A few photos while waiting at the airport

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toni
Posts: 1064
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:05 pm
Location: ny state of mind

A few photos while waiting at the airport

Post by toni »

Might as well be productive! It was a beautiful week with friends at Alice By The Sea over near Miss Lucy's. We listed to the Sunday jazz while sitting by the pool. :D
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Looked like snow at the Salt Pond.
Looked like snow at the Salt Pond.
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Salt Pond Beach
Salt Pond Beach
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Lameshur
Lameshur
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Lameshur ruins
Lameshur ruins
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Color enhanced view down the Alice driveway, a beautiful home!
Color enhanced view down the Alice driveway, a beautiful home!
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mindehankins
Posts: 3014
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
Location: Western NY State

Re: A few photos while waiting at the airport

Post by mindehankins »

Beautiful shots, Toni! Every one of them!
What a wonderful trip, with friends made right here on this forum! Thank you, Anthony - your forum has enriched so many of our lives <3
northerngal
Posts: 420
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:32 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: A few photos while waiting at the airport

Post by northerngal »

I wish there was a like button. These are awesome! Thanks for sharing!
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shoemak38
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Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:55 pm
Location: Southern New Hamphire

Re: A few photos while waiting at the airport

Post by shoemak38 »

:D :D :D :D
mindehankins
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Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
Location: Western NY State

Re: A few photos while waiting at the airport

Post by mindehankins »

