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Links To The Carribean
Aruba Reviewers
When Visited: April 1994
Pam visited Aruba as part of a Seawind Cruises land/sea package. She flew USAir from Milwaukee to Miami, via Pittsburgh, and transferred to Air Aruba. The total flight took about 12 hours. She chose Aruba, "just (on) a whim, plus the land/sea deal was just too good to pass up." She reports that the weather was in the upper 80's and sunny. The humidity was also very low on this desert island. She says the most notable thing was the wind; "Aruba is a mecca for windsurfers. My visit to Aruba brought home the meaning of 'trade winds'. The wind is so consistent and strong that the Divi Divi trees all grow pointing in the same direction due to the prevailing westerlies. So it is impossible to get lost, just check a divi divi tree. It is as reliable as a compass." Because of the wind, Pam offers some tips on dressing wisely. "Women should not plan on wearing loose, flowing, breezy skirts unless they want to continuously look like the publicity shot of Marilyn Monroe in "The Seven Year Itch." She also suggests choosing the pool over the beach unless you want a total dermabrasion from the blowing sand. Pam stayed at La Cabana All Suite Beach Resort & Casino. It is a good sized resort with a lovely pool, beach access, restaurants and gift shops. While in Aruba, she shopped, snorkeled and took a tour of the island. She indicates that many different island tours are available and are fairly inexpensive. The Arubans recommend against renting a car as the public transit is quite good. Bars and casinos abound on Aruba. Pam does recommend La Petit Cafe as a restaurant that lived up to its reputation. She suggests getting one of the "hot stone" dishes. "I can't wait to go back!", she says. "The island is clean and safe. Everyone made us feel welcome. The natural scenery is breathtaking. The restaurants and nightlife are excellent."If you'd like to find out more information, contact Pam Schmidt.
Bequia Reviewers
When Visited: April 1996
Bequia is a small island that is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and is located in the southeastern Caribbean between Grenada and Guadeloupe. Linda visited Bequia in April 1996 on her continuing quest, "for that perfect stretch of deserted beach." Her flight to Bequia sounds like an adventure in itself. She left St. Louis bound for Atlanta, then connected to San Juan. In San Juan, she boarded LIAT (Lesser Antilles Air Transit or "Leaves Island Any Time") on a flight that took her to Tortola, St. Martin, Antigua, and St. Lucia. She stayed overnight in St. Lucia. The next day she flew to Barbados and on to St. Vincent. In St. Vincent she took a ferry to Bequia. She says that LIAT compensates passengers for any delay in transit with a free meal. By the time she got home, Linda had 3 meals and an overnight stay in San Juan courtesy of LIAT. In Bequia, they stayed in a rental Villa. The weather was warm and wonderful, with the occasional shower and tropical breezes. Activities included taking a day sail to the Tobago Cays for snorkeling and enjoying the beach. Restaurants around Bequia she recommends are The Saltwhistle Bay Club, The Gingerbread House, Frangipani, da Reef, Fernando's, and Coco's. Basil's Bar, and The French Restaurant on St. Vincent are also recommended. She advises you skip The Plantation House on Bequia. She couldn't give any warnings of any particular bar, but does say there are some restrooms to be avoided! Renting a car or changing money is unnecessary on Bequia. The dollar is readily accepted and public transit is cheap and plentiful. Linda found Bequia, "friendly, beautiful, and interesting" and absolutely would go back. If you'd like to find out more information, contact Linda Huebner.
Bermuda Reviewers
When Visited: February 2001
Discovered in the 16th century by Juan de Bermudes, the islands of Bermuda are a temperate paradise situated atop ancient volcanic peaks in the Atlantic. Though there is less than 25 square miles of total land area, Bermuda is home to a vibrant population of people, plants and animals. Having the benefit of visiting the island with a "local", I have been able to experience many of the islands hidden treasures and meet many of the wonderful people. Bermuda is quite different than any of the islands I've been to in the Caribbean. There are no casinos (gambling is illegal) and only one or two bars (namely the Frog and Onion in Dockyard, and the Swizzle Inn right across the causeway from St. Georges) frequented by tourists outside of the hotels and resorts. Maybe it's the rhythmical droning of the native tree frogs or the gentle wash of the surf on the pink sand beaches but the islands seem to drift into sleep early each night. But during the day, there is plenty to keep you busy. Bermuda is kept temperate by the Gulf Stream, which runs between the islands and the United States. The "in season" roughly coincides with the United States. That is, the temperature is warm (above 75) from late April to early November when most people visit, but can get cool (low 70s to mid 50s) the rest of the year. Most of the homes don't have heat, and cruising around on a scooter (the major form of transportation) can get quite cold in the evening. Hamilton and St. Georges are the only two "cities" (and I use the term loosely) on Bermuda, Hamilton being the larger as well as the seat of government. Most of the shopping and dining are in Hamilton, as well as a spectacular view of Hamilton Harbor, but the airport is in St. Georges. Getting around the island is made easy by public transportation. Once you figure out that the blue bus stops will take you towards Hamilton, and the pink stops towards St. George's (or is it the other way around?), you should be able to go anywhere. Taxis are also available, but can get rather pricey (around $25 for a ride to Hamilton from the airport). My recommendation though, is to rent a scooter. Although it may take some time to acclimate yourself to driving on the left and negotiating the narrow roads and traffic circles, there is no better way to see the islands. There are several different public beaches, and some semi private ones for those who are willing to risk the climb, but most people come to see the pink beaches of the south shores. The water temperature is perfect in the summer but, like the air temperature, can get rather chilly (60s - 70s) in the cold months. The diving is absolutely gorgeous, with reef structures and marine life I haven't seen anywhere before. The reefs are the biggest surprise. After seeing the state of most of the coral in the Caribbean, you realize that this is what a real reef should look like. Nautilus Diving, which leaves out of either of the Princess Hotels, comes highly recommended for dive trips. With a little planning, and a careful eye Bermuda can be seen at a relatively low cost. One warning though, once you go, it'll be extremely difficult not to return to year after year. I should know...my 6th trip in 3 years is coming up later this summer. If you'd like to find out more information, contact Bryan Moseley.
