Seventeen more days in paradise, part one

[liamsaunt]

Who we are: Becky and John, a couple from MA who love St. John. This was our 16th visit to STJ since 2003.

Our guests for this trip: My sister Laura, her two children Liam (12) and Caili (9), and John’s younger brother, Sean. All of our guests were first time visitors to the Caribbean.

Basic trip information that I will do reviews of separately:

Where we stayed: Villa Rapture, Virgin Grand Estates
Ground transportation: Dohm’s water taxi/Christopher land taxi
Car Rental: One 2-door and one 4-door Jeep Wrangler from Cool Breeze (my first time driving on St. John, whoo-hoo!)
Provisioning: Villa Food

Day one (Thursday): Travel day

Well, it was long. We had a four-hour delay on our connecting flight due to a failed pressurization system in the cabin. That's a delay I will wait for them to fix!

What do you do to entertain two kids during a four-hour flight delay? You introduce them to Angry Birds!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6067381699/" title="kids delayed by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/606 ... ea00de.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="kids delayed"></a>

Luckily we were able to be moved to another plane, and got to St. John eventually. Door to door travel time was 17 hours. The kids held up surprisingly well. I don’t remember what we did for dinner, it was dark and I was tired!

Day two (Friday): We had planned to go to Cinnamon but everyone was beat from the long travel day. Instead, we had a pool and villa gravity day. I woke up to a lovely rainbow:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051296094/" title="2 rainbow by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/605 ... d2f9c1.jpg" width="500" height="272" alt="2 rainbow"></a>

And then we spent the day in the pool. That is, we spent the day in the pool after fishing all of the drowned frogs out of it! (Trip highlight #1 for Liam. 12 year old boy nirvana is apparently a bunch of dead frogs to fish out of the pool.)

We went into town and did a few errands (fish from the Fish Trap Market, Low Key for snorkel gear for the newbies, wine glasses from STJ Spice), then went back to the house and relaxed all day.

We had a beautiful sunset:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051295684/" title="1 sunset 3 (3) by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/605 ... 102813.jpg" width="500" height="289" alt="1 sunset 3 (3)"></a>

Dinner was local fish from the Fish Trap Market with a big salad of Josephine’s greens. Grilled wahoo:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050744323/" title="1 wahoo by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/605 ... 3ab161.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="1 wahoo"></a>

Red snapper grill-steamed according to the recipe the lady at the Fish Trap told us (butter, wine, onions, herbs, lemon): delicious!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051295520/" title="1 snapper by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/605 ... 227851.jpg" width="500" height="282" alt="1 snapper"></a>


Day three (Saturday): Hawksnest

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/2519068163/" title="hawksnest view by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2291/251 ... 11c195.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="hawksnest view"></a>

We decided to go here because it was closest and I was still getting used to driving my jeep. The kids loved the warm clear water. It wasn’t long before everyone except Laura and Caili decided to head out snorkeling.

Parrotfish:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050745591/" title="1 parrotfish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/605 ... 0ea421.jpg" width="500" height="314" alt="1 parrotfish"></a>

Squid and parrotfish:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050745465/" title="1 squid and parrotfish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/605 ... c50df1.jpg" width="500" height="422" alt="1 squid and parrotfish"></a>

Elkhorn:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051296398/" title="1 elkhorn lots hawksnest by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/605 ... 0b6944.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="1 elkhorn lots hawksnest"></a>

Blue tang:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050745367/" title="1 blue tang hawksnest by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6204/605 ... d31eb9.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="1 blue tang hawksnest"></a>

Back to the villa for relaxation and a simple spaghetti supper. No sunset tonight—too cloudy.


