June 2010 - Tortola - Day One

Departure day! Drive to Fort Lauderdale was smooth, check-in easy, blew through security, and a full plane departed on time! Our pilot worked magic and arrived in St. Thomas early. All our bags arrived with us (whew!), we grabbed a passion fruit dacquiri at the airport bar, then caught a ride on the infamous Love Cab (telephone 473-6344) -- "The Awesome Wheels of Love"-- to the ferry landing. On previous trips we arranged ground transport through Margie on Island Magic. This time we opted to be less structured, but our taxi driver was the same we've had for the past four trips. :) He recognized us and helped us load up our luggage quickly and efficiently. Surprisingly, we were on time for the 4:00 ferry to West End. On previous trips, we ran late and had to grab the 5:30 Sunday ferry. Lady Luck was with us.

Upon arrival at West End, we proceeded through customs and immigration quickly. They welcomed us back with smiles. We joked about the possibility of being in the BVI longer if Spirit Airlines strikes. Hopefully we'll be laughing on our scheduled return date.

Jerry was outside the terminal to take us to his office for our rental car. Paper work was quick and efficient, then we were off to Casa Allamanda to drop off our luggage. After unpacking and a quick refresh, we headed off to the Elm for the famous Sunday night barbecue. There we were welcomed back warmly by the restaurant staff, and we ran into Malcolm (Manpot) and Candace. The new band "Da Tree Men" were playing. They were great!

Malcolm will once again be Gary's co-host on Talkin' Tourism this Friday. He graciously co-hosted last year. This year's show will include Davide Pugliese and air live from Brandywine Bay Restaurant. Tune in on www.wpsl.com at 10 a.m. on Friday (6/11) to listen to the show LIVE from Tortola. Pre-show publicity will soon be posted on Facebook too.

After ribs and GOOD fish, we were off to Bobby's in Cane Garden Bay to pick up "light" provisions...eggs, bacon, bread, coffee, butter, RUM, limes, passion fruit juice, 6-pack of coke, water, cheese, crackers, peanut butter---$176. =\ Welcome to the islands! A "big" Bobby's run in Road Town to follow in the morning for heartier groceries. Thank goodness for American Express! Don't leave home without it!

After dinner and a mini Bobby's run, we returned to Casa Allamanda for rum night caps on the patio, followed by a movie, then sleep serenaded by the roosters, birds, and doggies.

More adventures to follow!

Attached are some iPhone photos and video. Better high-def and higher resolution photography to come!

Gary--"what are you doing?" after two DUTCH Heineken's--the real McCoy!

BVI June 2009 - Day One Highlights

The launch of this BVI trip was smooth and easy! Highlights below:

• Travel from Stuart to Fort Lauderdale via I-95 quick and accident-free.


• Found parking location opposite elevator, down three floors, walked right to Spirit check-in counter.


• Check-in line, one-deep; wait time 5 minutes!


• Security line, two in front of us; clearance time less than 5 minutes.


• Aircraft on-time, big front seats. Magic!


• All luggage arrives (unlike June 2008 trip), Island Magic there to greet and transport us to ferry landing.


• While waiting for ferry to West End, enjoy our first libation while watching sea planes land and take off (slide show attached).


• Ferry on time, transport to West End non-eventful, Customs & Immigration line took less than 5 minutes. Wow!


• Jerry from Jerry's Car Rental there to greet us outside the ferry terminal. Takes us to pick up our wheels for our 10-day adventure. Gary remarks when he sees the vehicle that he's concerned it might be too big to make Casa Allamanda's drive-way. Jerry has an alternative car with a malfunctioning window he offers, but we decide to give the 4-wheel Suzuki XRS7 a try.


• Head over to Elms in Cane Garden Bay to meet Manpot, Candace, Captain Rick, Kim and other TTOL'ers at Elms for Sunday night barbeque. Good food, wine, conversation and laughs. More to come. Photos courtesy of Captain Rick.


• Leave Elms and stop at Bobby's to gather provisions for a late evening cocktail and breakfast in the morning. Bacon, eggs, coffee, tea, bread, rum, wine, diet coke, regular coke, beer, limes, butter, sugar, roll of paper towels, juice add up quickly----over $1oo. Not to worry--tomorrow's provisioning will make this look small. :)


• Travel over to Brewer's Bay to Casa Allamanda, which is situated 400 feet on Anderson Hill overlooking the bay. Uh, oh...bottom of car scrapes when we turn into the driveway. Gary was right; the car is too big. Oh, well. One more added chore in the morning---get a smaller car from Jerry's.


• Unpack provisions, grab the iPod, turn on the tunes, pour a rum and Coke, put on our suits and hit the pool. Heaven!!