I hope to update daily our experiences as virgin sailors - it will surely be interesting and fun and memorable to say the least.
Till Saturday...
Leaving this:
where it's
40 DEGREES F
For this:
Where it's:
84 DEGREES
Sigh...
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The EVE EVE of the Sail...
We are under 48 hours until we set sail. We've packed suntan lotion, USVI guide books, snacks, sailing clothes and more, and we are ready to hit the Caribbean!
I hope to update daily our experiences as virgin sailors - it will surely be interesting and fun and memorable to say the least.
Till Saturday...
Leaving this:
where it's
For this:
Where it's:
I hope to update daily our experiences as virgin sailors - it will surely be interesting and fun and memorable to say the least.
Till Saturday...
Leaving this:
where it's
For this:
Where it's:
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
USVI and BVI FOOD AND DRINK
What are the Islands' specialties?
Rum! Throughout the Caribbean, every major island has its own varieties of rum. Rum is distilled directly from sugar cane or molasses. The Virgin Islands are known for Cruzan Rum, manufactured on St. Croix. U.S. Customs allows you to bring home an extra bottle of Cruzan rum, in addition to your usual 5-liter liquor allowance.
Water is generally safe to drink on the islands. Much of the water is filtered before it's served. Delicate stomachs should stick to mineral water or club soda. American sodas and beer are sold in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Wine is sold, too, but it's usually quite costly.
BVI's Soggy Dollar Bar is where the Painkiller was created.
2-4 oz. of Pusser's Rum
4 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. cream of coconut
1 oz. orange juice
Grated fresh nutmeg
In a shaker filled with ice add first 4 ingredients and stir. Pour into glass; top with grated nutmeg.
There are a number of popular health and fruit drinks in Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. Seamoss is a popular drink made of seaweed that is boiled until and then mixed with milk and spices. Mauby is made by boiling mauby bark with spices including cinnamon and is a local favorite. Other favorites include; passionfruit juice, pumpkin punch, sorrel, soursop punch, banana punch, coconut water, peanut punch, bush tea and lemon tea among others.
Caribbean Food
Caribbean cooking has many dishes. The best cooks are often the older women in the community. Fish soup is popular and is eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Callaloo soup is another popular dish; it is made of leaves from a daheen plant mixed with okra, local herbs and various meats or seafoods. Stewed oxtail, beef, goat and chicken are all popular. Saltfish is favorite. Side dishes include rice and peas, yams, fried plantains, dasheen, sweet potato, cassava, beans and lentils.
Fresh fish includes mahimahi, wahoo, yellowtail, grouper, and red snapper. These fish, accompanied by a hot lime sauce, are among the tastiest island specialties. Watch out for the Caribbean lobster: It's likely overpriced and overcooked.
Conch Creole is a savory brew, seasoned with onions, garlic, spices, hot peppers, and salt pork.
Another local favorite is chicken and rice, usually made with Spanish peppers. More adventurous diners might try curried goat, prepared with herbs, cardamom pods, and onions. Saltfish salad consists of boneless salt fish, potatoes, onions, boiled eggs, and an oil-and-vinegar dressing.
Herring gundy - salad made with salt herring, potatoes, onions, green sweet and hot peppers, olives, diced beets, raw carrots, herbs, and boiled eggs.The johnnycakes are made with flour, baking powder, shortening, and salt, then fried or baked.
Desserts
Sweet potato pie is a Virgin Islands classic, made with sugar, eggs, butter, milk, salt, cinnamon, raisins, and chopped raw almonds. The exotic fruits of the islands lend themselves to various homemade ice creams, including mango, guava (our favorite), soursop (a tangy fruit), banana, and papaya. Sometimes dumplings, with guava, peach, plum, gooseberry, cherry, or apple, are served. f
STREET FOOD
Popular street foods include patés, fried fish, fried chicken leg and johnnycake. Pates, like to the empanadas of Puerto Rico, consist of fried flour filled with various meats, including conch, saltfish, beef, chicken and lobster.
***ANOTHER COOL GADGET!
Since we have iPhones and they don't exactly like water, I've bought the following for this trip and future boat excursions:
Caribbean cooking has many dishes. The best cooks are often the older women in the community. Fish soup is popular and is eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Callaloo soup is another popular dish; it is made of leaves from a daheen plant mixed with okra, local herbs and various meats or seafoods. Stewed oxtail, beef, goat and chicken are all popular. Saltfish is favorite. Side dishes include rice and peas, yams, fried plantains, dasheen, sweet potato, cassava, beans and lentils.
Fresh fish includes mahimahi, wahoo, yellowtail, grouper, and red snapper. These fish, accompanied by a hot lime sauce, are among the tastiest island specialties. Watch out for the Caribbean lobster: It's likely overpriced and overcooked.
Conch Creole is a savory brew, seasoned with onions, garlic, spices, hot peppers, and salt pork.