Bonaire Reviewers
When Visited: November 1996
Nancy visited the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire in November, 1996. Her travels took her to Tampa, via USAir where she connected with Air Aruba to Aruba, and on to Bonaire. Total travel time was 21 hours but this included some long layovers. She chose Bonaire for its reputation as one of the Caribbean's premier dive spots. Even though she visited during the rainy season, the weather was beautiful during the day, with the rain coming overnight.. She stayed at Divi Flamingo Resort, home of the Peter Hughes Dive Center. Her primary activity on Bonaire was, of course, Diving. She says, "Any boat dive or shore dive is wild!" Bonaire is a leader in underwater ecology. All the sea floor around Bonaire to a depth of 200 feet have been declared an underwater preserve by the government. There aren't a lot of sightseeing opportunities on this mostly desert island. According to Nancy, "The best sights are underwater." She also advises, "Don't go there for beaches there aren't many and they aren't what most people call beaches." Nancy says that a rental car would come in handy, especially for those interested in making shore dives from various entry points around the island. These spots are well marked. Changing currency wasn't necessary as the dollar is widely accepted. Nancy plans to return to Bonaire in November 1997. She comments, "Bonaire is the best diving I've seen. The people are very nice and welcoming. They are extremely concerned about their reefs and expect you to respect them. She offers this travel tip: "Use cable ties for your luggage that way you know if it's been messed with. If you'd like to find out more information, contact Nancy Nutile-McMenemy.
British Virgin Island Reviewers
When Visited: July 1994
Joe and his wife sailed on the Flying Cloud, a 200' barkentine that's part of the Windjammer Fleet, to various islands in the British Virgin Islands. The cruise was 6 days long and stops included Peter Island, Cooper Island, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Tortola. They flew from Cincinnati to Atlanta and on to St. Thomas. In St. Thomas they boarded a ferry that took them into Road Town, Tortola where the Flying Cloud was anchored. Flight time including layovers was about 6 hours. The ferry ride was about 45 minutes. Joe says, "You could fly into the BVI but the ferry ride was a nice way to sightsee. You buzzed right along the southern shore of St. Thomas and the northwest coast of St. John." Joe says, "Ever since I was a kid, I'd wanted to go on a Windjammer Cruise. I remember that used to be the consolation prize on Jeopardy. I thought it looked pretty cool." An aversion to glitzy floorshows and having to dress up for dinner narrowed their choice considerably. "We found that Windjammer was about the only cruise line that didn't make you wear a tie to dinner. Going to the Caribbean and getting dressed up just didn't make any sense to us." Joe's wife was also concerned about seasickness and the Flying Cloud's itinerary offered the best chance for smooth sailing. Thanks to the Transderm patch, she had no bouts of mal de mer. The weather was ideal, cooler than it was in Cincinnati in July! Highs were in the mid 80's. Every day was sunny and breezy. The cabin they had was, "about 9x9 with an upper and lower bunk." Joe reports that the only low spot of the trip was discovering that the entire bathroom WAS the shower and that there was no hot water. On top of that it was a "Navy" style shower where you held a button for water, soaped up, then rinsed. "I thought I was a dead man at that point," he adds, "but she was a good sport and after a day or 2 you didn't notice it." The days activities were very loosely structured. Breakfast was between 7 and 9am. Then the Captain gave a briefing of the days activities and you could go do what ever you felt like. Lunch was at noon. There were two seatings for dinner and you could go to either one. The ship would usually sail from 6am to 10am when she'd anchor. You could visit the island to sightsee, hangout on the beach or just relax on deck. Diving is offered and the various dive shops will come to the ship or your hotel and pick you up. Joe dove on the wreck of the HMS Rhone and found it, "amazing, just what you'd expect a shipwreck to look like." Joe says, "Every island was really cool and a little different from the others." Virgin Gorda was a favorite; "The Baths are amazing. It's a bunch of huge, house-sized boulders scattered along the beach with little pools and grottoes in between." Jost Van Dyke seemed like a perfect island paradise. "We anchored at White Bay. There was a little bar right on the beach with a cooler full of Red Stripe. A more perfect day would be inconceivable." A tour of Tortola is a good idea. "There's a lot of stuff to see and an island tour gives you a good orientation. You've got to visit Cane Garden Bay. Even if it's crowded, it's a beautiful stretch of sand and palm trees." Joe recommends a visit to Rudy's Mariner Inn, on Jost Van Dyke for great, fresh seafood. He also adds that, "The Bath and Turtle is a good spot for lunch on Virgin Gorda. A better bet than Mad Dogs, which is near the Baths and is over priced." Most of the night life on shore is in small bars. "Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke is one of the wonders of the world. It's a collection of shacks built on the sand but by 10 o'clock there must have been 500 people there. It was hoppin'!" You don't need to change currency as the US dollar is the official currency in this British Colony. Renting a car on Virgin Gorda or Tortola is a good idea; "If you've got 3 or 4 people it's cheaper than most tours and you can go at your own pace. The roads aren't bad but can be steep and crooked." Joe says they'd go back in a heartbeat. "If you look up tropical paradise, this is what you'd see." If you'd like to find out more information, contact Your Old Pal Joe.
Grand Cayman Reviewers
When Visited: April 1996
We (Al & Marcia Greengold), went to Grand Cayman in 4/96. We left from
New York City at 10, & arrived at Grand Cayman. at 3. We picked Grand Cayman.
based on neighbors who had been there, & have similar interests (snorkeling,
laying on beach).
The weather was perfect all week, no rain, in the 80's. We stayed at the
Hyatt, one of the nicest hotels we've seen. Here are 2 reservations about the
Hyatt, one, it is not on the beach, (about a 5 min. walk), & 2 the size of the
beach area is too small for the number of rooms. If you go during a peak
time, it's just side by side lounges. We overlapped with the Easter crowd for
1 day, but after that it was fine.
We did a lot of snorkeling, & recommend Fantasea Tours(Capt. Dexter), over
the others. He takes less people, & caters more to snorkelers than divers. There
is not much sightseeing on Grand Cayman., maybe a 1/2 day into town, & another
for a ride all around.
Things not to miss are a trip to Stingray sandbar or Stingray city, catching
the Barefoot Man at the Holiday Inn, & naturally seeing James White at the
Hyatt. One well advertised place(tourist trap) that we went to, & thought
was a waste of time was "Hell". If you have to go more than 5 minutes out
of the way, don't bother.
Food was very good, & there are so many fine restaurants, but we had never
seen prices like this before. Each meal, without drinks, was about $100
(C.I). There are few middle of the road places. It's either fast food, or a
nice, expensive place. We didn't find much night life. We just went back to
the Hyatt & listened to James, and once went to see the Barefoot Man for a
few hours.
