Then we arrived on St John

Travel discussion for St. John
Post Reply
User avatar
lprof
Posts: 3130
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:09 pm
Location: Florida

Then we arrived on St John

Post by lprof »

Image
Then we arrived on St John…
The ferry ride only took one hour and was smooth traveling. Being greeted by name and with a hug from a cool boat captain even before leaving customs was a super good welcome back to St John (7th trip).

If interested in knowing where we were coming from take a look here:
http://virgin-islands-on-line.com/virgi ... =6&t=26304
Don't worry; this report will be a quickie! Photos are scattered about Flickr. If there is one you really want to know more about, please ask. Someday I may get them marked and in an order. Or not.

Our villa for the next week was Caribbean Jewels. http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/v ... hoice.html
http://www.destinationstjohn.com/home.p ... n%20Jewels

Our jeep only had 500 miles on it... from http://www.stjohncarrental.com/

One of the very best virtues of this villa is the view… many captured points of the view here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/floridalin ... 022867394/

Our first morning on STJ, we found a good "breakfast with a view" at Chateau Bordeaux,
Image
grocery shopped at Starfish and enjoyed a chat with fellow WV native, Homer Hickam and his lovely Linda, and then stopped by Trunk Bay so I could meet VIOL forum members, Maggy, Jo Ann - VA, and Ksea… and say hello again to VA GIRL. Great to spend a few minutes with you, ladies... and to get my toes in the St John sand!
http://starfishmarket.com/site/

Our second day, we spent at Cinnamon Bay on the far eastern end… a terrific private spot between two large rocks. Earlier some young local men sweet talked me into moving from "the only spot we have for volleyball"… no problem, I assure you! It was a gorgeous day.
Image

More Cinnamon Bay/Cinnamon Bay Ruins Pix here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/floridalin ... 026904185/



There was big excitement at Maho on Sunday as a good looking fellow tried to have some fun in the sun time for himself.
Image
Image

The old stone building in the eastern end turn at Maho Bay has activity (as reported by Bill in VA recently). Edited: http://newsofstjohn.com/2013/11/26/what ... -maho-bay/
Image
Image

Dinner at Rhumb Lines was great; yes, we shared the key lime pie! Again.
http://www.rhumblinesstjohn.com/
Image
Image

We loved our all too short visits with the St John Spice folks... Ruth, Ron, and Curly. Best peeps ever.
http://www.stjohnspice.com/

Lunch at the Lime Inn (our first meal there) was a delightful, delicious surprise. I liked the plants and fresh tropical feeling… cloth napkins! Super service! I had the quiche of the day with garden salad, and my guy had a hamburger and fries. He declared it the best he had ever had in the islands!
http://www.thelimeinn.com/
Image
Image

The day before we had eaten lunch at Chateau Bordeaux. UF Prof chose hamburger and fries, which he commented were good, the hamburger large and juicy. I loved the veggie wrap and sweet potato fries.
http://www.chateaubordeaux.net/
Image

On Monday we had tried the hamburger at Driftwood David's mostly because of recent discussion on this forum. At the time we thought it fairly good. We even compared notes on it with the McKibben Clan. In retrospect, we now would place it third behind the above mentioned two. There were no Skinny's burgers in our trials, but "he" says Lime Inn was better than Skinny's of the past
http://www.driftwooddavids.com/
Image
Yep! Three days of burgers in a row.

It was fun to say "Good Morning" on Facebook and share the Coral Bay view from across the way with mindehankins each day; on Monday evening we took our husbands along and met up with EagleRayLover, augie, and their son, Shane, at Concordia for open mike night. Fun! Fun! Fun!
http://www.concordiaeco-resort.com/
Vocals: Lauren Jones Magnie. Tourist Trap Larry on the harmonica! Good music!!!
Image
My Forum Friends this evening
Image

Snorkeling was not a main priority this trip (relaxing was), but we traveled to Little Lameshur on Tuesday only to discover no visibility. None. The muddy road ruts were filled with water making the entrance to each one an adventure as we wondered how far we would sink as we crawled through. No problems... for real.
Image

The night before we left St John we tried a few dishes at Virgin Fire. We very much liked everything about this restaurant.
http://virginfirevi.com/
Image
Cooking on a Himalayan salt block:
Image


A few observations:

The island seemed busier than ever; beaches were fuller, earlier in the day; smokers were on the beaches and in the parking areas… is there a need for more and larger NO signs??? Virgin Gorda did not seem to be yet into "The Season"; St John was on!

The Smoothie Stand was not open any time we passed by which was often and daily.

Pickles in Paradise makes tasty, well priced salads and sandwiches.

Lily's Market looked to have had some freezer problems… towels on the floor, ice cream cartons very iced. We usually shopped a little there in the past....

I still have not gotten to Josephine's Greens (Coral Bay Garden Center). I could see it from Caribbean Jewels.
https://www.facebook.com/JosephinesBestGreens
Image

The Calabash Boom Mini Market was "now open" and looked stocked; It had always looked empty to us before; we did not stop there.