Herring gundy - salad made with salt herring, potatoes, onions, green sweet and hot peppers, olives, diced beets, raw carrots, herbs, and boiled eggs.The johnnycakes are made with flour, baking powder, shortening, and salt, then fried or baked.
Desserts
Sweet potato pie is a Virgin Islands classic, made with sugar, eggs, butter, milk, salt, cinnamon, raisins, and chopped raw almonds. The exotic fruits of the islands lend themselves to various homemade ice creams, including mango, guava (our favorite), soursop (a tangy fruit), banana, and papaya. Sometimes dumplings, with guava, peach, plum, gooseberry, cherry, or apple, are served. f
STREET FOOD
Popular street foods include patés, fried fish, fried chicken leg and johnnycake. Pates, like to the empanadas of Puerto Rico, consist of fried flour filled with various meats, including conch, saltfish, beef, chicken and lobster.
***ANOTHER COOL GADGET!
Since we have iPhones and they don't exactly like water, I've bought the following for this trip and future boat excursions:
DandyCase Black Waterproof Case for Apple iPhone 5, iPod Touch 5
DandyCase proudly presents the Ultimate BLACK Waterproof Case for large Smartphones with screen sizes up to 5.3"(includes iPhone 5), allowing you to submerge your device up to 100 feet deep
This waterproof case is IPX8 Certified to 100 feet (30m). With a secure "2 Snap Lock System," your device will be secure all day whether you are swimming, relaxing on the beach, boating, or drinking near water. The case has 2 clear sides so you can still use the picture taking & video recording capabilities of your device without worrying about potential damage. A neck lanyard is included.
This waterproof case is IPX8 Certified to 100 feet (30m). With a secure "2 Snap Lock System," your device will be secure all day whether you are swimming, relaxing on the beach, boating, or drinking near water. The case has 2 clear sides so you can still use the picture taking & video recording capabilities of your device without worrying about potential damage. A neck lanyard is included.
Monday, January 14, 2013
ISLANDS SURROUNDING ST THOMAS
St Thomas is part of the US Virgin Islands. Three other islands make up the Virgin Islands, USVI.
ST JOHN
St. John is home to the Virgin Islands National Park = quiet beaches, sugar plantation ruins, hiking trails and shopping. St. Johnians are laid back and the island is unspoiled by development.
Caneel Bay in St John
One of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S.V.I. - Honeymoon Beach.
The British Virgin Islands are made up of about 50 islands and islets. Tortola is the largest island with an area of 21 square miles. The other larger islands are Anegada -15 square miles, Virgin Gorda - 8 square miles and Jost Van Dyke - 3 square miles. Smaller islands include Great Tobago, Peter, Cooper, Norman, Guana, Beef, Great Thatch and Marina Cay. The beaches are lovely and the water inviting. The British Virgin Islands are among the world's most beautiful cruising grounds and include NEKKER ISLAND - a 74 acre island in the just north of Virgin Gorda. All of the land on the island is owned by Richard Branson, famous for his Virgin brand. The entire island is a resort and can accommodate up to 28 guests.
Nekker Island
Port at Tortolla
Fun in the BVI
Two of the BVI's well known landing spots (bars) are located on Jost Van Dyke.
One is Soggy Dollar Bar, on White Bay, where people pretty much have to swim to the place. There are no moorings and anchorages can be challenging. While dingys can pull up to the super-white beach, most BVI'ers prefer to jump off and swim to shore. A clothesline sits behind the bar to dry out the soggy dollars. The Soggy Dollar bar created the painkiller, the rum-heavy drink made of cream of coconut, pineapple and orange junice, topped by freshly ground nutmeg (which, locals say, is an aphrodisiac, but only when freshly ground).
Made famous by one of Jimmy Buffett sailing tunes, Manana, it is a gorgeous harbor best approached just before sunset. Myett's Beach Bar and Restaurant is the destination. Right off the heart of the beach, it's a large bar with a stage to the right and drinks to the left. It's large enough to explore and a has so much vegetation it almost looks like a Disneyland jungle cruise.There's no dingy dock so pull up on the sand. And from Cane Garden Bay the lights of St. Thomas can be seen 20 miles to the West.
Here's a great blog by a guy that sailed the BVI (loaded with tips!):
http://blog.unsinkable2.com/2010/04/planning-tips-for-bvi-sailing-vacation.html
Here's another great one with BVI sailing itinerary suggestions:
http://www.bvibound.com/2010/02/28/plan-bvi-sailing-itinerary/
St Croix
St John
Water Island
ST CROIX
St. Croix, at 82 square miles, is the largest of the US Virgin Islands. The two main cities, Christiansted and Frederiksted, are picturesque and historical. Rolling hills, rain forest and the beautiful sea are some of the natural treasures. The only casino resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands is located on St. Croix. Also located near St. Croix is the only underwater National Monument, Buck Island.
