Carib Mark
05-21-2008, 03:10 PM
Well, it was back to my second home of St John again and now that I'm back a few notes. (See 1 bag limit in other forum, that was a hassle.)
Times are tough all over and it is true in paradise as well. We thought fuel prices were high at $4.21-4.47 until we realized we were paying $4.02 in 2005 there, and now the prices have almost caught up in the states. The cost of staples is also up especially if you like things not local ($4.47 for Kraft salad dressing, $15 for a case of Coke), but Cruzan rum is still only $5.99 a bottle! Also, the weather is warming up faster than usual in the mid 80's in May. But the seas are cool so far and that makes for nice breezes and better conditions for the coral.
We have decided that although the east, Coral Bay end is more genteel, laid back, whatever...we are more Cruz Bay types. Sunrise at 5 AM, the lack of sea sunsets, a bank, the Post Office, and older residents are not our thing. So we put a parcel of land up for sale and in time when it sells (a glut of sales with no buyers there too) may buy a house on the west end.
Also, we took the Reef Bay trail hike this trip. Call the Parks Office (#'s on the web) and reserve a tour in advance. You meet at 9 AM at their office, taxi $6/ person to the top of the trail and get a guided hike with about 30 people down the valley. Deana was great! She taught us about bugs, animals, Indians, history, settlers, we saw the ptroglyphs the Taino left and the sugar mills. At the bottom, a quick swim at Reef Bay and a $15 boat ride back to your car. Where your suit under your clothes and bring water and lunch because you stop along the way on this 4 hour tour. Where proper hiking footwear, not flip flops, and carry water shoes because Reef Bay is a bit rocky
Recommendations:
Happy Hour-Still Woody's, not just $1 off, but $1 domestics and well drinks and a lot of fun that spreads onto the street. No view but fun! And yummmmy sharkbites and seafood pasta.
Bar with a view - Beach Bar, although the Terrace is very nice at sunset.
Bar with a burger - Skinny Legs A dive and a half with the nicest rudest waitresses.
Lunch - Shipwreck Landing Dinners are hit and miss and fritters are more cornmeal than anything, but the fish n chips and fish taco's are amazing. (p.s. Amazingly, we tried the conch fritters at Hotters in Havensight in St Thomas one day...fantastic!!!)
Dinner - Las Tapas- Delicious modern latin dishes and the best wine list. Ask for Serena, a friend and a wonderful waitress.
Dinner also ran - Sweet Plaintains - Island food flavors with a modern twist...if the mosquitos aren't biting.
Filling Dinner - Wednesday all you can eat peel and eat shrimp at the Lime Inn.
Groceries - The new food market near the Red Hook docks in St Thomas or Cost-U-Less also St Thomas. But if you must on St John, Starfish still has it going at a price. And people, don't piss and moan about $28 for a case of Aquafina. It's bottle by Coke and shipped in!!! Buy the gallons of local bottled water, it's great and $1.50 a gallon. Fill your own smaller bottle from this for the beachand freeze it daily.
Best drink - Bushwackers at the Beach Bar...whew!!!!
Best Beer - Carib (The Virgin Islands Brewery is great and so are there beers. They're made in Portland, Maine though and you know what that shipping does to prices.)
Best Beach - I'm not telling. Find your own. There's plenty to go around but this needs to stay secret.
Best snorkel boat - Serena Sea in Coral Bay. Capt. Nina is a down to earth sweetheart. She cares about her passengers and helps you find huge sea turtles!!!
Best to avoid - Motorscooters and cycles. These are mountain raods with bizarre switchbacks and dirt at the turns. Add a little rain and you'll have some amazing road rash.
Best time - 6:30 in Cruz Bay...here comes the green flash.
Best Shopping - Wharfside is getting a bit run down (rents?) but Mongoose Junction is great. Free parking (don't abuse it!) nice shops, the Natl Park Store, The Brewery, and a nice gift shop, Island Fancy. Get a Xmas ornament. Also, Pink Papaya near the Lime Inn has those metal lizards, turtles and fish every house has!
Cheapest Shopping - Fantasia Gifts - In the park near the ferry. Reasonable prices on shirts, gifts and stuff for folks back home. Tacky but...
Best Car Rental - Amalie Rent a Car - St Thomas They will meet you at baggage with your A/C'ed Jeep ready to go and meet you there at the end. Call Ms. Constantine or go online, then load your food at CostU Less and barge it to St John. Careful, last barge is at 7PM !!!!!
Best Bar B Q - Uncle Joe - Worth the wait with a cold Carib while you smell it and the sauce...mmmmm
Best Villa Rental - Viva villas
Best Real Estate - Well, the piece of land I'm selling of course! Coral Bay and BVI views on the mountainside... Oh and Islandia Realty
Best time of year - Anything from Nov - July Too hot otherwise.
