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STJ Trip Report days 3 and 4
STJ Trip Report days 3 and 4
Day 3 - Friday 3/21
We're in our usual spot - having coffee on the balcony, staring out across Pillsbury Sound, and trying to make a plan for the day. They have erected water barriers (two rows of them) on Cruz Bay Beach. There is still a lot of wave action in the harbor, though the tide has receded. We don't have a car, so we can't just cruise the Northsore beaches and stop when we find a semi calm (or open!) one. I've been told that Caneel is not letting non-guests onto the property, so Caneel Beach is out. I call Maho Bay Campground to ask about the beach conditions. They tell me that there is some beach there, but no real snorkeling.
We pack lunches and call the taxi stand, and a taxi arrives within minutes. He's with Mr Frett's Taxi service, the one that regularly services Maho Bay Camps. It's only $7 PP / each way, to taxi to Maho. There are 5 of us so at $70 plus tip, it's not necessarily less money than renting a Jeep, but for me it's still better than driving those switchbacks between Trunk and Cinnamon, where dump truck drivers of the rich and famous depart Peter Bay and crash into blondes with kids in Kia's - but that's another story. It's around 10 am and the driver agrees to pick us up at 3:30
Maho has more beach than we saw the previous day and soon the kids are happily playing in the sand and the waves. My feet are in the sand and the sun is on my face; it's blissful! There's an undertow here, not like the one's we can have in Rhode Island, but unusual nonetheless. The remora and I try snorkeling, but there's really nothing to see. You can't see the bottom from the beach - that's how churned up things are. We do, however, spot a turtle from the beach, and hope that we will see one while snorkeling later in the week.
After a full day of sun and relaxation, Frett's is there at 3:25 and we pile into the taxi for the ride back to town.
Back at LH to move out of 9E (sob!) and get ready for dinner. A makes a phone call and is fortunate to secure a dinner reservation at La Tapa - in about 10 minutes. We leave right away and walk into town. This was easily the best meal of the trip. I was initially concerned that our waitress was not at all kid friendly (and our kids are really well behaved and polite) but she warmed up soon after we ordered (or was that the Everything is Beautiful effect that a cold glass of Pinot Grigio has on me)? The kids have pasta with shrimp, and devour the breads and dips. M has a very fresh piece of Tuna and A and I each have a pasta dish with scallops and bacon. It's yummy!
Back to the condo for more of the same - laughing, talking and listening to the waves.
Day 4 - Saturday 3/22
It's my SIL's 40th birthday today, and she's spending it at Jumby Bay, in Antigua. I call her to wish her a happy b-day and she tells me that they've closed the main beach there, too. She tells me that the surf is so rough, huge Conch shells are being tossed onto the beach.
We say a sad goodbye to our friend M, who is returning home today. We've tried to convince her that her kids don't really need to see her for Easter, and we've contemplated friendnapping, but she declines our invitations/ignores our threats, and heads home to the frozen tundra.
A and I have a feeling that the kids are over done from surf and sun and after some shrewd negotiations, it's decided that we'll spend the day by the pool with Gameboy's that will require surgical removal (or at least maternal intervention) by the end of the day.
We swim, read and soak up the sun (covered in SPF 825 ) and have lunch by the pool, I run into town to see if the Easter Bunny might have some goodies available. After stops at St John kids (really cute store) St John Spice (fabulous place - but Ruth wasn't there - coincidence on the day before Easter? I think not)
I head to Starfish Market, which is a surprisingly easy walk. Chelsea drugstore is sold out of pretty much everything, so I have to make due with a shovel and pail, stuffed with a nerf type football and a lone sheep shaped Easter Egg. I make a quick stop at Starfish Market for some basics and then at Starfish Gourmet for some wine and cheese. I decide to take a taxi back to LH. If I drop the wine, I will not be a happy camper.
A went out later and procured some "Gekko Poop" and a t-shirt from Every Ting. That little store, at Gallows, is Fabuloso! (Thanks ccasebolt . My mon found that stuff at Sam's club and uses it for almost everything-it's our family's word too!) I want to own that little shop - so what if I spent $4 for Dijon mustard? It is so darn CUTE in there. I would visit almost every day for a gallon of water, eggs, cheese, crackers, and yes, Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
Dinner tonight is at the Banana Deck. The food is good and we are fortunate to get there early (6 ish) because those without reservations are turned away or told there is a 45 minute wait. One family walks right in and seats themselves and they are politely told that the table is reserved, and they will have to wait.
Back to the condo for, you guessed it, more of the same. To morrow we vow we're getting to a beach and staying there all day. I am of the belief that missing a day at the beach on St. John is close to a Cardinal sin, and those should be avoided, if possible, as least during the daytime hours on Easter Sunday. After dark it is a different story - it's the last day of the Blues Festival afterall......
