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Fun-Sun-Rum-Rinse-Repeat! Trip Report! Day 7

Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:54 pm
by msgcolleen
Day 1: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=21274

Day 2: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=21284

Day 3: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=21304

Day 4: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=21314

Day 5: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=21327

Day 6: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... hp?t=21346

Day 7: Last full day at Caneel Bay :cry:

The birds were chirping early this morning and I happily awoke to a beautiful day at Caneel Bay. I didn't want to waste another minute sleeping so I made coffee and sat out on the porch watching the mongoose and deer run around.

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I decided to walk the property and get some much needed exercise at the same time. :lol:

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I couldn't get over all the natural beauty!

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First beach stop: *HAWKSNEST BEACH*

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Next, a quiet, shady morning at *TURTLE BEACH*

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You could almost build a golf course here!! :shock:

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Making my way over to SCOTT BEACH 8)

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Wish I was sitting there right NOW!

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. . . and my favorite private island in the distance . . . LOVANGO CAY~

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When I returned to our room Mr. Sleepy Head decided to wake up and enjoy his coffee on the porch while I threw things back in our 1 carry-on bag and 2 backpacks. Our newest BFF's (Bestest Forumite Friends) Coral and Denny (CODEN) were coming over for the grand tour, lunch and limin' at the beach!:D

By that time the bus came around and we rode all over just soaking up the scenery!

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Check-out was at 11 a.m. so we headed over to the Caneel Beach Grill for delish burgers for lunch and then off to Turtle Beach for snorkeling and total relaxation~ 8)

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The snorkeling on the right side was most excellent! CODEN let me use her disposable underwater camera to take pics since mine sprung a leak!! (Hey Coden! Did you develop your pics yet :?:) Any hoo~ snorkeling to the left was great also!

The afternoon just flew by and unfortunately it was time to say goodbye to incredible Caneel Bay . . . :cry: CODEN took us back to town and dropped us off at the new *Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel* for our last night on the island and then it was time to say goodbye to them too . . . :cry: Hope we meet again someday SOON!

We'll I must admit that after leaving 5 star Caneel and then checking into the cute boutique hotel, it was a bit of a reality check! :shock: The room was clean and bright and perfect for us on our last night and finally after much needed showers and cranking up the 2 a/c units, we were going to be just fine!

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Dinner bell was ringing and we walked across the street to *Lime Inn* for app's and drinks on oyster night! YUM! Also had a nice chat with one of the owners of Serendip Condos. His Fiesta unit is supposed to be the best of course!

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Then we crossed the street again and landed at the *Fish Trap* where we could not pass up the wedge salad and whole fried snapper!
Out of this world scrumptious~:D

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nothin left but the bones!

Nightcap at *Quiet Mon* "where you can be a tourist, a beach bum or a star . . . and be as you are. :wink:
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then one last stroll down the Cruz Bay beach and back to the room. :cry:

I won't bore you with the Walk of Woe the next day except to say that I didn't cry this time! The trip was perfect, the weather was perfect, the new friends were so nice and we enjoyed so many incredible experiences!
I want to thank everyone here on the forum who have given me such great advice over the years and have turned out to be my great island lovin' friends! I encourage those who are planning a trip to St. John to add your name to the calendar and see who will be there at the same time and try to meet up with them at a forum gathering or beach day while you are there. 8) And make sure to write a trip report so we can see our favorite island through your eyes!

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Until next year, cheers to you & the VIOL Forum!
Colleen :wink:

Post Subject

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:57 am
by Nancie-Pa
Wonderful TR, Colleen! :D I enjoyed all of them.
Like you, I like getting up early when only the locals (two-legged and four-legged) are stirring.
You really made the most of your vacation and by staying at various places you experienced STJ from different points of view. Thanks for sharing them all with us.

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:19 am
by Hawaii
Colleen - Love reading your report. When we were there in July did not stop at Caneel but saw it from the boat with Capt. John. The property looks beautiful. This is another stop for maybe lunch next time and also want to try Honeymoon beach.

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:43 am
by Patty
I really enjoyed reading your report and seeing your pictures.....I'm sad your report has come to an end! I imagine you are planning your trip for next summer :D Hopefully Joe and I will meet up with you then!

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:54 am
by CBama
really enjoyed your report....thanks for sharing....

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:05 am
by SOonthebeach
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhwesome reports! Sigh. Sad they are over. Love the pics, love the variety! See you at our gathering next weekend- woo hoo!

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:10 am
by Coden
Boo-hoo-hoo...I wanna go back and play with my BFF's!!

Thank you so much for inviting us to Caneel for the day. I don't know if we would have ever gone around the grounds otherwise, and certainly wouldn't have been able to swim at Turtle Beach. What a great day it was. :smile:

And thank you so much for lunch & drinks. That was very kind of you and we enjoyed it very much.

What an awesome Last night you gave to yourself. The oysters and snapper are right up my alley. We missed going to the Quiet Mon Pub...will have to make sure we do it next time.

I do not have my pics developed yet. We still have one unopened water/sand/outdoor camera to use. We'll take it with us to Fla. in a couple of weeks and then I'll have all 3 put onto a cd at wally-world. I'll post them as soon as I can after that.

Happy TGIF!!

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:18 am
by Kentuckygirl
I have loved your reports, Colleen! It sounds like a perfect trip. I have really enjoyed seeing all your pictures. You've inspired me to hop around and stay in different areas.

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:39 am
by PA Girl
Thanks so much for all the great reports. This last one really brought a smile to my face as early morning walks around Caneel is "our" thing. We were there for our honeymoon and would walk to breakfast and walk all the paths on the way back. We continued the tradition each trip.

Oysters and the whole snapper is my kind of meal too.

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:30 am
by snorkelqueen
Reading your wonderful trip reports is almost as good as being there. THANK YOU.

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 2:58 pm
by Pianogrl
AMAZING trip reports & pics!!!! Looking forward to seeing y'all next weekend at the DFW VIOL Forum party!!

Thanks for sharing your trip with us....wish we were all there together right now!!

See ya soon!
R&R

Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 5:32 pm
by Capn Dan and Ruby
As always, loved your TR! Wish we could one day be on the island together, but our school start time usually screws us up. :roll: We could have done it this year, but did not know that when we booked. One day..... :wink:

Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:58 am
by EagleRayLover
From the details in this TR- sounds like you had the best trip ever! thanks for sharing it with us!

Loved your report

Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:03 am
by mnfun2bme
Hi Collee,
Thanks for the great report. Loved the early morning walk at Caneel pics. Beautiful to say the least! Peaceful to say the least!
I will check out the calendar as our dates are now set. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!

Lisa

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:00 am
by rpplano
Welcome Home! OK, I'm not buying it, either.
See ya, Friday.