Day four (Sunday): Francis

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/2519869726/" title="Francis pelican by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/251 ... 99c22f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Francis pelican"></a>

I don’t have many pictures from this snorkel because Caili wanted to come with us. She wouldn’t put her face in the water so I had to tow her out to Mary Point on a clear-window snorkel raft. That took all my energy. Here is the raft, with us resting on the mini beach halfway out to the point:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6057437295/" title="2 francis becky caili by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6197/605 ... f1d29d.jpg" width="500" height="255" alt="2 francis becky caili"></a>

This snorkel raft seemed like a good idea in theory, but towing it out with a kid on top was a lot of work! Plus she kept hitting me on the arm to come up and talk to her (mostly trying to get me to agree that we should come back to St. John EVERY SUMMER!). All that left little time/inclination for picture taking. I did take one turtle picture:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051297234/" title="2 francis turtle by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/605 ... 2a7b42.jpg" width="500" height="314" alt="2 francis turtle"></a>

And one of a feather duster worm:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050745025/" title="1 feather duster worm francis by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/605 ... d8cf62.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="1 feather duster worm francis"></a>

Later we had a beach picnic of curried chicken salad:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050745817/" title="2 curry chicken salad by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/605 ... 552cf3.jpg" width="500" height="459" alt="2 curry chicken salad"></a>

Then headed back to the house for pool time and sunset.

Goodbye sun:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050746057/" title="2 sunday sunset by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/605 ... e23c91.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="2 sunday sunset"></a>

What did we do for dinner? I think I grilled hamburgers and turkey burgers. Traveling with kids takes my focus off the food.

Day five (Monday): Maho

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3714653464/" title="Maho wide view by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2516/371 ... 6c5015.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Maho wide view"></a>

I took Liam snorkeling with me along the right side of the beach. We ended up snorkeling all the way to Little Maho. He feels he is a very confident snorkeler (Note the noodle I made him bring. Just in case.):


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6057437879/" title="10 liam snorkels best by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/605 ... 9f9b48.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="10 liam snorkels best"></a>

We saw many things.
Turtle:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051298512/" title="3 maho turtle by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6190/605 ... 344768.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="3 maho turtle"></a>

Smooth trunkfish:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050746751/" title="3 maho spotted trunkfish by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/605 ... ffae35.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="3 maho spotted trunkfish"></a>

Aha! Look what I found:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051298246/" title="3 maho octopus 6 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6082/605 ... 74f76f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="3 maho octopus 6"></a>

Attempting to blend in to the sand:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050747109/" title="3 maho octopus 4 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6063/605 ... 38ce1a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="3 maho octopus 4"></a>

Further attempts at camouflage:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051298148/" title="3 maho octopus 9 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/605 ... 58dbc1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="3 maho octopus 9"></a>

After a great morning at the beach, we headed to lunch at Skinny Legs. I don’t love Skinny’s but everyone else in my group eats red meat and likes burgers and they were happy with their choices. This was the special burger the day we were there. That is a HUGE burger!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051298606/" title="3 skinny legs burger by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/605 ... 121b8b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="3 skinny legs burger"></a>

Back to the house for pool time and relaxation before our sunset sail on Cloud Nine. I put out a snack tray for the kids (OK, for the adults too) since I wasn’t sure if there would be food Liam could eat on the boat (he has anaphylactic food allergies to crustaceans and egg):

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050746163/" title="3 nibbles by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/605 ... 4d1c3e.jpg" width="500" height="316" alt="3 nibbles"></a>

Cloud Nine is a lovely sailboat.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051297742/" title="3 boat front by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6199/605 ... 9d34f1.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="3 boat front"></a>

This was a great sail! The kids loved it. They offered us food but everyone was stuffed from my snack tray. The adults enjoyed a rum drink and some sparkling wine. There was water in pretty blue glass bottles for the children.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050746333/" title="3 sails 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/605 ... 432893.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="3 sails 2"></a>

The captain took us over to Lovongo and John and I got a very good look at the Lovongo Beach House (formerly Love Shack). We have been seriously considering renting this for a couple of years. Seeing the density of the coral within swimming proximity to the house moved it up quite a few notches on our priority list.

Nice sunset from the boat.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051297486/" title="3 cloud nine by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/605 ... c6ce94.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="3 cloud nine"></a>

I highly recommend a sunset sail! It is so peaceful and relaxing.

