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Writer's pictureDana Eikenberg

Tropical Misadventures: St. John 2024

Our vacation to St. John started with the perfect tropical cliché: sipping on a refreshing Painkiller cocktail at the local beach bar, the sun setting in a blaze of colors, and the sound of waves gently lapping at the shore. We toasted to a week of relaxation, family, and fun under the Caribbean sun.

 

Little did we realize that the first evening would be one of the few shining moments of our trip

 

The very next day, one by one, we fell victim to a particularly nasty flu bug that swept through our group with the efficiency of a well-organized tour guide, turning our vacation into a comedy of queasy errors.



Despite the “out of sorts” feeling, the three of us decided to rally our spirits and embrace our planned adventure.  Unfortunately, it was Cookie's turn to set the record for the day's highest temperature, so she decided to take it easy and lounge around.

 

Determined not to let a little flu bug ruin everything, we boarded the sleek and beautiful KeKoa for a day sail to Jost Van Dyke.

 

The stunning views did wonders for our morale as we cut through the crystal-clear azure waters. With every wave that splashed against the hull, we felt more alive and ready to take on whatever the day might bring, even through a haze of cold medicine and tissues.

 

However, that evening, a 24-hour power outage in Cruz Bay blindsided us like a surprise exam in vacation planning. With no offshore winds to cool us down, our rental home turned into a tropical sweat lodge. Power outage plus flu? It’s like the universe saying, "Hold my cocktail; I've got a challenge for you!



As soon as the rooster let out its wake-up call, my sister Darcy was speed-dialing the friendly folks at the Westin. Opting for the Westin with AC wasn't just a choice; it was a survival reflex kicking in. Because, let's face it, sweating through vacation isn't as glamorous as it sounds.



Our time in St. John wasn't the flawless vacation promised, but it turned out alright with my family by my side.

 

Despite the bumps—a power outage here, a flu bug there—laughter and shared moments made it memorable. Though I've accepted that my mother may never join us on another adventure, the bonds we strengthened, and the stories we made will always be treasured.

 

St. John taught us that imperfections make a trip uniquely ours, and for that, it was perfect in its imperfect way.


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