10 more days in paradise, part two
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 1:32 pm
Day four
We stated the day with a snorkel at Haulover North. It was really calm
St. John by liamsaunt, on Flickr
Snorkeling was good. Some pictures
haulover fingr coral 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
haulover wrasse 3 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
haulover tang close up by liamsaunt, on Flickr
haulover snapper by liamsaunt, on Flickr
haulover filefish by liamsaunt, on Flickr
haulover trumpetfish 3 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
haulover barracuda 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
After our snorkel we went to lunch at Shipwreck Landing
shipwreck blackened shrip by liamsaunt, on Flickr
shipwreck mahi grilled cheese by liamsaunt, on Flickr
shipwreck grouper tacos by liamsaunt, on Flickr
We spent the afternoon swimming at Trunk Bay
trunk bay by liamsaunt, on Flickr
It was swelly and the ranger on duty warned us about swimming, but the side to the right of the cay was not bad at all
Trunk Bay by liamsaunt, on Flickr
We went back to the house for a pretty amazing sunset
St. John by liamsaunt, on Flickr
End
aurora monday sunset 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
And then I made some tuna bites
tuna bites by liamsaunt, on Flickr
and more grilled lobster and some blackened wahoo
lobster 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
Other than toast for breakfast, this meal concludes my cooking for this trip
That night it got cold enough that I needed a sweatshirt! Winter weather is so different from our summer trips. We never used the AC at all, and in fact had to sleep with blankets on! I love the winter winds. I wish I could combine winter’s lack of humidity and lovely breezes with summer’s calm oceans and clear waters for snorkeling. Oh well, you can’t have it all.
Day five
We had a lazy villa gravity morning
Aurora view by liamsaunt, on Flickr
And then headed in to town for lunch at Waterfront Bistro
waterfront bistro view by liamsaunt, on Flickr
waterfront bistro tuna tacos by liamsaunt, on Flickr
waterfront bistro turkey burger by liamsaunt, on Flickr
After lunch we went to Low Key for new snorkel bags since I forgot to pack ours ($75/each, ouch)
Then we snorkeled at Maho.
St. John by liamsaunt, on Flickr
It was crowded!
maho beach by liamsaunt, on Flickr
We did the right side out to the point. Some sightings:
maho grouper 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
maho christmas tree worms by liamsaunt, on Flickr
maho porkfish2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
maho flounder close up by liamsaunt, on Flickr
After we came back from the snorkel we found our gear was flanked on either side by people blasting music out to the beach. On one side we had techno dance, and on the other, country music. The cacophony quickly drove us away and back to the quiet of Pool Beach. /on soapbox/ Honestly amplified music on the beach is a real pet peeve of mine. It is really presumptuous to assume that everyone around you wants to hear your music. /off soapbox/
Later we went into town and had a drink at Drink
St. John by liamsaunt, on Flickr
St. John by liamsaunt, on Flickr
I don’t remember what I had, but I do remember liking it.
After that we went to dinner at Virgin Fire, a new restaurant for us. Salt block appetizer.
virgin fire salt block by liamsaunt, on Flickr
Shrimp and grits
virgin fire shrimp and grits by liamsaunt, on Flickr
Ratatouille with grilled shrimp
virgin fire creole by liamsaunt, on Flickr
The waitress was very good here. My dish was inedibly salty and she was gracious about it and took it off the bill without my asking. I might give this place another chance sometime, only because she was so professional. I am inclined to believe that it was just an off night for whatever reason. I have heard that the other appetizers are good. And they have Rogue beer on tap, so that’s a big plus!
