Trip report May 16-23, part one, with pictures ... long
Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 1:53 pm
Wednesday was our "travel day". Our flights were a little bumpy, but other than that, rather uneventful. We did not check any bags, so as soon as we landed and had a rum punch we were off in a private taxi that we had arranged through bookitvi. Our driver hurried around some back roads, trying to help us make the 3:00 red hook ferry. We made it, barely. Cathy from bookitvi was waiting for us at the ferry dock, took us to Courtesy to pick up our jeep, then over to St. John Livin' in Coral Bay. We loved this villa for 2 people. The views are stunning and the villa had everything we needed. It is less than 2 years old and is very well planned out.
Our order from Mixology was there when we arrived, with the beer in the refrigerator and ice in the freezer. After we got situated and had a drink, we went to Skinny Legs for some great burgers and drinks, then made a quick stop at Lily's for sandwich meats, bread, cheese, crackers, etc. We had a nightcap in the hot tub, staring at the stars, then turned in early.
Thursday was our first full day, and we woke up early to the sounds of roosters. After breakfast at the villa, we packed a cooler with sandwiches and drinks and headed to Francis Bay. We parked the jeep at the top of the trail and hiked to the beach. We were snorkeling by 8:15.
We snorkeled about an hour, then enjoyed the sun for a while. As we were walking down the beach, the wedding lady, AnneMarie pulled us aside and asked us to witness a wedding for a nice young couple from northern Virginia. It was quite an experience, them in their wedding attire and us in our swimsuits. I'm sure the pictures are interesting.
At about 11:00 we decided to run by the villa to charge the camera (I forgot to get an extra battery) then we headed out to the east end. Vie's was closed, but the beautiful views made it worth the trip.
Next we headed to Maho. It is so beautiful and it was not crowded at all. There was snorkeling to the left by the rocks. We spent a couple of hours here then back to the villa for happy hour before dinner.
We stopped by the smoothie stand on the way back. Guy had strawberry/banana with Cruzan and I had Mango with Cruzan (delicious!)
We intended to eat and Shipwreck Landing, but drove passed it, so we had dinner at Miss Lucy's. We had our first of many painkillers and some conch fritters. Guy ordered crabcakes and I had the Paella.
Everything was great!
Friday
We woke up early again to roosters. There was a little light sprinkle of rain, then clear skies by 7:30. We had checked the cruise ship schedule and knew that there were none on this day, so we headed to Trunk Bay. We stopped by the ruins across from Cinnamon Bay then on to Trunk. There were very few people early, we snorkeled the trail then relaxed on the beach until about 11:30.
We headed into town and had lunch at Woody's. Guy had the blackened chicken and I had a burger. Both were good. We bought a couple of T-shirts then went to Hawksnest.
(Thank you Kellyanna and Wontongirl!)
On our way to Hawksnest we picked up a few hitchhikers (2-13 year old boys, and their 16 year old sister, from Panama City FL.) They had their skinboards with them and were headed to Hawksnest as well. They were so funny and very appreciative for the ride!
We spent several hours at Hawksnest and did a little snorkeling to the right, by Gibney, then back to the villa for a nap then rum drinks by the pool. We picked up a pizza from Donkey Diner, and enjoyed it with some wine on the deck, then early to bed.
Saturday
We managed to sleep in until 6:00!, then had some coffee, watching the sunrise from the deck. Beautiful calm morning! We packed a cooler with drinks and sandwiches and headed out to hike to Leinster Bay trail and snorkel Waterlemon.
There is great snorkeling around the far side of the cay. We saw a nurse shark, baracudas, stingrays, and sea turtles. There were lots of turtles in the grassy-bottomed area near the beach.
After a couple hours at Leinster/Waterlemon, drove down to Salt Pond. There were VERY few people here.
