I oft rely on "if it's meant to be, it will" and as things rapidly fell into place on the homefront I was able to sneak away at, what was for me, a very last minute short trip. Was having difficulty making the decision as to which island to run away to for a short respite since there were reinforcements for the caretaking I do at home. Would much prefer to drag along the caretakee but she won't even think about getting on a plane ... figures she flew once in 90 years and lived so she doesn't want to tempt fate!
When I saw the fare of $343, I jumped on it and upgraded using those wonderful miles that have been sitting idle for awhile figuring the worst that could happen was pitching a tent on the beach somewhere! But the Entertainment Card came thru and the trifecta came with the rate at Secret Harbour. So I was all set for my very first ever summer trip to St. Thomas.
The wee hours of the morning found myself breezing thru check in and security at EWR and I didn't have much of a wait in SJU since I transferred to the 757 and didn't have to do the bus shuttle at Gate 1. I prefer the smaller planes since there is not the crowds to deal with but the upgrade does make it easier for all checkins and boarding and well worth it.
Managed to land at the beginning of a huge traffic jam at the airport ... Is this really off season in the Islands? Reminded me more of my weekend traffic here at the Jersey Shore. But, Al promptly - or as promptly as Al can - was there with the carriage that would be my transportation for the week. Never had a problem with Discount and have used none other in the recent years so stuck with what I knew and the price was right!
Besides, didn't want to have to schlepp the luggage to the car rental at the airport ... it is much too hot and I am much too old to be doing things like that so the pick up and drop off is really convenient for me. I'm getting too old. Geraldinne's baby is 2 years old! Seems like yesterday!
Wasn't long until I was checked in and in the water at Secret Harbour. First stay there and it did not disappoint. Room was spacious (I didn't splurge for the one-bedroom but took the studio instead) and very comfortable. The shower needs a bit more pressure or maybe I just couldn't figure out the contraption that was on it! By the time I came up from the beach, the room had warmed up from the deep freeze temp of the a/c running and it was wonderful. After a night of no sleep getting ready and leaving for the airport at 4:30, a quick dinner with an on-island friend found my nose dragging my head into the plate and it wasn't long before I had turned in for my long summer nap.
Ah ha! Disadvantage to sleeping with doors open and only screens? When the partiers continue to party on the beach in the wee hours, they do tend to forgot (or just don't care) how voices carry across water and how loud they are! By 3:30 they decided they had enough and all was quiet until about 6:30 when the ankle biter in the unit above me decided to rearrange the furniture on the porch ... complete with songs which I didn't recognize and animated discussions with an imaginary helper ... I guess the "helper" was imaginary since the parents if they had good sense were still asleep and I never heard anyone answer or talk to the Rug Rat. I didn't care (much) I was on vacation! The sun was up and the beach was calling. Took a swim while the coffee brewed and then the rest of the day was beach it day. Actually the rest of the week followed the same pattern or one quite similar (san partiers and rug rats early in the am!). I was surprised to see how crowded the beach gets and busy and have soiled my reputation by seeking shade from the palm trees or an umbrella on occassion. But on Monday, seems that Secret Harbour's beach returns to a more quiet level! I just wish someone could explain what it is in little girls genes that makes them jump up and down and shriek at eardrum-shattering levels at the sight of a fish, their brother taking their water toy or any other event? And not just little girls either! LOL
Monday nite found me at Mimm's, one of my favorite ol' time places after a day of beaching it, with friends from the aol board. I passed on my usual coconut curry lobster due to the expanding waist line but it was a great evening and good eating.
Little change in schedule on Tuesday until I met Ronnie at Alexander's to experience it one last time before his redo and it too was another successful dining out! On Wednesday, the aol board had dinner scheduled at Robert's at the Elysian Palm Court. That location has "potential" written all over it and being one of my old haunts I really looked forward to someone new capitalizing on the site. You know that "location, location, location" is the key and unfortunately the location, imo, is all that it had going for it. I had heard good things and the company was terrific but the menu was disappointing .... but the company was fun and it was still a relaxing and interesting evening and I didn't' go away hungry ... but it just wasn't wonderful. Since I don't eat meat, the fish choices were okay but it has that trendy splash into fusion which combines flavors and textures that I find unappealing. He does put shrimp on Organic Grits tho ... but I sure didn't try it! Some of the dining portions were daInty sized but since I opted for an appetizer and salad, I was fine. t was interesting that I was the "outsider" since these folk make a regular jaunt this time of year and are well-acquainted with each other and it was interesting to compare the differences between the off season August to the off season October and December when I am usually there! Ronnie, who was busy being the host of the week, and Terrie from Caribbean Saloon joined us as did another local so there was a jovial and happy group. Hate to admit it but suspect that when I left the younger folk were probably just starting to party!
It was busy ... the island was busy with families and weddings and that was good to see. Several restauranteers said that they were having the busiest time in years at this time! That's a good ting! I remember it being HOT but this was HOT ... but then someone mentioned Secret Harbour's beach because of its location can be very hot in the afternoon compared to other beaches so I had to compare. I do enjoy the breezes and spent some time at Cowpet, another old time favorite haunt of mine. And it was deserted each time I went there! Perfect! But what were they thinking when they lined up rows and rows of chairs elbow to elbow? If there ever were that many people on that beach, one wouldn't be able to move in the water and frankly, it looked ugly and touristy! There were also more boats moored than I ever remember being there!
