Day 4: Baby, you can drive my car

Travel discussion for St. John
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mbw1024
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Day 4: Baby, you can drive my car

Post by mbw1024 »

Yes, a STJ first, I drove the car!

Monday 11/26/07. As I told Pia at the Beach Bar today this would be the day where I felt like I could really just exhale. We liked Gallows and those few days in town but as I said to Charlie during the week I'm not 100% sold on the 2 different locations in one trip. I don't really feel I'm on vacation until I'm settled in the villa. Living out of a bag drives me crazy!

This morning was leisurely with coffee and cereal on the deck. Really, is there a better way to start the day?
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I managed to pull myself away from the deck eventually and got ready to head out on the roads. We had never been out beyond Island Blues before so today we decided to head out to Salt Pond. Jorge keeps saying how horrible it is there but I figure what does a boy from Blacksburg, Va. know anyway? I'm going to go see for myself :wink:

Really had no idea where we were going - sure I had the guide books but those were in the villa and I was in the jeep now! We passed a lot of things along the way I hadn't seen before - there's Aqua Bistro and Sweet Plantains and Miss Lucy's and Concordia. Ok, where the heck is Salt Pond. Here are some cars in a lot, Charlie pull in! No sign on the road but I see the trail down and a sign that says "do not leave valuables in vehicles" and I figure yup, this has got to be it! There is sign but you have to go down the trail to see it - if it wasn't Salt Pond you were looking for that's a long walk back!
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We parked ourselves not far from the trail and hit the water. There were maybe 5 people scattered across that long beach. After a while we took the walk across to head over to Drunk Bay. This is the look back across the beach from farthest away from the trail
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This way to Drunk
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I really enjoyed this walk. And it's a walk it is not a hike by any means. More my speed than Ram Head :)
And it is a very interesting place to check out. A whole different landscape then other places I have seen on island. I don't know if it is always the case but it was SUPER windy on Drunk - my hat went flying at one point but I was able to chase it down. The wind made for some cool waves crashing on the rocks.

Along the trail
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We're here
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We checked out the different rock formations for a while, took a gajillion pictures and then headed back to Salt where we continued to froclick in the water.

I should have warned you in the beginning but there will be no underwater photos in this report! Sorry folks. I think I discovered on this trip that I'm just not a snorkeler. Charlie's not a good swimmer and doesn't really have the confidence to try it and I don't blame him for it at all. He gave us both a good scare in Maine a few years back so I don't push him. He's not a great swimmer, I'm not a great hiker, we know our limitiations :)
If he did the snorkle thing I'm sure I would get in to it but I'm not going it alone out there. I'm ok with that.

So, back to my story. We eventually packed things up and headed back up the trail. Hmm...MUCH easier going down hill! LOL but not too bad. Up in the parking lot there was a gang ready to head down the hill and one guy was trying to convince another not to take the cooler down. Well, he would not hear off it so off he went carrying his cooler. I hope for his sake it was empty on the way up 8)

We liked Salt Pond a lot. I knew Jorge didn't know what he was talking about ;)

I volunteered to drive from Salt Pond. I started out with the white knuckle grip but I relaxed after a few minutes. Easy to relax when there is NO ONE on the road! We decided to take a look around the plaza where Aqua Bistro is - can't recall the name now. I forgot that Misquito Bites changed names so we stopped in Big Belly Deli for some sandwiches to take back to the villa and we hit Lily's Market for a few things we forgot at Starfish. Lily's is really a very nice place if you haven't checked it out before.

Lunch. Charlie had the belly buster (every Italian meat and cheese known to man) and I ordered the Basil, tomato and fresh mozzarella. Oops, JUST ran out of basil on the last sandwich. That's ok just give me cheese and tomato and oh heck throw on some salami. Very good!
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I continued driving all the way back to the villa. I did pretty good and Pia would be proud as I pulled over somewhere on Centerline to let a patient local pass me :)

Back at the villa we had lunch and spent the afternoon playing in the pool. Charlie decided to fire up the blender for a few rounds of "Charlie's 3 Rum Banana Coconut Surprise". The surprise part hits you after the first 2 or 3 :)
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Fun with fountains
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We were in the pool until sunset.
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The "surprise" cocktails made for an interesting ride to the Caneel Grand Buffet! :) We probably should have planned that better but oh well... too late now! One curb and a bit of dyslexia on our lefts and rights we were at Caneel.

