Vagirl-Trip Report, Part 1-Kinda Long, Sorry

Travel discussion for St. John
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VaGirl
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Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:01 pm
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia

Vagirl-Trip Report, Part 1-Kinda Long, Sorry

Post by VaGirl »

Hey everybody, I really DID make the trip even though you haven't heard from me! Have been bogged down at work since I got back, and am going to try to steal a few minutes to at least give you a little feedback of the first couple of days. Like most of my trips, anything "planned" went out the window, but I love that part!
We arrived at Reagan National bright and early on Sunday, found Spirit Air way over in the old main terminal building. No problems there, right through the line, and right through security - guess it pays to have the first flight out! Now I love to fly, but just remember we were getting out of DC right as the bad weather front was moving in. The flight was a little rough until we got over South Carolina, and by then my white knuckles were turning pink again...got into Ft Lauderdale, then had to wait for that flight. What a circus that airport has become! Too many people in a small airport in too big of a hurry. But I kept telling myself, you are on island time now, so just take a deep breath.
Got into STT right on time, and I headed to the bar for my first Caribe while waiting for luggage - which DID make it this time! The CA ferry was not running, to we headed to the taxis and to Red Hook - what a mess, as you've been told already. People everywhere! Well, we had so many stops that we missed the 3 pm ferry and had to wait for the 4; oh well, a trip to the wagon for a Rum Punch made that bearable!! Our taxi had some really neat people, but three who seemed not to want to talk or smile at anyone - still trying to figure this out! Anyway, arrived at the Dock in STJ, waved at the web cam, although now it's 4:30ish and I figure no one knows what I look like anyway....Sean from Caribbean Villas met us with his big smile, took us to ST Car Rental to pick up our Vitara - they were so nice to us there. The car was older, with scratches, but that's okay...it got me where I needed. Off to the villa, Hawksbill, which was wonderful! We had a resident black cat which Lisa, my travel buddy, adopted - me, I'm a dog person. Anyway, the villa was full of windows, bright and cherry, small pool, yard full of blooming flowers up on a hill looking down into Great Cruz Bay..Sean showed us around, where everything was, and we were on our own. We made the obligatory trip to Starfish for "essentials", and then headed into town. Parking - geeze, I could go on forever, what a nightmare this has become! We finally found a place and headed to the Beach Bar to try and find Xisland Girl, Ruth and others...I have never seen so many people in the Beach Bar...plus it's kinda hard to find someone when you really haven't met them and are not sure exactly who you are looking for - well, everyone there was having a blast and evidently not moving, so by now we were starving...and thirsty...so we headed across the street to the Banana Deck for some nourishment...I had a couple of Painkillers and a mahi sandwhich which just hit the spot! Seemed like a lot of the overflow from the BB ended up there. We stayed for a while, I'm trying to remember if I had another beer or not...then we headed back, as our day had started at 4 am...put away the groceries, and called it a night.
Sorry I've gone on and on, so just tell me to keep this short. I promise I'll get better. St John continues to wrap me up in its magic...when work gets to be too much, I close my eyes and put myself right back there...better get to work so I CAN GO back in November!
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waterguy
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Location: Green Bay ,WI

Post by waterguy »

Thanks VA great start
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Tracy in WI
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Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:39 am
Location: Wisconsin

Post by Tracy in WI »

Thanks VAgirl - and never apologize for a trip report you think is too long. I enjoy them all!

Tracy
Tracy, Seaside Properties at Grande Bay
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sea-nile
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Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:24 pm
Location: Southeast Wisconsin

Post by sea-nile »

Thanks for the great report Susan!
It wasn't too long.
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liamsaunt
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Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:08 pm

Post by liamsaunt »

Thanks for posting about your trip! I'm looking forward to your report.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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augie
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Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:26 am
Location: Where the weather suits my clothes

Post by augie »

Not too long at all!

Take your time, and tell us everything!

Thanks for the report.
Come see us!
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Ron_L
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Joined: Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:01 pm
Location: Batavia, IL

Post by Ron_L »

Too long? Never! I'm waiting not so patiently for the rest! :D
...ron

Time to start working on convincing the wife that we have to go back soon!
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RickG
Posts: 5397
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:06 pm
Location: Coral Bay, St. John

Post by RickG »

Thanks for the writeup. We fly SpiritAir for the first time out of Washington National tomorrow morning. We'll gird ourselved for Ft. Lauderdale.

Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
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kellyanna
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Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:58 pm
Location: SE Arkansas

Post by kellyanna »

Can't wait for the rest!
Image
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Teresa_Rae
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Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:44 pm
Location: Downstate IL

Post by Teresa_Rae »

VaGirl...are you the person I replied to about Hawksbill a few months ago? I think it was you.

Is the same kitty still there? This is her:

Image[/img]
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patr
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Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:42 pm
Location: Illinois

Post by patr »

Thanks VG, looking forward to more.

When we were on island recently, we stayed in Coral Bay, but did venture into Cruz Bay on 3 occasions and every time parking was IMPOSSIBLE. We used Slimman on all three days. He has quite a nice little business going there.
Patr

~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
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wontongirl
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Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:19 pm

Post by wontongirl »

Goody Goody another trip report. Drag them out until I leave next week! 8 more days.
obsessedmuch

Post by obsessedmuch »

Not too long at all!

Thank you!! Every report just gets me through another day. :)
AnyTing
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Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:02 am

Post by AnyTing »

Obsessedmuch and I would like to know if you can make these longer and drag them out for another 27 days.... :lol:
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VaGirl
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Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:01 pm
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia

Post by VaGirl »

Unfortunately, I probably could....many years ago I was an English major and even taught high school English for a while....love to write...that's why my nice and easy vacation is gonna be boring to some of you - once I get going, I find it hard to stop!!
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