IMG]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r314 ... _ALB-1.jpg[/IMG]
We went for a long snorkel at Salt Pond, where we saw another nurse shark, octopus, and lots of colorful fish. We were here a few hours, then back to the villa for a little rest before dinner at Shipwreck Landing. We really like this place! I had the fresh fish of the day - grilled mahi (fabulous) and hubby had the shrimp and fries. The drinks here were very good too. Long day, so we crashed early.
... more to come ...
Our order from Mixology was there when we arrived, with the beer in the refrigerator and ice in the freezer. After we got situated and had a drink, we went to Skinny Legs for some great burgers and drinks, then made a quick stop at Lily's for sandwich meats, bread, cheese, crackers, etc. We had a nightcap in the hot tub, staring at the stars, then turned in early.
Thursday was our first full day, and we woke up early to the sounds of roosters. After breakfast at the villa, we packed a cooler with sandwiches and drinks and headed to Francis Bay. We parked the jeep at the top of the trail and hiked to the beach. We were snorkeling by 8:15.
We snorkeled about an hour, then enjoyed the sun for a while. As we were walking down the beach, the wedding lady, AnneMarie pulled us aside and asked us to witness a wedding for a nice young couple from northern Virginia. It was quite an experience, them in their wedding attire and us in our swimsuits. I'm sure the pictures are interesting.
At about 11:00 we decided to run by the villa to charge the camera (I forgot to get an extra battery) then we headed out to the east end. Vie's was closed, but the beautiful views made it worth the trip.
Next we headed to Maho. It is so beautiful and it was not crowded at all. There was snorkeling to the left by the rocks. We spent a couple of hours here then back to the villa for happy hour before dinner.
We stopped by the smoothie stand on the way back. Guy had strawberry/banana with Cruzan and I had Mango with Cruzan (delicious!)
We intended to eat and Shipwreck Landing, but drove passed it, so we had dinner at Miss Lucy's. We had our first of many painkillers and some conch fritters. Guy ordered crabcakes and I had the Paella.
Everything was great!
Friday
We woke up early again to roosters. There was a little light sprinkle of rain, then clear skies by 7:30. We had checked the cruise ship schedule and knew that there were none on this day, so we headed to Trunk Bay. We stopped by the ruins across from Cinnamon Bay then on to Trunk. There were very few people early, we snorkeled the trail then relaxed on the beach until about 11:30.
We headed into town and had lunch at Woody's. Guy had the blackened chicken and I had a burger. Both were good. We bought a couple of T-shirts then went to Hawksnest.
(Thank you Kellyanna and Wontongirl!)
On our way to Hawksnest we picked up a few hitchhikers (2-13 year old boys, and their 16 year old sister, from Panama City FL.) They had their skinboards with them and were headed to Hawksnest as well. They were so funny and very appreciative for the ride!
We spent several hours at Hawksnest and did a little snorkeling to the right, by Gibney, then back to the villa for a nap then rum drinks by the pool. We picked up a pizza from Donkey Diner, and enjoyed it with some wine on the deck, then early to bed.
Saturday
We managed to sleep in until 6:00!, then had some coffee, watching the sunrise from the deck. Beautiful calm morning! We packed a cooler with drinks and sandwiches and headed out to hike to Leinster Bay trail and snorkel Waterlemon.
There is great snorkeling around the far side of the cay. We saw a nurse shark, baracudas, stingrays, and sea turtles. There were lots of turtles in the grassy-bottomed area near the beach.
After a couple hours at Leinster/Waterlemon, drove down to Salt Pond. There were VERY few people here.
IMG]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r314 ... _ALB-1.jpg[/IMG]
We went for a long snorkel at Salt Pond, where we saw another nurse shark, octopus, and lots of colorful fish. We were here a few hours, then back to the villa for a little rest before dinner at Shipwreck Landing. We really like this place! I had the fresh fish of the day - grilled mahi (fabulous) and hubby had the shrimp and fries. The drinks here were very good too. Long day, so we crashed early.
... more to come ...
Have all these sharks always been there or have they discovered STJ since Kenny started talking about it? 