St. John is home to the Virgin Islands National Park = quiet beaches, sugar plantation ruins, hiking trails and shopping. St. Johnians are laid back and the island is unspoiled by development.
WATER ISLAND
Water Island is the most recent addition to the USVI. There are no hotels or restaurants on Water Island, just quiet roads and beautiful scenery.One of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S.V.I. - Honeymoon Beach.
We will also surely travel to the British Virgin Islands. The main islands are:
Tortola
Virgin Gorda
Jost Van Dyke
Anegada
Nekker Island
Port at Tortolla
Fun in the BVI
Two of the BVI's well known landing spots (bars) are located on Jost Van Dyke.
One is Soggy Dollar Bar, on White Bay, where people pretty much have to swim to the place. There are no moorings and anchorages can be challenging. While dingys can pull up to the super-white beach, most BVI'ers prefer to jump off and swim to shore. A clothesline sits behind the bar to dry out the soggy dollars. The Soggy Dollar bar created the painkiller, the rum-heavy drink made of cream of coconut, pineapple and orange junice, topped by freshly ground nutmeg (which, locals say, is an aphrodisiac, but only when freshly ground).
Down the beach, Gertrude's is said to have created another island specialty, the bushwacker. This one is comprised of dark run, Kahlua, cream of coconut, dark creme de cacao and milk, blended together as a dark and frozen concoction.
Many feel that the most beautiful place in the BVO is The Baths. There's a gorgeous beach with huge boulders at the sea. Climb through them and wade through the ankle-deep water and it's a Caribbean version of the Turkish baths. This up-and-down and around trail emerges at the incredibly gorgeous Devil's Bay, where the water is so clear seeing the angelfish does not require a mask. Cold beverages are a few steps away at the Poor Man's Bar, which is just a covered deck and plywood counter.
 |
| Photo Credit: Pub Club Cane Garden Bay is said to be a favorite among the sailing crowd. |
Made famous by one of Jimmy Buffett sailing tunes, Manana, it is a gorgeous harbor best approached just before sunset. Myett's Beach Bar and Restaurant is the destination. Right off the heart of the beach, it's a large bar with a stage to the right and drinks to the left. It's large enough to explore and a has so much vegetation it almost looks like a Disneyland jungle cruise.There's no dingy dock so pull up on the sand. And from Cane Garden Bay the lights of St. Thomas can be seen 20 miles to the West.
Here's a great blog by a guy that sailed the BVI (loaded with tips!):
http://blog.unsinkable2.com/2010/04/planning-tips-for-bvi-sailing-vacation.html
Here's another great one with BVI sailing itinerary suggestions:
http://www.bvibound.com/2010/02/28/plan-bvi-sailing-itinerary/
Friday, January 11, 2013
VIRGIN ISLANDS
The Virgin Islands, including both the US and the British islands, are made up of more than 120 islands, cays and islets. Most of these bits of land are uninhabited. There are 8 larger inhabited islands, 4 in the United States Virgin Islands and 4 in the British Virgin Islands.
Even though it's only 31 square miles, St. Thomas does have a couple of official cities.
Charlotte Amalie (pronounced AH-muh-lee) - is capitol city, or "downtown"is the destination for cruise ships due to its deep water harbor. Nearly every day, tourists visit the 300 stores in the city. If you're downtown at night, Frenchtown is where the nicer places are, for food and drinks. Bars with music are downtown.
***Charlotte Amalie is THE busiest cruise port in the Caribbean (and one of the busiest in the world). Often 8 cruise ships a day will unload onto the streets.
Red Hook - The marina here is where our boat will be based. Also referred to as the East End. There is a little more nightlife and activities, restaurants in Red Hook, you can catch the dollar taxi ($2/person each way to Red Hook from downtown), it takes about 30 minutes to get there. Note: a taxi will not likely take you downtown after about 9PM. Red Hook has ferry service to the island of St John.
The marina features 128 fixed slips and accommodates vessels up to 110 feet including sport and pleasure boats along with megayachts. It is the center of activity in Red Hook. 8 restaurants on the property serve everything from continental breakfast to Seafood and Caribbean cuisine: Burrito Bay Deli, Molly Mallone's Irish Pub, Whale of a Tale, Caribbean Steakhouse & Saloon, East End Cafe or Asian Lotus Grille. You can walk to the post office, pharmacy, market, bank, and shops.
Hull Bay - The next bay to the west of Magen's, on the Atlantic ocean, and in the winter there is the island's only surfing.
Brewer's Bay - Beautiful small beach near the University, especially nice at sunset.
Sapphire Beach - Beach resort, open to the public. Nice beach, rent a snorkel and check out the nice clear water and coral. There are a couple of bars and a swimming pool, sometimes a live band at night. Have a BBC (Bailey's, banana, coconut).
