Thursday 11/25/10 - Arrival in St. Thomas, Thanksgiving

This was the 10th year that we have spent Thanksgiving on the island of St. Thomas with our good friend Marty. It has become a tradition for us to miss the holiday crowds at the airport by flying on Thanksgiving day and arriving in St. Thomas in time for a Thanksgiving dinner with Marty. This year we were up bright and early for our flight, which connected in New York. We had never done this connection before, but it had to be better than Miami, rigfht? We woke up at 2:20 a.m. and Steve arrived at our house at 3:15. After showering, making coffee, and doing a few last minute preparations, we left the house at 3:50.

We parked in Central Parking. Our flight was split between Delta and American Airlines. Although we were able to print out our Delta boarding passes at home, we hadn't been able to print out the American leg from New York to St. Thomas. So we had to wait in line and check in with a Delta agent. By the time we were through security we only had time to grab a coffee cake and a bottle of water before boarding the plane. It was a small plane and our luggage barely fit in the overhead bin (luckily they eventually fit, so we didn't need to gate check them). There was a baby sitting next to us, but it was a short flight and it wound up not being a problem.

We got to JFK and had to change terminals, taking a train to Terminal 8. We had to go through security again and had to throw away the water bottle we had just purchased at Logan. We hadn't even taken a sip. If we had known this, we wouldn't have even bought them. It was annoying, but the TSA folks were actually pleasant and commiserating. Craig was seated behind me on the flight. I used my computer for the whole flight, and the time flew by. We actually made up time and arrived in St. Thomas, about half an hour early, soon after 1:30 p.m.

We got a brand new rental car, a white Ford Focus with 44 miles on it and temporary license plates. We were on the road by 2 o'clock and called Marty. We went to Food Center to buy supplies. We bought some "VI Island Hoppers IPA" just for fun - how could we resist? We would be Island Hopping tomorrow! Because we have a kitchen in our unit, we usually buy supplies for

After purchasing our groceries, we drove to Secret Harbour and checked into room 323. It is the only three bedroom unit in the place, and we had two bathrooms. The master had a large TV and the main room had a huge couch. Marty came by and we watched the Patriots / Lions game. He brought his pimped out "Limin' Cooler" (a cooler which he has outfitted with some serious stereo equipment). We listened to some tunes and went outside to enjoy the fabulous sunset. Some pelicans had taken up residence on the jetty this year, and we enjoyed watching them soar and dive. The sign on the jetty clearly said "No diving." Apparently pelicans can't read. Though the Lions were leading when we turned on the football game, the Pats made an amazing comeback to win. Sorry, Marty from Michigan!

We left the hotel at around 6 o'clock to go to the Toad and Tart, a British pub which serves a spectacular Thanksgiving dinner. We met Donovan, our server, and Anna, the proprietor. We ordered a round of drinks, a Newcastle for Craig and hard cider for the rest of us. This was our third year eating Anna's Thanksgiving feast, and she outdid herself once again: roast turkey with sage stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato and marshmallow casserole, buttered zucchini and yellow squash, green beans almondine, cranberry sauce, and fresh bread. It was absolutely delicious. We were seated once again next to the bust of Danish King Frederick. Anna collects frog and toad knick knacks (hence the name of the pub, the Toad and Tart), and we were sitting next to a frog statue that was a little...risque. Craig and I joked that it belonged with the erotic statues at the Khajuraho temples in India. Although we were stuffed and feeling rather sleepy after such a delicious meal, we of course couldn't say no to her apple pie with homemade cinnamon ice cream.

We left the restaurant at around 8 o'clock. We were going to need to get up early in the morning, and it had been a long day of travel. We decided to call it an early night. Marty headed back home, and we stayed up for a while watching the Saints vs. the Cowboys before going to bed.

Marty

Marty

Sunset from Secret Harbour

Sunset from Secret Harbour

Toad and Tart Thanksgiving feast

Toad and Tart Thanksgiving feast

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