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Trip Report From CariBert!! Day 1 (travel day)
Trip Report From CariBert!! Day 1 (travel day)
Trip Report St. John July 7, 2008 - July 16, 2008:
Every trip report I have ever read always starts out the same way. Up early, drive to the airport, get on the plane, no problems, delays, or other issues. Well, guess what...this one is no different. That is what we did. We flew from Dallas/Ft. Worth to San Juan (a hell of a long flight) and had no problems. That is until we landed in San Juan. We came to an abrupt halt on the runway, because an iguana was crossing the runway and the 757 halted in it's tracks to let it pass. We knew we were in the Caribbean when a plane waits for an iquana to cross the runway!
After a short layover, we boarded the puddle jumper and headed for St. Thomas! The long, long wait and all the planning was about to pay off! The main difference this year, was we had a newbie with us. Because of logistics, we could not fly together, so she landed in St. Thomas about 20 minutes before we did. We told her to grab her luggage and head for the little bar and have a drink. We would be there shortly!
We stepped off the plane on to the tarmac, and breathed in deeply, the warm tropical air, the smell of the the Caribbean! It was wonderful. One thing though, there was no rum punch or reception for us this time. Major bummer! So, we headed for the baggage claim area, saw our newbie just sitting there, drinking a Carib, taking it all in
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 2402"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEL-5Uj ... G.JPG"></a>
......and I immediately went to the bar and grabbed a cold Carib before I went to claim the bags!
We stayed at the villa Idyllic, offered by Vacation Vistas, and as usual, Lisa had us call Basil, our own private taxi driver. Basil was there at the airport waiting for us...hugs, handshakes, load the taxi, and we were off to Red Hook! On the way, Basil called Lisa and told her what ferry we were taking so she could meet us and take us to get our car and then off to the villa.
Arrival on St. John!!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 8130"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEMAqZk ... n.JPG"></a>
We arrived late in the afternoon/early evening, and after a long, long travel day, we decided it was best that we arrange for some vittles and drinks to be waiting for us. I arranged for Katilady to provision our villa with the "So You Decided to Stay" package, cold drinks (adult beverages) snack items, breakfast items...everything we needed so we didn't have to run to Starfish for some sustenance. Of course Lisa and Vacation Vistas always have a six pack of beer and a cheese and fruit plate waiting for you at the villa....very, very nice touch!
Getting instructions from Lisa
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 6722"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEMCiaD ... n.JPG"></a>
We were wiped out......a few beers, some cheese and fruit, a sandwich, and off to the pool! The first day of vacation is lost to travel, but what a way to end it!
Idyllic
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 5762"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEMHdhm ... 2.JPG"></a>
Our view from Idyllic:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 3362"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEMFThj ... k.JPG"></a>
Coming up....our first full day in Paradise!
-Bert
Every trip report I have ever read always starts out the same way. Up early, drive to the airport, get on the plane, no problems, delays, or other issues. Well, guess what...this one is no different. That is what we did. We flew from Dallas/Ft. Worth to San Juan (a hell of a long flight) and had no problems. That is until we landed in San Juan. We came to an abrupt halt on the runway, because an iguana was crossing the runway and the 757 halted in it's tracks to let it pass. We knew we were in the Caribbean when a plane waits for an iquana to cross the runway!
After a short layover, we boarded the puddle jumper and headed for St. Thomas! The long, long wait and all the planning was about to pay off! The main difference this year, was we had a newbie with us. Because of logistics, we could not fly together, so she landed in St. Thomas about 20 minutes before we did. We told her to grab her luggage and head for the little bar and have a drink. We would be there shortly!
We stepped off the plane on to the tarmac, and breathed in deeply, the warm tropical air, the smell of the the Caribbean! It was wonderful. One thing though, there was no rum punch or reception for us this time. Major bummer! So, we headed for the baggage claim area, saw our newbie just sitting there, drinking a Carib, taking it all in
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 2402"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEL-5Uj ... G.JPG"></a>
......and I immediately went to the bar and grabbed a cold Carib before I went to claim the bags!
We stayed at the villa Idyllic, offered by Vacation Vistas, and as usual, Lisa had us call Basil, our own private taxi driver. Basil was there at the airport waiting for us...hugs, handshakes, load the taxi, and we were off to Red Hook! On the way, Basil called Lisa and told her what ferry we were taking so she could meet us and take us to get our car and then off to the villa.
Arrival on St. John!!
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 8130"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEMAqZk ... n.JPG"></a>
We arrived late in the afternoon/early evening, and after a long, long travel day, we decided it was best that we arrange for some vittles and drinks to be waiting for us. I arranged for Katilady to provision our villa with the "So You Decided to Stay" package, cold drinks (adult beverages) snack items, breakfast items...everything we needed so we didn't have to run to Starfish for some sustenance. Of course Lisa and Vacation Vistas always have a six pack of beer and a cheese and fruit plate waiting for you at the villa....very, very nice touch!
Getting instructions from Lisa
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 6722"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEMCiaD ... n.JPG"></a>
We were wiped out......a few beers, some cheese and fruit, a sandwich, and off to the pool! The first day of vacation is lost to travel, but what a way to end it!
Idyllic
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 5762"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEMHdhm ... 2.JPG"></a>
Our view from Idyllic:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/CaribBert/A ... 3362"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/CaribBert/SJEMFThj ... k.JPG"></a>
Coming up....our first full day in Paradise!
-Bert
The liver is evil, it must be punished!
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ready4paradise
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:11 pm
- Location: Napa, CA
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California Girl
-
msgcolleen
- Posts: 1497
- Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 8:33 am
- Location: Allen, Texas
Great first day Bert! Glad you made it from Dallas to STJ before sunset!
So many AA flights have been cut from Dallas in October that we are barely making the 11 p.m. ferry with the first night of vacation at Tamarind Inn.
I'm not complaining though. . . I would row a boat to get there if I could!
Bring on day 2!
Cheers
So many AA flights have been cut from Dallas in October that we are barely making the 11 p.m. ferry with the first night of vacation at Tamarind Inn.
I'm not complaining though. . . I would row a boat to get there if I could!
Bring on day 2!
Cheers
I've got 2 tickets to paradise~Pack your bags we'll leave tonight!
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