Fernweh (n.): An ache for distant places, a craving to travel.: Island Time with Friends

It was about November when John and I decided to head back to the Islands for our 1 year anniversary. Who needs materialistic gifts when we have a full world out there to still see. We decided to ask a few friends if they would be interested in joining us, and low and behold, and after much research and communications, we had a group of 12 ready to join us. None had been to the Virgin Islands before and we were beyond happy to show them our little slice of heaven.

We arrived on the Island on Friday, April 24th around 3 pm. We left St. Thomas airport and took a cab to Red Hook where we awaited our ferry to head to St. John. The ferry took a little longer than expected and by that time the couple that we were waiting on had arrived and we all ended up on the same ferry over. We arrive at St. John, meet our greeter, and headed to the house.

The House is a beautiful 2 story open concept and a good size wrap around porch, patio and pool. There are 2 bedrooms downstairs, and 3 upstairs. We set our luggage down, everyone picked rooms, settled in for a bit, then we headed out to the Beach Bar to await our last straggler. we spend the evening drinking and playing corn hole, and some more drinking of course.

Saturday we spend the day driving around and showing everyone around the Islands, different beaches to go to, ate lunch, and found a beach to hang out at, and drink some more.

Sunday we did Ram's head Hike, we went a little late in the morning and the sun was a little scorching, but we did it, and everyone enjoyed the views, and we took lots and lots of pictures before we headed out to lunch.

A few people were suffering a bit on this hike ;)

Monday we did a group excursion, all 12 of us headed out to the BVI's to enjoy lots of sun, fun, and as many painkillers as we could handle. We chartered teh same boat ans John and I did on our Honeymoon and we went to The Baths in Virgin Gorda, Lunch at Cooper Islands, then made a quick little drive by Sandy Spit - a place that I missed while we were on our Honeymoon and didn't get the picture I wanted, then headed to Jost Van Dyke, finally some painkillers!!!!

Entering the "Cathedral Room"

Sandy Spit in the Background!

Tuesday was fishing time! We chartered 2 boats, boys vs. girls - because we're competitive like that! Our charters were for 4 hours in the bays of St. John. We all caught at least 2 fish each, some small, some big, and as we headed back to the dock - the boys awaited us only to find out that they were the losers of the challenge... oh how I love some good, fun competitions! We left, ate lunch and headed to Trunk bay for some cold ones and to relax.

Wednesday we had 2 couples leave us and head back home. The 6 of us decided that it's been such a busy vacation since we've arrived that we were going to simply relax, we headed to one of the beaches and hung out ALL day, with not a thing to do, but make sure we had a cold one always in our hand.

The rest of the trip included us being lazy, lounging around the different beaches, eating lots and lots of good food, and drinking, we enjoyed not having an agenda, and just hanging out. Most of the nights were spent in the pool, drinking, and playing heads up - which is a blast if you haven't played that game!

Friday - John and I decided to head back to Jost for one last time, the rest of the group decided to stay behind and relax. We hopped on a passenger ferry and headed to our favorite little spot, Jost Van Dyke. We arrived in time for breakfast, and there was a handful of people on the whole beach strand. We enjoyed breakfast at Soggy Dollar, got some bloody mary's, and we sat in some beach chairs, with out butts and toes int he sand, looking out at the beautiful turquoise waters ... ahhh this IS the good life! We spend the rest of the day sipping on some painkillers, lounging in hammocks, more painkillers, reading books, some bushwackers, eating lobster enchiladas on the beach, then relaxing in the waters, and some more painkillers....did I say painkillers?

We left John's Texans Hat at One Love Bar, we will see you again soon!

Enjoying a Nilla Killa

Where else would you find ducks on the beach?!?

We left our Stamp...

Now THIS is the Life... :)

We headed back and met the rest of the group at Maho Beach, we hung out for a little bit then headed back to the house to get ready for dinner... Tonight we ate at ZoZo's, lots and lots of good food!

We got back to the house, cleaned up, packed and rested as we leave tomorrow. Such bittersweet feeling when we have to leave but everyone was ready to head back to their normal lives. We got up that morning and headed to Curz Bay landing for breakfast...along with our luggage. We ate, and John and I headed to the Bar right next to our dock, High Tide, for one last drink, while the rest of the group was checking out the nearby shops.