usvi-on-line
Part three (and last part) of the 31 Aug-10 Sept trip.
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David- n Hampton, VA
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:30 am
Part three (and last part) of the 31 Aug-10 Sept trip.
Part Three (and last part) of 31 Aug-10 Sept trip
Okay, let me start with this statement....I admit I am a thrill seeker kind of guy. I like action and I like to be doing versus watching. That is why I was a Special Forces kind of guy in the Army, and I have the scars to prove it.
Being told by the doc that I could not get into the water because of the sutures in my hand (at least in the presence of my wife) was not good. I am okay with sitting around for three-four hours at a time, but after that I start going a bit nuts (stir crazy).
So, during the next three to four days I was out of sorts. My wife's migraine continued.
The "big events" were driving down the hill to take the trash, going to Star Market for food and drinks, and walking around the hill to get my cell phone to work.
(I mention this as a board member asked about it previously) At this time Ernesto was hitting my house and boat back in Hampton VA. I live in a marina and have a 2004 Rinker 31 foot express cruiser moored in the slip in front of my house. I (stupidly) had not put out more lines before I left and had not taken down all the canvas on the boat. Thinking that Ernesto was going up the gulf (as predicted....) Spent some mental energy on my boat and made many calls about it to neighbors. They all took care of my stuff of course (like good friends always will). Everything was fine on our return except for a couple of little issues on the canvas covers. At one point they measured 71 knot winds in our marina and the high tide level was OVER the dock. It was a good storm there in Hampton.
Okay, back to the trip....a couple of useful tips when one has stitches in one's hand. Do not swat at a fly on your leg. Do not try to clap your hands on a flying bug (and I really mean this one). Do not spray Deep Woods OFF on you hand by accident.
Having now read two complete novels I went to the book store and met the owner. Nice man but I confess I have forgotten his name. In case he is reading this....he mentioned that he use to work in crime shares (whupps, I meant time shares) and I told him I knew a bit about it. Both because my son is a director of a time share resort here in Williamsburg and my wife just retired as a closing officer for the same resort. Either way, it appears to be a great place to get some coffee and a good book (and tell a story or two, if you are like me).
Spent one afternoon on Round Bay. It was all ours except for the four donkeys that wanted to share our beach with us for a bout thirty minutes. I tried very hard to convince my wife to go snorkeling (as I felt bad for her too because she didn't want to go without me.) Spent another afternoon on Hawksnest beach (as soon as we got set up it started raining!!!)
On my wife's best day (with respect to a killer headache) we went shopping. First support for the local STJ merchants. We made our very first stop St. John Spice and introductions to Ruth. She was just as she seems on the forum here....very nice, pleasant and good to talk to. She gave us a tour of the new (unfinished side) of the expanding St. John Spice. What a view from where some people are going to get to work!!! Spent money there of course. Remember the purse my wife was going to get.....took care of that and bought small gifts for friends and family members. Spent some time in the shops there by the dock including buying some Laraimar (sp?) jewelry for my daughter from Palm Jewelers. She is a girl born 40 years too late...no kidding...a real hippie and absolutely loves that type and style of jewelry.
We then headed over to STT and Charlotte Amalie. Our stated purpose was to by jewelry. Only one place would do. That was my favorite place Imperial Jewelry. Without marketing for them too much.....they have always treated me very good.
First stop, however, was the Tavern on the Waterfront. My wife has been thinking about the escargot there since our last visit two years ago. So, up we go (early afternoon) for a drink and her snails. I don't know how many of you readers eat them but from my wife's perspective they are done very at the Tavern. I participated by paying for them.....and the stiff drinks to get me through watching someone else eat them.
After drinking some "nerve medicine" to sooth what I knew was about to happen....we went to Imperial and met with Karen and Charlie. (Vinnie, my friend from previous visits was out of town). They treated us right, and I bought two pair of diamond earrings, two diamond bracelets, a large diamond ring, a smaller three diamond ring and a diamond necklace. (All told it came to almost as much as my first house costs me..... see why I needed the fortification provided at the Tavern?)
Karen escorted us around the corner to meet their friend, Shirley, who along with her husband John, owns the Coconuts Bar and Grill. We spent some time there while the jewelry sizing and packaging was taking place. This is also a great place to stop in a say hello. Real nice down to earth people.
Then off we go to catch the last boat back. (It seems a shame that there isn't a later ferry from Charlotte Amalie back to Cruz Bay. The merchants of many of the stores are doubtlessly losing some revenue because of this. We would have stayed for dinner, but had to catch that ferry or take a taxi down to Red Hook later. Because I wasn't sure when the parking area my jeep was parked in closed, we opted to return earlier rather then later.