Thought Toni's photos post would be a good place to put this! Toni and her hubby, Blaine and I, and my good friend/part time roommate were all on this great trip:
Apparently, I still haven't learned to write a short trip report! We had
several terrific STJ "firsts," on our recent trip, so I thought I'd take
the time to share! We were a group for the first time - my husband and I,
and two of my dearest friends - one with her husband. Solo friend had
never been to STJ, while couple friends were going to STJ long before hubby
and I, and mostly travel to BVIs now. We stayed at Alice by the Sea, which
I can't recommend highly enough, and will write a review for, separately.
Hubby and I and my friend traveled on Saturday from Cleveland to Atlanta
and then STT. We were sailing through with TSA pre-check, but then my
cooler caused an alarm. It was being casually inspected and swabbed, and
next thing I knew, a supervisor was standing beside me saying "That bell
you just heard? That was an alarm. We are going to have to inspect your
cooler more thoroughly, and do a pat down body search." They offered me
privacy, but I declined. I will say that the pat down was thorough. They
took everything out of my cooler, and swabbed everything. They may have
swabbed twice on an item or two. They did repack the cooler carefully and
thoughtfully, afterward. I was bringing an already prepared spicy chicken
dish (frozen), and think that the combination of spices may have triggered
the alarm. In any case, it didn't take long, and the TSA folks were very
thorough and professional, but also courteous throughout.
We rented our vehicle on STT through Amalie, and as always, everything went
so quickly. We were on our way in no time. This was the first time that
we'd taken the car barge in the dark, and I got a little motion sickness.
I was cured when we arrived at Candi's, though...smelling that most
delicious aroma! Coming back to the car with our big bag of takeout, I
found the biggest smile on my hubby's face! It was precious - watching him
start to unwind! Gwen from Alice by the Sea stayed in contact with us
throughout our journey and lead us to Alice to get settled. We devoured
our Candi's ribs, cole slaw and plantains, then hubby headed off to Cruz
Bay to pick up our friends who arrived a little later.
Sunday morning, we drove our friends into town to pick up their jeep, and I
met a sweet lady from whom I'd ordered some homemade seagrape jelly. This
was a surprise treat for our friends who farm grapes. Thanks to
"Snorkeler" for the information - it is delicious stuff! We spent the day
at Francis and went out as a group to Shipwreck, for dinner. The veranda
at Alice was getting such beautiful cool breezes, that we sat out for a
long time after dinner, watching the supermoon over Coral Bay, and just
melting with peace...
On Monday, we enjoyed a bag FULL of coconut crack bars and oatmeal bars,
that our friend had bought at North Shore Deli, then we all went down to
Salt Pond. It was intermittently pretty buggy there, but we had a nice
day. Our friends hiked over to Blue Cobblestone, and my single friend and
I snorkeled. My hubby highly approved of the swim buoy that I'd bought on
recommendation of a forum member:
https://www.amazon.com/New-Wave-Swim-Bu ... =swim+buoy.
He liked being able to spot me easily, from shore. GREAT
purchase. Later, my hubby snorkeled out with me to the rocks in the
middle. Another long lovely day, with dinner at Indigo Grill - I do love
those tater tots!
We'd made reservations for 50% off the all day Honeymoon Beach package, and
arrived early. The admissions validated our parking at Caneel. We
reserved on two different occasions, so we both of our vehicles' parking was
validated. We had intermittent sprinkles, but sure enjoyed lying on those
chaise lounges and reading! I snorkeled the point between Solomon and
Honeymoon with my friend - it remains the most disappointing snorkel on
STJ, in my opinion. I snorkeled a couple of times, back and forth to
Caneel on the East. Not a fabulous snorkel, but enjoyable! There were a
bunch of dark male sergeant majors guarding their eggs. At one point, a large group of other sergeant majors attacked one guy's eggs in a feeding
frenzy, and he was frantically trying to fend off 20 fish. It was sad. I
was tempted to intervene, but of course I didn't. Enroute to Honeymoon,
we'd been offered a ride on a golf cart taxi, and I'd remarked what a
terrific service this was, especially for the elderly or infirm. Leaving
Honeymoon, I had become either elderly or infirm (or LAZY) and we took the
VIecotours guy up on his offer. $5/person. Easy peasy. Some of our crew
had dinner at Oasis that night (Chicken fried chicken with honey pecan
sauce O. M. G! and mac and cheese), and the other couple got takeout and
ate in comfort at Alice. More lazing on the veranda, and maybe some card
playing, this night, while wondering why the moon rose an HOUR later than
before, and far to the East!
Wednesday morning, my friend and I took off early, and snorkeled North and
then South Haulover. While my friend puttered around the rocks, I got to
watch an epic hermit crab home takeover battle. We gave my hubby a day off
- he happily sat on the veranda at Alice and read all morning. I drove my
single friend and our couple friends up to the Lameshurs, where the group
photographer caught some beautiful shots, and my newbie friend got to
explore some ruins. Does anyone else smell an HERB at the ruins at Little
Lameshur? Everything I go there, I smell something familiar, but can't
place it. The grass was really long and waving in the wind - such a
beautiful place! We picked up my hubby and all went to Skinny's for
burgers. Our food was out in record time! Some of us went into Cruz Bay
for a few things, and then we took my newbie friend to explore the
Susannaberg ruins. Our friends went out for dinner at Skippers British Pub at the old Sweet
Plantains - I'll let her decide whether or not to review it. Hubby, my
friend and I just had crackers and cheese and leftovers for dinner that
night. I met the owner of the place I'm staying in February, and had a
nice chat.
Thursday, we ended up at Hansen bay for the day. I enjoyed showing my
friend turtles,and the reef out past Vie's, though it was so sad for me, to
sit and rest on her beach, and know that I won't be spending any more days
there. Grateful for all the peace hubby and I found, on that beach - our
favorite. Later, hubby snorkeled with me out to Pelican rock. I generally
hug the shorelines, til I approach Pelican rock, but he wanted to take the
direct route straight out from Hansen bay. It wasn't a very long swim, but
being surrounded by nothing but blue, and unable to see underneath us
unnerved him. If I ever go blind, that is what I want to see through my
sightless eyes. Our couple friends arrived and we enjoyed the rest of the
afternoon, then we had that spicy chicken and homemade macaroni and cheese
for dinner. We were able to do all the cooking at the outdoor, poolside
kitchen, so as not to heat up the house. That was AWESOME!
Friday morning, my friend and I snorkeled Princess Bay, which she enjoyed
immensely! We saw so many little darling barracuda - down to maybe 3"
long, but still "planking" fiercely. Lots of other sights to see, and then
a very small lionfish. I couldn't find the number to report it, so I
posted on a FB group, and someone went out in just a couple of days,
spearing two large adults and spotting two minors, which they'll follow up
on. I appreciate their diligence!!! Later, my friend and I were taken on
a tour of the South side of the island, by our couple friends who know it
well. I don't appreciate the South side views, so probably won't stay
there, but it was neat to see the roads and villas I read about here! We had a nice lunch at Etta's in the marketplace, then picked up Candi's for dinner, and our friends went out again, I think!
Memory fails me.
Saturday morning, our friends left early in the morning, to head to Jost
for a couple of days of R&R. The remaining three of us headed to STT with
a plan to spend the day at Sapphire, but it rained most of the day,
sometimes hard, so we instead left our luggage at Bunker Hill hotel where
we had reservations, and shopped Charlotte Amalie. We had lunch downtown,
and then dinner at Sugarcane Grill. Great drinks and good food - the
owner, Alafia, is a dear. I really like this little guest house, and
restaurant!
On Sunday, we had breakfast at Tickles, then homemade ice cream at Scoops &
Brew at Crown Bay. A huge A+ to Scoops and Brew!!! Travel home was just
the usual - a couple of hiccups but we were in bed by 1am.
Summary:
First group trip went great! We knew our travel companions well, and I'd
traveled with two of them before, so I knew we'd be a pretty good fit. My
newbie friend stuck with hubby and I for the most part, and our friends got
(I think) a good blend of group time and alone time. Alice by the Sea was
a great place for all this - with plenty of group space and private space.
New swim buoy was FABULOUS for my husband, who reads on the beach while I
snorkel. Loved it. I couldn't dive down wearing it, but I could unbuckle
it and let it float.
New "spots" for me were eels and flounder. Once you can spot them, you can
spot them, and for the first time, I could :)
First trip for my good friend and part time roommate - now she can see why
I love STJ so!
First time sounding an alarm with TSA. Impressed by how courteous and
professional the staff were.
First time feeling a little put off while awaiting our trip. We were
particularly saddened by the loss of Miss Vie's beach. I'd read that there
were rentals of personal watercraft at Hansen, and was so happy not to find
them there on our visit. Still so much to see and do on STJ, but I am
looking into Virgin Gorda, Culebra and Roatan for trips in the future.
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