We're in our usual spot - having coffee on the balcony, staring out across Pillsbury Sound, and trying to make a plan for the day. They have erected water barriers (two rows of them) on Cruz Bay Beach. There is still a lot of wave action in the harbor, though the tide has receded. We don't have a car, so we can't just cruise the Northsore beaches and stop when we find a semi calm (or open!) one. I've been told that Caneel is not letting non-guests onto the property, so Caneel Beach is out. I call Maho Bay Campground to ask about the beach conditions. They tell me that there is some beach there, but no real snorkeling.
We pack lunches and call the taxi stand, and a taxi arrives within minutes. He's with Mr Frett's Taxi service, the one that regularly services Maho Bay Camps. It's only $7 PP / each way, to taxi to Maho. There are 5 of us so at $70 plus tip, it's not necessarily less money than renting a Jeep, but for me it's still better than driving those switchbacks between Trunk and Cinnamon, where dump truck drivers of the rich and famous depart Peter Bay and crash into blondes with kids in Kia's - but that's another story. It's around 10 am and the driver agrees to pick us up at 3:30
Maho has more beach than we saw the previous day and soon the kids are happily playing in the sand and the waves. My feet are in the sand and the sun is on my face; it's blissful! There's an undertow here, not like the one's we can have in Rhode Island, but unusual nonetheless. The remora and I try snorkeling, but there's really nothing to see. You can't see the bottom from the beach - that's how churned up things are. We do, however, spot a turtle from the beach, and hope that we will see one while snorkeling later in the week.
After a full day of sun and relaxation, Frett's is there at 3:25 and we pile into the taxi for the ride back to town.
Back at LH to move out of 9E (sob!) and get ready for dinner. A makes a phone call and is fortunate to secure a dinner reservation at La Tapa - in about 10 minutes. We leave right away and walk into town. This was easily the best meal of the trip. I was initially concerned that our waitress was not at all kid friendly (and our kids are really well behaved and polite) but she warmed up soon after we ordered (or was that the Everything is Beautiful effect that a cold glass of Pinot Grigio has on me)? The kids have pasta with shrimp, and devour the breads and dips. M has a very fresh piece of Tuna and A and I each have a pasta dish with scallops and bacon. It's yummy!
Back to the condo for more of the same - laughing, talking and listening to the waves.
Day 4 - Saturday 3/22
It's my SIL's 40th birthday today, and she's spending it at Jumby Bay, in Antigua. I call her to wish her a happy b-day and she tells me that they've closed the main beach there, too. She tells me that the surf is so rough, huge Conch shells are being tossed onto the beach.
We say a sad goodbye to our friend M, who is returning home today. We've tried to convince her that her kids don't really need to see her for Easter, and we've contemplated friendnapping, but she declines our invitations/ignores our threats, and heads home to the frozen tundra.
A and I have a feeling that the kids are over done from surf and sun and after some shrewd negotiations, it's decided that we'll spend the day by the pool with Gameboy's that will require surgical removal (or at least maternal intervention) by the end of the day.
We swim, read and soak up the sun (covered in SPF 825 ) and have lunch by the pool, I run into town to see if the Easter Bunny might have some goodies available. After stops at St John kids (really cute store) St John Spice (fabulous place - but Ruth wasn't there - coincidence on the day before Easter? I think not)
I head to Starfish Market, which is a surprisingly easy walk. Chelsea drugstore is sold out of pretty much everything, so I have to make due with a shovel and pail, stuffed with a nerf type football and a lone sheep shaped Easter Egg. I make a quick stop at Starfish Market for some basics and then at Starfish Gourmet for some wine and cheese. I decide to take a taxi back to LH. If I drop the wine, I will not be a happy camper. A went out later and procured some "Gekko Poop" and a t-shirt from Every Ting. That little store, at Gallows, is Fabuloso! (Thanks ccasebolt . My mon found that stuff at Sam's club and uses it for almost everything-it's our family's word too!) I want to own that little shop - so what if I spent $4 for Dijon mustard? It is so darn CUTE in there. I would visit almost every day for a gallon of water, eggs, cheese, crackers, and yes, Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
Dinner tonight is at the Banana Deck. The food is good and we are fortunate to get there early (6 ish) because those without reservations are turned away or told there is a 45 minute wait. One family walks right in and seats themselves and they are politely told that the table is reserved, and they will have to wait.
Back to the condo for, you guessed it, more of the same. To morrow we vow we're getting to a beach and staying there all day. I am of the belief that missing a day at the beach on St. John is close to a Cardinal sin, and those should be avoided, if possible, as least during the daytime hours on Easter Sunday. After dark it is a different story - it's the last day of the Blues Festival afterall......