You can use US Dollars, but change is given in Cayman Island currency. It's
easier to convert a few hundred at a time, rather than figuring the conversion
rate each time. Try and run out of C.I. money at the end of your trip. The C.I.
Dollar is worth 20% more that the US dollar.
We will go back to Grand Cayman after we've seen more islands, & after we
save up a lot more money. There is no unemployment on Grand Cayman, & no
poverty or crime problems.
The usual books, Fodor's, & Frommers were pretty accurate in their
descriptions & ratings. We also got a lot of info from AOL and the 'net.
For more information, contact Al Greengold
Jamaica Reviewers
When Visited: February 1994
Gordon decided to travel to Jamaica for the most basic of reasons, "because it wasn't Michigan in winter." He stayed at the Grand Lido Hotel in Negril. This is a large, all-inclusive resort. Traveling from Detroit took about 5 hours, with a connection in Tampa. The weather in February was, "...in the low 80's, sunny with some very brief showers." Gordon's activities, other that appreciating the decidedly un-Michigan like weather, were few; hanging out on the beach, swimming, relaxing. They did sail on a yacht formerly owned by Princess Grace of Monaco. He reports that, "most people at the resort stayed there since there were activities (at the resort) and everything was included in the price. "The hotel has a nude beach with a pool, hot tub, and bar as well as a more traditional beach. Those who went nude- a combination of 30ish and 40ish Americans and Europeans-acclimated quickly." He says that sunset at the nearby Rick's Cafe, "is great. There's a pleasant crowd and the Red Stripe beer is good. The prices are reasonable, but because of the exchange rate you'd pay something like $30, Jamaican, for abeer, (which was) a couple of bucks, US." As the Grand Lido is all-inclusive, they ate only at restaurants on the premises, but he adds, "The Piacere restaurant is very nice, but fancy; jackets are required for men. The other eating areas were nice, too, but were less formal." The resort provided entertainment every evening. Gordon comments, "If you like adventure, you could rent a car. The roads are narrow and winding; local drivers zip along on the left side, honking at everyone and everything, such as animals and people walking in the road." Gordon says that if you stayed on the property, no money was necessary. "Tipping is prohibited. All drinks, even alcoholic, are included. Even your laundry and dry cleaning was done at no charge. A manicure or pedicure is also included." He says, "I'd go back tomorrow! It is expensive, but most people we spoke to felt they go their money's worth. It was nice seeing a menu without prices." He describes the Grand Lido as, "Relaxed and elegant." If you'd like to find out more information, contact Gordon Hammerle.
Montserrat Reviewers
When Visited: April 1994
Montserrat is a British Crown Colony located in the Leeward Island group. Our friend David Summers visited there in 1994. He flew to Montserrat from California, via Puerto Rico. He made the connection to Blackburne airport in Montserrat via LIAT in Antigua. The hop from Antigua to Montserrat takes about 15 minutes and there are a variety of charter airlines that make the trip. David chose Montserrat because, "Jimmy Buffett recorded the 'Volcano' album on Montserrat at the now defunct AIR Studios. He also mentions Montserrat on the same album in the song 'Fins'. Pictures of Montserrat, as well as Jimmy and the band can be found on the album jacket. Sting, Elton John, and The Rolling Stones have also recorded there. "Montserrat was also featured in the travel section of my local newspaper. It was touted as a very laid back place for those in need of a real vacation away from stress." He continues, "Montserrat is a tropical island with relatively low humidity. The temperature hovers right around 80 degrees most of the time. Montserrat gets its fair share of rain throughout the year, but most of it falls in the spring and the late summer months. We found that an afternoon rain gave us a great excuse to stop in at a local Rum Shop for a snack and a beer. Of course rum, and sometimes other 'staple' liquors are available. Don't expect a margarita at one of these places, blended or otherwise. These Rum Shops are found all over the island. They are set up right along the road side." Asked about their accommodations, David says, " We spent the first few nights at the Montserrat Springs Hotel. It was nice, but at $160 US per night it was expensive. I believe that there was only one other couple staying at this fifty or so room hotel. It was nice that the entire staff knew us by name, and really bent over backwards making sure we were comfortable and happy. "After those first nights we moved over to Marie Brambles Guest house. We had a nice room with a private bath. The double bed was a little small for two, other than that the accommodations were great. Marie has a full kitchen that has everything necessary (except food) to produce just about any meal you desire. Some of the best times we had on this trip were the group meals that we had with the other guests at the house. "If you are looking for more of a hotel/resort type of lodging I would recommend the Vue Pointe Hotel. It is a little farther off of the beaten path, but it has much more to offer than the Springs Hotel, which is the only other major hotel on the island. There you will find a nice restaurant, and a couple of bars, with evening entertainment. The Vue Pointe also offers private cottages for about $100 US in the low season, which runs through the summer months." "The main reason we selected Montserrat as our travel destination, was the general lack of major tourist facilities. Heck this place doesn't even have a single traffic signal. Waikiki it is not. "The Vue Pointe Hotel does have sailing, and they also offer dive trips. There is a dive shop in Plymouth, which is also the Capitol. They offer rentals as well as gear for sale. Island Bikes has plenty of good quality bicycles for rent. For some unknown reason though, it seems that bicycling is left pretty much to the tourists. "Rendezvous Bay is Montserrat's only white sand beach. It is located on the northern tip of the island. The easiest way to get there is by boat, however it is a nice hike from Little Bay. You can park there, and follow the path that goes up over the hillside to the north. There is a good chance that you will be the only people there. Be sure to bring whatever you may need including water. "Montserrat's beauty is only rivaled by the beauty of her own residents. Although there is not a lot to "do" on Montserrat, there is plenty to see. One of the most spectacular of which (at the time of my visit) is the Great Alps Waterfall. It took us about an hour to walk there from the trail head. Take the coastal road south, and park in the lot just before the White River bridge. Here you will usually find someone selling sodas and fruit juice. At this point you may elect to retain the services of a guide. There are sure to be several to choose from, however there services are not really necessary. The path is well traveled, and very easy to follow. "Galway's Plantation offers a reasonably priced tour of there estate that was once used for manufacturing rum. They also offer a lunch at the end of the tour for an additional charge. The lady of the house is an excellent chef, and I highly recommend staying for lunch. "Certainly the most exciting happening on Montserrat is the current and very serious Volcanic activity. The majority of which is centered at the southern end of the island. Montserrat is currently experiencing many "swarms" of earthquakes, as well as ash flows leading all the way down to the sea. The volcano (hence the album name) has been dormant for centuries until the last couple of years. With