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Trip report 7

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:54 pm
by waterguy
Trip report 7

Today was the last full day on the Island. It is father son day. Paul but up with a lot being the only younger one on this trip I wish his brother could have been here for more then one reason. It would have been great for Paul to have some one closer to his age and it would have been good for him to help with the spreading of his mom’s ashes.
Paul
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Brian
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I had let Paul decide what he had wanted to do this day. He had thought about a learn to dive but didn’t want to get out of bed that early again. So he decided to go Para sailing and see what ever else came up.


We are up and out of the house by 8 and head down to JJ’s for breakfast I have the seafood omelet and Paul has the western one both are great can’t believe the amount of sea food in mine. We have some time to kill before the boat picks us up before we have to wander around Cruz bay.

Paul is getting nervous about going he doesn’t like heights. The boat is a little early so off we go. The guy’s are great after a little ribbing they hook him up and up he goes they ask if I want him to get wet of course I do they have a hard time dunking him, as he is so light. They say it’s a slow day because there aren’t any cruise ships in port so they send him up again and we go around one more time. As they winch him in the smile on his face is from ear to ear.
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Get back to STJ and ask Paul what he wants to do suggests that we head over to STT so we hop the ferry and away we go. Get over there and head over to coral world. At the gate they don’t tell us that half over the building are down for maintainace So it took us about 10 min. to go through what was open would not recommend it for 38 dollars even if the other things had been open I’d of been disappointed. Paul says what are we doing here when STJ is the best place he’s ever been so we head back again.

Have Lunch at Margaret Phil’s great lunch but expensive even buy STJ standards. Head back to the villa and plan on snorkeling chocolate hole. My sister and her husband come with see a lot of fish a nurse shark I know it can’t compare to Tracy’s Lemon but I’ll take it and 2 turtles and a ray.

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We are having tenderloin in a paper bag tonight my sister recipe. And our job for the night is to drink up all the open bottles of booze the meal is great and by the end of the night we would ask for what ever we wanted to drink or what ever was left. So some new drinks were born. Had a great time with everyone.

Next morning I’m up early Wessy and Jeffery have to be on the 6:00 ferry to make their flight to ST Martin. Make a breakfast of hash with all the left overs and wait to head down for the 11:15 ferry.

Do some shopping works out great to tell the cab driver that you want to they will hold your luggage for you? Get to the airport and the lines are out to the street the check in line and the one going to customs. So I flag down a porter she piles on our bags and walks us up to the counter around the lines and gets us checked in then takes us around and in the back door for customs we are sitting in the terminal with in 15 mins. Flight goes good till we get above Philly then we circle for and hour. We come in on Gate C28 and are leavening on C29 with 40 mins to spare it gives us time to grab a sandwich for the plane
Board and off to Chicago We land head to baggage claim none of our bags show up the say they didn’t have to transfer them to our enough time to plane and they will deliver them to our houses tomorrow drive home get home about 2:30 am. No bags show up on Sunday we end up getting all but three on Monday and those three are still missing 2 weeks later.

Thank you all for reading my reports and the kind words you have had for my family.
Tom

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:25 am
by Pia
Thanks for sharing ALL of your STJ trip with us :D

When will you be here again? - would love to have a drink (or two, or three or....)

Take care

Pia

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:36 am
by MarciaMarciaMarcia
Tom, glad to hear that you and the lad arrived home safe and sound, albeit without your luggage. Talk to any flight attendant or pilot on any airline and ask them what airport is the biggest management disaster in the country and they will tell you Philly. If there is ever a way to avoid a transfer through Philly it is worth whatever it costs, IMO. Thanks again for a really memorable report!

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:12 am
by sea-nile
Great report as usual! It is sad to see your reports come to an end.

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:17 am
by liamsaunt
Thanks for sharing your report, Tom! I've really enjoyed reading along. I hope you get your luggage back eventually! Do you have another trip planned?

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:34 am
by sitter
Whyda fly all the way to Philly on the way home to Wisconsin??? And I thought the worst airport was Chicago??

Glad you had such a great trip! Bet the older son regrets not going now! Next time!

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:39 am
by waterguy
I haven't figured out the airlines yet. Brian is the younger one by 2 years but doesn't look it He would of loved to be there but with college and the Olympic team he couldn't get away I promised him a trip next year, where ever he wants to go I just hope it's to STJ.
Tom

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:47 am
by Kentuckygirl
Thank you for another great report. I know that you all had some very difficult times on this trip. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. I will miss your reports.

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:31 pm
by SarahD
Thanks for posting your trip reports Tom! It's the next best thing to being there!

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:16 pm
by Tracy in WI
Thanks Tom! I think the father and son day was a perfect way to end your trip. I'm sure Paul had a wonderful time even with all the "more mature" crowd - at least he seemed happy each time I saw him! Bring him along in July!

Truly enjoyed each of your reports.

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:05 pm
by Jan&MikeVa
Tom - Thanks again for the trip report. I'm glad you and your son enjoyed your time alone, am sure it was needed by you both.

The garden stone is a beautiful addition to Allesandra. I know why it was your wife's favorite villa.

Try to stay warm..........

Jan (akaCharlie)

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:10 pm
by Bob & Anita
Thank you for sharing your trip and pictures with us.

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:39 pm
by cypressgirl
Loved reading all your reports. I'm interested in that tenderloin in a bag recipe. Do you mind sharing? I'm trying to come up with some great meals that are easy to prepare while on STJ. You sound like a great cook!!

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:15 pm
by waterguy
I'll have to post it when I get home