Backtotheislands trip report part 1.

Backtotheislands · Post by **Backtotheislands** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:30 pm

My plan for this trip report was to post pictures, including food porn and prices, but . . . I couldn’t figure out how to make my pictures smaller. I’m feeling pressed since I’m a teacher and go back Friday, but I’ve also been going up this week because . . . I may get a call that my grandson is coming soon. So here is a written trip report and I will link it to a video with pictures and music. Not really the same, but the best I can do!
Day 1 – Travel Day
After 2 hours of sleep (I never plan ahead!) we were up at 4:30 to get to the airport for our 8:15 flight. We had breakfast and Bloody Marys at TGI Fridays at DFW. We boarded our flight to Atlanta, and then on to St. Thomas. No glitches, but I sat between my husband (6’3” – not a little man) and a woman who never even bothered to fasten her seat belt. I'm not little anymore, either so I was squished and ready to move by the time we reached STT. After my free rum shots (I had my hubby’s) Constantine and Magdalena met us with our brand new white jeep. I love Amalie Car Rental’s service. We stopped at the Food Center in Red Hook and caught the ferry to St. John. I went to the bar on the car barge to get drinks and she just let me make my own. A newbie came up for a drink and thought I must live on the islands since they were letting me bartend!

I loved that!
Since we were to meet our villa manager, Bonnie, at Cocoloba Plaza we decided to just stop and eat there. I had the Bistro Grouper and Ted had the Parmesan Grouper. Both were delicious! We both love their risotto! We also had 2 drinks each and Key Lime Pie for a total of $103 before tip. We then met Bonnie and followed her up Calabash Boom Road to Sun, Moon, and Stars. See my villa review for more information. What a road! You definitely need 4 wheel drive, but the view is so worth it, although we could only see by moonlight the first night. We even saw a cruise ship sailing off in the distance all lit up.

Day 2.
The love affair continues . . . with St. John and my awesome husband! My husband is not nearly as enamored with St. John as I am and he’d like to just go somewhere and do nothing! That is not in my makeup, unfortunately, and he just goes along with my craziness! We woke up early . . . I usually do on St. John, although I’m not a morning person! The views from Sun, Moon, and Stars were breathtaking! My pictures don’t do it justice and there was a lot of Sahara “haze”.The view is of the east end of SJ, Tortola, Norman & Peter Islands, and various other islands of the BVI.
We had slept well on a very comfy bed! Ted likes to check out stocks and stuff on vacation so I try very hard to be patient to go to the beach, but I’m not really good at it. We finally headed to Maho, my favorite beach and so calm for the first day. I have never seen it so crowded, but I guess they’d had a lot of rain for the previous 2 days. Anyway we hung out and snorkeled around the right point. We saw lots of fish, a turtle, and a first for me, a pretty good sized nurse shark. We also saw a very strange, fat fish which I think was a permit and a houndfish. It’s always fun to see new things! Ahh, Maho Beach! Cheers to paradise!
After a full afternoon of snorkeling and enjoying the beach, we headed to Shipwreck for dinner. I had the blackened mahi sandwich and my husband had the fish and chips. With 2 drinks each our total was $67. Then we headed back up to the villa to enjoy our wonderful view, the breeze, great music and moon rise on the deck! One of those special moments and days you just want to remember forever!

http://youtu.be/c_pIzOadr0Q

ColumbiaSCTraveler · Post by **ColumbiaSCTraveler** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:30 am

YAY! A TR! It's so weird reading a TR WHILE ON ISLAND!

I am SO with you. We're usually NOT morning people, but we are on-island!
That villa looks very nice! May add it to the short list for next year's trip!
We tried Aqua Bistro for the first time this trip, and all I can say is YUM!!!!!!!!! Can't believe we've missed out all these years!
Now....speaking of Maho, we're off to there this AM. It's our last full day on island, and we always begin and end our trip there!
Looking forward to the other installments! Thanks for sharing!

kma27 · Post by **kma27** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:15 am

What an awesome video that is! I feel like I was right there with you. Thanks for sharing it!
You do GOOD work!