Day six
We started the day by snorkeling Hansen Bay/Pelican Rock with friends
hansen highat 6 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
hansen damselfsh best by liamsaunt, on Flickr
hansen trunkfish by liamsaunt, on Flickr
Snorkel highlight! Two porcupinefish out and about. Our friend who lives on island thought they might be attempting to mate
hansen puffer duo by liamsaunt, on Flickr
hansen puffer pair side view by liamsaunt, on Flickr
hansen puffer pair 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
hansen puffer close up by liamsaunt, on Flickr
(sorry for so many pictures, but this sighting was very exciting for me)
I found my first turtle of the trip on the snorkel back to the beach
hansen turtle by liamsaunt, on Flickr
hansen turtle 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
After that great snorkel, we all went to lunch at Miss Lucy’s.
miss lucys view 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr
I was so looking forward to my beloved grouper reuben. BUT. NO grouper reuben! NO crunch fish! NO Johnnycake! I cry. I settled for the West Indian fish fry plate and it was very good (but not as good as my grouper reuben would
have been, sob)
miss lucys west indian fish fry by liamsaunt, on Flickr
John got a burger on the recommendation of our friend. He was missing the grouper reuben too. Oh well, we will be back in June and can get one then. Please don’t close before our June trip, Miss Lucy’s!
miss lucys burger by liamsaunt, on Flickr
We parted ways with our friends after lunch, and John and I headed to the North Shore to go for a swim at Trunk Bay. We were lolling in the water when someone on the shore called to us that an eagle ray was heading our way. Sure, we thought. Sure it is. You see stingrays at Trunk all of the time, and we figured that they were mistaken in what they were seeing. That is, until the eagle ray swam right up to us in three feet of water! Holy crap. That was pretty amazing. I really regretted not bringing my camera into the water. I usually do but I was being lazy. Anyway, it was a super cool sighting to end a good day of underwater spots.
We went back to Aurora to get cleaned up for dinner and found the most gorgeous kitty on our deck. I mean, is this not the cutest cat? I wanted it so badly! The fact that I am allergic to cats is irrelevant here. Cat. Want.
cat by liamsaunt, on Flickr
Cat dreams thwarted, we headed in to town for dinner at La Tapa, always one of our favorites
la tapa oil by liamsaunt, on Flickr
la tapa mahi by liamsaunt, on Flickr
la tapa tun by liamsaunt, on Flickr
And then back to the house to watch the cruise ships float out to sea.
We stated the day with a snorkel at Haulover North. It was really calm
St. John by liamsaunt, on FlickrSnorkeling was good. Some pictures
haulover fingr coral 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickrhaulover wrasse 3 by liamsaunt, on Flickrhaulover tang close up by liamsaunt, on Flickrhaulover snapper by liamsaunt, on Flickrhaulover filefish by liamsaunt, on Flickrhaulover trumpetfish 3 by liamsaunt, on Flickrhaulover barracuda 2 by liamsaunt, on FlickrAfter our snorkel we went to lunch at Shipwreck Landing
shipwreck blackened shrip by liamsaunt, on Flickrshipwreck mahi grilled cheese by liamsaunt, on Flickrshipwreck grouper tacos by liamsaunt, on FlickrWe spent the afternoon swimming at Trunk Bay
trunk bay by liamsaunt, on FlickrIt was swelly and the ranger on duty warned us about swimming, but the side to the right of the cay was not bad at all
Trunk Bay by liamsaunt, on FlickrWe went back to the house for a pretty amazing sunset
St. John by liamsaunt, on FlickrEnd
aurora monday sunset 2 by liamsaunt, on FlickrAnd then I made some tuna bites
tuna bites by liamsaunt, on Flickrand more grilled lobster and some blackened wahoo
lobster 2 by liamsaunt, on FlickrOther than toast for breakfast, this meal concludes my cooking for this trip
That night it got cold enough that I needed a sweatshirt! Winter weather is so different from our summer trips. We never used the AC at all, and in fact had to sleep with blankets on! I love the winter winds. I wish I could combine winter’s lack of humidity and lovely breezes with summer’s calm oceans and clear waters for snorkeling. Oh well, you can’t have it all.
Day five
We had a lazy villa gravity morning
Aurora view by liamsaunt, on FlickrAnd then headed in to town for lunch at Waterfront Bistro
waterfront bistro view by liamsaunt, on Flickrwaterfront bistro tuna tacos by liamsaunt, on Flickrwaterfront bistro turkey burger by liamsaunt, on FlickrAfter lunch we went to Low Key for new snorkel bags since I forgot to pack ours ($75/each, ouch)
Then we snorkeled at Maho.
