Rum Makes You Dumb - Part II - STT beaches then STJ!
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:00 am
Thursday, Aug 6 - Day Two. Drink Count (11-13). Diversions from my uber-itinerary (1)
So we meet at 9:00 in the lobby to make our way to Coki in the morning. Learned my lesson last trip to NOT go to Coki in the afternoon (someone broke into our rental car last time while parked off the main lot). We snagged a great spot at the Coral World lot since they are closed for the day. Set up our neat sheet and head into the water of the Gods. Aahhh. After a little while to take it all in, one of the "cherries" says she is perfectly happy here. No need to go anywhere else. See now? I have the uber-itinerary planned so well
. Starter beach first thing; working our way UP to the best. Honestly this beach doesn't thrill me, save the many fish to see snorkeling. With that, I reach in our equipment bag to "break the cherry" on my brand new snorkel gear. And what do I retrieve? My SON'S brand new, JUNIOR snorkel gear. 
DOH! Since there is no one for Cujo to direct her anger towards but herself, I buck it up and stuff my big face and nose into his tiny mask. There. Works just fine. Glad I can still wear a "junior" size anything! See the usual parrot fish, blue tang, sergant major, barracuda and many others I cannot name. Drink count: 2 beers. Since the snack shack (Buddy's I think) is closed today, we decide to pack up for Magen's for lunch and afternoon laziness.
Upon setting foot on Magen's, the other "cherry" changes her mind and says that NOW she is perfectly happy with this beach. "Why did we go to Coki at all?" See? The progressive plan. We enjoyed a nice lunch of a grillen chx sandwich and onion rings and another beer to the drink count in order to muster up the energy to walk / swim ALL the way over to the far left near the rocks where the snorkeling is good. Man , the tarpon are going crazy today! Very cool.
So, the other objective for our first few days is to find another couple to share the BVI Palm Tree Charter trip with us on our birthday. While "cherry" is visiting the ladies room, she comes back to our spot to say that there was a couple at the bar asking the bartender about BVI trips. "Cherry" wonders if I want to "check them out". So I do. They look normal enough. Not ax murderer material, whatever that would look like. Bartender brings their bar bill. $57.50. Yep. This'll work.
So we strike up a conversation. They are honeymooning at the Ritz and would appear on the surface NOT to be offended by our drink counts and somewhat raucous senses of humor. After some discussion, they are IN! So we exchange emails and cell numbers, and a plan is set. To celebrate, we add another 2 to the drink count. All is well and relaxed now. "Cherry" relaxing on a picnic table.
So that we don't completely fry our skin on the first day, we decide to pack it up for some rum milk shakes at Udder Delight. All part of uber-itinerary plan for the day. We filled our bellies on butter pecan shakes with dark Cruzan rum. Heaven. So we headed back, elated from the day, to clean up for dinner.
So the plan had us going back to the Magen's area for dinner at Indigo, but we decided the Red Hook area was in order for a sunset view of the harbor. "Cherries" were in the mood for seafood, but we found out Off the Hook is now closed. Darn. So we decided to go to Molly Malone's instead, for lack of any better ideas. It was OK but way too pricey for basically pub fare. We all had very strong rum drinks, the name of which I cannot remember. Seeing as we were HOT
, we trekked up the stairs to an old favorite with a great view, ocean breeze and (relatively) cheap drinks. Island Time Pub. Painkillers, and many of them, were in order. I think the drink count was close to 4 here.
Needless to say, the girls were a little slap-happy on the trip back to the Marriott. EVERYTHING was funny. And I PROMISE we did not stop at the Banana Shack for the local trade of "agricultural products"
Tomorrow, the uber-itinerary calls for St. John - - Maho in the morning and Trunk in the afternoon, followed by Cruz Bay shopping and Woody's!
Friday, Aug 7 - Day Three. Drink Count (11-ish). Diversions from my uber-itinerary (1)
So we head over to Red Hook (thank God we rented a car) to make the 9:00 ferry to Cruz Bay. Wow, the new ferry terminal is so fancy and organized! Somehow I miss the charm and confusion of the old one. Cameras clicking as we back into the Cruz Bay dock.
Again, good-bye rum punch greeting. Hello to Cruzan rum SHOTS! So the drink count starts early today: 2 for me - one pineapple, one banana. Even though the uber-itinerary called for 2 beaches today (Maho and Trunk), I begin to wisely sense that a little more "limin" time is needed for the group 
. So we decide to hang at Trunk only today. We get the obligatory shot on the taxi ride over.
We pay our monies and walk down the "stairway to Heaven" to the white sands of glory; followed quickly by gently gliding (read: skipping into the water like a schoolgirl) into the clear blue abyss of Trunk Bay with sounds of harps and trumpets playing (in my head). "Cherries" now say that THIS is as good as it gets, and that THIS is living. Yes indeed-i-poo; it is.
