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Family Fun with Some Blips! Trip Report Volume 1
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Jen East End
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:59 am
- Location: Buffalo, NY
Family Fun with Some Blips! Trip Report Volume 1
First attempt at a trip report. For the purposes of this report, a BLIP is an illness, injury, accident, act of god, bad weather or just bad luck!
Our fourth year in a row on St. John, brought our children to celebrate our 25th anniversary. May 19th through the 31st. 12 days at our favorite place out on the East End, and so excited to show them the Island we love. Our kids are Jim (wife Tara), Julie (boyfriend Chuck) and Zach (girlfriend Alicia) Initially it was just six of us as Jim and Tara were joining us for the last 5 days only.
Day 1, left from our house at 4:30 in the morning via a taxi service we had ordered, turned out to be a stretch white limo so we were delighted with our ride!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5900603945/" title="IMG_1903 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5191/590 ... af3dae.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_1903"></a>
We flew from Buffalo to JFK and after a short layover flew direct to STT via American airlines. This last flight hit some strong headwinds and we were delayed on our arrival about 30 minutes. But who cares…it’s Island Time! Met Rachel at the airport, she is wonderful as many of you have said. We tried very hard to make the 3:00 ferry but alas, it pulled away just as we arrived at the dock. So drinks all around and a short wait for the next ferry.
It was sunny when we arrived but that didn’t last too long. Since our group was large the guys picked up the Durango from Conrad’s and drove all the luggage out to the East End where we rented two waterfront cottages. In the meantime we girls went to Woody’s for libations and then a short walk to Starfish to do the food and alcohol shopping. (We always carry our meat frozen and wrapped in freezer paper and zip locks right in our luggage. It has always been frozen solid upon arrival and we save a lot of money on food costs.) My husband arrived back to Starfish just as we were coming out with our 4 carts of purchases and off we went.
During the drive it began to get dark and started to rain. The ups and downs of the roads were too much for Alicia after a long day of travel. We had to pull over as she had become motion sick. First blip!…there are several more to come.
One of the cottages:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5900617087/" title="IMG_2084 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5075/590 ... 50140c.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="IMG_2084"></a>
The beach front with smaller cottage in the back right:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901227920/" title="IMG_2678 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/590 ... 15595a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2678"></a>
After unpacking and putting away the food we drove off to Skinny Legs without poor Alicia as she wanted to rest. We got Skinny burgers and a cold beer, soooo good to be back!
Day 2. It had rained in buckets all night and continued to rain lightly all day. We were greeted in the morning by several donkeys and goats that thought we wanted to be up at 6am but we loved seeing them nonetheless.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901172830/" title="IMG_1993 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/590 ... 5cdf32.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_1993"></a>
We took the opportunity to relax, read, eat and play the Game of Things which is a very fun card game. We laughed so hard; my abdominal muscles were sore for two days. There may have been alcohol involved. Cooked dinner at home, stuffed chicken breasts wrapped with bacon, Josephine’s greens and roasted potatoes with garlic and truffle oil. That night Zach, our youngest was up vomiting all night and developed a fine rash that lasted for two days….2nd blip! Again torrential rains all night, great with a metal roof!
Day 3: Still raining lightly, donkeys and goats roaming again at 6am. We all fell back asleep for a while then made a big breakfast and waited for the sun. Still no sun by lunchtime so we headed off to Shipwreck for a delicious lunch of stuffed deviled crabs, seafood, stew, fish tacos, turkey clubs and a lentil burger for our vegetarian daughter Julie. Here is the initial crew:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5900629987/" title="IMG_2167 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5314/590 ... f2a68c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2167"></a>
Zach and Alicia
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901192636/" title="IMG_2170 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5199/590 ... dd20ae.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2170"></a>
Julie and Chuck
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901190118/" title="IMG_2168 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5280/590 ... 7ba922.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2168"></a>
Jenny (me) and Dave
Shopped a little at the small shops there and then headed to Coco Lobo plaza for a drink at Aqua Bistro and behold! The sun came out! (did anyone hear a chorus of angels?) Drove back to the cottages for some time on the beach, snorkel lessons for the newbies and naps. Now Julie wasn’t feeling well, and developed a fever. 3rd Blip! Made pasta with meat sauce and another Josephine green salad and called it a night early. Hoping all would wake up feeling well. Despite the blips, it is so good to be back here.
Moonlight view from in front of the cottages:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901184016/" title="IMAG0321 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5279/590 ... bd3bd1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMAG0321"></a>
Three more installments to come...
Our fourth year in a row on St. John, brought our children to celebrate our 25th anniversary. May 19th through the 31st. 12 days at our favorite place out on the East End, and so excited to show them the Island we love. Our kids are Jim (wife Tara), Julie (boyfriend Chuck) and Zach (girlfriend Alicia) Initially it was just six of us as Jim and Tara were joining us for the last 5 days only.
Day 1, left from our house at 4:30 in the morning via a taxi service we had ordered, turned out to be a stretch white limo so we were delighted with our ride!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5900603945/" title="IMG_1903 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5191/590 ... af3dae.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_1903"></a>
We flew from Buffalo to JFK and after a short layover flew direct to STT via American airlines. This last flight hit some strong headwinds and we were delayed on our arrival about 30 minutes. But who cares…it’s Island Time! Met Rachel at the airport, she is wonderful as many of you have said. We tried very hard to make the 3:00 ferry but alas, it pulled away just as we arrived at the dock. So drinks all around and a short wait for the next ferry.