The last full day (9 Sept) we went to Cinnamon Bay, and I went snorkeling with my wife. I tried putting my hand in a plastic bag and taping it with duck tape. It worked as well as one would expect it to. Not at all. After 15 minutes my hand was soaking wet. So I took the bandages of and let it go as is. The water was murky and surprising rough out there. We snorkeled around the east side and then back. Couldn't see much really, so decided to walk the beach. As we were walking I saw a sea ray just s few feet from shore. It was between us and a young couple standing in waist deep water so I yelled "Hey do you see the ray?" and pointed it out to them. The guy saw it first about three or four feet from him and pointed it out to his girlfriend/wife. When she saw it she almost levitated out of the water. (This was the day after Steve Irwin was killed by one and I guess it spooked her). I noted when we came walking back an hour later she was not in the water.
I mentioned I would say a bit about the villa here. So... it is a GREAT place to stay. I will be going back next time I think. Two bedrooms (with one of them separated by a breezeway from the rest of the house) each has its own outside shower area and bathroom. While there is not a inside shower, one quickly gets use to taking a shower in the fresh air. Several times boats were going by while I was showering and after the first couple times I figured....what the heck, if they want to look at a fat middle age balding guy....have at it. The neighbors can not see in (although they can see the pool area) and in our case we didn't have any neighbors the whole time we were there so it was a non-problem. The music system has a box for turning speaker sets on or off, so I was able to sit in the breezeway reading and listen to Kenny Chesney while my wife was inside watching TV. They have an eclectic set of CD's. The TV can play DVD's or VHS but the selection of both was not good. Kitchen is equipped with everything one would desire. We didn't have any occasion to wish for a tool of gadget that wasn't there. The barbeque is well located and worked really well. Bedroom was spacious, well lit, and the air-conditioning made my nights great! (I like to sleep in cold air!) As a matter of fact, the air conditioning in the main area worked great also.
As a word of caution. If I were traveling with kids.....I would not rent this place. It is a very open area and it is easily possible to fall off the cliff. Adults would stay away from the edge but kids may not. (Oh, and for stupid people like myself who climb up on the relatively low ledge to look at a boat better.....well one day there will probably be someone scrambling to stop from going down the cliff!!)
Last day. Packed and said a sad goodbye to the villa. Drove the jeep down to meet L&L rentals representative at 10:30. No muss no fuss, he was there and paperwork took about 20 seconds. A porter took our luggage under his control and we spent the next hour and half eating and drinking at JJ's. At about 12:50 (along with thirty other people and just after the ferry going to Red Hook departs) we discovered that there was no 1:00 PM ferry to Charlotte Amalie. The next departing ferry is 2:00 PM and it's going to Red Hook. We have a 4:00 flight. It's going to be tight.
To end this trip report.....and I know I have rambled on about a trip that really could have taken three or four sentences....we made it....and were both glad and sad at the same time.
Hope we have better luck and more experiences on our next trip. Already thinking about it....(my daughter has already put in her claim on a bedroom....wherever the villa is)
Okay, let me start with this statement....I admit I am a thrill seeker kind of guy. I like action and I like to be doing versus watching. That is why I was a Special Forces kind of guy in the Army, and I have the scars to prove it.
Being told by the doc that I could not get into the water because of the sutures in my hand (at least in the presence of my wife) was not good. I am okay with sitting around for three-four hours at a time, but after that I start going a bit nuts (stir crazy).
So, during the next three to four days I was out of sorts. My wife's migraine continued.
The "big events" were driving down the hill to take the trash, going to Star Market for food and drinks, and walking around the hill to get my cell phone to work.
(I mention this as a board member asked about it previously) At this time Ernesto was hitting my house and boat back in Hampton VA. I live in a marina and have a 2004 Rinker 31 foot express cruiser moored in the slip in front of my house. I (stupidly) had not put out more lines before I left and had not taken down all the canvas on the boat. Thinking that Ernesto was going up the gulf (as predicted....) Spent some mental energy on my boat and made many calls about it to neighbors. They all took care of my stuff of course (like good friends always will). Everything was fine on our return except for a couple of little issues on the canvas covers. At one point they measured 71 knot winds in our marina and the high tide level was OVER the dock. It was a good storm there in Hampton.