I stuff my face and nose into my son's junior snorkel gear
, and we're off! First thing to see is another 4 ft tarpon, albeit a happy one (who wouldn't be living near Trunk). Many schools of blue tang and parrot fish. One lonely little sting ray that I tried to follow, but he was FAST. Just beautiful. We head to the concession area for a (surprisingly good) grillen chicken sandwich after waiting in line for about 45 min. There are only 2 people behind the counter, and one of the staff was complaining to a patron saying that "the economy is bad? Really?? We are completely swamped, and they cut the staff back to just us two!" We were not going to complain, especially since we had mango margaritas in hand . Island time, so be it. Another nice change is the mess of fishing line above the concession hut to pare down on the sea gull attacks! Nasty, flying rodents anyway. After a bit more beach lounging and people watching (we had some folks next to us with 55 gl drums full of whoop-a$@ rum that provided quite the entertainment of the day), we decide to shower up for drunk-shopping in Cruz Bay.
First stop, of course, is Woody's for happy hour.
We snagged a table outside for painkiller drink counts 1,2,3 and 4 (oops). Struck up some conversations with a few locals, including the crab-racing guy from Molly Malone's and the Westin. Met "Jeffrey", a regular who offered to give me a free temporary tattoos tomorrow (not today or even Monday for my birthday; but tomorrow). He flashed us on the way out. Nice. Saw some "festivities" inside with a few body shots from some young patrons. Gotta love $1 domestics and well drinks. After this, we shopped for a bit. Saw this great hand-hammered St. John hook bracelet. Didn't buy it. Kicking myself thoroughly now
. Can't remember the name of the darn store (I think Shae Designs), but it was moving? I can't find a phone or website to order it, so if anyone can pass along I would appreciate it!
Had another quick drink at JJ's while waiting for the ferry back to Red Hook. While on the ferry, we started chatting with another local - - a very nice lady in the real estate business in STJ. Wouldn't you know that she mentioned VIOL as a source to find a villa for rent? Wouldn't you know it just so happened to be the one and only PIA ? Small, small world. She knew me as LandLockedBeachLover, of course. So we chatted it up during the ride and said our good-byes. Seeing as we were somewhat "scummy" from the day on the beach, we decided to have a quick dinner at the Caribbean Saloon to enjoy the a/c. I had the French Dip and two nice glasses of chard. Met another local (everyone is SOOO nice). Decided to make our way back to the Marriott to clean up and hit the sack. We have another EARLY day to make the 8:30 ferry to Tortola . Ole LLBL is now affectionately known as the "slave driver" for all of our early risings, ferries and uber-itineraries. Yeah, yeah. Sue me. I love it here.
So we meet at 9:00 in the lobby to make our way to Coki in the morning. Learned my lesson last trip to NOT go to Coki in the afternoon (someone broke into our rental car last time while parked off the main lot). We snagged a great spot at the Coral World lot since they are closed for the day. Set up our neat sheet and head into the water of the Gods. Aahhh. After a little while to take it all in, one of the "cherries" says she is perfectly happy here. No need to go anywhere else. See now? I have the uber-itinerary planned so well
. Starter beach first thing; working our way UP to the best. Honestly this beach doesn't thrill me, save the many fish to see snorkeling. With that, I reach in our equipment bag to "break the cherry" on my brand new snorkel gear. And what do I retrieve? My SON'S brand new, JUNIOR snorkel gear. DOH! Since there is no one for Cujo to direct her anger towards but herself, I buck it up and stuff my big face and nose into his tiny mask. There. Works just fine. Glad I can still wear a "junior" size anything! See the usual parrot fish, blue tang, sergant major, barracuda and many others I cannot name. Drink count: 2 beers. Since the snack shack (Buddy's I think) is closed today, we decide to pack up for Magen's for lunch and afternoon laziness. Upon setting foot on Magen's, the other "cherry" changes her mind and says that NOW she is perfectly happy with this beach. "Why did we go to Coki at all?" See? The progressive plan. We enjoyed a nice lunch of a grillen chx sandwich and onion rings and another beer to the drink count in order to muster up the energy to walk / swim ALL the way over to the far left near the rocks where the snorkeling is good. Man , the tarpon are going crazy today! Very cool.
So, the other objective for our first few days is to find another couple to share the BVI Palm Tree Charter trip with us on our birthday. While "cherry" is visiting the ladies room, she comes back to our spot to say that there was a couple at the bar asking the bartender about BVI trips. "Cherry" wonders if I want to "check them out". So I do. They look normal enough. Not ax murderer material, whatever that would look like. Bartender brings their bar bill. $57.50. Yep. This'll work.
So we strike up a conversation. They are honeymooning at the Ritz and would appear on the surface NOT to be offended by our drink counts and somewhat raucous senses of humor. After some discussion, they are IN! So we exchange emails and cell numbers, and a plan is set. To celebrate, we add another 2 to the drink count. All is well and relaxed now. "Cherry" relaxing on a picnic table.So that we don't completely fry our skin on the first day, we decide to pack it up for some rum milk shakes at Udder Delight. All part of uber-itinerary plan for the day. We filled our bellies on butter pecan shakes with dark Cruzan rum. Heaven. So we headed back, elated from the day, to clean up for dinner.
