Newbie report--Days 6 and 7
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:52 am
Day Six was Sunday. We're typically in church on Sunday morning, but this morning we worshipped the glory of God's creation at Francis! We camped out on the far left side and each of us pulled out a book. The Literacy Council should do a study of the correlation between increased reading rates and beautiful beaches. All three of us read voraciously while St John.
Greg and I snorkeled around the small reef to what I think was Little Maho and back. The water was a little murky in spots.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989379@N07/2658930165/" title="P7060225 by sharikellyburrows, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/265 ... 54f6fb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P7060225"></a>
Then it got even murkier when it started pouring. It's odd snorkeling when it's raining. As we made our way back to Francis, I looked up on the beach for Layne who was long gone. She had made a run for the car. It rained hard for about 15 minutes, so Greg and I headed in to pack it up.
We headed back into town, stopped at Deli Grotto for my second Pink Cadillac of the week and headed back to the villa for lunch. Another afternoon hanging at Miles Away before we went ino town for dinner at Cafe Roma. We each ordered an entree--BIG mistake. We could have shared one! Venetian scallops and shrimp for me, fettucine for Layne and baked penne for Greg. We all took home a huge portion. My favorite item at Cafe Roma, however, was the bread--thick, dense slices of bread. Delicious!
We went back to the villa, played cards, watched a movie. . .the daily pattern.
Day 7 was our last full day, so today we chose Cinnamon. We got there early, found a great spot with some shade and did some snorkeling. Greg and I cannot seem to stay together when we snorkel. We always swim out together and then he starts drifting off one direction and I find myself constantly looking to see where he is. Eventually, we give up and do our own thing.
I was almost around the back side of the island in deeper water when I saw a huge fish. No, I didn't get a photo, but I'm not exaggerating to say that it was a good 3 foot long. I swam over it and it startled me, and I startled it, so I have no idea what kind of fish it was since it swam away quickly. I also came across two slender, needlenosed fish that I think were houndfish. I chased them with my camera but didn't get close enough to get a good shot.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989379@N07/2658951031/" title="P7070252 by sharikellyburrows, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/265 ... eaf7ce.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P7070252"></a>
Greg was on the other side of the island and saw two turtles swimming together. Of course, he didn't have the camera with him. One of our more exciting snorkels.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989379@N07/2659774556/" title="P7070249 by sharikellyburrows, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/265 ... a3fc1d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P7070249"></a>
Back up on land, the teen princess was not having a good time. She had rearranged "camp" twice and resorted to using the Neat Sheet as a tarp to keep the sand off of everything. The wind was really strong and the sand was painful at times. We waited for Greg to come in and gave up--we were there 3 hours, but too much sand blowing for us to relax.
Once again we played at the villa, at our Cafe Roma leftovers, and contemplated how we could justify staying longer.
Dinner tonight--indecision. Thought about the Balcony, thought about Waterfront Bistro, thought about the Beach Bar. . .ended up back at Banana Deck where we started our week.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989379@N07/2659784466/" title="Last night in by sharikellyburrows, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/265 ... 2c5df0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Last night in "></a>
Bought some ice cream at I Scream and some jewelry at Into the Blue. Bought the obligatory Cruzan Bay Grill Rub at St John Spice, some Blind Betty's and a few other items.
Spent a little time just wandering around town on our last evening.
Greg and I snorkeled around the small reef to what I think was Little Maho and back. The water was a little murky in spots.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989379@N07/2658930165/" title="P7060225 by sharikellyburrows, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/265 ... 54f6fb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P7060225"></a>
Then it got even murkier when it started pouring. It's odd snorkeling when it's raining. As we made our way back to Francis, I looked up on the beach for Layne who was long gone. She had made a run for the car. It rained hard for about 15 minutes, so Greg and I headed in to pack it up.
We headed back into town, stopped at Deli Grotto for my second Pink Cadillac of the week and headed back to the villa for lunch. Another afternoon hanging at Miles Away before we went ino town for dinner at Cafe Roma. We each ordered an entree--BIG mistake. We could have shared one! Venetian scallops and shrimp for me, fettucine for Layne and baked penne for Greg. We all took home a huge portion. My favorite item at Cafe Roma, however, was the bread--thick, dense slices of bread. Delicious!
We went back to the villa, played cards, watched a movie. . .the daily pattern.
Day 7 was our last full day, so today we chose Cinnamon. We got there early, found a great spot with some shade and did some snorkeling. Greg and I cannot seem to stay together when we snorkel. We always swim out together and then he starts drifting off one direction and I find myself constantly looking to see where he is. Eventually, we give up and do our own thing.
I was almost around the back side of the island in deeper water when I saw a huge fish. No, I didn't get a photo, but I'm not exaggerating to say that it was a good 3 foot long. I swam over it and it startled me, and I startled it, so I have no idea what kind of fish it was since it swam away quickly. I also came across two slender, needlenosed fish that I think were houndfish. I chased them with my camera but didn't get close enough to get a good shot.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989379@N07/2658951031/" title="P7070252 by sharikellyburrows, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/265 ... eaf7ce.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P7070252"></a>
Greg was on the other side of the island and saw two turtles swimming together. Of course, he didn't have the camera with him. One of our more exciting snorkels.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989379@N07/2659774556/" title="P7070249 by sharikellyburrows, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/265 ... a3fc1d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P7070249"></a>
Back up on land, the teen princess was not having a good time. She had rearranged "camp" twice and resorted to using the Neat Sheet as a tarp to keep the sand off of everything. The wind was really strong and the sand was painful at times. We waited for Greg to come in and gave up--we were there 3 hours, but too much sand blowing for us to relax.
Once again we played at the villa, at our Cafe Roma leftovers, and contemplated how we could justify staying longer.
Dinner tonight--indecision. Thought about the Balcony, thought about Waterfront Bistro, thought about the Beach Bar. . .ended up back at Banana Deck where we started our week.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989379@N07/2659784466/" title="Last night in by sharikellyburrows, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/265 ... 2c5df0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Last night in "></a>
Bought some ice cream at I Scream and some jewelry at Into the Blue. Bought the obligatory Cruzan Bay Grill Rub at St John Spice, some Blind Betty's and a few other items.
Spent a little time just wandering around town on our last evening.