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HI, now that I have your attention- the WARNING is to bring kleenex so that when you break down in the car rental office like I did because you're so damn happy to back on STJ, you'll have something to mop up the tears with!!!
This will be quick as I have to unpack and is meant for those about to head down as newbies or returnees-
1) bring twice the bug spray (DEET) you thought you might bring, the no-see-ums were everywhere and ferocious. I was bitten repeatedly, unlike previous trips and they seem to love women.
2) the weather was terrific- yes, newbies, it does rain about once or so a day, for 5-10 minutes maybe, but hey, did 'ya think they hired a traveling landscaper to water all the wonderful vegetation?? Otherwise, we had terrific, terrifically hot humid weather.
3) crime- to be honest we traveled alot, spoke to alot of people and did sense some unrest but it did not impact our adventures at all. Basically, its a small town environment so all negative issues get blown up pretty quickly and police presence is lax. We did hear "stories" of villas being robbed but never from anyone we actually met. To see the locals present a lovely Veterans Day ceremony yesterday in the park at Cruz Bay made us proud of all of them to be honest.
4) the roads, particularly Rt 10 (Centerline Road) are affected by periodic mini land slides due to all the previous rains, so drive extra carefully as you'll be dogging small and larger rocks in the roads. If you're driving over 20-25, slow down!!!
5) If you haven't made charter plans yet to the Baths, I highly recommend Limnos Charters as they take you to Spanishtown, you get to see a little of Virgin Gorda, you get a walking tour through the rocks and swimming is optional. Much safer and diverse than the boats that plunk you in the waters around the rocks PLUS they feed you and take you to Norman Island for spectacular snorkling. No, snorkling at the Baths is basically a waste of time.
More on everything later once I unpack, do laundry, buy grocereies, etc!!!
6) oh yea, take advantage of any get togethers- we made several new friends this way and had a wonder all day sail with 3 of them and hey, Islander- now we're on to who you are (is), sort of...thanks for organizing our get together, Karrieb
I laughed so hard when you wrote about the tears. When I am in the St. Thomas airport now, there is a wonderful airline attendant tht works for AA and when she sees me crying because I am leaving the place I love (St. John), she says "Miss Lisa, don't cry, you'll be back soon!) instead of years ago, asking, what is wrong, are you okay. I love St. John so much, I cry every single time I have to leave!!! 7 days, and I will be there for 2 weeks. Yahoooooooooo!
I may not cry when I arrive on or leave STJ, but it seems something relatively disasterous happens to me every time I leave--this time it was running into a stairwell at the car rental co. as I was returning a car (I cried then!). Maybe Fate is telling me I shouldn't leave?
God, I miss STJ!
I feel your pain!! I broke my toe walking around the Baths and in St Martin last year got stung by a huge wasp and had a serious rash for days!!! But its all worth it!!