activity increasing a great deal in the last few months. They are expecting lava flows at sometime in the not to distant future. In fact the southern end of the island has been evacuated. I would recommend waiting until the current crisis is over before planning a trip." David offers these as things not to miss in Montserrat. "The people of Montserrat are very friendly and Generous. I would not miss buying one of them a drink and finding out what they have to say. "Don't miss the museum in the old mill on Richmond Hill, just up the road from the Springs Hotel. Here you can get a good dose of History in a short period of time. Make sure to check the schedule, as this donation run museum is only open a few days a week". "You won't find any five star restaurants on Montserrat. What you will find is some great food at a reasonable price. Niggy's in Kinsale was our most memorable dining experience. We had appetizers, soup, salad, lobster with vegetables, dessert, cocktails, and a bottle of wine. All of this and a steel drum player for less than $50 US. The service was great also. Check their hours before you head out there. Like most businesses on Montserrat, hours vary a great deal from place to place. "There is not a great deal of night life on Montserrat. But what there is fun and friendly. The largest club is located in St Patricks, I wish I could remember the name. It seemed that each night of the week would draw the locals and tourists alike to one location. Just ask around. "My favorite place to hang out and drink is the LaS Call (LaS=Lou and Shirley) It's right down on the beach, below the Springs Hotel. I think they even have a blender there. Lou is an expatriate from the east coast. I guess he couldn't find his occupation in the 20th century. The bar closes very early though, as it is right on the beach. "The later evening is best spent at the Green Flash in downtown Plymouth. It's full of locals and tourists alike. This is where a lot of students from the medical school hang out. They stay open till the last customer stumbles out. "A car is nice to have, it does give you some independence. I think AVIS rents cars there, but I rented some guy's taxi for 2 weeks for only about $200 US. No contract no insurance no hassle, just a nice car. Head down to the taxi stand in front of the government building and you should be able to find something. While you are there you should get a temporary license at the government building, it's only a few dollars. "US dollars and travelers checks are accepted everywhere, but your change will come in Eastern Caribbean dollars. David recommends The "Caribbean Islands Handbook" from Passport Books. He says, "It is the information authority on all of the Caribbean islands. It is written by real travelers for real travelers. "I would certainly return to Montserrat in the future. I just hope I don't need a vacation as badly as I did then any time soon!" He describes Montserrat as, "Fascinating, gorgeous, friendly, and just a little primitive." If you'd like to find out more information, contact David Summers.
St. Lucia Reviewers
When Visited: January 2001
I visited St. Lucia on my honeymoon. We purchased a package from the resort and contacted a travel agent to purchase charter airfare. We flew Ryan International (who apparently had a contract with Apple Vacations) DIRECT from Milwaukee to Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia. The total flight took about 7 hours. And, other than departing at the obnoxiously early hour of 5:30 (and being an international flight requiring check in at least 1 hour in advance) the flight was almost pleasant. We chose St. Lucia after investigating a number of possibilities, taking a Caribbean island matching quiz posted on the listserv, consulting with our travel agent, and reading a number of travel guides. Generally speaking, we chose St. Lucia in general (and the resort, Anse Chastenet in particular) because it is a relatively unspoiled island with lots of natural beauty. The weather during the week we were there (dry season) was in the mid to lower 80's and almost always sunny during the day. The humidity was quite high leading to rain showers on a few mornings which generally cleared up before we walked from our room down to the restaurant for breakfast. There was a rain squall one afternoon (it didn't last long) and, since we had chartered the resort's sail boat (the Lucy) we had sailed north of it and were treated to a double rainbow with dolphins swimming alongside. The humidity did make hiking a sweaty affair and although we did not avail ourselves to the "jungle biking" offered by the resort I imagine that was quite the sweaty affair as well. As I mentioned, we stayed at Anse Chastenet. Anse Chastenet is located in the very undeveloped southern part of the island. It is a small (49 room), incredibly romantic resort. (In contrast with the number of rooms there are 200+ staff to cater to your whims.) The rooms are built along the cliff rising from the beach. (This means you will definitely be hiking up and down a significant hill multiple times every day.) Do not expect an American type hotel. This is definitely Caribbean hotel which appeals to international travelers (especially the British and Germans). There is no air conditioning but the charming louvered and doors coupled with the trade winds cooled the room pleasantly. Our room had a view of the beach from the balcony. Many of the rooms have spectacular views of the island's trademark, the Pitons (peaks resulting from volcanic activity jutting from the ocean). The resort has beach access (all of the beaches in St. Lucia are public), fantastic restaurants, a mini-spa, a five-star dive facility, a jungle biking facility, hiking paths over 600 acres, a charming open air bar, assorted boating equipment (sunfish, wind surfing equipment, and kayaks), and gift shops. There is a healthy coral reef just off the beach. It reputedly rivals the diving/snorkeling of Bonaire. It certainly must be a great place to dive/snorkel because on any given day the boats of the other resorts on the island moored off Anse Chastenet's beach and disgorged their guests. While at the resort we availed ourselves of the kayaks, indulged in massages, participated in guided hikes, shopped the boutiques, chartered the resort's sailboat (twice) and snorkeled. The resort offers many different tours and all are reasonably priced. Do not even toy with the idea of renting a vehicle on the island. The roads are little more than paved goat paths. The island is extremely mountainous and the roads are challenging in many ways -- including the fact that most are not labeled. We were told there was nightlife and shopping in the north (Castries -- the capitol). But we were so happy at Anse Chastenet with its quiet pleasures (like sampling the free appetizers, sipping a boat drink and watching the sunset from the open air balcony bar) that we weren't even tempted to venture that far away. We can't wait to return. The natural scenery is breathtaking. It was definitely a romantic and relaxing trip. If you'd like to find out more information, contact Pamela Schmidt.
USVI Reviewers
Vicki Deem (St. Thomas & St. John)
Vicki Deem's US Virgin Island Review
When Visited: November 1999
Linda Huebner's St. John Review
When Visited: April 1993 and June 1994
Mike and Vicki's First Look at the U.S. Virgin Islands
November 2 - 11, 1999
25th Anniversary
Tuesday, November 2, Day 1
We were up at 2:30 a.m. for a 6:25 flight from Pittsburgh. Groan. This was after renegotiating
flights with the airline, since they hadn't allowed sufficient time between connecting flights. It's a
good thing we changed it, too. The original flight was canceled and we wouldn't have been able
to get to St. Thomas until the next day. We took this as an indication that God was doing his best
to make this a wonderful trip for us.
