TravelTalkOnline Forums Trip Reports (Read Only) BVI Trip Reports and Photos Trip Report 8/12-8/18

Aug 12: Car service did not show up at 5am as prearranged. At 5:45 and after three phone calls to find out "what in the heck was going on", we called another cab service that arrived in 5 minutes and got us to Newark in record time. The airport was unbeleivably busy and short staffed; no time for the usual cup of coffee while impatiently waiting to board the plane.<br>About 10 minutes after take-off at approximately 11,000' something very frightening happened. The aircraft started to dramatically drop, bounce and roll. Everyone was screaming and holding on to one another - "Dear GOD please don't let us crash" I said to myself repeatedly as the plane continued to drop, bounce and roll from side to side. We heard what sounded like silverware being tossed around and the flight attendents were shouting "stay down!!" Once the Captain was able to resume ascending he apoligized and explained that the tower gave the him the wrong altitude and we came very close to hitting another aircraft !! He dropped the aircraft 1,500'. <br>Then about 2 hours into flight we hit some wicked turbulance that the pilot said could not be seen on radar ... the aircraft started dropping and rocking again and the passengers were screaming and holding on to one another once again! A lady who was attempting to get back to her seat from the bathroom fell to the floor and was crawling down the aisle with the look of terror on her face. <br>When things smoothed out again the flight attendents came around to ask if we were "ok." I asked for a cup of water and she responded "Yes, if I can find it. Everything got turned upside-down." In all of her 18 years of flying, she has never experienced a flight like this one. The other attendents agreed that "never" have they experienced anything like this before and were surprised that the pilot announced we had a near miss.<br>The plane landed softly in San Juan, hardly felt the wheel touch the runway. As we exited the craft we shook the pilots cold and clammy hand and said "THANK YOU for saving our lives." Big O'le Jet Plane has temporarily taken on a whole new meaning. Although we were quite shooken up at this point, the flight to Beef Island was spectacular as usual and we couldn't wait to land.<br>Hertz was right there waiting for us as they said they would be to take us to their office on Trellis Bay. Before we knew it we were happy and content to be in PARADISE AGAIN! <br>Made a pitstop at the Riteway to get some provisions and proceeded to CGB. Relaxed at the apartment for a while and a swim in the warm turquoise water helped calm our tattered nerves. The sunset over Jost illuminated our spirits! A perfect ending to an otherwise scary and unusual trip to PARADISE. <br><br>Aug 13: While preparing my first cup of morning coffee, I was entertained by the familiar sound of roosters [censored]-a-doodle-dooing. August in Tortola is wonderful. The colors are soo vibrant and beautiful! Drove down to Soper's Hole to get some Pusser's Aloe Rose Lotion, Tea Tree and Suntan Oils and SeaSafe at The Sea Urchin Shop. Back to CGB and met up with Charmaine and Betty on the beach by Quito's. Sun is shining and the water is silky warm. Spent the afternoon snorkeling and basking in the sun at Smuggler's Cove. After dinner we ran into Charmaine, Sharon and Betty at Bomba Shack for some Bomba Punch's.<br><br>Aug 14: Roadtown in the AM to buy some Gingermint Candies and stroll thru Crafts Alive. Decided to go back to Smuggler's, guess you could say its our favorite beach. On our way back to CGB, stopped at Bomba's for a Carib and did some beachcombing as the sun was starting to set. Uh Oh ... the brake light indicator on the dashboard is lit up and the brakes are squealing all of the time. We were quickly brought a new jeep - no problem. Down to Quito's to see him perform solo tonight and were very moved when he sang "Paradise." <br>Saw some HUGE [img]/images/icons2/yikes.gif[/img] landcrabs clicking their way sideways along the pavement on the way back to the apartment.<br><br>Aug 15: Slept in late this AM, made a nice breakfast. Heard about the Big Blackout that hit the northeast. PERFECT ... another sunny day, nice breezes and obsessed with Smuggler's. Bomba Shack to say "YO" then drove off to Skyworld to see the sunset [img]/images/icons2/smile.gif[/img] - WRONG!!! Cause after we spent $25 at the Skyworld Gift Shop the manager approached us and implied that we should leave if we weren't going to purchase any food or drinks. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten so [img]/images/icons2/dragon.gif[/img] CRANKY [img]/images/icons2/dragon.gif[/img] if the place wasn't COMPLETELY EMPTY! Soo we decided to promptly leave and drove directly to PALMS DELIGHT for a WONDERFUL dinner [img]/images/icons2/grin.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/grin.gif[/img].<br><br>Aug 16: North Shore Shell Museum for a BIG and DEE-LICOUS breakfast [img]/images/icons2/oink.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/oink.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/oink.gif[/img]. Then off to do some shops on Main Street. Back to the apartment around 1PM to throw on our bathing suits. Met up with a wonderful and friendly local family on the beach at Smuggler's who were kind enough to share with us their freshly picked coconuts from the trees right above. Played with their children in the "wah-ta" (avoiding the baby stingrays swimming close to shore) and created sand sculptures on the beach, let them borrow our masks and snorkels - what a lovely day [img]/images/icons2/joy.gif[/img].<br>Quito's for the evening to see him perform with The Edge - WOW he was really good [img]/images/icons2/clapping.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/clapping.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/clapping.gif[/img]. By the way, our jeep has a working [img]/images/icons2/thumbsup.gif[/img] CD Player so we have been cruzin to Quito which is totally awesome [img]/images/icons2/groovin.gif[/img] !<br>Did I forget to mention how excellent the snorkeling at Smuggler's has been? We have seen a wide variety of small, medium and large fish. Grunts, surgeonfish, doctorfish, mackeral, needlefish, damselfish, snapper, parrotfish, blennys, lizardfish, trunkfish, trumpetfish, etc. The reef looks like it is regenerating , especially the outer edges! <br><br>Aug 17: YES!! The weather has been great everyday and today is another perfect day. However, it is our last full day and the reality that we will be leaving soon is starting to take its toll. Today we saw schools of large bellowing squid that swam away whenever closely approached. Took an unexpected snooze on the beach and when I woke up we made sand sculptures on the beach again with some children who were visiting from St. Vincent's.<br>Sunday Night means Prime Rib Special [img]/images/icons2/oink.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/oink.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/oink.gif[/img] at the Paradise Club on CGB - the BEST [img]/images/icons2/thumbsup.gif[/img] I've ever had anywhere. Afterwards over to Bomba's for our last night. Decent crowd and the live band was excellent [img]/images/icons2/groovin.gif[/img]. Stiff cool breeze blowin in off the wah-ta kept everyone comfortably cool. On the way back to CGB we didn't see one other vehicle.<br><br>Aug 18: Quick run back to Soper's Hole. Couldn't leave without getting the other two Quito CD's to complete my collection. Stopped by Lighthouse Villa's to introduce ourselves to Toni. Back to our apartment to finish packing the last minute stuff and take a quick shower. Met our wonderful host at Fat Hog Bob's for an enjoyable lunch. Returned our vehicle and got a ride to Beef Island Airport. We have decided that picking up and returning the jeep on Beef Island works very well for us [img]/images/icons2/thinks.gif[/img].<br><br>Feeling very fortunate to have visited twice in one year! Not sure when or if that will happen again. <br><br>[img]/images/icons2/joy.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/joy.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/joy.gif[/img] To-R-To-La! [img]/images/icons2/joy.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/joy.gif[/img][img]/images/icons2/joy.gif[/img]