Skyflower 2013 Trip Report - Part 6 (over and out)
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 2:29 pm
SATURDAY July 20, 2013 - the perfect ending to a magical vacation
We all woke up feeling GREAT! Finally, on our last day, we seem to have this vacation thing all figured out. After another great mango pancake breakfast we decide to go back to Maho one more time so everybody can swim with the turtles. We find them easily this time. Since Amber and I got kind of turtled out yesterday we soon head off to the right and start taking turns with the iPhone camera. Amber uses her new diving skills to get a great picture of a parrot fish chowing down on coral. Then comes the big test. All her life she's been afraid of sharks (kind of an odd phobia for a Minnesotan, but I suppose we have Steven Spielberg to thank for that). Then we spot a big nurse shark (at least 4' long) resting on the bottom. She gingerly snaps a picture. Then the shark takes off. She looks at the shark, looks down at the camera, back at the shark - then takes off after it, snapping away! Amazing true-life example of how the paparazzi instinct banishes fear.
Instead of succumbing to villa gravity, we decide to do a driving tour of the East End. Now that the kids have realized the potential of the DIY island vacation, they want to explore! We stop at Vie's for lunch, musing on the cycle of life as the non-vegetetarians among us munch on garlic chicken while tossing rice to the hens and chicks browsing around our feet. Miss Vie herself happens by and is kind enough to take our picture.
But we're not done yet! Amber wants to see squid and Olin wants to see the desert part of the island, so we head down to Kiddel Bay. Amazingly, there are other cars there!! Have all my secret beaches been discovered? We note that there now seems to be a beehive in the big tree with the tire swing, and prudently park on the other side. We have a nice snorkel, but don't see squid. I think my favorite sight was a baby angel fish grooming a bar jack. (I realize that I've gotten past the point where I expect to see new flora/fauna each time and have started focusing on behaviors). I'm finally feeling comfortable with these fins (now that it's time to go home *sob*).
After we got back to the villa I had a pre-planned rendezvous with bluestreak12 and his wife. They were just moving in to a neighboring villa as we were packing to leave ours and we were each mutually curious to see the other villa. And of course to meet and talk about what we did and they were about to do on STJ. It was fun, and I hope helpful to them. Richard was actually sufficiently curious to make the trip to the neighbors, but the kids (who don't yet understand how addictive villa shopping can be) just wanted to EAT and were a little impatient with all this forumizing.
Since I made them wait, I offered to splurge on a nice meal for our last night and we headed down to Aqua Bistro. The food was delicious and less expensive than I expected. My swordfish ponzu was definitely the best thing I ate the whole trip (except maybe for the mango pancakes). Unfortunately, the mosquitos were also feasting - Amber and I were eaten alive. I guess I'm not as acclimated to the tropics as I thought - it didn't occur to me to put on insect repellent before going out to a nice restaurant. And up 'til then we really hadn't seen a lot of mosquitoes.
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SUNDAY July 21, 2013 - over and out
Richard and I have a 2pm flight, so we pack up and leave the villa by 9am, gas up the jeep and get it back to Paris by 10. Amber and Olin are leaving early tomorrow morning, and have reservations on STT. We get on the 11am ferry, leaving them to hang out a while longer in Cruz Bay. Everything works exactly as planned. It's not crowded at the American desk, I remembered to bring a pen for the customs form, and the TSA agent doesn't even blink at the little bags of lead shot in my weight belt. But even without any glitches, it is still almost 1pm by the time we get through security and down to our gate, which makes me think that we cut it a little close. Food for thought. The rest of the trip is tiring but unremarkable, and we're home by 10:30pm Central Time.
We all woke up feeling GREAT! Finally, on our last day, we seem to have this vacation thing all figured out. After another great mango pancake breakfast we decide to go back to Maho one more time so everybody can swim with the turtles. We find them easily this time. Since Amber and I got kind of turtled out yesterday we soon head off to the right and start taking turns with the iPhone camera. Amber uses her new diving skills to get a great picture of a parrot fish chowing down on coral. Then comes the big test. All her life she's been afraid of sharks (kind of an odd phobia for a Minnesotan, but I suppose we have Steven Spielberg to thank for that). Then we spot a big nurse shark (at least 4' long) resting on the bottom. She gingerly snaps a picture. Then the shark takes off. She looks at the shark, looks down at the camera, back at the shark - then takes off after it, snapping away! Amazing true-life example of how the paparazzi instinct banishes fear.
- Parrot fish at Maho, chowing down on coral
- Big nurse shark at Maho
- Lunch at Vie's
After we got back to the villa I had a pre-planned rendezvous with bluestreak12 and his wife. They were just moving in to a neighboring villa as we were packing to leave ours and we were each mutually curious to see the other villa. And of course to meet and talk about what we did and they were about to do on STJ. It was fun, and I hope helpful to them. Richard was actually sufficiently curious to make the trip to the neighbors, but the kids (who don't yet understand how addictive villa shopping can be) just wanted to EAT and were a little impatient with all this forumizing.
Since I made them wait, I offered to splurge on a nice meal for our last night and we headed down to Aqua Bistro. The food was delicious and less expensive than I expected. My swordfish ponzu was definitely the best thing I ate the whole trip (except maybe for the mango pancakes). Unfortunately, the mosquitos were also feasting - Amber and I were eaten alive. I guess I'm not as acclimated to the tropics as I thought - it didn't occur to me to put on insect repellent before going out to a nice restaurant. And up 'til then we really hadn't seen a lot of mosquitoes.
_________________________________
SUNDAY July 21, 2013 - over and out
Richard and I have a 2pm flight, so we pack up and leave the villa by 9am, gas up the jeep and get it back to Paris by 10. Amber and Olin are leaving early tomorrow morning, and have reservations on STT. We get on the 11am ferry, leaving them to hang out a while longer in Cruz Bay. Everything works exactly as planned. It's not crowded at the American desk, I remembered to bring a pen for the customs form, and the TSA agent doesn't even blink at the little bags of lead shot in my weight belt. But even without any glitches, it is still almost 1pm by the time we get through security and down to our gate, which makes me think that we cut it a little close. Food for thought. The rest of the trip is tiring but unremarkable, and we're home by 10:30pm Central Time.
- How I'll always remember Skyflower, clothes flapping in the wind
- One final sunset picture
