[b]Ok, will finally attempt to hit the highlights of our latest trip.
Our trip consisted of my husband and I and 7 friends for a total of 9 coming from Texas, SC, Arkansas, and Missouri..Some of whom I haven't seen since our trip to Tortola last year. This is our 2nd annual group trip...both times land based on Tortola..
Husband and I flew from DFW to SJU on the 18th via American Airlines. Great flight no troubles..Stayed the night in SJU at the Hampton Inn..Highly recommend...Great beds, great pool area with swim up bar, etc and nice, clean hotel for about $120/night which is good for SJU. Close to the airport and restaurants, etc..
The morning of the 19th we flew from SJU to EIS on American Eagle. Another great flight with no problems..
We arranged to have 2 rental cars waiting at the airport through Jerry's. (Had a few problems last time, so we were hesitant, but gave him another chance). The cars were there as promised with a rep to handle the paperwork, etc..Worked out great. (Only issue was brakes on one of the cars were going out the last day.)
This trip we rented a different villa, Cielo. It is above Cane Garden Bay and was a great villa for us. A villa rep met us at the airport and showed us to the villa. We followed in the rental cars. We were met at the house by Allison who gave us an orientation of the villa and had rum punch waiting.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />Very nice..The house is great. Has great views of CGB and the layout gives everyone some privacy.
We had provisioned with Bobby's, so we drank rum punch and relaxed while awaiting their arrival. This was a great service that we will utilize next time as well..Most everything was delivered.(Except a couple of "add on" items that got missed) They did have a few substitutions as we had anticipated, but nothing we couldn't work with. Again, we loved this service.
Our first night, we like to eat out, and since we had gone to the Jolly Roger our first night last trip we decided that would be a tradition, so off we went...Never disappoints! This turned out to be our new favorite restaurant and we ate there 2 more nights of our trip. My favorite was the BBQ combo with chicken and ribs...Very good. We love the atmosphere of sitting out by the water..Hard to beat.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
The first night after dinner, we were at the villa and our electricity went out..We all sat around the table with flashlights and enjoyed some "time to be still.." Only lasted around an hour though.
The next day we went to one of the local beaches, and again this is one of our favorites..Hanging out with our friends, drinking some drinks, and taking in the beauty of the islands...
Tuesday we went on a daysail I had arranged with Gary from Kuralu. We arranged for a private charter for our group so that was really nice. After talking to the rest of our group, we just wanted to sail around JVD and then spend some time at White Bay and Great Harbour so that is what we did. I can not say enough great things about him and his 1st mate, Will. The service they provided was awesome. We layed out on the front of the cat and they brought us drinks, etc as needed. Gary's wife made an amazing lunch that he brought along for us. I wasn't sure how my husband would do with quiche, etc..but he loved it and there was plenty of food to fill everyone up..meat, cheese, fresh made bread, etc..It was delicious. I highly recommend them! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />
The time on JVD was great..Went to Ivan's and met him. Hung out for a while, took some pics, etc and then headed over to Foxy's at Great Harbour. Spent some time talking to Foxy and that was fun too..Didn't make it down to One Love and some of the other places I wanted to see. Guess that means another trip is in order... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Wednesday we did some shopping, etc...Went to Soper's, Road Town, etc..but my fav was Bamboushay pottery..Really beautiful stuff..
We had asked Gary about a daysail to VG, and he said it takes too long, etc..Our group had such a great time on the daysail that instead of just taking the ferry over to VG on Thursday we figured why not do a daysail there so we booked another through another company. I hated that because I would have loved to use Kuralu. We went with Voyage Charters-Mystique. This was a big boat with other people on it as well. They did not have lunch onboard but instead gave us $15 per person to eat at the Top of the Baths restaurant. The boat was really nice and I wouldn't have any problems going with them again, but personally, I liked the private outing with Gary better,and his personal service could not be beat. He would be my 1st choice next time.
Friday, half of our group went to St.John. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />This is always a favorite for me, as I just love the feel of that place..We got off the ferry, quickly got through customs and immigration and walked about a block to a car rental place and got one for about $75 for the day that seated 5 of us. I would really like to spend a week there sometime. We went to Trunk Bay for some snorkeling/swimming/drinks. (Let me just say, the bar there at Trunk Bay makes stout drinks.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />) No cruise ships so it wasn't crowded at all..yay!! There were swells several days this week so we had some waves at all the beaches we went to including VG and St.John. But it was all good. Still able to get in the water and enjoy the beauty of it all. I just can't get over how amazingly beautiful the BVI's and USVI's are..After Trunk Bay we headed to Skinny Leg's for lunch..Had some great food, picked up some souvenirs,etc and then headed off for some sight seeing and cruising around St. John. We then headed to Cruz Bay to drop off the car and spent some time at Woody's for Happy Hour ($1 beers) and did a little quick shopping in Cruz Bay..Never enough time it seems!! Back on the ferry, and back to Tortola..my heart sinking as I leave St. John... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" /> but I know I will get back there soon..
Saturday was our last full day...We woke to a steady light rain...I sat at the table looking out over CGB as the rain fell...and so did the tears....I felt as if God knew my sadness as I thought about leaving the islands and my friends the next day and all the wonderful memories that the 9 of us had shared this week.
It cleared up and we headed for another day at the beach..drinking drinks, spending time with friends, and taking it all in...trying to capture the warmth of the sun, and the feeling of the sand between my toes to take with me and sustain me during winter in Texas. After heading to the villa and cleaning up we headed out for dinner at the Jolly Roger. Bittersweet. The last day/night on the island is always hard..Had a great dinner and drinks..spent time with friends, and then headed off to pack, etc..Hubby and I were one of the first ones to leave. We flew Cape Air from EIS to SJU as this was our only option in order to catch our flight to DFW. This was our first time to fly Cape Air. I did better than I thought I would..We had a smooth flight so I have no complaints. The process at SJU was a different story. Thankfully we had 2 hours because when we got there, we got all the way through security before realizing we didn't have our connecting boarding passes. (Since this was our first time not flying American all the way through we had a lot to learn..) So off we went toward the ticket counter, but alas, no agent. So we had to go back through the secondary security point to the main ticket counter. Finally got our boarding pass and then had to go back through 2 security points, etc..Hubby got stopped at security point because his passport had gotten wet when our sunscreen sprayed out in the backpack one day. Apparently it messed up the "security features"...Wasn't sure if he was going to get through, but after a few minutes off we went..Everything just seems to go much smoother when going the same airline all the way so that is what we will do when able...
Flight from SJU to DFW was great with no problems... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/usflag.gif" alt="" />
During the week we also went to Quito's and got to hear him play acoustic. Didn't get to go to a few places that I wanted to, just seems like we always run out of time..Passed Mal on the road one day and waved. Never got to actually meet him and that was really disappointing..Next time I will definitely make it a point to do that. This was another great trip to the islands and I look forward to the next..Pics below....Pam
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/568723894YOIhJQ