So the plan had us going back to the Magen's area for dinner at Indigo, but we decided the Red Hook area was in order for a sunset view of the harbor. "Cherries" were in the mood for seafood, but we found out Off the Hook is now closed. Darn. So we decided to go to Molly Malone's instead, for lack of any better ideas. It was OK but way too pricey for basically pub fare. We all had very strong rum drinks, the name of which I cannot remember. Seeing as we were HOT
, we trekked up the stairs to an old favorite with a great view, ocean breeze and (relatively) cheap drinks. Island Time Pub. Painkillers, and many of them, were in order. I think the drink count was close to 4 here. Needless to say, the girls were a little slap-happy on the trip back to the Marriott. EVERYTHING was funny. And I PROMISE we did not stop at the Banana Shack for the local trade of "agricultural products"
Tomorrow, the uber-itinerary calls for St. John - - Maho in the morning and Trunk in the afternoon, followed by Cruz Bay shopping and Woody's!
Friday, Aug 7 - Day Three. Drink Count (11-ish). Diversions from my uber-itinerary (1)
So we head over to Red Hook (thank God we rented a car) to make the 9:00 ferry to Cruz Bay. Wow, the new ferry terminal is so fancy and organized! Somehow I miss the charm and confusion of the old one. Cameras clicking as we back into the Cruz Bay dock.
Again, good-bye rum punch greeting. Hello to Cruzan rum SHOTS!
So the drink count starts early today: 2 for me - one pineapple, one banana. Even though the uber-itinerary called for 2 beaches today (Maho and Trunk), I begin to wisely sense that a little more "limin" time is needed for the group . So we decide to hang at Trunk only today. We get the obligatory shot on the taxi ride over. We pay our monies and walk down the "stairway to Heaven" to the white sands of glory; followed quickly by gently gliding (read: skipping into the water like a schoolgirl) into the clear blue abyss of Trunk Bay with sounds of harps and trumpets playing (in my head). "Cherries" now say that THIS is as good as it gets, and that THIS is living. Yes indeed-i-poo; it is.
I stuff my face and nose into my son's junior snorkel gear
, and we're off! First thing to see is another 4 ft tarpon, albeit a happy one (who wouldn't be living near Trunk). Many schools of blue tang and parrot fish. One lonely little sting ray that I tried to follow, but he was FAST. Just beautiful. We head to the concession area for a (surprisingly good) grillen chicken sandwich after waiting in line for about 45 min. There are only 2 people behind the counter, and one of the staff was complaining to a patron saying that "the economy is bad? Really?? We are completely swamped, and they cut the staff back to just us two!" We were not going to complain, especially since we had mango margaritas in hand . Island time, so be it. Another nice change is the mess of fishing line above the concession hut to pare down on the sea gull attacks! Nasty, flying rodents anyway. After a bit more beach lounging and people watching (we had some folks next to us with 55 gl drums full of whoop-a$@ rum that provided quite the entertainment of the day), we decide to shower up for drunk-shopping in Cruz Bay. First stop, of course, is Woody's for happy hour.
We snagged a table outside for painkiller drink counts 1,2,3 and 4 (oops). Struck up some conversations with a few locals, including the crab-racing guy from Molly Malone's and the Westin. Met "Jeffrey", a regular who offered to give me a free temporary tattoos tomorrow (not today or even Monday for my birthday; but tomorrow). He flashed us on the way out. Nice. Saw some "festivities" inside with a few body shots from some young patrons. Gotta love $1 domestics and well drinks. After this, we shopped for a bit. Saw this great hand-hammered St. John hook bracelet. Didn't buy it. Kicking myself thoroughly now
. Can't remember the name of the darn store (I think Shae Designs), but it was moving? I can't find a phone or website to order it, so if anyone can pass along I would appreciate it!Had another quick drink at JJ's while waiting for the ferry back to Red Hook. While on the ferry, we started chatting with another local - - a very nice lady in the real estate business in STJ. Wouldn't you know that she mentioned VIOL as a source to find a villa for rent? Wouldn't you know it just so happened to be the one and only PIA
? Small, small world. She knew me as LandLockedBeachLover, of course. So we chatted it up during the ride and said our good-byes. Seeing as we were somewhat "scummy" from the day on the beach, we decided to have a quick dinner at the Caribbean Saloon to enjoy the a/c. I had the French Dip and two nice glasses of chard. Met another local (everyone is SOOO nice). Decided to make our way back to the Marriott to clean up and hit the sack. We have another EARLY day to make the 8:30 ferry to Tortola . Ole LLBL is now affectionately known as the "slave driver" for all of our early risings, ferries and uber-itineraries. Yeah, yeah. Sue me. I love it here.