Comments on: Pop Quiz: How’d you find St. John? http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/ News, Muse and Reviews Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:57:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Michele http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2218 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:45:27 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2218 In '98 my Hubby and I decided we could afford our first "island" vacation. We searched for info and were told by a business associate about this little island called St. John. After some research we booked our first trip staying at the Westin. I can remember each first (the first time I saw the island from the ferry, the first time we went into Cruz Bay, etc.) like it was yesterday. During that week I broke the rental jeep, was extremely sunburned, stung by a full nest worth of bees, cut up by barbed wire fence and, last but not least, fell and was road burned from head to toe. Despite all of this, it was the best 7 days of my life. I figured it was just part of the charm. I cried for days when I left STJ. I have returned every year since (staying at villa's) knowing full well that when I arrived I would have an advanture at hand. Did you ever see someone get shot on STJ - I did!!! Boy, the stories I could tell. There is truly no place like STJ! In ‘98 my Hubby and I decided we could afford our first “island” vacation. We searched for info and were told by a business associate about this little island called St. John. After some research we booked our first trip staying at the Westin. I can remember each first (the first time I saw the island from the ferry, the first time we went into Cruz Bay, etc.) like it was yesterday. During that week I broke the rental jeep, was extremely sunburned, stung by a full nest worth of bees, cut up by barbed wire fence and, last but not least, fell and was road burned from head to toe. Despite all of this, it was the best 7 days of my life. I figured it was just part of the charm. I cried for days when I left STJ. I have returned every year since (staying at villa’s) knowing full well that when I arrived I would have an advanture at hand. Did you ever see someone get shot on STJ - I did!!! Boy, the stories I could tell. There is truly no place like STJ!

]]> by: Pat http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2174 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 02:36:01 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2174 Our first visit to the VI's was to St Thomas in 1987. We wanted to take a day sail and hooked up with a boat out of Cruz Bay. After the sail we wondered around Cruz Bay, stayed for dinner, and decided to return to check out some of the beaches we passed during the sail. So the next day we came back and went to Hawksnest and Trunk, I was hooked. The natural beauty is obvious and unquestionably part of the attraction, but the unrestrained friendliness of all we came in contact with is what started the parade of return trips. We have returned at least once a year since that first sail. Some combination of our five children and four grandchildren have accompanied us on each trip. Now the older "children" occasionally spend time on island and they have even invited us old timers to accompany them, how sweet is that. Our next trip is only three weeks away, we arrive on August 11 for 9 days. Can't wait for Francis Bay, Skinny's, Beach Bar, Woody's, Cafe Roma......... Our first visit to the VI’s was to St Thomas in 1987. We wanted to take a day sail and hooked up with a boat out of Cruz Bay. After the sail we wondered around Cruz Bay, stayed for dinner, and decided to return to check out some of the beaches we passed during the sail. So the next day we came back and went to Hawksnest and Trunk, I was hooked.

The natural beauty is obvious and unquestionably part of the attraction, but the unrestrained friendliness of all we came in contact with is what started the parade of return trips.

We have returned at least once a year since that first sail. Some combination of our five children and four grandchildren have accompanied us on each trip. Now the older “children” occasionally spend time on island and they have even invited us old timers to accompany them, how sweet is that.

Our next trip is only three weeks away, we arrive on August 11 for 9 days. Can’t wait for Francis Bay, Skinny’s, Beach Bar, Woody’s, Cafe Roma………

