Greetings everyone.

I've entitled this report "Favorite Things" because that is what this trip turned out to represent. I wasn't in search of new adventure or excitement, wasn't looking for the best snorkeling or the happiest happy hour. I just wanted to decompress doing the things I love doing most (based on years of "exploratory" visits and, in years past, leaving no stone unturned), in the place I most love doing it, with people who make me happy and are happy to do some of the same things.

To start, I have to say that in the 2 weeks prior to this visit, I began to wonder if I was doing the right thing. I had read so much on the forums about crime and islanders having bad attitudes. So, I started to second-guess and, at some points, even regret the plan to go for 16 days. I was nervous and started to feel jittery about it. Would I be safe? Is my villa too isolated? Will I really enjoy the villa? Will my family be harmed on the island? I was having visions of sitting on my favorite secret beach and being robbed or worse. Then I thought about the potential for hurricane and, in that week, a few moderate earthquakes hit the VI…so I started to worry about that. At one point, I told myself, I'll go this time, but I may never go again. This is after logging at least 25 happy visits. I was stressed out - from work, from reading the bad news on these forums, and from life in general.

Concerned as I was, the time was upon me. I had rented a villa for 16 nights and we were going. My parents were planning on joining us for part of the time, and the rest of their time on their favorite island - Tortola.

My 19 yr old son was planning to fly down for a few days before returning for college. That part was also stressing me out - him being home alone in Philly (the movie "Risky Business" came to mind - groan) - then flying down (which always involves him staying out til 3am at the island bars and clubs with other visiting college students he seems to meet without problem on the beach on the day he arrives) - and then he would fly back alone, pack for college and get himself to college on his own - at 19. The rest of the time, it would be my 8 yr old and me. Ahhhh….mother's worry. So, I hope all of the moms out there feel me on this one - I was stressed!

Ok, so the night before departure arrives we're all packed and the house is spotless - amazing. I must have planned well for this one since I am normally running around like a maniac the night before. My parents, my daughter and I were all planning to be on the same flight out in the morning at 7:40 - non-stop PHL to STT. My parents love to travel as much as, or maybe more than, I do. My boyfriend, who was not planning on going since he can't stand to not work/earn money for more then 48 hours (all work- no play), was to drive us all to the airport in the morning. I went to my next door neighbor's house (these people are like second-parents to me) armed with a two page instruction sheet about feeding my cat, Sophia, watering my garden, checking on my son, etc. They do this every time I go somewhere and I cannot thank them enough!!!

At 4am I walked into my daughter's room and whispered "it's time!" and she sat up and raised her fists high into the air - "Yes!" she shouted - soooooo excited.

My boyfriend arrived with icy bottles of Moet and we went to my parents home and popped the corks and called it the "opening ceremony" - dad hereby declared this caper underway!! My parents were celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary and dad's retirement just a few weeks earlier. I had decided to give them the Master Retreat at our villa, which is in its own private pavilion, as a present for their anniversary and dad's retirement gift.

Off to the Philadelphia airport in the dark - an easy 30 minute ride from home. Check-in was easy. PHL has a separate line just for St Thomas, St Croix and San Juan. Great seats - row 4. Nobody was in line for security so we breezed through that and then grabbed breakfast near the gate. The flight took off a little early - the plane was only about 1/3 full. We were able to spread out and relax. Smooth ride down - and we landed in STT at about 11:15am - still morning!

We had Hotwire car reservations with Avis - $17.99 plus tax per day!!! What a deal. Gotta love Hotwire for STT car rentals. You have to play around with the dates a little. I had to rent for 14 nights and then make a separate reservation for the last day - otherwise the rate was higher. I was given a Suzuki Aerio - great car - roomy trunk - 6k miles on it! Mom and dad had their own car through Hotwire, which they would use to bring to the villa, then stay a couple of nights before heading to Tortola, then use when they returned. It was so inexpensive that they didn't mind it sitting there unused while they were off-island. The lady at the Avis counter was friendly and courteous. I wish I had written her name down.

Baggage arrived just fine. The sky was a little overcast when we arrived - but not raining and not threatening of rain.

Before leaving the airport area, we made a stop at Ashley's place - a little outdoor restaurant that serves local food. The relo forum had been raving about this place, so I wanted to try it. They have lots of different pate' - conch, lobster, saltfish, beef, etc. I had the conch. Dad got a platter of Kingfish and salad. Mom had the lobster pate' and my daughter had the Johnny Cake. A couple of sodas and a couple of rum punches and we were feeling rather "islandy" already - all before leaving the airport. I thought the pate' was good - but not the best I've had. The dough was a little thicker than I like it - I prefer a thin, flaky dough with lots of filling - like they have at the blue truck on Coki beach. But, Ashey's was certainly very good and an older, heavy island woman who may have been the owner was sitting in the rear near the kitchen and called to us as we were leaving to see if we had enjoyed it - we certainly had. She was very glad and had the biggest, warmest smile and wished us a wonderful time on St Thomas. Things were off to a fantastic start!

We set out for our villa. Think LEFT, think LEFT!! Within minutes my mind was locked on left and I felt fine about driving.

