What are some hard-to-get items on the islands

Yeah, but Jim will they pay your air fare if you buy 10K in shoes? 🙂 Nordstrom by catalog or online is great. I once got a handwritten thank you note from them.

Hard to get items on the islands:

1. dinner that doesnt last 3 hours or getting a refill on any drink that has a free refill
2. a store that doesnt have a line
3. a govt office that doesnt have a line
4. a grocery store that has reasonabley priced items
5. anystore that has reasonabley priced items
6. piece of mind in your own home
7. your income because now it goes to wapa

Why don't you have piece of mind in your own home? Islands unfortunately always have high prices just because of the logistics of getting things here (shipping plus taxes on items.)

Jane, When you mentioned the west end of PR for hardware stores, did you mean west end of San Juan. Are there hardware stores on the western end of Puerto Rico that offer good products/service, etc.? Shipping from the west end would be a lot more. I am assuming you meant SJU, but always looking for a deal! Thanks.

How silly of me, my fingers work faster than my brain - I meant the Eastern end.

Lewis: You will have to think about what you NEED and what you WANT. You will be able to find things you need, but possibly not all you want.

What will I do without Nordis and Mac lipsticks? To smack-face with whoever?

White Castle and Steak-N-Shake.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

And NO! The Frozen Sliders don't count as true White Castle.....

Camp,

Relax...you can find a full-line of MAC cosmetics at their counter inside of AH Riise downtown. Happy shopping!

Alix, I hope you're not microwaving the frozen sliders. Nearly as good is to put them on the broiler pan with hot water in the pan underneath & tightly cover the pan with foil. Bake per directions on the box. Then they sort of get steamed & are almost as good as the White Castles in the States.

There are scads of building supply stores and hardware stores in the Carolina area southeast from the airport and on the highway running east from there. There are enormous warehouse stores full of plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, tile of all kinds, and anything else you can think of. Rooms to Go and other furniture stores are also plentiful. Other places to stop in at when in Carolina include Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart, assorted office stores and computer/electronics stores, a mall (Plaza Carolina) that is smaller than Plaza Las Americas but still has some good anchor stores and specialty stores, I think there is a Bed Bath & Beyond in the area for linens and specialty kitchen items, and don't forget to visit Taco Bell! Maybe visit Taco Bell twice. And bring some back for me!

Clothing is one of the hardest things to find on-island. Come well supplied and bring three times as many flip-flop sandals as you would ever dream of owning. You wear them out very fast in the islands and you'll start bringing back a suitcase full every time you venture to the mainland.

OMG! I just thought of that Alexandria. There IS no Taco Bell on STX. I'll have to ge my fill. I will be coming down to join Jim in mid to late June.

Marlene

Trade~

I'll have to try that.....the microwaved ones are HORRIBLE! I usually buy the real thing back home, then freeze them and bring 'em back here....worth the effort!

Worse than no Taco Bell, there are no Thai or Indian restaurants....or at least i don't know of any.

Alix, the complete directions are on the box. They really are so close to the real thing that it solves the craving unless you like the pickles which aren't included. Good enough to clog those arteries back up again!

Here on STT, I wish the Taco Bell would have made it. Really nice people ran it. Building is still empty & boarded up.

Sounds like you have a good idea for a business to open. That's is if spicy food is a desire there. Is the food spicy there? If not...I need to change my mind...i love cajun and mex-mex food.
-Traci
on my freakin way as fast as i can get there

I cannot find any white American or cheddar cheese on STT. Is it impossible to get that here?
Silly thing I know, but I just don't like orange cheese.

Suzette: Have you looked at Marina Market? They had white Vermont cheddar at one point....

Hi Suzette,

Have you tried Plaza Extra, Gourmet Gallery, or Marina Market?

EE,

I didn't see your post before I put mine up -- I guess I will be seeing you soon at Marina Market :)!

I didn't find any at Marina market or at either Gourmet Gallery's - but I will be looking again. And then again. Then I will try again. I'm getting to learn rather quickly that if you see it and want it, but two of it. For white Vermont cheddar cheese,,, I'll get 3 ! I love cheese !

Suzette, ask the lady who works at the Havensight Gourmet Gallery & she'll get it for you. She's thin with short, white hair & she's really nice. She ordered the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges for me & they're still carrying them. (If you haven't tried those, pick one up.)

Dont forget you can freeze cheese 🙂

Pia

Thanks ! I will look for her. The Mr. Clean things can get the RUST off of the tile floors,,,, right ? I need that too!
I need the rust off of the floors (tile) but I need the cheese too 🙂

Plaza Extra has Vermont Cheddar. I'm also a big fan of this cheese.

But as Rodney Dangerfiled said.....who cut the cheese? Or was it who stepped on the duck?