Backtotheislands · Post by **Backtotheislands** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:35 am

Thanks. Columbia, I feel your pain of the "last day". We begin and end with Maho, as well. It's easy and at the top of my list. All things considered: nice beach, calm, good snorkeling, easy access - probably my favorite! I've seen a lot of things snorkeling there I've never seen elsewhere: octopus, nurse shark, permit. The only thing I can think of that I haven't seen there is a starfish. Of course, there are a lot of things I haven't seen yet! Enjoy your last day at my favorite beach! Wish I was there instead of getting ready for the start of school!

kdskis2 · Post by **kdskis2** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:40 am

Awesome video! Well put together and really captures your time on island.
We are SO alike because I to enjoy exploring.

So, Maho is your fav? We are spending a day on St. J and want to hit the best beaches for snorkeling, hanging out. What others would you rec? We know Hawksnest is on the list and Trunk, but which others.
Also......Some of your meals looked delish. Looking for local and cheaper? Rhumb lines? Banana Deck? Aqua Bistro? Since its a day (wish more) we only need two. Maybe lunch on the beach and then one in Cruz before we head back to STT. Thanks!!
I KNOW you hate to be back!

Backtotheislands · Post by **Backtotheislands** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:10 am

In my opinion, you can't go wrong at Rhumb Lines or High Tide in Cruz or Shipwreck Landing (my favorite meal this time - fried Grouper sandwich with some Valley Doll Sauce added) or Aqua Bistro in Coral Bay. Maho is my favorite. We went to Honeymoon (easy walk from Caneel Bay) this time and snorkeled over to Honeymoon and back. That is right up there with Maho, too! Trunk is beautiful, but we go early or late after the park closes to avoid the crowds. You will love whatever you do!

kdskis2 · Post by **kdskis2** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:13 am

Thanks so much! Honeymoon looked very pretty.....That helps. Was Salt Pond worth it? I see it is on the other side (South). I liked the look of the Tourist Trap for stop?

Backtotheislands · Post by **Backtotheislands** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:57 am

Salt Pond is pretty. I've been there on 2 different trips and always have heard the snorkeling is really good. It was so cloudy I couldn't see a thing both times. Cloudy "scares" me because I can't see anything until it's right in front of my face! I've heard so much good stuff about there and Francis and never have had a good snorkel either place. I've just chosen bad days I guess. They aren't at the top of my list. Tourist Trap is a nice stop. I like the Boom Boom better than the Drive Left Drink Right, personally! I would choose Maho or Salomon, myself. I love snorkeling at Leinster/Waterlemon, but it is a rocky beach. Friday before last there were a lot of moon jellies there. I don't know if they sting (didn't want to take a chance), but there were so many at the far end of the island we were afraid we couldn't avoid them and turned around and came back the way we'd come from. I was so busy avoiding jellies I really didn't get to "enjoy" my snorkel. They are pretty, though!

MN_Bhoy · Post by **MN_Bhoy** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:29 pm

Great trip report - thanks! Valley Doll Sauce - mmmmmm...!! I'm almost ready for a St. John Spice reorder and it's only been 10 days since we left!!

jwwj · Post by **jwwj** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 2:10 pm

Great report, I loved the video, felt like I was there. Thanks!!

kdskis2 · Post by **kdskis2** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:59 pm

Please explain boom boom versus drink right drive on the left ? I am new to the islands after 10 years. Ha ha!!

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:07 pm

Boom Boom and Drink Right Stay Left are two of Tourist Traps' signature drinks.

Local caribbean food can be found cheap at Sogo's....and it's GOOD

msgcolleen · Post by **msgcolleen** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:39 pm

Awesome reporting and your video says it all! What a great time you had!
Isn't it fun when people think you're a local? I really want to rent from Amalie next time around . . . I don't know why STT scares me but driving on STJ is a breeze~

silverheels · Post by **silverheels** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:46 pm

Great trip report and video. Wish we had met up on island and not at the airport. Maho is my favorite also. It's an easier drive from Coral Bay than Cruz Bay.
Love your choice of Vera Bradley!!

kdskis2 · Post by **kdskis2** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:00 pm

Thanks for the clarification on the drinks and for the tip on local carribean food! We are excited!

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