]]> by: bjh http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2166 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:26:39 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2166 April 1975, a friend who I always traveled with suggested St. John in the VI - her very wild and crazy cousin had just moved there. I arrived in the evening hours a light rain was coming down and I believed I was on the wrong island as no one spoke English or so I thought. I was happy when my friend and her cousin showed up to meet the ferry after I waited in the park for awhile which seemed hours. The cousin was driving a mini moke, an open-sided built vehicle that resembles an early miniature Jeep or dune buggy. Off we went in the rain and dirt, gravel roads with thick bush on each side. I knew then this was sure to be a start of my "Adventures in Paradise" maybe good maybe not. The next morning, I awoke to a very strange animal noise, a honking sound, but not geese. Everyone in the household was asleep, I cautiously opened the door of the quaint island cottage perched on a mountain top. The scene was of a male peacock opening his tale feathers like a large, colorful fan - standing on the edge of a cliff, the sun was coming up over the turquoise Caribbean sea. I will NEVER forget that scene as it is a permanent video embedded in my memory. That had me hooked on St. John. I became a full time resident in 1980. I was right about my Adventures in Paradise for 27 years "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it ws the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. April 1975, a friend who I always traveled with suggested St. John in the VI - her very wild and crazy cousin had just moved there. I arrived in the evening hours a light rain was coming down and I believed I was on the wrong island as no one spoke English or so I thought. I was happy when my friend and her cousin showed up to meet the ferry after I waited in the park for awhile which seemed hours. The cousin was driving a mini moke, an open-sided built vehicle that resembles an early miniature Jeep or dune buggy. Off we went in the rain and dirt, gravel roads with thick bush on each side. I knew then this was sure to be a start of my “Adventures in Paradise” maybe good maybe not. The next morning, I awoke to a very strange animal noise, a honking sound, but not geese. Everyone in the household was asleep, I cautiously opened the door of the quaint island cottage perched on a mountain top. The scene was of a male peacock opening his tale feathers like a large, colorful fan - standing on the edge of a cliff, the sun was coming up over the turquoise Caribbean sea. I will NEVER forget that scene as it is a permanent video embedded in my memory. That had me hooked on St. John. I became a full time resident in 1980. I was right about my Adventures in Paradise for 27 years “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it ws the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.

]]> by: Red Rhumb http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2162 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:22:55 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2162 We have spent a lot of time in the islands, but never the VI. In 2003, friends set up a trip to St John. We spent 10 days falling in love with the island. As the ferry was taking us back to St Thomas and our flight to the states, my wife got teary-eyed and didn't want to leave. I felt the same way. We've seen a lot of friends, family and acquaintances that worked hard all of their lives, planning for a retirement that never happened. Too many 48 year-olds with heart attacks and people with incapacitating strokes or some variation of getting hit by that bus. I got to thinking about our plans to someday retire somewhere tropical. I thought, maybe we don't need to wait - maybe we should go now. We're smart people, we could make it work. When we got back to Connecticut, I booked another trip to St John for the two of us. A couple of months later, we were stepping off of the ferry from Red Hook. We felt like we were back home. We spent a lot of time exploring the island, talking to people, checking out the real estate market, and questioning ourselves if this was just a fling or the real deal. A few days before we headed back north, we came to the conclusion that St John was where we truly wanted to spend the rest of our lives. This was in spite of having reading various blogs and web sites detailing the trials and tribulations of other lovesick soles that were building on St John. Of course, we would learn from all of their mistakes and have a much easier time with our build. We're smart people. On our next trip "home", we started looking at properties. We bought a trusty little Suzuki that gets us over impossible roads (road being an embellishment - goat path is closer to the mark for most of them). A friend pointed out a boat for sale in Coral Harbor. We bought it to use as a base camp (floating condo) and to sail around to explore other islands. Of course the sailing part required "a little work", but that's another story (and yes, he's still a friend). After several more trips and looking at 48 differentr properties all over the island, we finally found a parcel above Coral Bay that we could call our own. We are now completing our site and building plans for submission to the permit process this fall. Hopefully, we'll be able to start work on our modest home in earnest by next spring. Our plan is to become full-time residents in about two years or so. We know it will take a lot of effort to accomplish our dream, but we'll get there. After all, we're smart people. We have spent a lot of time in the islands, but never the VI. In 2003, friends set up a trip to St John. We spent 10 days falling in love with the island. As the ferry was taking us back to St Thomas and our flight to the states, my wife got teary-eyed and didn’t want to leave. I felt the same way.