Oh dear! got my days mixed up because I had a nite prior to Wednesday when I had dinner with Terrie at her Caribbean Saloon and she caught me up on the news and her new store in Yacht Harbour where Blazing Photos used to be that caters to the canine crowd and will soon have available t-shirts for pets that read, "My owner went to St. Thomas and all I got was a t-shirt!" (just kidding - maybe!). Her planned facelift for the Saloon sounds exciting! Can't believe it's been 5 years since I visited her the first time right after she and Frank opened the Saloon!
Did Blue Moon (good as usual) for b'fast and lunch on different days and managed to head to Bonnie's another nite. Gateful Deli provided sandwiches and snacks and didn't do much for the waistline either! Thankfully, no matter how good the ice cream is at Stone Cold Creamery, I wasn't gonna drop $5 for an ice cream cone no matter how big, good, or kind of sprinkles! Besides, we have one not too far from me here! We used to always have one dinner at what was Jerry's at the Anchorage and always enjoyed Arthur's ribs and menu so it was my first visit back since it became Arthur's. Just as good as always and they are a great hard working couple! It's good to see them busy and successful and they were! One afternoon a friend hijacked me and we sailed off as pirates for an afternoon and evening. Always a hit with me even if it means hauling a sail or two. Now that is the kind of work I don't mind on vacation. Commuting to beaches or running around beach to beach in a car is not my style. Figure that the sun is the same on all the beaches anyhow! Thankfully Arthur knew the combo to the Yacht Club or I may have had to pitch a tent there to get out in the morning. Not used to so little action around there - LOL - even on an "off nite" and the "not my usual time to be here" was offered up as an excuse since I had forgotten about the locking up!
Did my patriotric duty and accumulated some miles when the ships weren't in on Thursday for a couple of hours in the am. It was then that I remembered to cover the steering wheel with a towel .... but only after numerous ouches and ow! ow! ow! as I headed back to the beach ASAP. Did miss the excitement, the "back to the ship" calls and the normal hussle and bussle but all the stores that I needed were open and not a problem!
The last morning was a repeat of the first nite with the partiers returning to the beach and waking the world around 5 am ... I think that by the time I packed and wandered down to the beach around 7, it was the two partiers who were passed out in the hammocks. I was tempted to dump each in the sand if I could only have been positive that they were the same but since they had backpacks that looked full, I wasn't sure that they were the guilty ones or ones who just chose to bed down on the beach!
It was great to meet more of the "locals" and of course be sent off with alot of good wishes. A couple of folk that I had hoped to met didn't show but if it were my day off and such a great day for sailing, I know what my choice would have been. Since I was roasted beyond well done and needed to psych myself up to leave, the lunch at Blue Moon was a good transition. If I had only known that I had an extra half hour or so, I would have stopped and picked up that one piece of jewelry that I was so undecided about! Because of the lines and masses of people, customs was a breeze altho she seemed more interested in asking if I had any shells or coral rather than my duty limit! My first time thru since the "new" TSA and all the scanners and screeners and what a mess that is! But, I guess, it is an organized mess ...
Of course I missed the black out but seems it did screw up a few plans and not sure if the problems departing were residual or if that's the norm on a Saturday in the summer. They've also changed the "system" so that the expedited check in via sky cap isn't as efficient as it once was. There is two self-service check ins but the agent spent more time there than with the Business Check in ... go figure. When it became apparent the 3:50 flight was not going to happen, they transferred us to the Eaglette at 4:30 ... all the pax headed to EWR were hearded on the Eaglette and we departed at 4:15 to make our connection ... with little time to spare. What was disappointing was that since they did that that $700 bump for the nite was off the table! But who was more disappointed were those pax who really expected to still get their baggage in EWR! Well, if it was meant to be, I would have but since they loaded NO LUGGAGE on the Eaglette, I wasn't sure when or IF I'd see my stuff again! It obviously hopefully was to follow on the 3:50 which wasn't going to make the connection with the flight to EWR (even tho the agent explained to folks that it would ... to me she said that the luggage would be "accomodated" ... whatever the hell that meant ... that meant, it'll be delivered to your home when it gets to EWR I later realized! How come on my last trip they wouldn't let me take the earlier flight because I had to accompany my luggage but this time, to avoid putting up a whole plane load of folks in SJU because of the miss, it certainly was just fine to do so? LOL
Disappointed not to have tried some of the new places that I had hoped but just not enough nites. Last trip, I did all new-to-me places and this was comfortable and familiar. Loved the weather, loved the beach. Didn't hear one growl, snear or unhappy word the whole week! Where do these folks go who run into the rude and miserable Islanders? I've yet to meet one in many many years and many trips ! Maybe it's about getting into island mode and leaving attitude on the plane? Gotta remember to drive on the right now ... funny how it's harder to readjust than adjust to the left!
I know this isn't exciting but my highlight was my bags arriving at 2 am ... it's a serious plot to make me sleep deprived!! LOL ... It was a wonderful trip, just not too exciting, and just what I needed to recharge the battery and remind me what is important and what isn't! NOw gotta figure out when next to call in the reinforcements and head right back! After a nap ... of course. Funny how quickly one gets used to a little afternoon siesta on the beach!

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