The flight in Philadelphia was delayed for about two hours. Someone behind us in the boarding
line remarked that we were "already on Island Time!"
We arrived at the St. Thomas airport around 5:00 p.m. My first impression: water can't possibly
be that color! My second impression: it sure is hot here.
The hotel had arranged for a tour taxi to meet us and take us to the park service ferry dock in Red
Hook. As we boarded the taxi, we noticed a rainbow had welcomed us to the islands. As we
climbed toward Blackbeard's Castle and Skyline Drive, high atop one of the amazing volcanic
mountains, the rainbow seemed so near we could just reach out and touch it. Even the rainbows
are more brightly colored here.
We met the private ferry chartered by the hotel and had an uneventful ride to St. John, where we
tied up to the hotel's dock in Great Cruz Bay.
We did encounter a bit of difficulty at that point, as the hotel had put us in a smoking room and
we are both severely allergic to smoke. They first moved us to a room already occupied by
another couple, who were using the room as temporary quarters until THEIR bungled registration
was straightened out. We finally got settled in a suitable room around 7:30 p.m. We were
rewarded for our patience with a large bottle of a good Chardonnay. We were so tired at that
point, we just ordered room service, drank some of the wine, and called it a night.
What I learned in the Caribbean today:
1. Nights are noisy, with crickets, frogs, and a nocturnal bird we never identified.
2. Water can't possibly be that color.
Wednesday, November 3, Day 2
Mike was up with the sun, enjoying the view of the bay from our own balcony. It truly was
beautiful, but I was badly in need of serious rest. I slept as long as he'd let me (about 9:30).
After that, we just explored the resort, rested, and in the evening taxied into Cruz Bay for some
dinner and shopping.
We met some very nice folks along the way, especially Ruth Ernst at St. John Spice and Kimberly
Burrell at Rainbow's End. Of the nice folks we had met at the resort, our favorites were Miss
Ivinia, the bellhop who was primarily responsible for getting us into the right room, and Lynn, our
breakfast waitress at the Beach Club Cafe. The most interesting person we met in town was a
West Indian gentleman who did wood carvings. He was carving (very slowly, between drinks) on
a large stump. He said it was going to be a fish, but it looked like a person to me. We learned
later he was somewhat analogous to Mayberry's Otis from the old Andy Griffith show. His
motto: no hurry, no worry.
Many of the West Indian men wore knit caps to corral their dredlocks. The hats look hot, but I'm
sure all that hair on their necks would be hotter. One man looked as if he had not only his hair but
all his worldly possessions stuffed into that bag on his head.
Things I learned in the Caribbean today:
1. A pleasant "good morning" goes a long way.
2. We need to get Jason one of those knit caps to carry his stuff when he no longer has a place to
live.
3. Fashion is radically simple in the tropics. Anything beyond the barest of clothing, even barer
makeup, and a frizzy ponytail is pretty much pointless in the heat.
4. Water can't possibly be that color.
Thursday, November 4, Day 3
The hotel offered a free breakfast and $50 off a jeep rental in exchange for going through their
Vacation Club tour and listening to the sales spiel. So that's what we did all morning.
The salesman, James, was a nice man from New York who had come there on vacation and fell in
love with the beaches. When the job became available, he went down to stay and married there.
He considers himself a St. Johnian now. He told us that St. Johnians believe there is nothing good
on St. Thomas but the airport. He also told us that folks in the other, smaller town of Coral Bay
think Cruz Bay has way too many people. The population of the entire island is about 5,000.
Early afternoon was siesta time.
In the late afternoon we went on a sunset sail aboard a 50-foot catamaran named the Adventurer.
Our crew members were Debbie, Al, and Captain Terry. Jim (don't remember his last name)
serenaded us on his acoustic guitar and also served as our tour guide, pointing out the islands we
passed and some of the interesting tidbits about them. He confirmed that there is nothing good on
St. Thomas but the airport. He also told us about the big New Year's event at Foxy's on Jost
Van Dyke (third largest party in the world). He said he's become sick of Jimmy Buffett music
since he moved to the islands, but he played A Pirate Looks at Forty for us anyway. He seemed
fond of the Eagles and James Taylor. The water was, of course, amazing.
Things I learned in the Caribbean today:
1. The pace is definitely slower than at home.
2. Don't waste money on drinks at the Westin.
3. The only good thing on St. Thomas is the airport (or so they say).
4. Next time we must sign up for the day sail to Jost Van Dyke.
5. Water can't possibly be that color.
Friday, November 5, Day 4
This was our day to explore all of St. John and decide how to spend the rest of the time we had.
We used the $50 coupon to rent a Suzuki Sidekick and took off to circle the whole island. We
met many goats, a couple of wild donkeys, and an iguana. Of the beaches we managed to find
(Maho, Cinnamon, Trunk and Hawksnest), Maho Bay and Trunk Bay were the prettiest.
In the evening we went to hear Tom Leiner and his friend Rebecca (we didn't get her last name)
at Pusser's Beach Bar. Rebecca looks like a young Vivien Leigh. Her voice is strong and clear.
Her range is somewhat limited, but she knows what it is and stays within it. She did an excellent
job of adapting Big Yellow Taxi to match her range. Later in the week we learned that this was
her first gig (excluding open mic nights) and that Tom had refused any more gigs at Pusser's
unless Rebecca sang. We also learned from Rebecca herself that she hoped eventually to make a
career of singing. I wish we had gotten her last name and a photo and autograph. We later went
back to the shop where we'd found her working so we could get these, but she wasn't there.
Things I learned in the Caribbean today:
1. We definitely want to watch the careers of Tom and Rebecca.
2. I MUST get in shape before the next trip so I'm able to hike the trails to the less accessible
beaches.
3. Drinks at Pusser's are nothing to write home about. Stick with the beer.
4. Water cannot possibly be that glorious turquoise color. No way.
Saturday, November 6, Day 5
We woke to a gray, rainy day that was apparently going to stay that way. Since we needed to
shop for new wedding rings and gifts for the folks back home, we decided this should be our day
to go to St. Thomas.
