Review of Ivans campground; BBQ Nite at Foxy’s.

Gromit - I am with you on getting dressed up to eat while on island...wait, I never like to do that, but anyway, on STJ, I really don't like to do it.

Loving your report. Don't want to see it end. Can't wait to hear your Jost report.

I can't wait to try the Tourist Trap, your description makes it sound like my kind of place.

I hear you on the getting dressed up for dinner-- I like it, it's nice, but the few times I've done it while on STJ I just don't feel like I need it. Maybe that's what other destinations are for, for me anyway.

Thanks for your sharing-- it's fun to see what y'all were up to on the other days!

Gromit, really enjoying your reports, thanks for taking the time. Tourist Trap is definitely on the list for next April

Ahhhhh I wish I was still there! REENTRY STILL SUCKS!

As for Zozo's. Gromit's just mad we made her put on pants! LOL. It is a fair statement that its a bit more upscale than Skinnys. I just wouldn't want anyone to forgo it because they think it requires your best cruise wear. It definitely doesn't. My hubs wore a decent polo and cargo shorts and I wore capris and a nice cotton shirt.

Zozo's (as I told John on our way out) is consistently our best dinner on island. We always look forward to it. Zozo's and Uncle Joe's are his must do's ... what a range, huh?

Pricewise, you only pay marginally more for a great dinner at Zozo's than a mediocre one at (IMHO at least on this trip) Shipwreck.

/2cents.

I think it's fair to say that you really don't have to get THAT dressed up to go to any restaurant on island.

But with appetizers, salad and a main course plus a couple of drinks I believe our portion of the bill was well over $200. Definitely WAY more than Shipwreck (which admittedly sucked) and on par with the prices at Asolare or Caneel.

As I said, the food at ZoZo's was very good. I've just realized that when I am on island I'd rather go with more casual establishments for my personal taste and will probably opt to forgo places like ZoZo's and Asolare in future. I just don't feel as relaxed as I do at say, Sweet Plaintains or Aqua Bistro.

For me it's almost akin to the same reason I no longer take a day trip to STT for shopping -- and haven't in a while. There's nothing wrong with STT but I just realized I'd rather be doing something else with my time and money when on STJ.

I can do fancy & expensive anytime here at home. "Local island fare" is a whole nuther story. I don't like to waste opportunities when I'm in the VIs.

Gromit wrote:I think it's fair to say that you really don't have to get THAT dressed up to go to any restaurant on island.

But with appetizers, salad and a main course plus a couple of drinks I believe our portion of the bill was well over $200. Definitely WAY more than Shipwreck (which admittedly sucked) and on par with the prices at Asolare or Caneel.

As I said, the food at ZoZo's was very good. I've just realized that when I am on island I'd rather go with more casual establishments for my personal taste and will probably opt to forgo places like ZoZo's and Asolare in future. I just don't feel as relaxed as I do at say, Sweet Plaintains or Aqua Bistro.

For me it's almost akin to the same reason I no longer take a day trip to STT for shopping -- and haven't in a while. There's nothing wrong with STT but I just realized I'd rather be doing something else with my time and money when on STJ.

I couldn't agree with you more. I have no desire to get dressed up and go to dinner. I would rather go somewhere in shorts or eat at the villa. And we eat really well at the villa! We can float in the pool, drink, eat, relax in the hot tub...Sometimes we stop for a late lunch and drinks and then have a snack at the villa later on at night. Eating in, IMHO, is the best part of renting a villa...

Gromit wrote:I think it's fair to say that you really don't have to get THAT dressed up to go to any restaurant on island.

Thank you for clarifying your comment - it sounded as though they had all gone to "cruise ship formal attire".

Glad to know nicer shorts will still get me into Asolare - would hate to forego our last night tradition.