Coki Beach - The best snorkeling beach on St. Thomas. Normal underwater visibility of 100+ feet! It's calm and you can feed the fish in about 3-4 feet of water. They sell dog treats to feed to the fish. Beware of the locals -you will be asked if you want to buy something many times. If you take a tourist taxi to Coki Beach (they have awnings) you must be sure to take the same driver on return trip. Get the name of the driver who took you and make a time for pickup and return. There is food available on the beach. People walk around with small menues asking if you want anything to eat.
Secret Harbour - A private resort, but they allow visitors to use the beach. Chairs must be rented. There are large iguanas that wander around. The snorkeling is great for beginner snorkelers. There's a dive shop on site where you can rent chairs and snorkel gear, buy underwater cameras and chum. Taxis know this resort well, and several taxis are lined up and waiting at the resort.
The island is arguably the biggest shopping mecca in the Caribbean. Goods are imported to the island duty and excise free, and visitors do not directly pay any duty or tax on purchases. Buyers may face Customs duty as they return home if they exceed their Customs exemption.
U.S. currency is used/accepted universally. ATMs can be found in numerous locations. As anywhere, major purchases should be made by credit card. (Credit cards issued by U.S. banks do not induce foreign-exchange fees, others may.) Most store-front establishments, resorts and restaurants accept credit cards and traveler checks.
You can shop many dozens of stores downtown, and others in a few malls on the island, and near cruise ship docks, such as Havensight. It has many of the same shops as downtown, but in smaller versions. Yacht Haven Grande next to Havensight offers restaurants and premium stores.
You'll find tent kiosks at Vendor's Plaza at the near southeast side of downtown across the highway from the waterfront. There you'll see knock off designer bags, shirts, rainwear etc.
Gems, jewelry, watches, liquor, cosmetics, perfumes, linens and cameras, optics, electronics and fine crystal and china can be good buys, but know the costs for the same/similar items back home.
Bargaining is appropriate in open-air bazaars, and should be tried in stores but may be rebuffed.
When many cruise ships are in port, the open-air bazaar and stores can be crowded. Shopping early or late can help avoid some of the crowds. Stores downtown usually open at 9:30-10:00 AM and close around 5:00 PM. Half-day, morning ship's tours end about noon back at the ship, and ship itineraries often call for departures at 4:00-6:00PM (with all-aboard as much as an hour earlier).
On Sunday, early is essential. A few stores (mostly in downtown Charlotte Amalie) don't open, more open only if at least one cruise ship is in port, and many of those stores close by early-mid afternoon.
EAT
We are almost ALL about the food when traveling - here's a breakdown on what's available - although eating well aboard the boat will be frequent I'm sure.
*Frenchtown Deli This dive has an extensive lunch menu with great salads and sandwiches. They also serve breakfast, and are located in Frenchtown, right next to Hook Line & Sinker.
*Gladys' Cafe, (Garden St (a narrow/quaint alleyway) between Main St and Veterans Dr, Royal Dane Mall), 7AM-5PM daily. Offer Caribbean and American dishes and a small bar.
*Hook, Line, & Sinker, (Frenchtown), Lunch: M-Sa 11:30AM-4PM: Su 10AM-2:30PM; dinner: M-Sa 6PM-10PM. Casual food right on the waterfront. The swordfish is supposed to be good. $14-37.
Mafolie Restaurant, 7091 Estate Mafolie, 5PM-10PM daily (bar: 5PM-11PM).The food is American surf and turf. But the view really is magnificent - especially at sunset. $35-70.
Oceana, 8 Honduras (Frenchtown, right on the water), Tu-Su 5:30PM-10PM.Nice at sunset. $35-65.
Rancho Latino, (Vitraco Mall at Havensight), Dominican (Spanish-Caribbean) cuisine in a casual spot surrounded by tourist traps near the cruise ships.
Room with a View, (In Bluebeard's Castle), M-Sa 5PM-10PM. Just outside of town, great steaks and seafood, and often considered the finest dining on the island. Nice view $28-70.
Shawny's Shack, 5331 Yacht Haven Grand (Yacht Haven), A kiosk serving West Indian food. This is very much a locals' place.
Thirteen, 13A Estate Dorothea (On Crown Mountain Rd), A top foodie destination, Thirteen is hard to find if you aren't taking a cab. It's on the north side of the island, up, making for a chilly breeze while you eat your meal. The decor is laid back, stylish. Service is good. Reservations are a must. $25-55.
Victor's New Hideout, (On a hillside overlooking Crown Bay from the west.), Offers Caribbean with a beautiful view. Tricky to get to, not really walkable, but worth the effort.
ST JOHN:
Some friends recommended Asolare in St John. They've been there twice and loved it - you need to make reservations though and ask for a table with a view. Amazing sunset and food. http://www.asolarestjohn.com/
VIRGIN ISLANDS U.S.V.I
Terrain: Most of the islands, including St Thomas and St John, are volcanic and are mostly hilly and mountainous with little level land. St Croix was formed by a coral reef and is flatter.