We got accosted right off the bat by a very funny man from New Jersey who was drumming up
business for Bluebeard's Castle Vacation Club. He was so funny and working so hard in the
pouring rain that we couldn't resist. The actual salesman was a very nice young man with a low-
pressure approach from Barnesville, Georgia. I supposed it was mostly a waste of time for all
three of us, but we enjoyed our visit with him. The Vacation Club was a joke. Ty, our young
salesman, did direct us to the best places to go for jewelry and food. We ended up getting rings
somewhere else, but he did not steer us wrong on the food. The drinks and mango-banana
chicken at the Green House were excellent. The conch fritters were good, too.
We never did find the exact style of ring we were looking for, but did find a jeweler who offered
to put refinish some rings for us on approval. They ended up coming darn close to what we were
looking for, and at half the price we'd found in Morgantown. I'm very pleased to once again
have a wedding ring I can wear. Mike is pleased to have one that is not all beaten up from 25
years of work and wear.
Once the rings were taken care of and lunch eaten, we tackled the tee shirt and gift rounds. We
didn't get far before the shops started closing promptly at 5:00 p.m.. A steel band was starting to
play in the town square, but by the time we noticed it we were already in a taxi on our way to
catch the ferry back. We had a driver who was determined to get us on the next ferry with no
wait; he got us from Charlotte Amalie to Red Hook in 18 minutes. What a ride on those narrow
switchback roads! We made a vow never to accept a ride from a brown station wagon again and
to stick solely with the big vans and open air taxis.
We were pretty pooped when we got back, so we ate at the Westin instead of going into Cruz
Bay that night. Thank goodness I had at least worn good walking shoes.
Things I learned in the Caribbean today:
1. Even in Paradise, sometimes the rain lasts all day. Just like at home, only hotter.
2. Prices are lower on St. Thomas than they are on St. John.
3. I see the Johnians point about St. Thomas, but there are a FEW good things besides the airport.
Namely, these are prices, convenience, the Green House and music.
4. Shops sure do close early in the tropics.
5. Get your taxi to town with everyone else from the ferry. If you hang around Red Hook and lag
behind, you'll get a cranky driver.
6. Don't EVER ride in a brown station wagon, even if you're in a hurry.
7. Don't ever stay at a place called Bluebeard's Castle.
8. Do make it a point to eat and drink at the Green House.
9. Conch fritters taste a lot like Maryland crab cakes, but with the texture of cooked oysters.
10. There's just no way water can be that color.
Sunday, November 7, Day 6
We started this Sunday by visiting a tiny little church in the basement of a shopping plaza within
walking distance of the Westin. Almost a third of the attendees were visitors: two young surfers
we'd seen on the ferry the day before, a Puerto Rican woman and her four children, and us. I felt
sorry for the preacher; he so obviously wanted lively music, but he didn't yet have a choir. He
was apparently somewhat new at preaching and his sermon was a bit disjointed. But his joy and
enthusiasm were fun!
After lunch we went swimming at Trunk Bay for about Ç hour before getting rained out. We
hadn't yet rented snorkel gear. The water was so clear! I could clearly see the color of my
toenail polish while standing in neck-deep water. And the waves are so GENTLE - nothing like
Atlantic waves that knock you down every 3rd or 4th breaker. You can actually swim in it.
What I learned in the Caribbean today:
Water cannot possibly be that color. Or that clear. Or that calm.
Monday, November 8, Day 7
Ah! Finally rented a jeep and snorkel equipment and headed out for Hawksnest Bay. I was
grateful to be able to rent a prescription mask. It was the first time I've ever been able to actually
see anything clearly while swimming.
The reefs at Hawksnest are very, very close to shore and to the surface. Even quietly floating
above it, I was a little afraid of touching and damaging the coral. But it was really cool, and fish
were so colorful! I got several pictures - I'm anxious to see how they turned out. Mike's a much
better photographer than I am, so I didn't take as many pictures as I could have. I kept expecting
him to finally succeed in getting his mask to seal so he could get some of the pictures.
Unfortunately, it never happened. His mustache was just too much of a hindrance. I never did
get the pictures of one school of yellow and blue checked fish. Blue and gold WVU fish!! :-)
In the evening, we went into Cruz Bay and ate at Uncle Joe's Barbecue. Fabulous ribs! Also,
wonderful chicken. We asked about buying some of Joe's BBQ sauce and hot sauce, but he was
waiting on a shipment from St. Croix of the rum bottles he packs it in. It would not be ready until
the day we were leaving, so we got an address and phone number to order some when we
returned home (PO Box 12, Cruz Bay, St. John VI 00830, ph.340.693.8806).
Things I learned in the Caribbean today:
1. A prescription mask makes a world of difference in enjoyment of the ocean. I will have to keep
trying to find a set of goggles that will seal properly.
2. Don't be stingy with the film when you have a good photo op.
3. Uncle Joe makes great BBQ.
4. Carib beer is quite tasty.
5. No way, no how can water possibly be that color.
Tuesday, November 9, Day 8
Our anniversary!
The original plan for this day was to finish up the shopping on St. Thomas in the morning and go
to the beach in the afternoon, but we didn't make it back to St. John until about 3:30 p.m.
We did have a nice, slower pace for the shopping. We found the jewelry Joe had asked for, more
shirts and gifts for the people back home, and even checked out a hop or two just for kicks. We
started out in Havensight, which looks a whole lot like Morgantown with its K-Mart and KFC
and so forth Heresy, I know, but sometimes there's comfort in cheap and convenient! One of
the cruise ships was docked and the passengers were making the rounds at the Havensight Mall.
We were there mostly because we were tired of spending so much money on food.
After that we worked our way on foot to Charlotte Amalie. Even with vendors accosting us in
the street at nearly every building, it was a lot more interesting than Havensight. Most of the
vendors sounded pretty much like parrots, repeating the same phrases over and over. I was
tempted to ask if Paulie wanted a cracker. One vendor took a different approach, though, and
said the store had everything we could want. He then paused for us to ask what "everything"
includes. After we bit, he rattled off a L-O-N-G string of items, including rings, watches, chains,
gems, cigarette holders, toys, tee shirts, hats, gifts, rum, books, cameras, a million other things I
can't remember now, and a partridge in a pear tree. Having thoroughly exhausted his oxygen
supply, he then paused for a deep breath. He was so funny we humored him, and went in the
store.
