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Night B4 the trip started (Tues. evening)....drove to Chicago from home('bout an hour & ½) to spend the night close to O'Hare at a Park, Sleep & Fly place. Very nice. But I was way too excited to sleep, so I was jumping on the bed to wake hubby up to get to the airport at 3:30am!! (He was not soo happy)
Very un-eventful to the airport & got to Charlotte, NC a couple min. late. Met Scott & Tracie, but we couldn't find Vicki. (forum friends)
Tried to video the landing, but we were in the exit row right in front of the flight attendant & she spent the rest of the landing trying to explain to me why I couldn't videotape the landing! We were outta the airport in no time & on our way for the walk to the nearby Best Western. It was OK....but the rum punch at the bar was pretty weak compared to the punch we just received at the airport!! Took some pictures of the view & headed to bed for a good nights sleep after up soo early!
Next morning....Walked back to the airport to pick up the car from Budget early & again...NO problem! We did have to upgrade due to the size of the car. It would have been alright for just us 2, but when the girls fly in next week, it wouldn't be then. Drove around a while before checking into the Wyndham. Had to check out Megan's Beach & of course stop at Udder Delight for a nice shake!!
Stopped at Sapphire Beach. It was just as we remembered it from 2yrs. ago, except it does seem a bit more run down. Was real disappointed not to see even ONE iguana!! We kinda regreted not just staying there again.
Check in at the Wyndham was great....up on the 7th floor facing the pool area & Sugar Bay. Couldn't take a shower or flush the toilet cuz they were having problems with the water so it was shut off for a while. Had our snacks there for us (perks for Wyndham by Request members), & we headed for the pool area....way down all those steps!! (and I even made it!!)
Jumping into that pool only reminded me of one thing....every person whoever runs into
Lake Michagen on New Years Day in Wisconsin as part of the Polar Bear Club tradition. I felt like a frozen Daiquiri standing int that pool. Now I know why there were soo many people NOT in the pool!!
Off to the beach....well, all we have to say about that beach is.....FIND A DIFFERENT ONE!! There were soo many rocks banging up on your legs you could hardly get into the water. There was a very small section of the beach where is was safe to walk into the water. Now I know why there were soo many people on the chairs watching!!
We were NOT in the all inclusive plan, so we went to the pool grill to purchase a sandwich. Very good, but a bit pricey we thought. Note to self....make friends with those with an all-inclusive bracelet on....everytime they went up for a drink, they were nice enough to bring me one back!!
Thought we would love sleeping with the patio door open to hear the sound of the waves....till we realized how noisy is was down at the pool! Had to shut the door & turn on the air to drown out the noise.
Went into Red Hook for groceries next night, & stopped at East End Cafe for dinner. It was good, but I thought kinda pricey. Probably wouldn't go back there.
Next couple days were spent hanging out at the pool, beach or driving around.
Met a real nice guy at the beach at the Wyndham from Oklahoma I think. He was there for his wedding day...except he came alone!! Felt real bad for him. But he was feeling no pain...& I knew that cuz he proposed to ME. He had way to much to drink...so I reminded him that I was old enough to be his Mother!! Then I sat & lectured him on how to find “Mrs. Right”! His wedding was planned for the next day on his 30th birthday, so B4 we left the next day, I left him a birthday card at the front desk. He did e-mail me when I got home to thank me!
Sunday Dec. 3rd...Off to Sapphire Marina for a BVI day sail with New Horizon's II. Guess they were all filled up so they put us on a different one. Same trip, just different boat. Excellent day!! Couldn't have been more perfect....'cept for the guy that went out the night B4....he started ~yawning in many colors~ even B4 he got on the boat!
Felt bad for him...but still kept my distance!
Met some real nice people & best part was the Baths! (& that I was able to get to the shore without looking like a baby....I really never learned how to swim!)
Tuesday we take the car ferry over to St. John & HAD to stop in to meet Ruth at St. John Spice. Very nice hubby too! We checked into Cinnamon Beach Campground & made sure I sprayed the place good with some Raid so when the girls come the next day it may be pretty close to bug free! Walked around the grounds & happen to run into Susanna, the lady who was to take Lindsay's pictures. Also met some people on the beach that live within 10 miles of our house back at home!! Small world!
First night sleeping in the cabin ....I have never heard soo many tree frogs that loud in all my life!! Then the nuts started falling from the trees on top of the roof....I'm not sure how much sleep I really got! And then the cold shower I had to endure....I'm not real sure if the girls are gonna dig this~
Wednesday Dec. 6th. Parked the car in town at “Slimmins” for $15 for the day & take the passenger ferry to Charlotte Amalie. Walked around a bit trying to find that dollar bus to get to the airport, but the locals didn't seem to want to share that information with us, so we hailed a cab. Was real excited to see the girls & they were soo happy to be greeted by some refreshing punch....or two! We took a cab downtown to Paradise Point & was real upset to find out that we couldn't take the tram up for the $5 fee because we only had a campground key & not a resort key. So we decided to just go back to St. John with the girls instead & go to a nice place to eat with them. So...another cab fee, then on the ferry over to St. John. We stop in to have the girls meet Ruth & she was nice enough to let them use her bathroom store their luggage so we could take them to Woody's. We had a blast at Woody's!! (Look on their website for our pictures) The girls made plans with 2 guys to go snorkeling the next day at Cinnamon, ....yea...right!! Back to pick up the car & head to the campground. All was well, & with enough Rum Punch, the girls had their first night in Paradise!! (Oh....Stephanie is 22 & Lindsay is 17)
Hang on....almost done!!!