It was sunny when we arrived but that didn’t last too long. Since our group was large the guys picked up the Durango from Conrad’s and drove all the luggage out to the East End where we rented two waterfront cottages. In the meantime we girls went to Woody’s for libations and then a short walk to Starfish to do the food and alcohol shopping. (We always carry our meat frozen and wrapped in freezer paper and zip locks right in our luggage. It has always been frozen solid upon arrival and we save a lot of money on food costs.) My husband arrived back to Starfish just as we were coming out with our 4 carts of purchases and off we went.
During the drive it began to get dark and started to rain. The ups and downs of the roads were too much for Alicia after a long day of travel. We had to pull over as she had become motion sick. First blip!…there are several more to come.
One of the cottages:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5900617087/" title="IMG_2084 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5075/590 ... 50140c.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="IMG_2084"></a>
The beach front with smaller cottage in the back right:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901227920/" title="IMG_2678 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/590 ... 15595a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2678"></a>
After unpacking and putting away the food we drove off to Skinny Legs without poor Alicia as she wanted to rest. We got Skinny burgers and a cold beer, soooo good to be back!
Day 2. It had rained in buckets all night and continued to rain lightly all day. We were greeted in the morning by several donkeys and goats that thought we wanted to be up at 6am but we loved seeing them nonetheless.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901172830/" title="IMG_1993 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6002/590 ... 5cdf32.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="IMG_1993"></a>
We took the opportunity to relax, read, eat and play the Game of Things which is a very fun card game. We laughed so hard; my abdominal muscles were sore for two days. There may have been alcohol involved. Cooked dinner at home, stuffed chicken breasts wrapped with bacon, Josephine’s greens and roasted potatoes with garlic and truffle oil. That night Zach, our youngest was up vomiting all night and developed a fine rash that lasted for two days….2nd blip! Again torrential rains all night, great with a metal roof!
Day 3: Still raining lightly, donkeys and goats roaming again at 6am. We all fell back asleep for a while then made a big breakfast and waited for the sun. Still no sun by lunchtime so we headed off to Shipwreck for a delicious lunch of stuffed deviled crabs, seafood, stew, fish tacos, turkey clubs and a lentil burger for our vegetarian daughter Julie. Here is the initial crew:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5900629987/" title="IMG_2167 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5314/590 ... f2a68c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2167"></a>
Zach and Alicia
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901192636/" title="IMG_2170 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5199/590 ... dd20ae.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2170"></a>
Julie and Chuck
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901190118/" title="IMG_2168 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5280/590 ... 7ba922.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2168"></a>
Jenny (me) and Dave
Shopped a little at the small shops there and then headed to Coco Lobo plaza for a drink at Aqua Bistro and behold! The sun came out! (did anyone hear a chorus of angels?) Drove back to the cottages for some time on the beach, snorkel lessons for the newbies and naps. Now Julie wasn’t feeling well, and developed a fever. 3rd Blip! Made pasta with meat sauce and another Josephine green salad and called it a night early. Hoping all would wake up feeling well. Despite the blips, it is so good to be back here.
Moonlight view from in front of the cottages:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64807361@N03/5901184016/" title="IMAG0321 by Jen Cas, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5279/590 ... bd3bd1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMAG0321"></a>
Three more installments to come...
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EagleRayLover
- Posts: 1474
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:56 pm
- Location: St. John -WooHoo!!
Despite the Blips- it still sounds like you all are having a great time! hope the next three installments are "blip-free!"
Last edited by EagleRayLover on Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Leslie, Kids Night In Babysitting
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msgcolleen
- Posts: 1497
- Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:33 am
- Location: Allen, Texas
Sorry for the blips Jen 
They happen to us all sometime but you have a great island attitude about it!
Glad you are enjoying the east end. That's one place I've never stayed but would like to! Do you have a link to the cottage you stayed at. Looks nice!
Looking forward to more of your reporting and hopefully less blips!
They happen to us all sometime but you have a great island attitude about it!Glad you are enjoying the east end. That's one place I've never stayed but would like to! Do you have a link to the cottage you stayed at. Looks nice!
Looking forward to more of your reporting and hopefully less blips!
I've got 2 tickets to paradise~Pack your bags we'll leave tonight!
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[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]
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greyhoundmom
- Posts: 978
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 3:06 pm
- Location: Columbia South Carolina
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SOonthebeach
- Posts: 1707
- Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:01 am
- Location: Texas
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Jen East End
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:59 am
- Location: Buffalo, NY
Thanks for all your replies. The cottages are great, however I guess I should've mentioned they are privately owned. We are fortunate to be able to rent them through a good friend. They are out on the east end past Vie's and near Pelican Rock which is a great snorkel spot. Many Coral Bay boat excursions bring their guests to snorkel there. The larger cottage has an interesting history and was featured in the last issue of St. John Magazine if you want to learn more.
mbw1024...Thanks again for teaching me how to do the pictures, I printed out your instructions to use while I wrote the trip report. I'll get to work on part two now.
greyhoundmom...those were grapes!
mbw1024...Thanks again for teaching me how to do the pictures, I printed out your instructions to use while I wrote the trip report. I'll get to work on part two now.
greyhoundmom...those were grapes!
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