Yesterday we drove over to the far side of the island for some exploring. When we got hungry, we headed to Miss Lucy's, one of the few places to eat on this side of the island. The bay it is on almost always has wonderful breezes. Unfortunately, it also has a tendency to fill with sargassum when it is floating by at certain times of the year. Now is one of those times. Sargassum in Friis Bay
Luckily it was a recent arrival so had not started to dry out and smell bad yet. The restaurant is basically a stone bunker, a tent, and some tables under a tree. Here's a picture. See that big truck? That's a water truck. There is no natural freshwater source on St. John. Instead, you have to rely on rainwater collected in cisterns. When it is dry, like now, sometimes the cistern runs dry and you have to purchase water that is trucked in from the desalination plant. $$$.
Menu pictures
Drinks. Husband got a mimosa and I had iced tea
We skipped appetizers. Husband got the crunchy fish sandwich
I ordered a special of curried grouper with pigeon peas and rice. There is cornmeal fungi under the fish, but you cannot really see it.
Another shot of Friis Bay
After lunch, we stopped by for a late afternoon swim at what used to be one of our favorite beaches, Maho. You used to be able to get this beach almost to yourself. There was good snorkeling with lots of turtles offshore. Well, a few years ago, someone opened a beach bar on land that is across from the beach but not owned by the National Park. Now, the beach is crowded when the bar is open, you have to look out for tipsy people walking in the road, and snorkel charters drop people off to get drinks. At the end of the day though, once people start leaving, it can still be pretty. Plus, if I did not know what the beach was like before the bar opened, maybe I would think the bar is pretty cool too.
Later that night we went back to Longboard to get some light bites. We both had drinks--essentially the same flavors, but mine was a mocktail. It had pineapple, lime juice, local honey, jalapeño, and smoked salt. Here's mine
And husband's, with grilled pineapple tequila and Grand Marnier added to my flavors
We shared a summer roll (spicy!)
And some mahi sliders
Last night's sunset was another good one, so you get two pictures
It's really overcast today and raining off and on. We have to bring our rental Jeep in for maintenance this morning (the oil is at 4%!!!) so we'll probably skip the beach in favor of going out to breakfast and then hanging at the villa after we get the Jeep back.