CITIESEven though it's only 31 square miles, St. Thomas does have a couple of official cities.
Charlotte Amalie (pronounced AH-muh-lee) - is capitol city, or "downtown"is the destination for cruise ships due to its deep water harbor. Nearly every day, tourists visit the 300 stores in the city. If you're downtown at night, Frenchtown is where the nicer places are, for food and drinks. Bars with music are downtown.
***Charlotte Amalie is THE busiest cruise port in the Caribbean (and one of the busiest in the world). Often 8 cruise ships a day will unload onto the streets.
Red Hook - The marina here is where our boat will be based. Also referred to as the East End. There is a little more nightlife and activities, restaurants in Red Hook, you can catch the dollar taxi ($2/person each way to Red Hook from downtown), it takes about 30 minutes to get there. Note: a taxi will not likely take you downtown after about 9PM. Red Hook has ferry service to the island of St John.
American Yacht Harbor
6100 Red Hook Quarters #2
St Thomas, VI 00802
http://www.igy-americanyachtharbor.com/
***Here's where we'll start out: Red Hook Marina--AMERICAN YACHT HARBOR
The marina features 128 fixed slips and accommodates vessels up to 110 feet including sport and pleasure boats along with megayachts. It is the center of activity in Red Hook. 8 restaurants on the property serve everything from continental breakfast to Seafood and Caribbean cuisine: Burrito Bay Deli, Molly Mallone's Irish Pub, Whale of a Tale, Caribbean Steakhouse & Saloon, East End Cafe or Asian Lotus Grille. You can walk to the post office, pharmacy, market, bank, and shops.
Hull Bay - The next bay to the west of Magen's, on the Atlantic ocean, and in the winter there is the island's only surfing.
Brewer's Bay - Beautiful small beach near the University, especially nice at sunset.
Sapphire Beach - Beach resort, open to the public. Nice beach, rent a snorkel and check out the nice clear water and coral. There are a couple of bars and a swimming pool, sometimes a live band at night. Have a BBC (Bailey's, banana, coconut).
Coki Beach - The best snorkeling beach on St. Thomas. Normal underwater visibility of 100+ feet! It's calm and you can feed the fish in about 3-4 feet of water. They sell dog treats to feed to the fish. Beware of the locals -you will be asked if you want to buy something many times. If you take a tourist taxi to Coki Beach (they have awnings) you must be sure to take the same driver on return trip. Get the name of the driver who took you and make a time for pickup and return. There is food available on the beach. People walk around with small menues asking if you want anything to eat.
Secret Harbour - A private resort, but they allow visitors to use the beach. Chairs must be rented. There are large iguanas that wander around. The snorkeling is great for beginner snorkelers. There's a dive shop on site where you can rent chairs and snorkel gear, buy underwater cameras and chum. Taxis know this resort well, and several taxis are lined up and waiting at the resort.
The island is arguably the biggest shopping mecca in the Caribbean. Goods are imported to the island duty and excise free, and visitors do not directly pay any duty or tax on purchases. Buyers may face Customs duty as they return home if they exceed their Customs exemption.
U.S. currency is used/accepted universally. ATMs can be found in numerous locations. As anywhere, major purchases should be made by credit card. (Credit cards issued by U.S. banks do not induce foreign-exchange fees, others may.) Most store-front establishments, resorts and restaurants accept credit cards and traveler checks.
You can shop many dozens of stores downtown, and others in a few malls on the island, and near cruise ship docks, such as Havensight. It has many of the same shops as downtown, but in smaller versions. Yacht Haven Grande next to Havensight offers restaurants and premium stores.
You'll find tent kiosks at Vendor's Plaza at the near southeast side of downtown across the highway from the waterfront. There you'll see knock off designer bags, shirts, rainwear etc.
Gems, jewelry, watches, liquor, cosmetics, perfumes, linens and cameras, optics, electronics and fine crystal and china can be good buys, but know the costs for the same/similar items back home.
Bargaining is appropriate in open-air bazaars, and should be tried in stores but may be rebuffed.
When many cruise ships are in port, the open-air bazaar and stores can be crowded. Shopping early or late can help avoid some of the crowds. Stores downtown usually open at 9:30-10:00 AM and close around 5:00 PM. Half-day, morning ship's tours end about noon back at the ship, and ship itineraries often call for departures at 4:00-6:00PM (with all-aboard as much as an hour earlier).
On Sunday, early is essential. A few stores (mostly in downtown Charlotte Amalie) don't open, more open only if at least one cruise ship is in port, and many of those stores close by early-mid afternoon.
EAT
We are almost ALL about the food when traveling - here's a breakdown on what's available - although eating well aboard the boat will be frequent I'm sure.
*Frenchtown Deli This dive has an extensive lunch menu with great salads and sandwiches. They also serve breakfast, and are located in Frenchtown, right next to Hook Line & Sinker.