I really love this property. Everyone has their opinions on it but that's mine. I love it. I don't want to spend my whole time there I don't think but I would like to stay there again and I know I will visit every time I'm on the island.
The buffet was lovely but it is pricey and not for everyone at $69.00 a person. We enjoyed the experience. Can't say I would do it every time but we were glad we did. There was a steel drum player which was very enjoyable for dinner and the atmosphere and the service made for a great evening.
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Bananas Foster
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Oh and here's a picture I forgot to include in day 3. Our fridge stocked up at the villa. Does anything seem out of balance here????? ;)

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islandgirl
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Post by islandgirl »

:lol: :lol: yooo hoooooo fanastic pics and you drove the car. :D :D hubbie always drove around the island. i only drove for maybe 5 minutes in cruz bay. next time though i will go cruzan to the east end. isnt SALT POND so nice and quiet? hmmm missed drunk bay for some reasons..will check that out next time too. really enjoyed your report!!!!!! :wink: :wink:
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Ksea
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Post by Ksea »

Your reports are really good MB and so are all the pictures! Can't wait for those sandwiches and the Drunk Bay Walk! I am not missing the underwater photos as Im not a snorkler either. :wink:
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Grace
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Post by Grace »

I'm a big lurker on this board BUT your food porn pictures were fantastic and I had to tell you how much I'm enjoying your TR and photos. I got so hungry looking at your pictures.

Between flip flops beautiful photos of her sweet son and mini flip flop I'm having a great week with these TR. Love the Trip reports, you learn so much.

Questions for you, those deli sandwiches (Big Belly Deli) looked so good were they?

Was your pool heated or just warmed by the sun? Did you get sun all day?

Thanks Mary Beth. Love the way you write :D
Connie
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Post by Connie »

Loving your trip report...from the looks of that food porn at Caneel...69.00 doesn't seem to bad. Saw lobster, shrimp, crablegs...sounds like a good price!
"Paradise...it's a state of mine"
jmq
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Post by jmq »

OK, so now it is all making sense...no snorkeling, so much more time available to consume mass quantities of liquid refreshments.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
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flip-flop
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Post by flip-flop »

MB - Loving it. Congrats on driving the car. The driving is actually one of my most favorite things to do on stj. I'm weird.

And the fridge stocking seemed just right. It is important to stay hydrated! :P
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sea-nile
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Post by sea-nile »

I love your pictures.
Thanks for another great glimpse into your vacation. :D
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mbw1024
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Post by mbw1024 »

Grace wrote:I'm a big lurker on this board BUT your food porn pictures were fantastic and I had to tell you how much I'm enjoying your TR and photos. I got so hungry looking at your pictures.

Between flip flops beautiful photos of her sweet son and mini flip flop I'm having a great week with these TR. Love the Trip reports, you learn so much.

Questions for you, those deli sandwiches (Big Belly Deli) looked so good were they?

Was your pool heated or just warmed by the sun? Did you get sun all day?

Thanks Mary Beth. Love the way you write :D
Thanks Grace! On your questions yes the sandwiches were excellent. Worth a stop in to the deli.
The pool was only heated by the sun and there was a good breeze all week so it was a little chilly at times but mostly it was just about right!
Kentuckygirl
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Post by Kentuckygirl »

I am loving your reports MaryBeth! I'm glad to hear that the sandwiches at Big Belly Deli were good! They looked good. I had been bummed when Mosquito Bites closed, so this is good news.
Your refrigerator looked in perfect balance to me. 8)
Thanks for the great pictures and reports!
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Chet
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Re: Day 4: Baby, you can drive my car

Post by Chet »

..Our fridge stocked up at the villa. Does anything seem out of balance here?????
Yes. Booze on the left, water and mixers on the right. Keep it simple. Oh, and where is the dark rum - that is soooo wrong!
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

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mbw1024
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Re: Day 4: Baby, you can drive my car

Post by mbw1024 »

Chet wrote:
..Our fridge stocked up at the villa. Does anything seem out of balance here?????
Yes. Booze on the left, water and mixers on the right. Keep it simple. Oh, and where is the dark rum - that is soooo wrong!
It was on the counter not in the fridge. It was one of the rums in the 3 rum surprise!
Pianogrl
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Post by Pianogrl »

Thank you for doing this.....like an earlier poster said, I'm learning so much!
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Pia
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Post by Pia »

Mary Beth I am soooooooo proud of you :D :D :D (wasn't me was it :wink: )

I am loving your reports - how many lobster tails did you have - hopefully more than 1 and do you think it was worth going at least once ??? - I think hubby and I need to do it - the food porn was fabulous and has convinced me, so just need to let hubby look at your TR when he returns from the States - this maybe one of our Christmas restaurants :wink:

Thanks so much for writing - oh and what is in Charlies drink - I need a surprise about now :wink:

Pia
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mbw1024
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Post by mbw1024 »

can you believe I only had one tail??? LOL I should have skipped the prime rib and went with just the tails. For me it was definitely worth doing once. We really enjoyed the evening. I was really lovely.

Not really sure all that was in the surprise but I know it was 3/4 cup of Dark, banana and coconut rums and 3/4 c. coco lopez and I think some other juice but I really don't recall. Oh and some bananas!
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