We stopped in late morning to cool off with a lemonade at a cafe called Cafe D'Amici, and the
lunch specials sounded so good we decided to go back later when we got hungry. Later they had
no more gazpacho (or any kind of soup, for that matter), but the Greek salad and the linguine
were magnifico! I asked for the linguine recipe and tried to recreate it when we go home, but
haven't quite mastered it yet. The ingredients were garlic, salt, pepper, heavy cream, primavera
vegetables, and chicken breast strips.
We stopped at the Park Service office when we got to Cruz Bay and got some books. We were
too full from that wonderful lunch on St. Thomas to have more than an ice cream cone for dinner.
We found we were sleeping much better after laying off all the alcohol people kept pushing on us.
Things I learned in the Caribbean today:
1. Cafe D'Amici is a really good place to eat, even if it is a tad pricey.
2. The mostly wooden buildings of Charlotte Amalie burned to the ground TWICE in the 19th
century before builders finally got smart and started building them of brick and stone. They used
molasses from the sugar mills for mortar.
3. Champagne is cheaper than water down here.
4. Water can't be that color.
Wednesday, November 10, Day 11
This was our last full day in the islands. We wanted to make the most of it.
We started the morning getting photos of people at the resort we wanted to remember Ivinia the
bellhop, Darilyn the breakfast hostess, and Maggie, one of our breakfast waitresses. Lynn, the
other waitress, wasn't working that day.
Soon after breakfast we headed out for snorkeling at Trunk Bay. We should have gone to the
beach yesterday and shopped today, because unfortunately it wasn't a very nice day. The park
was posted as "visibility: poor, surf: heavy." From the parking lot, the surf sounded awfully
rough, so we went on up to Cinnamon Bay where we wouldn't have to pay the user fee.
Cinnamon was deserted and the surf was just as rough, so we moved on up Northshore Drive to
Maho Bay. It was somewhat calmer there, and the rain had stopped so other swimmers had
begun to appear and we felt a little safer. But the reefs were farther out than either of us was
comfortable swimming, so we were pretty bored and went back to Trunk Bay.
We parked ourselves under a sea grape tree, which turned out to be a good thing because the sun
finally came out and we would have burned without its shade. I do wish some info about the sea
grapes had been posted by the park service. We didn't learn until later that sea grapes help hold
sand on the beaches (though we should have figured it out) and that hanging towels on its
branches risks damage to the tree. If we'd known, we wouldn't have hung the towels. :-(
The surf wasn't a big problem as far as comfort and safety go it was about the same as the mid-
Atlantic on a very calm day. But the visibility was a disappointment. After those crystal-clear
waters of earlier in the week, it was a shock to find water almost as murky as the Atlantic. Plus,
my prescription mask broke and I had to use Mike's regular mask. I was back to my own 20/200
acuity. I probably could have used my contacts, but hadn't brought them as I hadn't expected the
mask to break. Mike had shaved a thin strip between his nose and mustache and managed to get a
good seal without hurting his appearance. He would have finally done some excellent snorkeling
if the water had been clear. We had both looked forward to this marked snorkel trail (the only
one on the island) so we could learn to identify some of the fish. I could see some of the really
large coral, but few fish and could not read the markers at all. Mike didn't see anything
interesting, either, even with much better acuity. The reef was quite a bit deeper than the one at
Hawksnest Bay, so there wasn't as much anxiety about damaging it.
In the evening we went back to town to get pictures and autographs. We got Kimberly, Ruth,
and Joe and his staff. We didn't find Rebecca, and our waiter at Morgan's Mango, Todd, was off
for the night. This was our third visit to Morgan's Mango. Excellent food and the BEST mixed
drinks anywhere on either island.
Things I learned in the Caribbean today:
1. I'm actually going to miss some of these people I hardly even know.
2. You should never, ever, waste a beautiful day shopping. Go to the beach. Save the shopping
for a rainy day.
3. Sea grapes are great for shade, as well as for jelly and honey for your buckwheat cakes.
4. If you're blind as a bat, take your contacts to the beach even if you don't think you'll need
them.
5. Even when it's not so impossibly clear and calm, water still can't possibly be that color.
Thursday, November 11, Day 10
Oh, woe are we. Today was time to go home. Oh, it will be nice to get back to our own bed, our
own kitchen, our family, and the Land of Abundant Fresh Water. But I hate to return to work
and cold weather. And no sea water that can't possibly really be that color.
We were up fairly early, since we'd postponed repacking our bags just as long as possible. After
packing, we ambled down to the Beach Club for breakfast. Our pelican wasn't at the dock this
morning, but Lynn was back at work. So we got her picture, as well as autographs from all three
of our favorite staff there.
After breakfast we:
(a) returned the jeep,
(b) bought the rest of the "stuff" at the resort gift shop (at a premium price!),
(c) checked out,
(d) loaded up the luggage, and
(e) went down to the ferry that had brought us to this American Paradise.
At Red Hook we finally saw a few of those iguanas my sister Amy had alleged were hanging out
of the trees there, but we mostly could only see movement.
Once we got to the airport, we had to check in and do the customs thing. That was interesting,
since it was something we'd never had to do (though Jason had explained his customs experiences
when he worked in Canada). The declaration form was kind of confusing and there wasn't
anyone willing to help us with it. I ended up giving way more detail than they wanted and the
agent just tore up my extra sheets. The signs all said we needed a birth certificate (the travel
agent had said a voter's registration card) as proof of citizenship. But the agent only asked for
drivers' licenses and for us to tell him (no proof) what state we were born in. It all went pretty
quickly.
We stopped on St. Croix for about 20 minutes before moving on to Philadelphia. We did not
deplane, so all my impressions of St. Croix are from the air and the tarmac. I was surprised it was
so much flatter than the other islands. I'll have to look up why coral island, perhaps? I wonder
if farming is any better there?
We started to run into an electrical storm about an hour out of Philadelphia, and it got a little
hairy for a while. It was good to see lights somewhere around D.C. or Baltimore (probably). We
had only 15 minutes to find the right terminal and board the plane to Pittsburgh.
We got into PIT around 11:00 p.m. By that time, Mike had a miserable migraine and an upset
stomach so I drove home. I had hated leaving the island; I actually waved and said out loud,
"Bye, bye, pretty green water." But it was good to be home. Our own bed surely did feel good
by then.