*Gladys' Cafe, (Garden St (a narrow/quaint alleyway) between Main St and Veterans Dr, Royal Dane Mall), 7AM-5PM daily. Offer Caribbean and American dishes and a small bar.
*Hook, Line, & Sinker, (Frenchtown), Lunch: M-Sa 11:30AM-4PM: Su 10AM-2:30PM; dinner: M-Sa 6PM-10PM. Casual food right on the waterfront. The swordfish is supposed to be good. $14-37.
Mafolie Restaurant, 7091 Estate Mafolie, 5PM-10PM daily (bar: 5PM-11PM).The food is American surf and turf. But the view really is magnificent - especially at sunset. $35-70.
Oceana, 8 Honduras (Frenchtown, right on the water), Tu-Su 5:30PM-10PM.Nice at sunset. $35-65.
Rancho Latino, (Vitraco Mall at Havensight), Dominican (Spanish-Caribbean) cuisine in a casual spot surrounded by tourist traps near the cruise ships.
Room with a View, (In Bluebeard's Castle), M-Sa 5PM-10PM. Just outside of town, great steaks and seafood, and often considered the finest dining on the island. Nice view $28-70.
Shawny's Shack, 5331 Yacht Haven Grand (Yacht Haven), A kiosk serving West Indian food. This is very much a locals' place.
Thirteen, 13A Estate Dorothea (On Crown Mountain Rd), A top foodie destination, Thirteen is hard to find if you aren't taking a cab. It's on the north side of the island, up, making for a chilly breeze while you eat your meal. The decor is laid back, stylish. Service is good. Reservations are a must. $25-55.
Victor's New Hideout, (On a hillside overlooking Crown Bay from the west.), Offers Caribbean with a beautiful view. Tricky to get to, not really walkable, but worth the effort.
Herve Restaurant. Located in the center of all of the action, this fine dining destination features inside and outside seating, to some of the most top notch people on the island. The atmosphere is not stuffy, and the food will be some of the best you've ever tasted. Call (340) 777-9703 to reserve.
Tavern on the Waterfront - chances are that you'll run into a famous someone eating here
Blackbeard's Castle. Perched high above and to the east of of Charlotte Amalie, it's got great ambience. Fine dining.
Agave Terrace. It's a high up location - romantic as well as group and family friendly - the seafood here is delicious. Blackened Ahi tuna, seared the Mahi Mahi and marinated delectable crab.
In addition, Duffy's Love Shack in Red Hook
as well as Robert's American Grill
as well as Robert's American Grill
ST JOHN:
There are lots of small restaurants and bars in and around St John.
Woodys - fun bar food - we went there on a previous trip
GROCERY:
St Thomas:
Pueblo is a grocery-store chain that has several locations on both St Thomas and St Croix.
Food Center is on the east end, right on the way to Red Hook from Charlotte Amalie on Rt. 32
Marina Market is right in the heart of Red Hook, and it's not very big, but it has a good selection of items, including gourmet-type foods. They also have a good bakery section.
St John: Groceries on St John tend to be pricier than on St Thomas or St Croix, since everything has to be brought in by ferry from St Thomas. Because of this price difference, some people stock up in St Thomas ahead of time for their stay on St John.
Dolphin Market is in Cruz Bay, across from Texaco. It's the smaller of the two groceries in town. Their items tend to be high quality, with a leaning toward gourmet and natural foods. They also have a good wine selection, a deli, and a pretty good selection of over-the-counter meds.
Starfish Market is the larger grocery in Cruz Bay. It's pretty comparable to a modest U.S. grocery store, with produce, meat, seafood, and dairy sections, as well as baked goods, a deli area, and a large beer, wine, and liquor selection. Located in the Marketplace Complex.
St Croix:
Pueblo grocery stores
Plaza Extra: This is the best of all Virgin Islands groceries. Large, amazingly well stocked. Two locations, one just east of Frederiksted and the other near the middle of the island on Rt.70.
WEATHER IN FEBRUARY
The month of February is characterized by essentially constant daily high temperatures, with daily highs around 84°F throughout the month, exceeding 88°F or dropping below 81°F only one day in ten. YES!!!!!!!
GROCERY:
St Thomas:
Pueblo is a grocery-store chain that has several locations on both St Thomas and St Croix.
Food Center is on the east end, right on the way to Red Hook from Charlotte Amalie on Rt. 32
Marina Market is right in the heart of Red Hook, and it's not very big, but it has a good selection of items, including gourmet-type foods. They also have a good bakery section.
St John: Groceries on St John tend to be pricier than on St Thomas or St Croix, since everything has to be brought in by ferry from St Thomas. Because of this price difference, some people stock up in St Thomas ahead of time for their stay on St John.
Dolphin Market is in Cruz Bay, across from Texaco. It's the smaller of the two groceries in town. Their items tend to be high quality, with a leaning toward gourmet and natural foods. They also have a good wine selection, a deli, and a pretty good selection of over-the-counter meds.