Okay, back to the trip....a couple of useful tips when one has stitches in one's hand. Do not swat at a fly on your leg. Do not try to clap your hands on a flying bug (and I really mean this one). Do not spray Deep Woods OFF on you hand by accident.
Having now read two complete novels I went to the book store and met the owner. Nice man but I confess I have forgotten his name. In case he is reading this....he mentioned that he use to work in crime shares (whupps, I meant time shares) and I told him I knew a bit about it. Both because my son is a director of a time share resort here in Williamsburg and my wife just retired as a closing officer for the same resort. Either way, it appears to be a great place to get some coffee and a good book (and tell a story or two, if you are like me).
Spent one afternoon on Round Bay. It was all ours except for the four donkeys that wanted to share our beach with us for a bout thirty minutes. I tried very hard to convince my wife to go snorkeling (as I felt bad for her too because she didn't want to go without me.) Spent another afternoon on Hawksnest beach (as soon as we got set up it started raining!!!)
On my wife's best day (with respect to a killer headache) we went shopping. First support for the local STJ merchants. We made our very first stop St. John Spice and introductions to Ruth. She was just as she seems on the forum here....very nice, pleasant and good to talk to. She gave us a tour of the new (unfinished side) of the expanding St. John Spice. What a view from where some people are going to get to work!!! Spent money there of course. Remember the purse my wife was going to get.....took care of that and bought small gifts for friends and family members. Spent some time in the shops there by the dock including buying some Laraimar (sp?) jewelry for my daughter from Palm Jewelers. She is a girl born 40 years too late...no kidding...a real hippie and absolutely loves that type and style of jewelry.
We then headed over to STT and Charlotte Amalie. Our stated purpose was to by jewelry. Only one place would do. That was my favorite place Imperial Jewelry. Without marketing for them too much.....they have always treated me very good.
First stop, however, was the Tavern on the Waterfront. My wife has been thinking about the escargot there since our last visit two years ago. So, up we go (early afternoon) for a drink and her snails. I don't know how many of you readers eat them but from my wife's perspective they are done very at the Tavern. I participated by paying for them.....and the stiff drinks to get me through watching someone else eat them.
After drinking some "nerve medicine" to sooth what I knew was about to happen....we went to Imperial and met with Karen and Charlie. (Vinnie, my friend from previous visits was out of town). They treated us right, and I bought two pair of diamond earrings, two diamond bracelets, a large diamond ring, a smaller three diamond ring and a diamond necklace. (All told it came to almost as much as my first house costs me..... see why I needed the fortification provided at the Tavern?)
Karen escorted us around the corner to meet their friend, Shirley, who along with her husband John, owns the Coconuts Bar and Grill. We spent some time there while the jewelry sizing and packaging was taking place. This is also a great place to stop in a say hello. Real nice down to earth people.
Then off we go to catch the last boat back. (It seems a shame that there isn't a later ferry from Charlotte Amalie back to Cruz Bay. The merchants of many of the stores are doubtlessly losing some revenue because of this. We would have stayed for dinner, but had to catch that ferry or take a taxi down to Red Hook later. Because I wasn't sure when the parking area my jeep was parked in closed, we opted to return earlier rather then later.
The last full day (9 Sept) we went to Cinnamon Bay, and I went snorkeling with my wife. I tried putting my hand in a plastic bag and taping it with duck tape. It worked as well as one would expect it to. Not at all. After 15 minutes my hand was soaking wet. So I took the bandages of and let it go as is. The water was murky and surprising rough out there. We snorkeled around the east side and then back. Couldn't see much really, so decided to walk the beach. As we were walking I saw a sea ray just s few feet from shore. It was between us and a young couple standing in waist deep water so I yelled "Hey do you see the ray?" and pointed it out to them. The guy saw it first about three or four feet from him and pointed it out to his girlfriend/wife. When she saw it she almost levitated out of the water. (This was the day after Steve Irwin was killed by one and I guess it spooked her). I noted when we came walking back an hour later she was not in the water.
I mentioned I would say a bit about the villa here. So... it is a GREAT place to stay. I will be going back next time I think. Two bedrooms (with one of them separated by a breezeway from the rest of the house) each has its own outside shower area and bathroom. While there is not a inside shower, one quickly gets use to taking a shower in the fresh air. Several times boats were going by while I was showering and after the first couple times I figured....what the heck, if they want to look at a fat middle age balding guy....have at it. The neighbors can not see in (although they can see the pool area) and in our case we didn't have any neighbors the whole time we were there so it was a non-problem. The music system has a box for turning speaker sets on or off, so I was able to sit in the breezeway reading and listen to Kenny Chesney while my wife was inside watching TV. They have an eclectic set of CD's. The TV can play DVD's or VHS but the selection of both was not good. Kitchen is equipped with everything one would desire. We didn't have any occasion to wish for a tool of gadget that wasn't there. The barbeque is well located and worked really well. Bedroom was spacious, well lit, and the air-conditioning made my nights great! (I like to sleep in cold air!) As a matter of fact, the air conditioning in the main area worked great also.
