USVI-On-Line

This trip to St John was our 4th and we had absolutely no plans w/ the exception that I wanted to make it to the Beach Bar to meet new islanders Jay and Deb, for their first Sunday there. We didn't make it! BUT we had a fantastic visit, perhaps our best!

A little background...

I had breast cancer this past year and something like that put a new perspective on just about every aspect of our lives. We are a married couple ( 30 years in Dec) in our mid 50's who enjoy traveling alone. We are close to being empty nesters w/ 2nd son close to college undergrad completion.I kept no running tab on when we went where or what we ate where or that info. We completely GET st John and wish we had discovered it so many years earlier, but it didn't happen that way. My husband and I left from the Atlantic City airport, flying Spirit to Ft Lauderdale, onto St Thomas. Flights down and back were uneventful.We have flown Spirit for many years and have had really good luck with them. We took Caneel's ferry over to STJ, only 6 passengers on board.

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/sunset.jpg">

Our first 3 nights were at Caneel. Our room was in a beautiful garden view block of rooms above the pool . We liked the privacy and location, just a short walk up the hill from the Equator and central public area of the resort. Our room was probably newly renovated w/ new bedding and curtains etc....nice. We had a gorgeous stone, brick, coral enhanced shower....fresh air came into the bath room from high windows across the room. The room itself had wood bar area and shelves, wood ceiling in bedroom w/ a nice comfy king size bed and large arched wood door onto a private stone terrace. We had 2 chairs, w/ table as well as 2 lounge chairs and a view down toward the pool. I found the room to be quite comfortable and the shower our special treat!

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/caneel2.jpg">

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/caneel1.jpg">

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/caneel3.jpg">

I wish this were a better photo of the shower but it is the best I have....shower head to the left and the shower space was a perfect circular area...open, airy...PERFECT!

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/shower.jpg">

we spent our time at Caneel visiting all of the beaches and walking the trails. One day it rained off and on all day but we visited beaches and trails anyway. I liked Mary's trail (Laurance's wife), and especially the bench placed in her honor w/ a fantastic view overlooking high above Hawksnest and the channel toward Tortola. We snorkeled Hawksnest, Turtle Bay , Scott, Paradise and found the absolute best sea life at Caneel around Cottage Point. Tons of fish and the rocks have good coral. I saw the largest elkhorn coral at the point, very cool.

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/hawksnest.jpg">

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/deer.jpg">

We ate at Equator the first night , we were tired from our travel day, and just wanted something small so we ordered a few appetizers...OK, not great. We went to the Monday seafood Buffet and enjoyed that much more...very nice and we enjoyed the company of another couple which added to the night.

I have to say the Caneel property is lovely. The staff is very friendly and courteous...delightful to deal with. We were so pleased with the friendly staff. Everyone spoke to us and made us feel so very welcome and appreciated. The grounds are lovingly cared for and I enjoyed some of the photo ops:

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/donkeys.jpg">

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/caneel4.jpg">

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/macro2.jpg">

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/macro1.jpg">

We rented a Jeep for our transportation from Paris @ CAneel and it was less than a year old w/ very low mileage.

The Jeep was good, and the personnel once again friendly and personable. My driver:

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~carlycof/jeep.jpg">

I think I will break this into parts and go ahead and post this...more to come

Cute driver

Thanks for taking the time to do the report. As a fan of Caneel I enjoy seeing the photos.

I can't see your photos.

I'll try again when I get home. I've wondered what the garden rooms at Caneel are like!

Nice report. Great pictures!
I agree with MB, cute driver.

I wasn't able to see them at first either. I just got the red X. If you right click on the X and do "show photo" or something like that, you should be able to see them.

I couldn't see the pics either; I even right-clicked on the X & clicked "show pictures" - still nothing.
I'll try again later...hope it works then.

Thanks MB, and sea-nile..I've always thot he was kinda cute...he's a definite keeper, thats for sure!

Hope the pix problem is not for everyone...I can see them fine when I reload pages...hmmm...do I need to get my tech guy (aka cute driver) on this?

Just red x's for me too. I'll try later on another computer.

Great start - I like Caneel also- the garden rooms look great.

I agree - cute driver!

I had trouble with the pics for this installment only; opened by right clicking on the 'X'. Now they load fine.

Part 2 loaded fine. Sounds like a great trip. Asolare gets mixed reviews - glad you liked it. We always have our "last supper" there.

Great pictures!

Thanks Janet...my husband opened the photos on different computers at work and was fine except w/ Explorer when he got the red X's....a right click opened them for him tho. Hope its not a huge problem for people!

We had a fantastic time...hmmmm. Still carrying the island glow! We had a MD appointment yesterday and were asked where we had been as we looked like we had a tan...yah! we had been home a week already!

I got red x's then refreshed my screen and got pics.
Caneel is a beautiful property. I think the staff is really friendly. Granted I have not been there since 2005 but.........thanks for the TR..........

I don't usually write much here, mostly lurk, but had to relate to your report. I too have just finished up with 2 years of breast cancer. Hubby and I have been married 30 years in May. Both kids are out of college, married, and gainfully employed. Took our first trip to st john last may. Going on our second trip to St John this May. The cancer deal really does change your whole life perspective. Every day is a good day. St John is the perfect place to affirm that. Enjoyed you trip reports. Live, laugh, Love.

I too had problems seeing the image in IE7, My idea didn't work, I had cause and effect wrong....

Dave's idea below worked well:


I'm not so sure it's a browser config problem...more likely firewall. Here's a work-around that did the trick for me...hope it works for all...

Right-click one (any) of the red "X"s and select "Properties". In the new dialogue box, highlight the address (URL) of the pic, then copy and paste it into the address bar of your browser, and hit "Enter". You'll be taken to a page that shows that particular photo. Now...hit the "Back" button, and when you get back to the forum...ALL of Carolyn's pics should show up fine - inline - including the pics in the first couple of installments.

If it doesn't work, lemme know!

Dave.

Great report thanks It was my wife favorite place to while see was going through treatments to now her ashes are at hawksnest