Starfish Market is the larger grocery in Cruz Bay. It's pretty comparable to a modest U.S. grocery store, with produce, meat, seafood, and dairy sections, as well as baked goods, a deli area, and a large beer, wine, and liquor selection. Located in the Marketplace Complex.
St Croix:
Pueblo grocery stores
Plaza Extra: This is the best of all Virgin Islands groceries. Large, amazingly well stocked. Two locations, one just east of Frederiksted and the other near the middle of the island on Rt.70.
WEATHER IN FEBRUARY
The month of February is characterized by essentially constant daily high temperatures, with daily highs around 84°F throughout the month, exceeding 88°F or dropping below 81°F only one day in ten. YES!!!!!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
PROVISIONS?
- *What should we buy for your sailing charter? Our friends have that covered but here are some tips:
Breakfast. Easy to eat foods like milk and cereal, bagels, english muffins and granola bars. Eggs keep really well.
Lunch. Take enough sandwich fixings for the week. And lots of chips.
Dinners. Easy dinners by centering them around the grill.
Snacks.Bring lots of snacks! Snacks are especially good at happy hour, after a day of swimming and snorkeling while you are waiting for everyone to get cleaned up and dinner to be ready.
Drinks. Take lots of water. The rule of thumb is 1.5 liters/person/day. And don’t forget coffee!
Condiments. whatever you like!
Supplies. paper towels, tp, garbage bags and ziplock bags! For grilling, the charcoal bricks are good - * Plan in advance. It’s not easy to just stop by the store while you are sailing around the islands, so it’s important to plan in advance. Bring recipes you think you'll need.
Substitutes. If you order from the grocery store, if they don’t have the brand or exact item you ordered, they will try to find a substitute for you.
Trash You are going to have to carry your trash with you for a day or two at a time until you find a place to take it. You will also have to pay for them to take it. Get canned beer instead of glass.
Grill. Cooking on the stove or in the oven is really hot inside a non air conditioned boat. Be sure to move your dingy to the far side of the boat, away from the grill, before you use it! Also, order charcoal bricks (instead of bags of charcoal) as they will make life easier. We usually order 1-2 per dinner depending on what we are cooking.
Snacks. Take lots of snacks!
Water. Take a 1.5 liters/person/day.
Fridge. Fridge’s on boats never work really well. They have no exact temperature control. They only cool when the motor is running. The fridge and freezer are often combined. Take into account that your fridge may not keep all as cold as you like. Run your engine daily to cool off the fridge.
Bread. Bread doesn’t keep very well in the Carribean. If you can keep it dry, keep bread in the fridge until you are ready to eat it. Sour dough, english muffins and tortillas keep the best.
Cooler. Use a cooler on deck to keep things you’ll want to get to all day long so that you don’t have to open (and warm up) your fridge throughout the day.
Ice. Start out with a lot of ice in your cooler and fridge.
Spices. Might want to consider bringing some from home. In small ziplocks, they will pack very easily and it can save you a lot of money.
***Also, I just ordered this cool item! It'll keep my essentials dry whenever I leave the boat to go to an island. Available at Amazon.com. 16 -20x12.
Aqua-Quest 100% Waterproof Backpack Drybag - 'Mariner' 10L Model
- LOW COUNTRY BOIL
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3 lbs of large shrimp, unpeeled
3lbs of crawfish or conch
3 lbs of andouille sausage, cut into 2-3 inch pieces
8 ears of corn, cut in half
2 boil-in-a-bags (Spicy optional) such as Zatarains
6 lemons (4 cut in half for the boil, 2 sliced into wedges for garnish)
1-2 light beers
Hot sauce to taste
Cocktail sauce and lemon butter for dipping
Large pot
OPTIONAL: 5 lbs new potatoes, cut in half
Add the boil bags, lemon halves, beer, and hot sauce to a large pot of water, filled to about half way, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the sausage and potatoes if included and cook for roughly 10 minutes. Next, add the corn and crab and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Finally, add the shrimp and crawfish and cook for no more than 3-4 additional minutes.
Remove contents from the pot and lay out on a newspaper-covered picnic table. Serve with cocktail sauce and lemon butter.
