USVI-On-Line

We're looking for a place in Upper Carolina, since it has really nice views and there is no construction going on so we won't get bothered. I found Villa Callaloo and Skyridge, which look good. And Blue Palm Villa, but it's always full. Where can I get a list of all villas on Upper Carolina?

Vivacations lists by area. Here's their site:
http://www.vivacations.com/default.aspx

Windspree.com rents several Upper Carolina villas.

Here is a link to a map where sherban labeled some villas. They may be considered more in the "Ajax Peak" area instead of Upper Carolina though. Some of them do have great views.
http://maps.google.com/maps/mm?hl=en&ie ... 97675&z=13

I am staying at Villa Carolina...it is spectacular. The views are absolutely amazing...and the villa itself is beautifully appointed. Put this one on your short list! Good luck. I had so much fun looking for a villa!!!!!

I am staying at Villa Carolina...it is spectacular. The views are absolutely amazing...and the villa itself is beautifully appointed. Put this one on your short list! Good luck. I had so much fun looking for a villa!!!!!

Thanks for the help. I also did a few searches and found a big list. www.stjohnvillarental.com.

Does anyone know about Papaya Moon, which is in Upper Carolina? Small, but I think the views look like they are extremely good.

We'll decide soon. Always fun to think about the trip.

tombradybetsy wrote:Thanks for the help. I also did a few searches and found a big list. www.stjohnvillarental.com.

Wow, that site was a flashback: Comfee's, Pepe's, Duffy's.

I want to eat at Pepe's! Drinks at Grumpy's afterwards?

Cheers, RickG

I remember the night Grumpy's gas tanks lit up the night.

I was working at Roma at the time and heard it from the inside.

Try this website for villa searches, too:

www.villafish.com

relatively new.

mathayom,

I just noticed your ticker says ". . . til off the rock" - then I noticed you're from St John.

So, where do you go for vacation, since you're already in paradise?

Would love to hear your story, if you're so inclined to share. You know how you got there, how long, from where, etc.

patr:

Well, its just like any other story, I guess...

I moved here from Philly with my (then girlfriend) wife on September 14th, 1995, one day before Hurricane Marilyn stomped through the Virgin Islands. I think we were actually the last plane to land in STT before they shut things down. Anyway, we had come down in the spring that year and stayed at Cinnamon campgrounds. She convinced me that it would be a good idea to 'take a break' after college graduation (Drexel U) and just clear our heads before looking for "real" jobs in our fields - me finance and she marketing. So we planned. I had a job lined up with Cafe Roma to sling pizzas and she was going to look for a dive job.

When we got to STJ, the streets were hectic with people getting ready for the coming storm. Not really knowing much about this, I went to confirm my job at Roma and was promptly laughed at. We came down with $800 between us and were scheduled to stay at the Tamarind Inn for three nights. We checked in and were shown our room. We ate some of Ms. Etta's crunchy grouper (no frog, Rick) and went to bed.

The next day, no one was really taking this storm too seriously, as the forecasts predicted it to pass through quickly and with relatively minimal damage. It seemed like people were done with their preps by 5:00, so we joined the party and started drinking rum. Around seven, our hosts cooked dinner on a portable gas stove and we continued to party, play music, and tell stories by candle light until around midnight. I finally passed out and awoke to my wife screaming that our room was flooding and we had to move our stuff (lost almost all our stuff except clothes to water damage). Still, no big deal, right? It was just stuff. We went out to watch the storm like a couple of kids on a snow day. From the safety of the covered deck, I saw trees bent to the ground. As we were doing so, I heard the roof of the church across the street get ripped off. Groaning metal is a very distinct sound and even as I write this, I can hear it. We quickly got over our naivety and ran back inside, thinking "what have we gotten ourselves INTO?!" We slept in turns the rest of the night.

The next day we awoke to spec the damage. So much worse than I had imagined! Every tree and bush was stripped bare, uprooted, or simply gone from where it had stood the day before. I remember a classic pic in the paper of one car on top of another, upside down, roof to roof. Feds came in to prevent (more) looting, curfews in effect at 8 PM for months, no power or hot showers for three and a half weeks (we were lucky that we lived in town), MRE's from the Red Cross, and hard times all around. I think what made us stick around was the fact that people came together like we had never seen before, and we liked being a part of it.

After that, I got a job at the defunct Purple Door, where La Tapa is now, then moved to Cafe Roma for a couple of years before moving on to Asolare, Chateau Bordeaux, Paradiso, and Chloe & Bernard's. I stayed with that group for eight years honing my skills and doing some In-House Chef work part-time. After our son was born, I finally broke out on my own full-time three years ago this May 18th and have been doing it ever since. We are a young company, but I like to think we have a solid reputation. Our custom menus cater mostly to small, fine dining-type dinner parties (2-16 people) but also pick up weddings in the spring/summer months, and have recently added more services. I have a professional kitchen here at our house between Serendip and the vomit on the hill Sirenusa. We have great sunset views every day of the year as it drops behind STT.

I am still with my college sweetie Andi, and we have a four year old son named Lyric who is more well known than either of us (Hey, Lyric's dad!).

I am so thankful that my wife 'dragged' me down here. I never would have been adventurous enough to do it on my own. As a result, our daily quality of life is pretty good. No place is perfect, and we do miss certain things about America (concerts, theater, museums, convenience, etc.) but we figure the trade-offs are still way in the plus column (beaches, views, clean air. I hope with the economy the way it is, it can stay that way.

We visit home about once a year, but don't consider that a vacation. For that, we try to go somewhere we've never been about once every two years, depending on $$ and time.

I tried to keep this short, so sorry if I ramble. If you ever have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them if I can. I am relatively new to the forum, but I am finding myself spending WAY TOO MUCH time here already...somebody gimme my daily dose!

So enough about me...why are all of you still living in Babylon? You are obviously in love with the island, so why not just uproot and make the move?

That's a great story Matt, thanks for sharing! You two are very brave to say the least. It's wonderful that your reward is living in Paradise. And Lyric, what a lucky guy too!

mathayom wrote:I remember the night Grumpy's gas tanks lit up the night.

I was working at Roma at the time and heard it from the inside.

Me too Mat! I was working with you that night!

That's right, I forgot!

Hey Matt..I wonder every year why I don't head south as it's my favorite place on earth (the Caribbean that is). I too, am a caterer, self employed, going into my 15th year of business. I do love it (you have to or it would never work), but I often think why am I where I am?

My husband and I were married on Grenada two years ago and visited St John for the 1st time this Feb.....we loved it (how could you not?) I fantasize about what I could be down there..a villa rental person, a caterer, a dinghy rental person! I found myself saying daily "I could do that job!".

Anyway, thanks for your story..it's inspiring and thought provoking....who knows what the future holds?

Happy Trails.......Lisa