Wikipedia puts the US Virgin Islands at top of another 'Tops of World' list but this one is NOT one we want to be on!

What do the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and the US Virgin Islands have in common? 

Wikipedia just published its 2013 list of Electricity pricing around the world and, sadly, the US Virgin Islands made it into the top 4 most expensive 'countries' (even though we are part of the good old USA, the US Virgin Islands is listed separately) around the world.

No one should be surprised that the cost of electricity is more expensive on St John or St Thomas than the mainland USA, but should it be more than 4 times as expensive? And more than 4 times as expensive as another Caribbean island (Jamaica)? Well, it is. Often guests at rental villas wonder what drives up the rental rates. Electricity has long been a huge part of the operating cost for rental villas (and an overwhelming cost for businesses like restaurants).  

For a long time we have tried to minimize the electrical costs at our St John villa, Great Expectations. With the goal of cutting down our electric bills, over the last several years we have installed 33 solar photo-electric panels on the roofs of Great Expectations.  We also have 3 solar panels which heat our hot water. In addition to reduce consumption, we have installed energy efficient pool pumps, 12 hour timers for air-conditioners, and energy efficient appliances.  Our goal is to be as GREEN as possible since doing so is good for the environment and good for our guest's pocketbook.

We have added 36 solar panels on the roofs of Great Expecations

The full list can be viewed on Wikipedia, but here are a few of the highlights and highs and lows around the world:

COUNTRY/TERRITORY  US cents/kWh  As of Sources

Argentina                               5.75                  2006

Belgium                               29.08                  2011

Bhutan                                    1.88-4.40        2012

Brazil                                    34.20                  2011

Canada                                   6.3- 11.8         2012

China                                      7.5 -10.7          2012

Denmark                               40.38                 2012

Dubai                                       7.62                 2011

France                                   19.39                 2011

Indonesia                                8.75                 2013

Iceland                                    9 to 10             2012

Iran                                           2 to 19            2011

Jamaica                                 7.35-16.80      2011

Paraguay                                8.                      2011

Russia                                     1.7-9.58          2012

Solomon Islands                   84.8                2013 and the 'winner' is

Tonga                                      57.95               2011

USA                                        8 - 17; 37*        2012 *Hawaii

US Virgin Islands                 50.8 - 54.8       2013

Vanuatu                                  58                      2013

What do you do when a guest won't leave your St John Villa?

Steve seems to be living in our new pool

We actually have no complaints and thought it was funny when Steve e-mailed to ask if he and his wife, Carrie, could stay on for a few more days!  Luckily for them we happened to be available this week so we said yes, indeed!

Steve and his wife first stayed at Great Expectations 10 years ago this past week when they were married on St John. At that time they rented Great Expectations for their family and friends - 14 in all. The actual wedding ceremony was at Oppenheimer beach and they had their reception catered by our good friend and fabulous chef Laura Samms, owner of Passion Fruit Chefs. 

About a year ago Steve reserved Great Expectations for his 10th anniversary.  This time it was to be a surprise for his wife. Carrie thought that she and Steve would be coming to St John for their anniversary to stay at Beau Geste, the Guest House of Great Expectations (as they have several times over the last 10 years).  Well, instead, Steve invited Carrie's siblings (and their spouses) and several of their friends to join them.  It was only along the way, at the airports when Carrie saw one sister and then another, that she realized something was 'up'! But it was not until she arrived at Great Expectations that she realized that Steve had invited 15 friends and family to celebrate with them! Tears - of joy (luckily!) - flowed and a great week was had.  So great that when their family and guests left on Saturday they could not tear themselves away so they stayed on...a happy ending!

Here is an e-mail we received from Carrie on the first morning of their stay:

"I'm sitting alone on the porch, waiting for the sunrise. Still taking in the events of the last 24 hours! I'm shocked at what Steve was able to pull off!  And laughing at your complicity in it all!  You are all sneaky!
Everyone loves GE....The new pool is absolutely amazing, seems like it was always here. Just a perfect addition to an already perfect place. I know we'll have lots if fun stories to share, but I wanted to just thank you and Chuck now for this week and everything you did to make it happen for us.  It's going to be unforgettable!"  

Here is a picture Steve took, from where he now apparently lives near our new pool, on what was to be his last morning on St John:

Steve calls this is 'bacon 'n cake' breakfast by new pool (obviously, all sense and sensibility has left his head!)

And, the vacation continues....

More progress on our St John Villa Swimming Pool...concrete pour for the walls, stairs, bench seat, and pump house base scheduled for this week!

Another week and our new St John swimming pool is taking more form...pun intended because the work this week was to finish forming -- with plywood and steel rebar -- the walls, bench seat (that will extend the entire length of the side of the pool that faces out to the Caribbean Sea!), stairs (we are building a wonderfully grand stairway into the pool), and the pump room floor (which our contractor calls 'the Dog House').

Our plumber and electrician also worked hard to 'rough in' their piping and wiring to ensure we have the proper pool water flow and lights. 

Here are the fruits of their labor:

View of pool looking out to the Caribbean Sea a patio will be to the left of the pool

The stairs will be grand!

Bench seat will extend the entire way of on wall so you can sit in the pool and look at the Caribbean Sea!

One of our several pool jets which are arranged to move water around the pool & any debris into the skimmer

Get your pool float and feel the water!  Soon....