Here's a great site that offers tips on provisioning: http://www.sailonline.com/boat-charter/saving-money-a-tips/provisioning-a-charter-boat Tips from another sailing website: Have the marina deliver food to you or go to the local supermarkets. Some items are very costly. A box of cereal, for instance, can often run about $7.00. You take the risk, though, of having them confiscated at customs. Most of the supermarkets take credit cards. Even more fun is shopping in an open air market. These markets offer everything from flowers, fruits, spices and vegetables to freshly caught fish or even live animals. Avoid “guides” who offer to take your through the market. Bring sacks or your own bags to carry your purchases since they are not supplied at these markets. At the most, food is wrapped in newspapers. Prices are usually chalked up somewhere on the stall. Open air market vendors make their living selling food – not cheating tourists. Prices are competitive and usually reasonable, thus it is not proper to haggle over prices in the food markets. The vendors will gladly help you make selections and will often explain how to prepare unfamiliar foods. A word of caution: most fresh food we are used to is washed several times and wrapped in plastic. In the local Caribbean markets this is not the case. Wash everything before you consume it. There are two things people almost always do not buy enough of: paper towels and bottled water. Expect to consume more drinks on your Caribbean sailing vacation than you ordinarily would on land. You should figure on at least a 1 ½ liter bottle of water per person per day of your Caribbean sailing vacation. Cold beverages are usually kept on the lower part of the refrigerator. This means constantly unloading all of the stuff on top to get to the drinks, thus letting the cold air escape. A good tip is to purchase an extra bag of ice and put drinks for the day in a cooler to be stored in the cockpit. Regardless of what you purchase, never take a paper bag or corrugated carton aboard due to cockroaches. If your provisions have not been packed in plastic bags, unpack everything on the dock before taking it aboard. REFRIGERATOR The refrigerator must be loaded carefully. Most marine refrigerators are top loaders. Unlike a home refrigerator, they do not lose as much cold when the doors are opened, however, food is often less accessible. The object is to get as much food into the refrigerator as possible without over packing it (this interferes with the ability of cold air to circulate) and without having to unpack it to reach items at the bottom. Pack food in the wire trays provided in the refrigerator or in mesh sacks. This keeps the food from touching the holding plate and freezing. Remember that blocks of ice should line the bottom of the refrigerator. |
The Vessel Name? "LADY MARGARET!"
The vessel we will be sailing on in St Thomas this February is "Lady Margaret," named after our friend, Peggy (Margaret). The boat was just built and sailed to St Thomas, where she'll be permanently docked, in December. She is a beauty!
It's an Island Packet, Model IP485 - Here's one on the water: OHerur
"The 485’s deck abounds with features you will appreciate:
The large aft deck is perfect for sunbathing, impromptu dining and is also large enough to accommodate up to a 10’ dinghy, which can be easily hoisted aboard with a clever optional boom extension system. Storage bins on either side of the aft deck hold LPG bottles and miscellaneous gear. A larger central hatch opens to a ladder leading into a huge storage lazarette. Uncluttered side decks, a recessed foredeck and plentiful cabin top handrails provide security on deck.
Our flagship, the 485, provides enormous living space, enough storage to hold gear for a circumnavigation, enough sail to speed you comfortably to your destination and the convenience of managing it all from the cockpit. From the broad anchor platform to the spacious stern boarding area, the 485’s deck abounds with features you will appreciate.
Below, you’ll be immediately impressed by the panoramic view of the open main saloon, the spacious forward and aft cabins with private heads, the solid teak and oak soles throughout, the gourmet galley, a multi-use third stateroom and a navigation center that rivals those on much larger yachts."
Some interior shots of a sample boat from the Island Packet website (http://www.ipy.com/default.asp):
Not too shabby huh?
Good thing we're friends....
OUR VIRGIN TRIP TO SAIL THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Here's the idea - my husband and I have been invited by another couple to go on a week long sailing trip (beginning February 1st) on their new fabulous boat. Joining us are our two sons, both 25. We are all very good friends, and I'm going to chronicle our adventures, as I know there will be ups and downs and fun and stresses, but one thing I know for sure - we will come away with many hilarious stories!
We fly from the states to St Thomas and will be visiting the islands all around the US and British Virgin Islands. We'll be based in Red Hook (in a marina just down from the Ritz there).
I'm the only "crew member" that has virtually no sailing experience . So I'll need to get a crash course in sailing quickly to know what I need to do to not get thrown overboard!
A scene from a recent America's Cup Race
My husband and son attended a sailing school in Captiva, Florida for a weekend in November. That doesn't make them ready to enter America's Cup, but at least they are more familiar.
Comfort zone is more like this picture:
Or manning a power boat:
Meanwhile, this shot is typical of what my vast nautical knowledge/experience on a boat consists of:
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| Not sure what's with my glasses? |
So, how will 6 adults co-habitate for 6 days aboard a 48 foot sailing vessel? EEEEEEEEK!
We will find out in about THREE WEEKS....
***CAMERA!
While sailing, I'll be using my Panasonic waterproof camera. It got top ratings and is small. It's also very easy to upload photos, so I can blog while in St Thomas or while near the water anywhere!
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 Waterproof Digital Camera (Orange)
Product Highlights
- 12.1MP Hi-Speed CCD Sensor
- 28-128mm Leica DC Vario-Elmar Lens
- 4.6x Optical Zoom
- Built-In GPS System
- 1920 x 1080 HD Video Capture
- Water/Shock/Freeze/Dust-Proof
- LSI Venus Engine
- Compass/Altimeter/Barometer
- Sonic Speed AF
- Manual Operation
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