Trip report: 17 more days in paradise, part 2

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:22 pm

Part one: http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/v ... =1&t=25820

Day five July 8

Villa gravity day. Spent time at Pool Beach:

Then went in to town for lunch at Waterfront Bistro. Calamari:

BLT:

Tuna nicoise salad:

Tuna tacos:

Back to the house for more pool time and to make dinner of grilled pizzas on the demon grill (see upcoming villa review for details). We made margarita, pepper and onion, and meat lovers pizzas.

NOTE: I didn’t cook much this trip and when I did I almost never took photos. Those of you who used to read the food porn thread or are my friends on facebook know that I take, um….a lot of food pictures of things I cook. But I can’t get the lighting in the villas to work with the food for an attractive photo. I have tried the past couple of trips but it just doesn’t look appealing, even with help from photoshop. So, almost no home cooking pictures this report! Instead I substitute this sunset photo:

Day six July 9

Another villa gravity day. Tropical Storm Chantal was passing to the south and Caili had gotten a sunburn on her arm at Caneel that had almost healed so we wanted to give her some more time out of the sun.

After a morning spent in the pool or reading books we went into town for lunch at the Banana Deck. Mahi ceasar salad:

Mahi sandwich:

Back to Kalorama for yet more relaxing and pool time. We were too full from Banana Deck for dinner. No sunset this evening, it was very overcast.

Day 7 July 10

We started the day at Gibney. We got up early enough that we were able to snag two of the three spots in front of the gate. We set up on the farthest side of the beach

Under the coconut palms

Nobody felt like snorkeling so we just relaxed, read books, and lolled in the water.
We forgot to bring food to the beach so only lasted about three hours before Liam insisted we leave because he was STARVING. Being 14 will do that I guess. We went to lunch at Shipwreck Landing.

Conch fritters:

Salad with mahi:

Fried grouper sandwich:

Curry-nut crusted grouper:

What did we do that night? I have no idea!

Day 8 July 11

We got a very late start today. Laura and I were up and ready to go at 7AM, but Caili slept until 10:20! We knew this was going to limit our beach options. Sure enough parking was full at Gibney, Trunk, and even Maho. We went to Francis Bay, which is one of our favorites anyway. Snorkeled the right side along the rocks to the point and had some interesting sightings.

Duo of turtles

Coral banded cleaner shrimp

Octopus hiding

Remora

Queen angelfish

Another shy octopus

Indigo hamlet:

Arrow crab

For dinner we grilled up some local fish. Wahoo:

Lobster tails:

Served with a big salad of Josephine’s greens and some bread and called it dinner.

Spent the evening up on the Happy Hour tower stargazing.

Day nine July 12

Daysail day. We went out with Survivan for a full day sail and snorkel.

Really nice day. We had two snorkel stops. The first was on the back side of Little St. James, which is privately owned by a New York-based investment banker. He has a lot of strange things built on his island. For example, what do you think this is?

I have no idea, myself.

The snorkeling was really good, lots of corals. Here is a juvenile damselfish, one of my favorites to spot. They are very hard to photograph because they never stop moving:

Coral encrusted cave:

Star coral:

Spanish hogfish:

Fire coral:

The boat stopped for lunch in Christmas Cove, a pretty spot:

Lunch was an assortment of items from Deli Grotto. All very good but way too much food! I hope the captain eats the leftovers!

Our second stop was Lovongo Cay. We stopped here last year and it was my favorite snorkel of the trip, so I was very glad that they took us over.

Spotted drum:

Scrawled filefish:

Stoplight parrotfish:

Blue chromis, another tough fish to photograph:

Mystery fish! Can anyone ID this one for me?

School of big-eye scad under the dock at Lovongo

Goodbye Lovango:

Got back to Kalorama in time to catch the tail end of the sunset

Grilled some grouper quesadillas for dinner and called it an early night.

mbw1024 · Post by **mbw1024** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:27 pm

I appreciate your substitution

Pickle · Post by **Pickle** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 6:40 pm

It's always a pleasure to read your trip report! Where did you get those lobster tails? They look wonderful.

I think the mystery fish is a Glasseye Snapper.

Looking forward to Part 3!

dreamshark · Post by **dreamshark** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 7:10 pm

nice pictures!

jayseadee · Post by **jayseadee** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 7:58 pm

Sunsets are always a good substitute. Great TR - thanks for sharing

pcs15 · Post by **pcs15** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:25 pm

Great pictures! I'd love to know where you got the fresh wahoo? It is one of my husband's favorite fish and would love to get some on our trip in Oct.

Thanks,
Pat

EagleRayLover · Post by **EagleRayLover** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:27 pm

Great report! I agree with Pickle about it being a snapper! I love your photos (always) and get inspired to try more cooking when I read about the stuff you cook!!

mnfun2bme · Post by **mnfun2bme** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:02 pm

EagleRayLover wrote:Great report! I agree with Pickle about it being a snapper! I love your photos (always) and get inspired to try more cooking when I read about the stuff you cook!!

ER, she inspires me to want to eat at all those restaurants. It takes WAY more inspiration to ever get me to want to cook!

JJShaw · Post by **JJShaw** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:06 pm

We snorkeled over at the backside of Little St James..and then on to Christmas Cove a cpl yrs back..we loved it as well..Enjoying you reports...and pics..

ColumbiaSCTraveler · Post by **ColumbiaSCTraveler** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:09 pm

Juvenile damselfish = REALLY cool looking fish! Hope to spot one!

I'm with a lot of the others - where did the fresh seafood come from? Looks DELISH!

Survivan - do you pick where you want to go, or are there "set" trips? Can you do a 1/2 day and / or full day?

THANKS for sharing, as always!

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:29 am

Demon grill? Should I be scared?

I also would like to know the source of the lobster tails. We plan to cook in more next trip.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 11:00 am

The lobster tails are from the fish trap market. They were purchased raw and whole, then split and grilled. I don't eat lobster but everyone who does said they were good.

SusanNJ · Post by **SusanNJ** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 2:37 pm

Loving the photos and report so far (as always). I was curious to see that image of a spanish hogfish? Do you know if they are related to the hogfish you find in the Florida Keys?

MadCityMom · Post by **MadCityMom** » Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:43 am

My husband and I are really enjoying your report! What kind of camera are you using? Your pictures are amazing! Thanks for taking us right back there!

Agent99 · Post by **Agent99** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 7:29 pm

Just caught up all at once. I always love your reports. It's so strange, this forum. We've never met but I feel as though I vacation with you regularly!

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