We recently got home from a week at Sandcastle on JVD followed by a week at Mongoose Apartments in Cane Garden Bay, Tortola (May 25 - June 8).

To go or not to go: We are longtime visitors to the BVI, started coming in '94 for our 25th anniversary, skipped some years, then started coming down twice a year, so I think this was trip #15. Still LOVING it! However, this trip was iffy up till the last minute. Lance had a deep vein thrombosis back in April, and a pulmonary embolism <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />a few weeks later, which resulted in his first time ever hospitalization. So we were consulting specialists the week before the trip to see how he was doing and if it was recommended for him to 1) fly, and 2) be on an island without a hospital. One doc out of three gave us the green light to travel; the other two were more cautious and said they'd recommend delaying our trip. But Lance's determination to continue with our plans and hope for the best won out, and precautions were taken such as changing our air seats to aisle ones so he could more easily stretch his leg and move about the cabin, wearing compression stockings, elevating the leg as much as possible, and calling ahead to see if he could get a blood level of his medication done in Tortola. (No problem, mon, just come on in!) Everything worked out fine, and now in retrospect, we're both really glad we did the trip. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Getting there: We fly whatever airline has the best deal, but we prefer going through STT. We enjoy the ferry ride, and we don’t need much of a taxi ride from West End. This time Sheppard’s Water Taxi picked us up at the Jolly Roger to bring us over the Jost Van Dyke. Left Hartford at 8:30 AM, layover in Charlotte, then got into STT at 3:00 on time. Took the 4:00 Native Sun Ferry over to Tortola, got through customs with no problem and a nice greeting from the customs agent, and off to the Jolly Roger for the short wait for our water taxi. Quick trip with Sheppard’s Water Taxi over to the ferry dock in Great Harbour, where we were met by Clayvonne from the Sandcastle. Our 7th time to Sandcastle and it’s still a grrrreeeaaaaattt feeling coming over the top of the hill and seeing beautiful White Bay down below us!

Weather: Overall, a mixed bag, but mostly fine. Several absolutely sparkling days, a few overcast mornings, and a little rain thrown in here and there. Quite humid most of the time. We were glad for air-conditioning for sleeping.

Sandcastle: Quick unpacking and it was just about time for dinner. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> Dinners at the Sandcastle are really wonderful. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/chef.gif" alt="" />Oliver and staff do a great job. You wouldn’t think of enjoying hot soup in such a warm climate, but Oliver’s soups are outstanding. My favorite entrées were the duck breast with sweet-sour tamarind sauce (melt-in-your-mouth tender) and the rack of lamb.

After dinner, we were off to a hammock, which is our usual routine, unless we’re chatting with folks at the bar. It is just heaven to be with the one you love and watch the stars and listen to the waves, while swinging gently back and forth (with a full stomach <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />). And especially heavenly when a full week of days at White Bay is stretching out ahead of us.

One of the things we always look forward to is meeting new people and limin’ on the beach, at the bar or dining room with them, and of course, playing that exasperating ring game. This year we were surprised when a great couple from last year, Bob and Heather from Reno, NV, showed up on our second day…cool! Had many fun times with them. Also met Vicky and Bobby, from Mississippi, for the 3rd time, totally out of the blue. Awesome!

Finally met “Sharonnightqueen” after reading her posts for years. I was so looking forward to meeting her, and she is totally delightful in person!! We had much in common with love of Jost and family stuff.

One day the TTOL folks on Jeannius came ashore and we had fun times chatting with them…Bill H and Di, Carol and Eric, Bill Hayes, Jeff and Chrissie, and I know I must be forgetting some.

There was a big group (like 35 friends and family members, many from Cincinnatti) staying on Jost for a wedding. These folks were totally fun, enjoying the beach, the bushwackers, their jello shots, you name it. Father-of-the-bride Bob (hereafter known as “Bonfire Bob”) was very friendly and welcomed us all to come join in the wedding reception at Seddy’s. The wedding itself was on Tortola at the Sugar Mill. Seddy started preparing a huge firepit a few days before, and I mean huge.

On the wedding day, after our Sandcastle dinner, we met and chatted with Freddie, Tina’s husband. Super guy, had a nice chat about local gardening and fruits, among other topics. He sent a couple of cashew fruit the next morning with Tina for us to try. Very yummy, and strange, too….it starts out sweet and very juicy in your mouth, and then you are left with this mouthful of pulp that has no taste at all (good fiber!). And the nut in its shell grows right out of the top of the fruit, which reminded us of a peach.

It seemed like most of Jost joined in at the wedding reception with dancing and partying and watching the huge bonfire. Great fun! We definitely didn’t last till the end.