We’ve seen a lot of friends, family and acquaintances that worked hard all of their lives, planning for a retirement that never happened. Too many 48 year-olds with heart attacks and people with incapacitating strokes or some variation of getting hit by that bus. I got to thinking about our plans to someday retire somewhere tropical. I thought, maybe we don’t need to wait - maybe we should go now. We’re smart people, we could make it work. When we got back to Connecticut, I booked another trip to St John for the two of us.

A couple of months later, we were stepping off of the ferry from Red Hook. We felt like we were back home. We spent a lot of time exploring the island, talking to people, checking out the real estate market, and questioning ourselves if this was just a fling or the real deal. A few days before we headed back north, we came to the conclusion that St John was where we truly wanted to spend the rest of our lives. This was in spite of having reading various blogs and web sites detailing the trials and tribulations of other lovesick soles that were building on St John. Of course, we would learn from all of their mistakes and have a much easier time with our build. We’re smart people.

On our next trip “home”, we started looking at properties. We bought a trusty little Suzuki that gets us over impossible roads (road being an embellishment - goat path is closer to the mark for most of them). A friend pointed out a boat for sale in Coral Harbor. We bought it to use as a base camp (floating condo) and to sail around to explore other islands. Of course the sailing part required “a little work”, but that’s another story (and yes, he’s still a friend).

After several more trips and looking at 48 differentr properties all over the island, we finally found a parcel above Coral Bay that we could call our own. We are now completing our site and building plans for submission to the permit process this fall. Hopefully, we’ll be able to start work on our modest home in earnest by next spring. Our plan is to become full-time residents in about two years or so. We know it will take a lot of effort to accomplish our dream, but we’ll get there. After all, we’re smart people.

]]> by: David http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2161 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:12:55 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2161 In 1970 I went on a vacation to San Juan, PR. In those days they had cheap flights to the VI for duty free shopping. I flew over to St. Thomas on the third day to get some cheap rum. Took the local bus around the island to see what was there. You know when I came over the hill at Red Hook and saw St. John, I have to go over there. St. John drew me to it. I had never heard of the Virgin Islands before! I stayed at Cinnamon Bay then the Accommodations Inn (now Cruz Bay Inn...that's a story in itself!) I only went back to the hotel in San Juan the last day to pick up my luggage. It's not only the beauty of the island but also the people living there that drew me back. Perhaps another topic could be interesting local people you've met there.... besides Laluna, Patrina and Lindy... although I got some good one on them too! In 1970 I went on a vacation to San Juan, PR. In those days they had cheap flights to the VI for duty free shopping. I flew over to St. Thomas on the third day to get some cheap rum. Took the local bus around the island to see what was there. You know when I came over the hill at Red Hook and saw St. John, I have to go over there. St. John drew me to it. I had never heard of the Virgin Islands before! I stayed at Cinnamon Bay then the Accommodations Inn (now Cruz Bay Inn…that’s a story in itself!) I only went back to the hotel in San Juan the last day to pick up my luggage. It’s not only the beauty of the island but also the people living there that drew me back.
Perhaps another topic could be interesting local people you’ve met there…. besides Laluna, Patrina and Lindy… although I got some good one on them too!

]]> by: heather http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2137 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:48:45 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2137 A coworker/friend recommended STJ for a honeymoon trip. We went in September 2000, for 5 days--not long enough!! Fell in love with the island! We talked our neighbors into going back with us in 2002 for 10 days--they are also now hooked. We now have small children, and haven't been back since then, but are already planning a trip for 2010 (again with our neighbors) to celebrate our 10th anniversaries--we can't wait!! We love STJ!! A coworker/friend recommended STJ for a honeymoon trip. We went in September 2000, for 5 days–not long enough!! Fell in love with the island! We talked our neighbors into going back with us in 2002 for 10 days–they are also now hooked. We now have small children, and haven’t been back since then, but are already planning a trip for 2010 (again with our neighbors) to celebrate our 10th anniversaries–we can’t wait!! We love STJ!!

