USVI-On-Line

April 18th was date of departure. Had planned for almost a year to stay on site on Stt at Secret Harbor as we'd done a villa on STJ last year with my brother and his family (and they bagged out on us this year as they have split up for now) and we cannot carry the cost of a villa on our own. I am honest to a fault, I've been told...We're middle class, however live in New England and have heavy oil bills monthly and well, you catch my drift. we were lucky to go on vaca this year... We needed to cut costs. At the last minute I found a studio at the Westin on STJ for almost a giveaway cost. I went with it and I'm glad we did. We had cancellation penaltys on Stt so we ended up staying there a couple of nights to eat them up and the rest of the time on STJ.

Started the trip out as the usual way. Exhausted. No sleep the night of April17th. Packed for the family. Left for the airport late for a 650a flight. Stayed up all night...passed 0ut at 2p and finally hit the car with the rest of the family at 3;30a...oh God, we're late already. We really meant to leave at 2. It was my fault...work and packing made me crazy tired. Made it to the airport at 550A. Contintental said we made the flight but were not getting on due to 3 hour security lines in Portland Maine. I thought they were jamming me, so I send DH and DD upstairs and said I'd set the luggage though security and that I did. thought they'd get a head start. I headed up the stairs to find DH and DS behind approx 3k people. No lie, lines were that long. Wrapped around the airport. I thought I was going to be sick. DH said...guess we'll not make this flight...being in travel I knew there wasn't a seat to had heading to STT until 4 or 5 days later...not an option to not make the flight. I asked him to please ask the TSA if we could perhaps get in line due to our flight leaving in an hour... yeah right, he looked at me and said no. You want to ask, you go ahead. I decided, it was now or never, took our passports...went up to TSA and proceeded to plead our case...yeah right they said, we have no authority to allow you to cut the line, however if you can possibly find somebody to let you in then you can if they allow you. Then he said...but that WON"T happen!Then he laughed...Oh please, no he didn't just laught at me...oh no, that was a very bad thing to laugh at me. I immediately looked to the line... people started to divert their eyes. They didn't want to acknowledge I was breathing the same air, much less must be on the same flight perhaps though unlike them I hadn't been waiting in line since the airprt opened. I asked the first family, they said NO can't cut. Looked at me as if they'd cut me to a million pieces if I crossed them. The guy beind them wouldn't look at me, ignored me. Family behind them, said sure...go for it, we're on the same flight...I thought I was hearing things... come on in...I called DH and DD who were ignoring me, or trying to also as they were that I would even dare ask to be given a favor. Believe it or not, the rest of the 3k people didn't have access to the conversation I had with TSA so I'm thinking they believe TSA said for me to go ahead and go...otherwise it would've been a helluva a nasty riot. Talk about luck. We were meant to go on that trip. DH didn't talk until we were on the flight and then he said...I just can't believe you. Plus we watched our luggage being loaded on. Flights on time all the way though to STT. We land...and NO RUM PUNCH>>>what's the story there. I was holding the $1 bills for the last two hours before we landed. Meant I had to head to the bar for two Caribs and soda for DD. DH got our luggage, we called thrifty for our compact, they came and picked us up and took us to our Toyota Corolla with only 1k miles on it. Sweet island ride. Headed to Secret Harbor...checked into our unit, it's nice to the see the same gang everyyear,but what's up no ac. in our oceanfront 1bedroom. It didn't work. oh well, I thought they'd fix it. (well...keep thinking...) headed for the beach...DD has grown up here and at the Westin on STJ so she was excited to hit the water and we decided to snorkel. It was wonderful as always. Hit the water around 330P. Saw lots of blue tang...coral reef looked better than last year. Snorkeling at Secret Harbor is just wonderful. Then on the Blue Moon for Painkillers and appetiizes...Tuna tartar, Coconut Shrimp and fries for the girl(little one loves fries anywhere). I think we are in heaven...I order another painkiller as we shared the first one so must share another, I confirm, we are in heaven. signing off now...so I can figure out how to add pictures...I apologize n advance...I am not computer savy...I am sorry...they are not loading...so I'll try for a while...it's only day one...[/quote]

Berlingirl- Thanks for posting...I see you are getting the photos to work...the forum should really have some instructions posted to help people with this...

I remember the oil trucks from when I lived in Massachusettes..I lived in a house built in 1756.in Gloucester.

Keep the reports coming...Thanks!

OOOOOOOHHHHHHH you got so lucky the travel Gods were looking over ya Great start

Why do you think the airport was so crowded? I am glad you got on your flight.

Your husband seemed embarrassed by your efforts at the airport, when he should have bought you jewels! Glad you made it on time, and we're looking forward to reading more...

Robin

Some body was looking over you most days you would of been tared and feathered.

Great start! The airport is one of the bigger perks of living in KC. We started our trip off with a few days at Secret Harbour too and you are right, the snorkeling is great!! Can't wait to read more!

Sherban...home heating oil here is now at $4.36 per gallon with 100 being the minimum delivery now. Your location down in SE USA sounds good to me...

Liamsaunt...we went at the beginning of April school vacation for New England and the airport in Portland Maine has only two screening stations...it's unbelieveably busy since they added on Jet Blue and other carriers are flying at capacity...long 3 hour secruity lines are typical in the early morning hours...it's crazy,

Ca Girl..Nic in KC, we love STT also and alternate to save $! Yes, Cpt Kirk, Robin in NC, Waterguy...it was I felt my fault we were so late...although even if we'd been an hour earlier we would've missed the flight as we would've been 1000 people away from making it and I wouldn't have had an opportunity to talk to TSA like I did.
...we were totally unprepared for the long delays in security. As were many others, however I knew that we would either go on the trip or not go on the trip dependent upon my actions within the few minutes of time I had to make it a reality. DH and DD could do no more than just stare aghast at the time. It was do or die and as your all on this forum...so you know that it gets into your system that your going to the usvi and nothing can stop that from happening. It was a desperate decision at a desperate time. Normally I shrink at speaking in public, much less in front of a few thousand people trying to hear my every word

So glad you made your plane. I would have done the same thing, all the while my peeps would have pretended that they did not know me! I probably would have offered cash and booze as an incentive! I need my vacation BADLY! Can't wait to hear more!

great start and great picture!

Hi Berlingirl,

Soooo glad that you all made that flight!! Boy do I dislike inconsiderate people. If I was at the front of the line I would've gladly let ya's in

Looking forward to day 2...

Kathy

People being considerate in an airport? What in the world? Glad you made it.