Thursday....Up early to get Lindsay ready for her Senior Picture appointment with Susanna. We forgot to think of 'lil things...like after the cold shower, no one brought a hair dryer or curling iron! But after we saw the pictures, we realized those things weren't needed after all! Susanna spent a good 2hs. taking the most awesome photos! And while she was busy, her boyfriend was our personal guide of the grounds. They suggested us go to Salt Pond for the afternoon. Good choice!! We had to laugh on the way there, cuz the girls remembered their dates.....as we passed them on the road to the beach!!
Stopped at Skinny's for lunch. Was a bit ~sticker shocked~ to see a cheeseburger for $9...but after tasting it, we all agreed, it was worth it!!
Back to the campground & sat on the beach watching the moon on the right, & the storm brewing on the left....way cool!
Awoke the next morning to a whole lotta of rain going on....I'm talking puddles & everything!!
Had to hang out inside for a while, watching the donkey's, then off to town to do what everyone said to do when it rains....SHOP! Great idea!!
note to self....roads are not fun to drive on when wet!!
Back at the beach,we decided to rent a couple kayaks & see how many times we could tip them!! Not bad...only a few blisters!
The girls wanted to do something real fun on the last night....like really party....yea, right! We took them to the “Treehouse” at the campground to eat & they made their own fun. Had a blast with a couple cabbies! I was told that a certain chef makes the best barbecue chicken, so I hunted him down & pleaded with him to make us all some. It was well worth it...best I've ever had!! We would go back just for that!!
Saturday Dec. 9th.....Trip back home...YUK.
We wanted to make the most of the day....so we headed out early. The traffic in St. Thomas was AWEFULL.
It took us way too long to get from Sapphire Beach across to Charlotte Amalie. I don't remember it being this bad last time!
Had to get some more shopping in...& Stephanie had to meet up with a school mate that just moved to St. Thomas a couple months ago. She loves it there & wants Seph to come move there with her!Steph is in school till May, then I'm sure she will head back down, she loved it that much! Was kinda thinking she may not get on the plane with us!
Off to the airport.
We get on the plane & Steph takes out her homework to work on, when out jumps a cockroach!!!
We laughed out a....off, then started wondering how many more we were bringing home! Decided to put out luggage in the freezing garage when we get home B4 we bring it in the house.
Get to Chicago to stay overnight again & call the number for the free shuttle....they tell us to go to the bus stop.....WHERE!??!
By the time we finally get a shuttle to get us back, it's 1:30am!!! (Our flight go in at 10:40pm) Was NOT happy campers by now!
THEN...get up late the next day to find that our car has a dead battery!!
We are now convinced that we should just go back to St. John!! We just are NOT meant to be back home!!
So...that's about all I can remember.... the good & bad!
It's been awaful since we got back....remembering the trip. We all want to go back soo bad!! We would probably NOT stay on St. Thomas again....well, maybe Sapphire, but definetly want soo bad to go back to St. John...but not camping! I was not a big fan of that....I still have scars from all the bites I got.
Great report! Sounds like you had many adventures to remember forever. We head down in 7 days, and will keep your good times going!
Thanks for the report! I agree about STT to crowded, traffic is bad and beaches were not impressive. We spent a day at Sapphire & yes, the place is run down but it was the least crowded that day. Water was full of seaweed & rocks. Have to say Bolongo Bay was much less crowded & loved Iggies at night. If your on ST go there! Or like us just take the ferry to STJ each day 🙂
Great trip report sitter! We had the same trouble with the hotel shuttle bus stop last time! The hotel didn't mention anything about the change or that we should simply follow the arrows mapped on the floor to the appropriate place. We made the mistake of asking directions from airport personnel. That sent us outside without coats in the blizzard that Chicago had at the beginning of December! Had we just followed the arrows on the floor it wouldn't have been a problem, but we weren't thinking clearly at midnight. I think we were too depressed about leaving St. John - we couldn't see the forest for the trees. ha ha! We leave for St. John next Sunday and I cannot wait to leave this sub-zero Iowa weather behind! 🙂
Sitter, is that "Pam from WI"..........Water Island? or Wisconsin?
Sorry rojako....it's WISCONSIN....I only can dream I would be living on Water Island!!
Dam...I knew I shoulda played that lottery last week!!
sitter, ok. glad I asked. There is a Pam that lives on WI (Water Island) across from my home there. Of course, pretty common name. But, thought I would check as I hadn't heard that 'my' Pam had gone back to the States. Stay warm up there in WI.
Hi Pam! I haven't been reading the forum since November so took a chance that I could find something from you. Sounds like a great trip. I'll email soon. We haven't rescheduled our trip, maybe next year.
How funny you met someone who lives so close to you! Why was that guy alone at the Wyndham? Did the fiance not fly in with him? Or did she stand him up, and that's why he was sloshed? 😉 I bet the senior pics look AWESOME!
We took a cab downtown to Paradise Point & was real upset to find out that we couldn't take the tram up for the $5 fee because we only had a campground key & not a resort key.
Do you get a discount for being at a resort? If so, wish we'd known! We spent a lot of money on that tram! It was fun though. 🙂
Thank you, Sitter. How did I miss your report, initially? Sorry you didn't see the iguanas at Sapphire. They are still there. I saw them around 2/23.
And sorry you got caugh in traffic on STT. Gotta teach you the Northside routes - follwing along the empty roads with the down island views. Een if you're just ging to STJ ferry. South side and central roads aren't going to put you into a limin' state of mind, m'son.