As a word of caution. If I were traveling with kids.....I would not rent this place. It is a very open area and it is easily possible to fall off the cliff. Adults would stay away from the edge but kids may not. (Oh, and for stupid people like myself who climb up on the relatively low ledge to look at a boat better.....well one day there will probably be someone scrambling to stop from going down the cliff!!)
Last day. Packed and said a sad goodbye to the villa. Drove the jeep down to meet L&L rentals representative at 10:30. No muss no fuss, he was there and paperwork took about 20 seconds. A porter took our luggage under his control and we spent the next hour and half eating and drinking at JJ's. At about 12:50 (along with thirty other people and just after the ferry going to Red Hook departs) we discovered that there was no 1:00 PM ferry to Charlotte Amalie. The next departing ferry is 2:00 PM and it's going to Red Hook. We have a 4:00 flight. It's going to be tight.
To end this trip report.....and I know I have rambled on about a trip that really could have taken three or four sentences....we made it....and were both glad and sad at the same time.
Hope we have better luck and more experiences on our next trip. Already thinking about it....(my daughter has already put in her claim on a bedroom....wherever the villa is)
Thanks for a wonderful report. It sounds like you really made the best of it. It must have been so frustrating not too be able to snorkel...and your poor wife with the endless headache! I wonder if all that jewelry you bought her made her feel better. 
Thanks for the review of Sea Stone. I'm keeping it on "the list!"
Thanks for the review of Sea Stone. I'm keeping it on "the list!"
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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California Girl
Great report David! Thanks for putting in all the little details...that always makes it more interesting as far as I'm concerned
Hope your hand is healing well and my sympathies to your wife on her migrane...those can be so debilitating! (but somehow diamonds always seem to help more than Excedrin! - LOL!)
Hope your hand is healing well and my sympathies to your wife on her migrane...those can be so debilitating! (but somehow diamonds always seem to help more than Excedrin! - LOL!)
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David- n Hampton, VA
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:30 am
Feeling much better. Thank you all
My hand is still weak but all the cuts are healed, so no problems.
And California Girl....you are correct. It is amazing how the day she felt the best was also the day she got all those diamonds. Seems curious!
And California Girl....you are correct. It is amazing how the day she felt the best was also the day she got all those diamonds. Seems curious!
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Virginia-Gal
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 12:50 pm
- Location: Virginia
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Bob & Anita
- Posts: 611
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:20 pm
- Location: Charlotte, NC
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David- n Hampton, VA
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:30 am
Photo shortcut for Bob and Anita
Bob and Anita, given how great your sets of shotos are, there really isn't much point in seeing my poor offering. but here is the link again, I just tried it, and it didn't ask for a password (and I am not sure I would know what it is anyway.) It worked for me so maybe a fresh pasting will help.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhoto ... 9832591206
http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhoto ... 9832591206
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wontongirl
- Posts: 518
- Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:19 pm
53 more days for me
Thanks for the wonderful trip report-Sounds like yall made the best of a crazy trip. We love JJ's also. Cant wait to get off that ferry and go over and get my first of many margaritas there.
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kimberlysea
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:47 am
- Location: Great Meadows, New Jersey
I finally had the time to read all 3 or your repost. They were great and I really enjoyed reading them. Bummer about your hand and your wife's migrains. But, it sounds like you made the best of it any way.
I'm having trouble viewing your pictures. I click on the link, but it's asking for a password. Is there a guest login?
Thanks again for the STJ fix.
I'm having trouble viewing your pictures. I click on the link, but it's asking for a password. Is there a guest login?
Thanks again for the STJ fix.
FlaGeorge
"Swim Against The Current - Even a Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow"
"Swim Against The Current - Even a Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow"
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David- n Hampton, VA
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:30 am
photos (hopefully)
Okay.....I am not sure how to share them apparently. (I am apparently not as savvy as I thought I was.) I sent myself an invitation from the kodak web site to see my own picutres and this is the link that poped up. hopefully this will work. http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhoto ... &ownerid=0
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California Girl
