Trip report: 17 more days in paradise, part three
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 7:31 pm
Day 10 July 13
Spent the morning relaxing at Maho:
Met up briefly with forumite Eagle Ray Lover for some conversation on the beach, which was nice. After she left we spent some time in the water.
Handstands were performed:
The snorkeling was pretty fine:
Had lunch at Miss Lucy’s. View:
Conch fritters:
Grouper reuben:
The goats were roaming around and jumping on tables. Caili did her best to get this goat off a chair:
Goat says: Me Hungry!
When we would not feed it, the goat went to the table next to us and got up on that chair. Here Caili advises the goat that drinking a painkiller is a really bad idea:
Sorry goat, no crunch fish sandwich for you:
Went to Trunk in the afternoon for snorkeling and swimming. Hawksbill turtle:
Day 11 July 14
Today was an all beach day. We packed a lunch and went to Cinnamon Bay. We set up on the farthest possible spot as you are looking at the water. It’s around a rock outcropping and a little like being on your own private beach.
This little cove is just around the rocks
Snorkeled around the cay and had a few interesting sightings. Tarpon:
Mostly we just floated in the water and enjoyed the day.
Back to Kalorama for a sunset from the pool
We went to dinner at Cruz Bay Prime at the request of the kids. We had eaten here a couple of years ago and they really liked it. I am not a huge fan, mostly because I don’t care for the space, it is hot and sound echoes around. It’s also very expensive and a little boring. I understand it has since closed, not sure if that is for off season or permanently. The kids really did enjoy their meals, declaring their steaks to be the “best ever.”
Day 12 July 15
We started the day by setting up base camp at Maho. Then John, Sean, Liam and I drove over to Annaberg to do the Leinster drift snorkel.
Coral gardens:
Stoplight parrotfish
Flamingo tounge
Abundant purple fans
Pillar coral
We came back to Maho and did a whole lot of nothing. Sandwiches from Deli Grotto, floating in the water, etc. etc.
Back to Kalorama for a pretty sunset
Sunset afterglow
Here is this evening’s villa cocktail for the happy hour tower. Mint-lime vodka thing:
Day 13 July 16
Sean and Liam wanted to try a new-to-them snorkel spot, so John and I decided to take them to Haulover North. The conditions there were too challenging for Caili, but she and my sister were content to beachcomb.
Haulover North
A bit of a tricky entry
It was really choppy so I didn’t stay in long. Usually this is a very nice snorkel.
Coral:
Went to lunch at Shipwreck Landing again.
Blueberry vodka lemonade:
Special of grilled wahoo:
Blueberry crumble:
Driving out of Coral Bay we saw this curious sight:
We decided to spend the rest of the afternoon at Gibney. We got one spot at the beach, and I parked my jeep at Hawksnest and snorkeled over to join the group.
We had planned to stop in town for fish from the Fish Trap market but we stayed at the beach too late and the market was closed. So dinner was just an improvised pasta with whatever bits I could find in the fridge.
Really nice sunset tonight:
Ended the night with stargazing and cocktails in the Happy Hour Tower. This was a cucumber-cilantro-jalepeno margarita:
Spent the morning relaxing at Maho:
Met up briefly with forumite Eagle Ray Lover for some conversation on the beach, which was nice. After she left we spent some time in the water.
Handstands were performed:
The snorkeling was pretty fine:
Had lunch at Miss Lucy’s. View:
Conch fritters:
Grouper reuben:
The goats were roaming around and jumping on tables. Caili did her best to get this goat off a chair:
Goat says: Me Hungry!
When we would not feed it, the goat went to the table next to us and got up on that chair. Here Caili advises the goat that drinking a painkiller is a really bad idea:
Sorry goat, no crunch fish sandwich for you:
Went to Trunk in the afternoon for snorkeling and swimming. Hawksbill turtle:
Day 11 July 14
Today was an all beach day. We packed a lunch and went to Cinnamon Bay. We set up on the farthest possible spot as you are looking at the water. It’s around a rock outcropping and a little like being on your own private beach.
This little cove is just around the rocks
Snorkeled around the cay and had a few interesting sightings. Tarpon:
Mostly we just floated in the water and enjoyed the day.
Back to Kalorama for a sunset from the pool
We went to dinner at Cruz Bay Prime at the request of the kids. We had eaten here a couple of years ago and they really liked it. I am not a huge fan, mostly because I don’t care for the space, it is hot and sound echoes around. It’s also very expensive and a little boring. I understand it has since closed, not sure if that is for off season or permanently. The kids really did enjoy their meals, declaring their steaks to be the “best ever.”
Day 12 July 15
We started the day by setting up base camp at Maho. Then John, Sean, Liam and I drove over to Annaberg to do the Leinster drift snorkel.
Coral gardens:
Stoplight parrotfish
Flamingo tounge
Abundant purple fans
Pillar coral
We came back to Maho and did a whole lot of nothing. Sandwiches from Deli Grotto, floating in the water, etc. etc.
Back to Kalorama for a pretty sunset
Sunset afterglow
Here is this evening’s villa cocktail for the happy hour tower. Mint-lime vodka thing:
Day 13 July 16
Sean and Liam wanted to try a new-to-them snorkel spot, so John and I decided to take them to Haulover North. The conditions there were too challenging for Caili, but she and my sister were content to beachcomb.
Haulover North
A bit of a tricky entry
It was really choppy so I didn’t stay in long. Usually this is a very nice snorkel.
Coral:
Went to lunch at Shipwreck Landing again.
Blueberry vodka lemonade:
Special of grilled wahoo:
Blueberry crumble:
Driving out of Coral Bay we saw this curious sight:
We decided to spend the rest of the afternoon at Gibney. We got one spot at the beach, and I parked my jeep at Hawksnest and snorkeled over to join the group.
We had planned to stop in town for fish from the Fish Trap market but we stayed at the beach too late and the market was closed. So dinner was just an improvised pasta with whatever bits I could find in the fridge.
Really nice sunset tonight:
Ended the night with stargazing and cocktails in the Happy Hour Tower. This was a cucumber-cilantro-jalepeno margarita: