USVI-On-Line

Is it the salt air...

The fragrance of the island fauna...

The sights of the Windex Blue waters...

The warmth of the latitudes and island people...

The sound of pan drums, frogs and roosters...and laughter and bar tenders who call you by name...

Is it finally driving on the left side of the road freeing up the other side of your brain...

Is it beaches with just a few lucky inhabitants that give a knowing smile...

Is it hardly comparable to anyplace or any feeling that seems to be indescribable to any place or feeling we get from being able to be on STJ.( Should I have a question mark there ? or was that rhetorical)

Excuse my ramblings...something about being 23 days will do that. ..and a few Dark and Diets.

After this winter (shocking its snowing again today) ..it will be "toes in the sand" in ten days

for me

The sights of the Windex Blue waters...

Is it beaches with just a few lucky inhabitants that give a knowing smile...

To name a few? In the order that they happen:

1.If I am lucky enough to get a window seat on the plane it is the first glimpse of the crystal blue ring of water that hugs the shallows before the depth turns the water the deep ocean blue.

2. If I'm not at the window it's that first wave of tropical air that his me as I exit the plane in STT. We always travel when it is still winter here so the contrast is my first or second of many AHHH moments.

3. Welcome rum taste- if I have not lost something or left something on a connecting flight which has been known to happen.

4. First glimpse of STJ from the ferry

5. Greeting Anna at Gallows

6. Throwing open the Gallows doors to the view

7. First rum punch moments later

And my favorite of all:

Floating at Gibney looking back at the beach. Unforgettable.

I'll second...or really thirds...

The sights of the Windex Blue waters...

Is it beaches with just a few lucky inhabitants that give a knowing smile...

And add.......the first turtle and/or ray sighting while snorkeling

Taste---of first painkiller while waiting on ferry

Hear----waking up to chickens, donkeys, goats announcing the mornings arrival

Smell----of salt air, coffee aroma with beginning of day on St John

Sight-----of first sunrise over Coral Bay

Feel----the warm air hit you when you walk off plane

All of the above and more!!!! It is amazing how just reading your post can awaken all of those senses. Love it!!!

That first blast of tropical air when I leave the plane on STT

The first sight of STJ from the ferry

The first smell as I walk in the door of St John Spice

The first stop at the Coral Bay overlook

The first sunrise on the deck (that's the really big one!)

The first swim with a turtle

The first half asleep moment of complete relaxation while listening to the sound of the surf with my eyes closed and toes dug in the sand when I finally feel all the stresses of my ridiculous life slip off... AHHH

First Peek- About to land on STT..., and my Sweet Amy's excited smile, knowing that we're "actually back!..." ( I think that that's the topper, for me...)
First " 'eh, let it go and relax" feeling- fellow travelers on our flight that are frustrated and trying to get the hell off of the plane...come on, people! Get your "Lime on!" Don't matter how much you push, we'll get there...!
First feel- the blast of heat as we descend the stairs of the plane onto the tarmac; rain or shine,- it's ALWAYS such a charge!
First, albeit warm, shot of rum...deelish...
First time getting we get behind the wheel of "our own" Jeep on STT, then excitedly drag ourselves over to Red Hook.
First beer on the top of the car-barge,enjoying the warm breeze...
First time,when we land on STJ,-hit Woody's and slug back a few Painkillers...
First time the waft of scents in the air hit us as we drive the North Shore- in, down, and through that beautiful hollow leading to Maho...it's just so thick, plush, alive, and relaxing...
First plunge into the pool at the villa...
" UNPACKING!!!!" - (which should be understood by now... )
First evening we enjoy a couple of adult beverages , hopefully at Aqua Bistro, and chill...
First good nights' sleep after a home-cooked/grilled meal,(unless we get takeout because we drank too much).
First " Maho Bay Foot-rub" as we push our toes through the sand...
First revival/reminder of "island time" at Aqua Bistro...
Heck, man. You know me! I could go on forever!!!
It all just tastes SO GOOD. Numbs, yet invigorates the senses...

Smiles-
MJ

The smell of home cooking
The sight of a sunrise on an ocean voyage
The 1st taste of a cold Heineken
The feel of clean sheets in a warm bunk
The sound of a friends hello.

Bigcheeze wrote:Is it the salt air...

The fragrance of the island fauna...

The sights of the Windex Blue waters...

The warmth of the latitudes and island people...

The sound of pan drums, frogs and roosters...and laughter and bar tenders who call you by name...

Is it finally driving on the left side of the road freeing up the other side of your brain...

Is it beaches with just a few lucky inhabitants that give a knowing smile...

Is it hardly comparable to anyplace or any feeling that seems to be indescribable to any place or feeling we get from being able to be on STJ.( Should I have a question mark there ? or was that rhetorical)

Excuse my ramblings...something about being 23 days will do that. ..and a few Dark and Diets.

It's all of those things combined, and just the fact that when you're on the island you can actually think to yourself "I'm on St.John."

Oh, the anticipation ..... can hardly wait. Yes, I can imagine just what you are describing, but to actually FEEL it .... well, I am just oh, so ready.

We're down to hours now and all of my senses are on high alert! The heat as you step off the plane (after an endless Midwest winter), the taste of rum on the way to baggage claim, the smells and feel of the wind as you sit on the top deck of the Westin ferry - I'm so there!