Centerline Road is still barricaded where the road sunk… not a problem to drive around and not scary.

The Coral Bay sheep population is strong. Baby donkeys are CUTE.

Since we were staying in the area of the Smoothie Stand, we liked traveling the North Shore Road at night when we had been in town (Cruz Bay). No vehicular traffic. Twice there was someone standing the the dark in the middle of the road… not hitchhiking… just standing. I thought of mahojim and his Jumbies sightings. :)

Edited to add that 5 or 6 times we were asked if we live on St John; we liked the idea that we blended in so well.

With these thoughts I conclude this report and resume the dreams of "next time"!
Last edited by lprof on Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:08 am, edited 2 times in total.
... no longer a stranger to paradise
User avatar
EagleRayLover
Posts: 1474
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:56 pm
Location: St. John -WooHoo!!

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by EagleRayLover »

It was so good seeing you and UF prof again! You always bring a smile to my face!! Countdown now on for a UF graduation and hopefully another time to visit!!
Leslie, Kids Night In Babysitting
User avatar
lprof
Posts: 3130
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:09 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by lprof »

EagleRayLover wrote:It was so good seeing you and UF prof again! You always bring a smile to my face!! Countdown now on for a UF graduation and hopefully another time to visit!!
Always, fun... wish Steve would eat faster.
I have a sweater just for you... silly girl moves to the islands and gives away her wraps!
See you soon!
... no longer a stranger to paradise
User avatar
augie
Posts: 2376
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:26 am
Location: Where the weather suits my clothes

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by augie »

lprof wrote:Always, fun... wish Steve would eat faster.
Now THAT is funny! If I ate any faster the food would be gone before the server brought it out! :lol:

Loved spending the short time that we had together with you two - see you soon!
Come see us!
User avatar
liamsaunt
Posts: 5968
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:08 pm

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by liamsaunt »

Thanks for the report! I have not been to Lime Inn for a while, I will have to try it again next trip.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
User avatar
jayseadee
Posts: 2312
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:16 pm
Location: New England

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by jayseadee »

Sounds like a really great trip, thanks for posting.

Loved your pictures. Only one small problem - I'm not in them :(
janet
User avatar
lprof
Posts: 3130
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:09 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by lprof »

jayseadee wrote:Sounds like a really great trip, thanks for posting.

Loved your pictures. Only one small problem - I'm not in them :(
Maybe I took so many pix on the beaches 'cause I was looking for you!
I'm sorry that we did not share the island in 2013!
... no longer a stranger to paradise
User avatar
ArkieLovesSTJ
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:34 pm
Location: Conway, AR

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by ArkieLovesSTJ »

Nice report! Will have to try the burger at Lime Inn on our next trip. I am not familiar with the Calabash Boom Mini Market. Is that the one on the right side of the road as you are going towards Salt Pond?
Image
User avatar
lprof
Posts: 3130
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:09 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by lprof »

ArkieLovesSTJ wrote:Nice report! Will have to try the burger at Lime Inn on our next trip. I am not familiar with the Calabash Boom Mini Market. Is that the one on the right side of the road as you are going towards Salt Pond?
Thanks!
Yes, the market is fairly close to the road and in the general area where the blue roofed duplexes are.
... no longer a stranger to paradise
mindehankins
Posts: 3014
Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
Location: Western NY State

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by mindehankins »

Thanks for putting so much effort into your reports, Linda! Really enjoyed them! It was so great to meet you and Clay, Steve and Leslie, and the Shaws, this trip! I'm afraid you captured my "work face," while talking shop, but that's okay :)
Myheart'sinSTJ
Posts: 363
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:02 pm
Location: New London, PA

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by Myheart'sinSTJ »

Great trip report and pictures, the "someone standing in the road in the dark twice" made my hair stand on end just a little :shock:
User avatar
shoemak38
Posts: 2370
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:55 pm
Location: Southern New Hamphire

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by shoemak38 »

finally got to read busy week. Great report

Oh and by the way thanks for sending all your rain up our way

Have a Great Thanksgiving
User avatar
lprof
Posts: 3130
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:09 pm
Location: Florida

Re: Then we arrived on St John

Post by lprof »

mindehankins wrote: I'm afraid you captured my "work face," while talking shop, but that's okay :)

Guess that I was checking out the hat, Minde! :wink: So good to have met you and Blaine.

Myheart'sinSTJ wrote:Great trip report and pictures, the "someone standing in the road in the dark twice" made my hair stand on end just a little :shock:
One was a young man with a backpack... mostly all in black, going our direction.
The other had a white bag, otherwise was dark in the shadows, also going forward.
They were closer to Cruz Bay than to Maho. They didn't seem aware we were passing them.
Yes, a little eerie!

shoemak38 wrote:finally got to read busy week. Great report
Oh and by the way thanks for sending all your rain up our way
Have a Great Thanksgiving
Thanks! Is it still rain??? Cleared up here today; currently at 9 PM 42 degrees... had to hang up my flip flops. :cry:
I wish you and your family a Great Thanksgiving also.
... no longer a stranger to paradise
Post Reply