St. John by liamsaunt, on FlickrIt was crowded!
maho beach by liamsaunt, on FlickrWe did the right side out to the point. Some sightings:
maho grouper 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickrmaho christmas tree worms by liamsaunt, on Flickrmaho porkfish2 by liamsaunt, on Flickrmaho flounder close up by liamsaunt, on FlickrAfter we came back from the snorkel we found our gear was flanked on either side by people blasting music out to the beach. On one side we had techno dance, and on the other, country music. The cacophony quickly drove us away and back to the quiet of Pool Beach. /on soapbox/ Honestly amplified music on the beach is a real pet peeve of mine. It is really presumptuous to assume that everyone around you wants to hear your music. /off soapbox/
Later we went into town and had a drink at Drink
St. John by liamsaunt, on FlickrSt. John by liamsaunt, on FlickrI don’t remember what I had, but I do remember liking it.
After that we went to dinner at Virgin Fire, a new restaurant for us. Salt block appetizer.
virgin fire salt block by liamsaunt, on FlickrShrimp and grits
virgin fire shrimp and grits by liamsaunt, on FlickrRatatouille with grilled shrimp
virgin fire creole by liamsaunt, on FlickrThe waitress was very good here. My dish was inedibly salty and she was gracious about it and took it off the bill without my asking. I might give this place another chance sometime, only because she was so professional. I am inclined to believe that it was just an off night for whatever reason. I have heard that the other appetizers are good. And they have Rogue beer on tap, so that’s a big plus!
Day six
We started the day by snorkeling Hansen Bay/Pelican Rock with friends
hansen highat 6 by liamsaunt, on Flickrhansen damselfsh best by liamsaunt, on Flickrhansen trunkfish by liamsaunt, on FlickrSnorkel highlight! Two porcupinefish out and about. Our friend who lives on island thought they might be attempting to mate
hansen puffer duo by liamsaunt, on Flickrhansen puffer pair side view by liamsaunt, on Flickrhansen puffer pair 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickrhansen puffer close up by liamsaunt, on Flickr(sorry for so many pictures, but this sighting was very exciting for me)
I found my first turtle of the trip on the snorkel back to the beach
hansen turtle by liamsaunt, on Flickrhansen turtle 2 by liamsaunt, on FlickrAfter that great snorkel, we all went to lunch at Miss Lucy’s.
miss lucys view 2 by liamsaunt, on FlickrI was so looking forward to my beloved grouper reuben. BUT. NO grouper reuben! NO crunch fish! NO Johnnycake! I cry. I settled for the West Indian fish fry plate and it was very good (but not as good as my grouper reuben would
have been, sob)
miss lucys west indian fish fry by liamsaunt, on FlickrJohn got a burger on the recommendation of our friend. He was missing the grouper reuben too. Oh well, we will be back in June and can get one then. Please don’t close before our June trip, Miss Lucy’s!
miss lucys burger by liamsaunt, on FlickrWe parted ways with our friends after lunch, and John and I headed to the North Shore to go for a swim at Trunk Bay. We were lolling in the water when someone on the shore called to us that an eagle ray was heading our way. Sure, we thought. Sure it is. You see stingrays at Trunk all of the time, and we figured that they were mistaken in what they were seeing. That is, until the eagle ray swam right up to us in three feet of water! Holy crap. That was pretty amazing. I really regretted not bringing my camera into the water. I usually do but I was being lazy. Anyway, it was a super cool sighting to end a good day of underwater spots.
We went back to Aurora to get cleaned up for dinner and found the most gorgeous kitty on our deck. I mean, is this not the cutest cat? I wanted it so badly! The fact that I am allergic to cats is irrelevant here. Cat. Want.
cat by liamsaunt, on FlickrCat dreams thwarted, we headed in to town for dinner at La Tapa, always one of our favorites
la tapa oil by liamsaunt, on Flickrla tapa mahi by liamsaunt, on Flickrla tapa tun by liamsaunt, on FlickrAnd then back to the house to watch the cruise ships float out to sea.