We also met Bob and Sande from Hawaii (they come to Jost every year at the same time as us) and Renee and Kacia from Louisiana, friends of Staci Jo (sj13). Staci Jo was getting married in Florida and wanted us to all meet and toast her wedding, so we did just that, at a table in front of the Soggy Dollar Bar, with painkillers put up on the board by Staci Jo herself (Thanks, SJ!!). We all agreed we will meet up again next year and Staci Jo and her new hubbie will be there, too.

We had dinners at Gertrudes and Corsairs, both excellent. Try the mahi mahi piccatta at Corsair’s. Vinnie is an awesome host.

The snorkeling at White Bay was really quite good. I enjoyed both ends of the bay better than the reef itself, didn’t think it was worth the swim out there. Saw a turtle and a few rays. A lovely spotted trunkfish (they are just sooooo fancy!), lots of parrotfish, two schools of blue tangs, trumpetfish, squirrelfish, grunts, and 4-eyed butterfly fish. Was hoping to spot the moray eel I’ve seen there before, but no luck.

Cane Garden Bay: Well, a week in paradise flew by, and before we knew it, it was time to leave the Sandcastle and head over to Tortola. We got our vehicle from Denzil Clyne ($330 for the week) and headed to Roadtown to find the Eureka Medical Clinic for Lance to have a blood test. The clinic was spotless, efficient, and results were ready by phone in 3 hours. $20 and no doctor’s orders necessary. We were impressed!

Checked out RiteWay, looking for Virgin Gorda honey (not successful). If anyone knows of a source of local honey, let me know. Got a bite to eat at the Midtown Restaurant. Gotta love that place…it just feels so homey. Lance got a monster bowl of yummy conch chowder, and I got a johnnycake (kind of like fried dough) filled with tuna ($1.50!!). That left us with a little room for gelato at La Dolce Vita, around the corner.

We arrived at Mongoose Apartments and got big hugs from Sandra. It’s like coming home for us…we always get the same apartment. Plenty of room, very clean, nice kitchen, nice private balcony, and lovely Michelle taking care of us every day. We unpacked, and were off to the beach for a very refreshing quick swim before heading over to the Elm barbeque.

We met Laura (lilmabes) and Mark (bigmabes!), their good friends Elissa and Mike, Lisa34 and Roger, Carol and Eric Hill, Bill and Lynn, and several others at the Elm and enjoyed the yummy bbq. Decided to do Quito’s another night.

The next day was the big TTOL party, starting out at Mal (Manpot) and Candace’s, and then continuing at The Big Apple, a few doors down, where Carol and Eric were staying. Thanks to you all for hosting another wonderful party! VISAR did a rescue demonstration out in the bay, and a bunch of items were auctioned off to benefit them. Clem and his son played on the steel drums…wonderful! Thanks Carol and Eric for having them again! Everyone brought goodies and drinks. Great seeing everyone (well, a few folks who couldn’t make it were very much missed!) from past years, and meeting new folks, too! And Quito stopped by for a while, too!

On Sunday we drove up to Josiah’s Bay, hoping to have lunch at the Secret Garden, but they weren’t open for lunch, so we went to the Tamarind Club instead. Very lovely atmosphere there, and quite a busy place for Sunday brunch. More TTOL folks there: Bill (smthsaln) and Lynn, Davide and Cele, spotted UncleFred and Anna. Our lunch was outstanding. We shared an order of seafood chowder, some shrimp and corn fritters with a spicy dipping sauce, and panko crusted fish and chips.

Highlights of the rest of our week: awesome snorkeling at Brewer’s Bay, fantastic water clarity, and tons of fish…clouds of silversides, huge tarpon, blue tangs by the hundreds. We met Laura and Mark there and also Rick (RickinAtlanta) and Belinda…had fun hanging out with them and having lunch at Nicole’s. Did a repeat the next day, same fun times with the same people, but the snorkeling conditions were lousy due a swell that had come from somewhere. What a difference a day can make!

We had an awesome dinner at Bananakeet. Very nice service there, the killer view of course, and the food was wonderful…rack of lamb with a mint dipping sauce, lobster chunks baked with butter, and excellent key lime pie. While we were lingering over our dinners, a party of 14 arrived and it seemed like they had no reservation. I was very impressed with how tables were moved together and set and these people were graciously served…Bananakeet’s waitstaff handled it with ease.

Went from Bananakeet to Sebastian’s and enjoyed a most pleasant evening on the patio with Uschi, Rick and Belinda, and Laura and Mark. And a big bottle of wine. Thanks, Uschi…your company is always delightful!

And always, a wonderful night at Quito’s. Never ever get tired of listening to him.

The week flew by. We go to come back, that’s for sure. Uneventful trip home. We are signed on for next year at Sandcastle, so as not to lose our week in one of their air-conditioned rooms. We’ve been thinking about going to a different island, but a big part of the draw of the BVI for us is meeting familiar faces, both locals and repeat tourists like us, who just seem to show up when we’re there.

Our camera was acting up so we didn’t end up with many good photos, but there are a few on Webshots here: Webshots