USVI-On-Line

We just returned from 10 nights on STJ and it felt like a small miracle that we even got there.
This trip came in to fruition back in Nov. 2010 when I was playing around with FF miles on USAir and discovered that we could have a free ticket, First Class, that would put us on island for our 5 year wedding anniversary in September. Done.

It also allowed for us to go to Virgin Gorda for three days as the flight schedule aligned with the ferry schedule.

At some point, June perhaps, I did a check on our flights just to make sure all was still in place. It wasn't. Seemed USAir stopped their flights on Tues. and Wed. from CLT to STT. So our outbound flight went from PHL to CLT and stopped. But we returned from STT. Not sure how we were supposed to get to STT but whatever! So VG had to be cut from the picture because we could no longer align the flights with the ferry schedule. A little disappointing but we could adjust.

Then things really got interesting! In late August my 88 year old mother fell and fractured her knee cap. She was going to be completely immobile for 4-6 weeks. At that point it was all hands on deck for me and my 2 sisters to provide care for my mother around the clock. It wasn't go to be easy but it had to be done. At that point our trip was scheduled for 4 weeks from then. I knew there was no way I could leave for 10 days and leave all the burden to my 2 sisters. We took all the steps to change our plans, flights, villa, car, etc etc and we decided to go the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Plenty of time to get mom back on her feet again.

ONE WEEK after my mother took her tumble, my oldest sister ended up in the ER in congestive heart failure. 2nd time in 15 months. She had a known issue with her aortic valve that we knew would have to be replaced "some day". Well some day came upon us in a hurry and she ended up in open heart surgery on Sept. 20. We were due to leave for the original trip on Sept. 21, good thing we changed that huh?
Surgery was rough and since my sister lives alone (daughter had just gone off to Freshman yr. in college during all this mess) someone had to live with her for a while. Soooooo middle sister and I split the patients. Middle sister with mom (they live next door to each other) and me with big sister. I lived with her for about 2 weeks but then she ended up back in hospital with major complications. She ended up having a second surgery on 10/21 and when she came home from that I lived with her until basically Thanksgiving.

I cooked turkey at sister's house and then I moved out my stuff and came home and packed for STJ. We were able to go on the trip Saturday but I didn't go with great joy in my heart. I felt badly leaving everyone behind but I really needed the time away. It had become too much for me. And it was good to see my husband again!

So we made it and we enjoyed. It was a good time for us and I am happy to say my sister is doing much better. Perhaps I should have taken the trip much sooner

I know this isn't a trip report per se but the trip itself was boring by this forum's standards. It was a trip of rest and healing and reconnection. It made me appreciate the fact that we are even able to enjoy trips like these.

Seems I take a lot of the same photos each trip. On our 5th trip I still photo the overlooks. One early morning I let my husband sleep and I jumped in the car, in my jammies, with my camera. I will share the overlook photos with you. Enjoy them every time...who knows when you will return.

Cruz Bay
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N00/6502508397/" title="STJ 2011 436 by mbw1024, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6502 ... 357269.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="STJ 2011 436"></a>

Caneel
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N00/6502508959/" title="STJ 2011 439 by mbw1024, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6502 ... f78192.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="STJ 2011 439"></a>

Trunk Bay
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N00/6502509543/" title="STJ 2011 444-1 by mbw1024, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6502 ... 8e9cfa.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="STJ 2011 444-1"></a>

Maho
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N00/6502511459/" title="STJ 2011 452-1 by mbw1024, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6502 ... 7fda3e.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="STJ 2011 452-1"></a>

Bordeaux
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N00/6502493071/" title="STJ 2011 355 by mbw1024, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6502 ... e6856e.jpg" width="500" height="265" alt="STJ 2011 355"></a>

East End
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N00/6502490821/" title="STJ 2011 344 by mbw1024, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6502 ... 07a6ac.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="STJ 2011 344"></a>

Merry Christmas, forum friends!

Great pictures! I love the overlook pictures and want to take them every time too. It is so true that you never know when and if you will return. Thanks for sharing. I am glad your trip finally turned out.

Mary Beth - stunning photos of the overlooks - and a stunning story of family devotion and love. I pray your sister and your mom will both be restored to full health.

So glad you were able to make the trip and get some very much needed rest and relaxation.

You deserved every minute of rest, relaxation and stunning overlooks in your jammies!

Very, very pretty pictures! I still take overlook pictures too.

Where did you stay?

PA Girl wrote:Very, very pretty pictures! I still take overlook pictures too.

Where did you stay?

Cielo Vista, Gifft Hill and Gallows.

All my photos on Flickr here, for those intersted.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N ... 395287827/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89321198@N ... 395541609/

I love the pelican pictures!

We are less than two months away from our next trip. Any restaurant news or recommendations? What places were good? Any go downhill?

Oh, and Happy Anniversary!

I am so glad that you finally got your trip in.

Beautiful photos! I have not photoed the overlooks in a while, will have to remember that next time.

Merry Christmas to you and Charlie, and best wishes for a full recovery for your mom and sister.

Ugh. Must. Go. Soon.

That is by far the best picture of Trunk Bay I've ever seen.

Marcia (Mrs. Pete) wrote:That is by far the best picture of Trunk Bay I've ever seen.

Thanks. The horizon looks a little crooked to me. I thought I fixed that. Thank goodness for Picasa straightener. Turns out I'm a very crooked person!

Glad things are doing better for everyone! wishes for
health and happiness in 2012!

PA Girl wrote:
We are less than two months away from our next trip. Any restaurant news or recommendations? What places were good? Any go downhill?

Let's see, we felt like we ate out less than usual but I'm not sure that is entirely true.

Brunch
La Plancha and Sun Dog. Both good but we gave the nod to Sun Dog. Poached eggs at LP slightly over done.

Lunch
Banana Deck. It was good. But there was NO ONE in the place at 2pm other than us. It was odd.

Take out
Candi's - our first night. Good and lots of food.

Sam and Jack's deli. Prefer the sandwiches at Deli Grotto although we did not have sandwiches there this trip. Liked the gourmet take out options at S&J's.

Ronnie's pizza - neither of us can recall if we were ever here before. Not a bad pizza, considering.

Dinner
La Tapa- twice. Love it there and have had many dishes but the first night we went we had a pasta dish that was beyond delicious. Shrimp, lobster and fresh papradelle. Great.

Rhumblines - I always want to like it there but in the end I feel like many things taste the same. We did try their version of lettuce wraps which were quite good.

Zozo's - last night. I know I am a broken record but we love this place. Not only do we enjoy the food and wine but we love sitting at the bar. Seth was our server and he is just great. He makes a point of knowing that we are returning guests and does everything he can to make the night special. That includes little things like topping off your wine on the house or pouring you a glass of port. It is a fun night there for us. And we are glad we don't have to drive any place after it

I'm glad you got to make the trip and get some R & R. Your pictures are beautiful and to me, there is no such thing as "too many pictures from the overlooks". I especially love the one from the East End.