Times are tough all over and it is true in paradise as well. We thought fuel prices were high at $4.21-4.47 until we realized we were paying $4.02 in 2005 there, and now the prices have almost caught up in the states. The cost of staples is also up especially if you like things not local ($4.47 for Kraft salad dressing, $15 for a case of Coke), but Cruzan rum is still only $5.99 a bottle! Also, the weather is warming up faster than usual in the mid 80's in May. But the seas are cool so far and that makes for nice breezes and better conditions for the coral.
We have decided that although the east, Coral Bay end is more genteel, laid back, whatever...we are more Cruz Bay types. Sunrise at 5 AM, the lack of sea sunsets, a bank, the Post Office, and older residents are not our thing. So we put a parcel of land up for sale and in time when it sells (a glut of sales with no buyers there too) may buy a house on the west end.
Also, we took the Reef Bay trail hike this trip. Call the Parks Office (#'s on the web) and reserve a tour in advance. You meet at 9 AM at their office, taxi $6/ person to the top of the trail and get a guided hike with about 30 people down the valley. Deana was great! She taught us about bugs, animals, Indians, history, settlers, we saw the ptroglyphs the Taino left and the sugar mills. At the bottom, a quick swim at Reef Bay and a $15 boat ride back to your car. Where your suit under your clothes and bring water and lunch because you stop along the way on this 4 hour tour. Where proper hiking footwear, not flip flops, and carry water shoes because Reef Bay is a bit rocky
Recommendations:
Happy Hour-Still Woody's, not just $1 off, but $1 domestics and well drinks and a lot of fun that spreads onto the street. No view but fun! And yummmmy sharkbites and seafood pasta.
Bar with a view - Beach Bar, although the Terrace is very nice at sunset.
Bar with a burger - Skinny Legs A dive and a half with the nicest rudest waitresses.
Lunch - Shipwreck Landing Dinners are hit and miss and fritters are more cornmeal than anything, but the fish n chips and fish taco's are amazing. (p.s. Amazingly, we tried the conch fritters at Hotters in Havensight in St Thomas one day...fantastic!!!)
Dinner - Las Tapas- Delicious modern latin dishes and the best wine list. Ask for Serena, a friend and a wonderful waitress.
Dinner also ran - Sweet Plaintains - Island food flavors with a modern twist...if the mosquitos aren't biting.
Filling Dinner - Wednesday all you can eat peel and eat shrimp at the Lime Inn.
Groceries - The new food market near the Red Hook docks in St Thomas or Cost-U-Less also St Thomas. But if you must on St John, Starfish still has it going at a price. And people, don't piss and moan about $28 for a case of Aquafina. It's bottle by Coke and shipped in!!! Buy the gallons of local bottled water, it's great and $1.50 a gallon. Fill your own smaller bottle from this for the beachand freeze it daily.
Best drink - Bushwackers at the Beach Bar...whew!!!!
Best Beer - Carib (The Virgin Islands Brewery is great and so are there beers. They're made in Portland, Maine though and you know what that shipping does to prices.)
Best Beach - I'm not telling. Find your own. There's plenty to go around but this needs to stay secret.
Best snorkel boat - Serena Sea in Coral Bay. Capt. Nina is a down to earth sweetheart. She cares about her passengers and helps you find huge sea turtles!!!
Best to avoid - Motorscooters and cycles. These are mountain raods with bizarre switchbacks and dirt at the turns. Add a little rain and you'll have some amazing road rash.
Best time - 6:30 in Cruz Bay...here comes the green flash.
Best Shopping - Wharfside is getting a bit run down (rents?) but Mongoose Junction is great. Free parking (don't abuse it!) nice shops, the Natl Park Store, The Brewery, and a nice gift shop, Island Fancy. Get a Xmas ornament. Also, Pink Papaya near the Lime Inn has those metal lizards, turtles and fish every house has!
Cheapest Shopping - Fantasia Gifts - In the park near the ferry. Reasonable prices on shirts, gifts and stuff for folks back home. Tacky but...
Best Car Rental - Amalie Rent a Car - St Thomas They will meet you at baggage with your A/C'ed Jeep ready to go and meet you there at the end. Call Ms. Constantine or go online, then load your food at CostU Less and barge it to St John. Careful, last barge is at 7PM !!!!!
Best Bar B Q - Uncle Joe - Worth the wait with a cold Carib while you smell it and the sauce...mmmmm
Best Villa Rental - Viva villas
Best Real Estate - Well, the piece of land I'm selling of course! Coral Bay and BVI views on the mountainside... Oh and Islandia Realty
Best time of year - Anything from Nov - July Too hot otherwise.