]]> by: sam http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2105 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:35:54 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2105 1996. We arrived as many others, on the Jolly Mon day sail excursion to Honeymoon, skipping yet another shopping tour for an adventure of a different sort. The dream was born, our search over. 1997. Jim Labrenz smiled as he handed yet another smitten couple off to his newest agent. 1998. We stand on the platform overlooking Coral Bay, knowing someday, someday we WILL be here. The ink on the purchase agreement is barely dry. The dream takes shape. 1999 - now. We come every year to get our fix. Honey drips on my chin after biting into Vi's Johnnycake. Donkeys bray at our approach down the Lameshur Trail to Europa. Mongoose scuttles across the road. The racket from the trees at 5 am. Feeding the Bananquits from your hand. Reef Bay. These are the things that are fixed in our minds. Six more years. Then we break ground. The dream lives. We cannot wait to insinuate our souls into the fabric of this island. Just six more years. See the last 50 entries? They all understand. They all have the passion. Once it gets you it will never let go. 1996. We arrived as many others, on the Jolly Mon day sail excursion to Honeymoon, skipping yet another shopping tour for an adventure of a different sort. The dream was born, our search over.
1997. Jim Labrenz smiled as he handed yet another smitten couple off to his newest agent.
1998. We stand on the platform overlooking Coral Bay, knowing someday, someday we WILL be here. The ink on the purchase agreement is barely dry. The dream takes shape.
1999 - now. We come every year to get our fix. Honey drips on my chin after biting into Vi’s Johnnycake. Donkeys bray at our approach down the Lameshur Trail to Europa. Mongoose scuttles across the road. The racket from the trees at 5 am. Feeding the Bananquits from your hand. Reef Bay. These are the things that are fixed in our minds. Six more years. Then we break ground. The dream lives. We cannot wait to insinuate our souls into the fabric of this island. Just six more years.
See the last 50 entries? They all understand. They all have the passion. Once it gets you it will never let go.

]]> by: beautiful_stj http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2096 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:05:16 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2096 Husband had been bareboating in the area for 30 years - had always been intrigued with STJ. After we met he took me on a romantic trip to Caneel. Loved it! Then we went back a few more times and stayed in villas all over the island. Loved it more! Impulsively bought a villa together, luckily before the prices went insane. Got married on STJ with all our friends coming down, many for the first time. Come down 2-3 times a year for a month or so at a time. It's not enough! Husband had been bareboating in the area for 30 years - had always been intrigued with STJ. After we met he took me on a romantic trip to Caneel. Loved it! Then we went back a few more times and stayed in villas all over the island. Loved it more! Impulsively bought a villa together, luckily before the prices went insane. Got married on STJ with all our friends coming down, many for the first time. Come down 2-3 times a year for a month or so at a time. It’s not enough!

]]> by: Waterguy http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2093 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:24:23 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2093 Back in 96 we were on a crusie when we went over to STJ fell in love with it. After that we would be up as soon as the gang plank touch down so we could spend as much time there as possible. We never thought of staying there always though we couldn't afford it. Then we met some people that own a couple of villas on it they had us down. As my wife got sicker they had a open inventation to come down when ever she felt up to it. No matter what she had gone thru or how she feltbefore we got on the plane when we step off she was like a new woman. we were there 5 times in 2005 and 2 in 2006 before she died. I'll never be able to repay them for whet they have done for us. Now just have to get back twice a year isn't enough. Back in 96 we were on a crusie when we went over to STJ fell in love with it. After that we would be up as soon as the gang plank touch down so we could spend as much time there as possible. We never thought of staying there always though we couldn’t afford it. Then we met some people that own a couple of villas on it they had us down. As my wife got sicker they had a open inventation to come down when ever she felt up to it. No matter what she had gone thru or how she feltbefore we got on the plane when we step off she was like a new woman. we were there 5 times in 2005 and 2 in 2006 before she died. I’ll never be able to repay them for whet they have done for us. Now just have to get back twice a year isn’t enough.

]]> by: Rob http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2091 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:09:04 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2091 We wereon a cruise in January 2000, and while docked in STT, EXTREMELY reluctantly took the ferry over to STJ. We fell in love on the spot and gave consideration to moving. We waited until I'd accumulated enough FF Miles to go and did for the first time in 2004. The rest is history We wereon a cruise in January 2000, and while docked in STT, EXTREMELY reluctantly took the ferry over to STJ.