I had decided to decline the optional "escort" to my villa since I knew the area and was sure I could find it. The owner had emailed directions to me. As soon as we hit the waterfront, the traffic was maddening! I was sorry I hadn't taken the left at Nisky Center just after the airport and climbed the mountain before hitting town…but, too late. I was locked in and just had to deal with it. Slowly we crept along and I thought about all of the St John travelers who say "I don't like St Thomas" - yeah, I guess so if this is all you experience - who would like this?. I LOVE St Thomas, but can't stand this part! Creep, creep, creeping along…..until we can finally make the left at Route 35 or whatever that is…..and we're free at last!

My gas pedal hit the floor as we climbed the mountain…..up, up, up we went with the traffic and the people fading behind us - good riddance. Once we reached the hairpin turn I knew we were home free - the scent began to change and I could smell the aroma of the "bush" as the islanders call the greenery. You repeat visitors know what I mean - that aroma that tell you that you've arrived! I looked at my gas tank, half expecting to see that it had gone from full to empty on that one hill…..it was that steep.

Finally, we crest the top of the mountain and cruise across the top at the castle….is it Fairchild? Not sure if the name…but it is like the gate to heaven because when you cross it, you see what lies before you - the glory of St Thomas in all it's splendor! Magens Bay waaaaay down below, the Peterborg peninsula across the bay, the other islands out in the ocean…..the views down to the BVI, the blooming frangipani, bougainvillea and flamboyant - vibrant colors popping everywhere. The aroma becomes more intense here.

We make the left and start to descend now - down towards Magens Bay. Homes are invisible since they are tucked into the hillside below the road - with only their driveways hinting that they exist. We soon pass the tell-tale sign that we're almost there - the sign for "Udder Delight" - the milkshake place at the St Thomas Dairies - you can get alcoholic or virgin shakes in just about every combination imaginable - and they don't skimp on the alcohol! They also have a shaded deck with outdoor seating and you'll often find locals playing dominos here and visitors sitting out in sandy bathing suits after a day at Magens Bay.

We would have loved to have stopped at Udder Delight, but the temptation of getting to see our villa for the first time was calling! We made the right onto Peterborg Road and climbed up to the cruising altitude - with a perfect view of the beach at Magens Bay as we passed. Why does it seem that the sun ALWAYS shines on Magens Bay, even when the sky seems cloudy? I have stayed on Peterborg in years past, but never as far out on the Peninsula as this villa was. So, we drove to the end of the main road and found our little veer off on D'Antilles - a little one-lane concrete road. We drove down, over the smooth area and then to the bumpy area where we saw tire tracks in the concrete that told the tale of someone going through it too soon after pouring, then up onto the smooth part again and to the intersection where we were to turn again, putting us farther out onto the point - at this point we started up what we thought was a steep road - but it was OUR DRIVEWAY!

The villa is on the other side of the hillside - so you go up a hill on the driveway and then down - VERY private hilltop with no other villas above or even on the same level. Palms and other pretty trees lined this driveway and as we crested at the top and then came down, the first thing we noticed was the HUGE pool!! Jaws dropped and "ooooooooohhhhs" were heard in my car. My parents later told us that the same thing happened in theirs. A 38 foot X 14 foot pool is extremely rare in the VI. Not to mention that it is a deep pool - going from 3 ft to 8 ft. THIS is a real swimming pool - not a dipping pool, not a cocktail pool, not a plunge pool - this pool is for swimming, splashing and floating around! Anyway - more later on the pool - I am getting ahead of myself because I was so taken by the right of this pool.

Oh, sorry - I can hear everyone asking "what Villa - what Villa already, Blu??" - Fairwinds Villa! www.fairwinds.vi

I was dying to get to stay in this villa after anther forum member on VINOW asked about it when she was thinking of staying there. It is rented by the owner directly. When that other forum member asked about it, I hadn't heard of it so I contacted the owner and asked to have it photographed by someone on island. He agreed - and the feedback was that this was really an amazing location - top of the hill - some of the best view"s" (emphasis on the S in views) on Peterborg - very private, large villa, huge lot (which I have since learned is because the owner bought two lots - total 1 acre - so everything is very private and will remain that way). The furnishings, in the report I received, are not luxurious, but comfortable and well kept - and the kitchen looks totally new and is large and bright - and there are decks everywhere - EVERYWHERE - 2,500 sq ft of decks!.

Ok, so that was what I was told and what I saw in the pics. Then I looked at the prices and was really surprised. Villas on Peterborg usually go for much, much more - but since this owner rents directly, he can afford to not charge so much since he doesn't have to pay the hefty management fees to agents. Plus, an agent would make him update certain things and change things….since agents have to be prepared for the pickiest of picky renters.

I admit to being picky…but if the price is right, my pickiness can be tempered a little - lol. So, I found this villa to be a really interesting find - in the most expensive and coveted place on STT and, to some, in the VI period - but affordable for people willing to overlook certain little things. In my opinion, this villa is an excellent value and a very rare find.

Fairwinds Villa - I will take you though it in the next installment. I hope this is okay so far and you'll keep reading.