After we got home, I made grilled pizzas for dinner. I got the dough at Sam and Jacks. I think it is $2/piece. It stretched out easily and tasted good. Nice ending to a fantastic day.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050746623/" title="3 grilled pizza by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/605 ... c2b4aa.jpg" width="500" height="328" alt="3 grilled pizza"></a>


Day six (Tuesday)

Some people in the group had gotten too much sun in the preceding days, and the wind was gusty due to Tropical Storm Emily being in the vicinity, so we declared today a villa day. The usual: pool time, book time, napping, etc.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6057985032/" title="1 masked men by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6078/605 ... 254a25.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="1 masked men"></a>

Liam was excited because I made his all time favorite meal for dinner, grilled vegetable quesadillas:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051298816/" title="4 grilled quesadillas by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/605 ... 9e36d8.jpg" width="500" height="361" alt="4 grilled quesadillas"></a>

And then we watched the sunset.

Sunset starting:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051299058/" title="4 sisters by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/605 ... 9362fa.jpg" width="500" height="415" alt="4 sisters"></a>

Midpoint:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6051299006/" title="4 widescreen sunset by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/605 ... fa752a.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="4 widescreen sunset"></a>

Good bye sun:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/6050747701/" title="4 sunset tuesday by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/605 ... 3333ed.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="4 sunset tuesday"></a>

[mbw1024]

Aunt Becky rocks!
What a wonderful time for you with your family. Can't wait to read more!

[Pianogrl]

Thank you for sharing Becky! Always love your trip reports & pics! Can't wait to read more!

[SusanNJ]

And so it begins! Always love reading your reports and the pictures you take are terrific. I would love to see more on Villa Rapture? Did you like this villa?

Can't wait to read more

[waterguy]

Do you need an old nephew I will apply if you do.
great report

[Coden]

That was nice. Thank you!

[PA Girl]

Yeah! I have been waiting for this. I remember you mentioning there would be newbies on the trip. What a great snorkel with your nephew. I had to wait years (all while snorkelling every day each trip) to find a turtle.

I think I need to put a sunset sail on the agenda.

[CBama]

Thanks for sharing..I always enjoy your trip reports!!

[EagleRayLover]

love reading your TRs Becky and seeing your pictures of course! These newbies are so lucky to see STJ with such seasoned veterans like you and John! loved the octopus and turtle- looking forward to seeing what's next!

[cocosmom]

Love you food and fish pics...you always have great reports..thanks

[msgcolleen]

Always fabulous reporting and pics!

I highly recommend a stay on Lovango! Total seclusion and great snorkeling right in your front yard

I'm pretending the underwater pics you took are what my underwater pics would have looked like if they would have turned out~ Somehow the crappy disposable I had sprung a leak and couldn't be processed

Thanks for sharing your awesome vacation with us~~~~

[pmk]

Very nice!

How did you bribe the parrotfish to smile?



pmk

[melmd]

Love your trip reports!!

Please tell me what was it like driving there for your first time. Did you find it difficult or scary. I will be driving there for the first time on my upcoming trip. Usually I have hubby there to drive me but not this time. Would love to hear your thoughts.

[liamsaunt]

Susan, Rapture was a very nice house. John and I chose it for the interior access bedrooms and the central air, both of which I thought would be important for traveling with kids. The central AC ended up not being necessary, but I think it was less humid than a typical August when we were there. The house is laid out very well, and it's in a quiet neighborhood. The pictures on the Ultimate Villas website are accurate. I'll do a full writeup in the review section.

Melmd, I loved driving on the island! I don't drive all that much at home, so the 30 mph speed limit was right up my alley Seriously, it was fine. I even drove in 4WD a couple times without any problems. I was glad that I had a Wrangler as opposed to another kind of car since I had to go up South Shore Road to get to the house we rented, and there are a bunch of switchbacks on that road. Downshifting into first gear made handling those switchbacks a breeze. You will be fine.

[bevm]

Great start Becky! Love seeing the kids have fun and you having fun with them!