We fell in love on the spot and gave consideration to moving.

We waited until I’d accumulated enough FF Miles to go and did for the first time in 2004. The rest is history

]]> by: chrisn http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2090 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:22:39 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2090 I LOVE these stories! In 2002, we took our kids on a 7 Night Disney Cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. One of the stops was STT. Through research, I knew the thing to do was take the ferry over and see Trunk Bay. Well because of northern swells, all of the cruise trips were cancelled but I didn't care. We grabbed our stuff and the kids and took a taxi to the ferry dock. From the moment the dock came into view I just knew it was my special place. We had a taxi drive us to Trunk and the overlooks just took my breath away. With each passing curve I fell deeper under it's spell. Trunk was unbelievably gorgeous and deserted with big swells and hardly any beach but I didn't care. I was in the moment. We stayed as long as we possibly could then had the taxi drive us back to the ferry dock. I cried cause I didn't want to leave and made Honey promise that we'd come back for an island stay. I left a piece of my heart there that day. I've never felt that way about any other island. We are on our way back in June of 08 for our 3rd visit and am busy wishing my life away hoping it will come sooner. St John is it for me. I LOVE these stories! In 2002, we took our kids on a 7 Night Disney Cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. One of the stops was STT. Through research, I knew the thing to do was take the ferry over and see Trunk Bay.

Well because of northern swells, all of the cruise trips were cancelled but I didn’t care. We grabbed our stuff and the kids and took a taxi to the ferry dock. From the moment the dock came into view I just knew it was my special place.

We had a taxi drive us to Trunk and the overlooks just took my breath away. With each passing curve I fell deeper under it’s spell. Trunk was unbelievably gorgeous and deserted with big swells and hardly any beach but I didn’t care. I was in the moment.

We stayed as long as we possibly could then had the taxi drive us back to the ferry dock. I cried cause I didn’t want to leave and made Honey promise that we’d come back for an island stay. I left a piece of my heart there that day. I’ve never felt that way about any other island.

We are on our way back in June of 08 for our 3rd visit and am busy wishing my life away hoping it will come sooner.

St John is it for me.

]]> by: liamsaunt http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2089 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:07:17 +0000 http://www.on-stjohn.com/2007/07/14/pop-quiz-howd-you-find-st-john/#comment-2089 We used to go to Bermuda every yeat until 2003, when a hurricane came through and destroyed our hotel about 20 days before the trip. John's passport was expired so we had to find a place we could go with just his birth certificate. One of my coworkers told me that she had a friend that camped at Cinnamon Bay and loved it, so we took a chance and made last minute plans to come down. We knew nothing at all about the island. Thank goodness for the copy of feet fins and four wheel drive someone left in our rental jeep! That first trip was scheduled for 10 days, but we fell in love with St. John and extended for another 4 days. We came back for two weeks in June ’04, then 2 ½ weeks in July ’05, 2 ½ weeks in June ’06, and 20 days in May/June 07. Last night we finalized plans for a week in October, and we are already talking about making it 10 days instead. We are hooked on St. John, and have not been back to Bermuda at all! We used to go to Bermuda every yeat until 2003, when a hurricane came through and destroyed our hotel about 20 days before the trip. John’s passport was expired so we had to find a place we could go with just his birth certificate.

One of my coworkers told me that she had a friend that camped at Cinnamon Bay and loved it, so we took a chance and made last minute plans to come down. We knew nothing at all about the island. Thank goodness for the copy of feet fins and four wheel drive someone left in our rental jeep!

That first trip was scheduled for 10 days, but we fell in love with St. John and extended for another 4 days. We came back for two weeks in June ’04, then 2 ½ weeks in July ’05, 2 ½ weeks in June ’06, and 20 days in May/June 07. Last night we finalized plans for a week in October, and we are already talking about making it 10 days instead.

We are hooked on St. John, and have not been back to Bermuda at all!

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