Things I learned in the Caribbean today:
1. Customs isn't the hassle we'd been led to believe, at least in the USVI.
2. St. Croix is way flatter than the other Virgins.
3. No matter what angle you look at it from beach, mountaintop, or the sky water simply
cannot possibly that amazing, divine color! I'll sure miss it.
Prologue, November 13
We awoke Saturday morning, our second day home, and began making plans for our next trip
back to where water can't be that color!
If you'd like to find out more information, contact
Vicki Deem.
Ah, St. John! Balmy breezes. Incredible beaches! Great little restaurants!
It is probably the most perfect island ever. Green, mountainous, clean. Just
a bit funky.
OK. Now, you want to do it on the cheap. Right? It can be done. Forget
Caneel Bay & the Hyatt. St. John has some nice little inns to provide a
place to sleep. Or, you can camp out. Or, they have some nice villas that
are pretty reasonable. Usually villas rent for a week, but in October,
you're master of the situation.
BTW, don't let Oct. scare you. We cruise the Caribbean every Oct. and have
never had a problem. You'll get some rain squalls, but what the heck. Water
is water and you'll be in the salty kind a lot. It's really kinda neat to
snorkel in the rain. In late Oct. most of the weather is in the Gulf.
Back to the hotels. We spent a week at the Raintree Inn. It's in the middle
of Cruz Bay. Something like 9 rooms attached to one of the best restaurants
in town. No views. Non-smoking. We had a suite with kitchen and loft for
around or under $100/night. I think. It's been a couple of years. It was
very convenient to walk to all the restaurants and taxis to the beaches.
We did rent a jeep one day to see the east end. Driving on St. John is
tricky. It's very mountainous with good winding roads. Don't even think of
driving if it's raining. The roads become pretty slippery. And, the biggy:
driving is on the left. If you stay in town, the taxis are cheaper.
Other in town hotels: The Cruz Inn (same owners as Raintree but it's up the
hill over town with good views) or the Inn at Tamarind Court, a funky B & B
with mix-match furniture and a good local style restaurant. For more
stateside feel and glamour, Gallows Point is popular. Good location, all the
amenities and wonderful views. I've heard of people getting a room there off
season for $150.
The campgrounds, Moho & Cinnamon are pretty pricey for the basics and
they're rather isolated. You'd need a jeep to get around. There's a new
place called Harmony that's an eco-resort that's supposed to be nice. Again,
they're ok if you want to just get away and beach out, but if you want to
get around, your best base is in Cruz Bay.
Don't expect to do too much. First rule of tropics is you lose your
stateside "rush". Suddenly little things, like deciding to go into town by
turning right or left from your hotel takes about 10 minutes. And, you don't
care.
I'd take one daysail. Ask your hotel for a recommendation. If you like to
snorkel, you might get to the Baths on Virgin Gorda. You can ferry there,
also. It's a bit pricey as you have to pay British customs. Having a
passport with you for the BVI is helpful. If you don't have a passport,
you'll need birth certificate. If you stay out of the BVI, no problem, mon.
Restaurants: most are rather pricey compared to home. But, they needn't
break your bank. Try breakfast & lunch at the Barracuda Bistro in Wharfside
village. The cooks look like cousins of the Flying Karamazov Bros. Foods
good, huge portions and reasonable. Also, be sure to get one of their
T-shirts. It's my favorite of all my shirts: "Send more tourists to St.
John, the last were delicious!" Spoken by 2 feasting barracuda. Also, the
Dockside Pub for snacks (another good shirt), Grumpy's (another shirt), the
carry out under Cafe Roma has good breakfasts. There are some great local
places for BBQ, rotis, etc. by the docks.
For serious meals, splurge at the Fishtrap. If you go early, they have some
nice specials, as do most of the places. On Wed., go to the Lime Inn. Be
prepared for a long wait, but it's worth it if you like shrimp:
all-you-can-eat spicey peel-&-eat for $18.95 per person. They also have the
best Key Lime Pie I've ever had. The owner is a great guy. We rented his
villa last time we were there and he treated us really well. Other places to
try: Cafe Roma, Morgans' Mango, JJ's for Tex-Mex and people watching is fun.
Skip: Ellington's, Cafe Paradiso, Saychelles. They may be good, but they're
pricey. For the day you rent a jeep, plan for lunch at Skinny Legs in Coral
Bay. It's a perfect PH hide-out full of escapees from the real world. Great
cheeseburgers.
Now, some more hints. First, St. John isn't that big. There is a main taxi
stand by the dock where all the jitneys line up. It's $2.50 to Caneel Bay,
$3.00 to Hawksnest... on up to Cinnamon. I have no idea what it would be to
Coral Bay. The drive from one end of the island to the other is around a
half hour depending on traffic. Remember, driving is on the left and the
speed limit is something like 15 mph. Well, that's all you can do on those
hills & turns. If you rent a jeep to go east, plan a short stop at the
Columbo Ice Cream Stand at the top of Bordeaux Mountain. Also stop at the
restaurant at the top of the mountain (very pricey at night) for a drink and
one of the most exciting views you'll ever see.
OK, snorkeling. It's pretty good everywhere. Check the cruise ship schedules
for when there are the least # of ships in St. Thomas before you go to Trunk
Bay. Nice facilities and the underwater trail is OK. Been there, done that.
My choices are: Best Beach - Honeymoon. Go to Caneel Bay, go to the guard
and follow the road then path to the left. It's about a 20 minute walk,
though not tough. It's peaceful, calm, beautiful and darned near perfect.
Now, at all the beaches on St. John there's a soft strand of white sand,
with rocks at each end of the curving beach. There will be nice snorkeling
over any of the rocks. My next favorite beach is Hawksnest then Cinnamon.
Look for the mongooses and iguanas. Beware of donkeys. There's a small
island in the center of Cinnamon Bay. It's nice snorkeling around the
island. Even better is snorkeling around Waterlemon Cay off Leinster Bay, but
was once a rocky beach is pretty well gone from the last hurricane. There
was damage to some beaches last year, but they're coming back.
There's nothing really to see in the parks, but you might want to plan a
trip on one of the trails guided by the park guides. Part of our group did
and enjoyed it. The plantation ruins are interesting. And, just when you
think you've seen the most incredible vista, here comes another.
There are several good daysails, but one of the nicest is the Jolly Mon.
That is if you can stand a day of Buffett music and great food. Try to find
out what day they are the least crowded as they sometimes pick up cruise
ship passengers.
For more information, contact Linda Huebner.