Turkey & Pineapple: An island-style Thanksgiving Day 4

We had promised the MIL her two favorite St. John things today: Trunk Bay and a Pina Colada from Shipwreck Landing.

We spent the lazy morning hours at the house, watching the rainbows over the water below.

Then it was off to Trunk Bay.

For me, Trunk Bay is like that uncle that gets too drunk at every family reunion and talks too loud and always brings the tuna noodle salad that no one wants to eat, but that always tells the funniest jokes and seems makes you smile every time you see him.

I love it and I hate it.

I hate it because it's the one beach that EVERYONE within a 100 mile radius of St. John ends up on. I hate it because every cruise ship day tripper heads there first. I hate it because hordes of people in bright yellow vests bob around in the water, dropped off by this tour or that taxi. I hate it because you actually have to pay to walk out onto the beach.

But I love it because it's still one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever laid eyes on.

I also love the fact that it has the softest, finest white sand and most brilliant blue water of any beach on St. John. I love that it is big enough that, no matter how many people are there, you can always carve out a private little slice of paradise.

And I hate to admit it....but I love the fact that it has beach chairs for rent. I know all the "concessions on National Park beaches" arguments, but I love me a good beach chair.

Our villa had beach chairs, but they weren't very comfortable. Trunk Bay has REAL chairs.

After Matt made 2 trips to the concession area to get 4 chairs, made a return trip to get a replacement chair for his mom, and then made a return trip to return the replacement chair because she decided she preferred his chair and he had to get himself a new one.....we settled down to enjoy the sun, the surf, and the sand.

Ahhhhh.......Trunk Bay. You're too popular for your own good, but I love you anyway.

It was a beautiful drive as we headed over to Coral Bay to grab some lunch at Shipwreck Landing.

We found Shipwreck Landing just as we had left it....right across the street from the water, in ever present danger of disappearing behind a wall of glorious vines and green things, and churning out some of the best frozen drinks on the island.

Crispy conch fritters, a spicy mahi burger with fries, and a dark and stormy made a perfect lunch.

We spent the afternoon relaxing at the villa, enjoying the pool, and soaking in the final rays of the sun. Before we knew it, it was dinner time.

It was Tuesday night and that meant one thing: Lobster Night at Morgan's Mango!

Matt and I have always eaten at Morgan's Mango on our first night on St. John. It happened by accident and simply became tradition. He had missed arrival night and was still waiting to get his Morgan's Mango fix.

We started off with the seafood soup du jour and the mussels cooked in Argentine malbec, tomato, garlic, butter and parsley.

It was a good start.

Things fell apart at the lobster, however.

Don't get me wrong, it was delicious. We just misordered.....that's all. Here's how it went down:

Waiter: It is lobster night. You can get a 1 lb. lobster tail for $35.

Vicki: I want the lobster.

Waiter: How large?

Vicki: (in head) If a 1 lb. lobster is $35, a 1.5 lb lobster must be about $50. Yeah. Let's get the big one.

Vicki: (to waiter) I'll go with 1.5 lbs.

Waiter: We can also offer it stuffed tonight. We have a delicious crab stuffing.

Vicki: (in head) How much can stuffing be? Sounds good. Yeah. Add the stuffing.

Vicki: (to waiter) Sure, add the stuffing.

Matt: (in head) Mmm....that sounds good.

Matt: (to waiter) Make that two.

And that, my friends, is how you turn a $35 lobster special into a $400 dinner.

I did the only thing I could. I drowned my pain in chocolate raspberry cheesecake.