Kids stay free! at St John Great Expectations

Let your kids 'drag' you to St John

 On-St John recently reported the tale of Don Ricci who had a tough time leaving the beach on his last day so much so that his kids had to drag him off (and isn't it usually the other way around?). The logical question asked (by On-StJohn) was when do you book your next vacation to St John? While on island? Within the month you get back? Or, are you one of those who wait until the first snow-storm?

Wait no longer -- for the next week only - book Great Expectations for any new reservation by Tuesday, August 7 and get Kids Stay Free!  That's right - FREE! So, no more procrastinating! Reserve any week, except holiday weeks, with no charge for children age 12 or under!

E-mail or call (617 314-6836) us today to take advantage of our Kids Stay Free! special.

July & August News flashes & fun St John clips:

• Once again the Virgin Islands received top honors on several 'the best of' lists. We are not surprised since but always love having others validate our feelings about St John.  Some of this months honors are: *the Huffington Post designated the Virgin Islands National Park    their 'Destination of the Week'

  *Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards reader's survey placed the US Virgin Islands in their top 5 'Best Caribbean Islands'.

  *Islands Wish List for the 'Best Island to Live On' named St John as that island!

• Jet Blue jump starts its season by beginning their Boston - St Thomas flights in September, 3 months earlier than originally planned making it easier to get to St John.

•   News of St John has a great blog posting about a TripAdvisor forum about the 'Best things to Do on St John'.  See if you agree with their listing of best food, beaches, drink, entertainment, and hiking or if you have other ideas to add to the list.

• The USVI is represented at the Summer Olympics in London (including the Paralympics Games) by 8 amazing athletes who are sailing, running, swimming, & riding with their peers from around the world.  Tabarie Henry, who is running the 400 meter dash, was chosen to be the flag bearer for the USVI team. No matter what results, they are all winners & we are very proud of them all.

Come to St John - and Great Expectations - to enjoy an 'endless summer'!

Best,

Chuck & Kristin

owners of Great Expectations

P.S. Check out our availability; we still have a few weeks available during this coming winter.

Iggy found a home at our St John Villa

Iggy the Iguana looks ferocious but is actually a scary-cat.

Turns out that Iguanas are quite timid and not to worry they are vegans so won't go after your toes. Want to learn more about iguanas on St John? Check out this webpage about iguanas. This little guy loves the jasmine vein growing by our deck. See if you can find him as he has lunch (eats the leaves from our plant).

Iggy lunching on our plant

What is special about St John??

Could it be the magnificent underwater beauty?

Photographer Steve Simonsen captures some of St John's underwater beauty

Or, the  fabulous vistas?

 

We never tire of this view of Trunk Bay 

Recently a forum participant on USVI-on-line blog told of the time that she and her husband 'got it' or first really understood just why they are obsessed with St John (their 'eureka' moment was while sitting on a beach with some cool refreshments and watching turtles poke their heads out of the water) and she asked fellow forum readers 'when did you get it and what makes you obsessed with St John'?  Well I guess, for us, one of the most intoxicating things about St John is the endless beauty, both above and below the sea. The friendly people, culture, slow pace, and, yes, the weather (averaging 85 degrees year round) also top the 'reasons I love St John' list.  What is yours?

This guy 'gets' the beauty of St John
(great laid back place to relax the day away)

Come to St John - and Great Expectations - to find for yourself why St John becomes an obsession!

Best,

Chuck & Kristin

owners of Great Expectations

P.S. Check out our availability; we still have a few weeks available during this coming summer & fall.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for news about Great Expectations specials & St John activities

A family comes to roost at our St John Villa

This pair of American Kestrels seem quite at home on our deck.

We believe we have provided a new home for this pair of Kestrels (a type of hawk) and are quite happy to do so (at no cost I might add). They are neither aggressive and or timid (letting me take pictures quite up close and personal). Right now they are visiting us at Beau Geste, the Guest House of our St John villa, Great Expectations. They arrived right after sunrise this morning (which we watched from the comfort of our bed). In case you want to watch the sunrise yourself you might take a peek at our live webcam (looking out on the South Shore of St John - Rendezvous Bay, Ditleff Point, Bordeaux Mountain, and into Reef Bay.

St John has lots of interesting bird life

 

This little guy came to visit us this morning.

From our friends at Wikipedia:

The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), sometimes colloquially known as the Sparrow Hawk, is a small falcon, and the only kestrel found in the Americas. It is the most common falcon in North America, and is found in a wide variety of habitats. At 19–21 centimeters (7–8 in) long, it is also the smallest falcon in North America. It exhibits sexual dimorphism in size and plumage, although both sexes have a rufous back with noticeable barring. Juveniles are similar in plumage to adults.

The American Kestrel hunts by hovering in the air with rapid wing beats or perching and scanning the ground for prey. Its diet typically consists of grasshoppers, lizards, mice, and other small birds. It nests in cavities in trees, cliffs, buildings, and other structures. The female lays three to seven eggs, which both sexes help to incubate. It is a common bird to be used in falconry, especially by beginners.

Its breeding range extends from central and western Alaska across northern Canada to Nova Scotia, and south throughout North America, into central Mexico and the Caribbean. It is a local breeder in Central America and is widely distributed throughout South America. Most birds breeding in Canada and the northern United States migrate south in the winter. It is an occasional vagrant to western Europe.

He wasn't at all shy; probably waiting for lunch to be served.

First day of spring on St John

First day of spring - Trunk Bay - sweet!

This is the way Trunk Bay beach looked this afternoon on the first day of spring.  How sweet! Wish you were here? Well, come on down!