DAY X, Saturday, 12-15 Tina’s birthday, our last full day on Tortola and the only one by ourselves. Arose to a cloudy sunrise and proceeded to watch the storm front hit and stay ALL DAMN DAY. So much for our plan to lime at Smuggler’s all day. <br><br>No way am I letting this screw me up so I call and set up a spa treatment for Tina and I chill at the room for a few hours. She’s feelin fine after this and we slip into Road Town for some strategic shopping and more ice cream (boy is it good). <br><br>Off to the Shell Museum for lunch. I’d never had Curried Goat before so that was my order ($9) and Tina got Shrimp($11) and we had some great Sour Sop Daquaris. It was raining hard so we talked with Egbert for a long time. I just love this guy! We grabbed a couple of our conch shells and bid Mr. Donovan adieu.<br><br>Now I’d never seen Josiah’s or Lambert/Elizabeth so we’re off through the headlands on the back road to the East End. Now here were some fresh and incredible views. Guana, Little Camanoe & Great Camanoe from airplane level...wow! There was a surfing thing starting that week and many were at Josiah’s for a tune-up. Nice 6-8 ft breakers and they were havin fun. A very pretty beach but no available shade.<br><br>Over to Lambert where I dragged Tina to the bar through the rain, sucked down a painkiller and ran back to the car. lambert looked very nice but I never did see the beach. Next time. I think that you wouldn't feel too isolated here once you familiarized youruself with the East end establishments.<br><br>Thought about a stop at Serendipity but Tina was all toured out by then and anxious to get back.<br><br>Everywhere we drove there were rocks on the road that had fallen with the heavy rain. A wee bit hazardous when coupled with the local drivers after dark.<br><br>Back to PR to clean up for our dinner. Tonight we selected Sebastian’s and hope to meet Uschi. We’re seated by the beach, pull back the storm shutters and have another beautiful setting for a special dinner. Happy Rosalyn takes care of us for the evening. In fact, it sounded like the whole staff was having a party in the kitchen. Just a big bunch of happy BVIers, I guess.<br><br>Introduced ourselves to Uschi (hey, this ain’t no little old Japanese guy!) and chatted a bit. She was absolutely charming.<br><br>I was tempted to have their Ginger Chicken to compare to pal/s Delight but why go there. I opt for the Swordfish w/Lime Butter and Tina goes Surf n Turf. Incredible lobster! Coaxed a few candles on some banana cheesecake and all sang the appropriate ditty to Tina. She’s so beautiful!<br><br>Back to our room for some private celebrating!<br><br><br>DAY XI, Sunday 12-16 Damn….it’s sunny! Check out at PR, no surprises. 9 nights for $400. Not too shabby.<br><br>Arranged to meet Persia from Areana Villas for a peak at Sunset House (on Long Bay beach). I had seen this palce when we stayed at LBBR and thought it could be a great villa. It is. Persia rents either the top floor, bottom floor or both – great options. Very clean, open, well kept. Her father actually built it and lived there. Persia is very warm and friendly. She had her little ones along and they are too cute. <br><br>Now I have three outstanding options for a beachfront villa on Tortola, and so do you.<br><br>Head back to Sebastian’s for breakfast. A great spot for our last meal, gazing out at JVD.<br><br>Not previously mentioned was the donkey along Drakes Highway. This poor fellow had been chained to a guardrail all week with only a few feet between him and the Channel on one side and the road on the other. The girls would have freed him but for the chain and the fact that I wouldn’t stop. We used to hang horse thieves in the US…I didn’t want to test the locals.<br><br>We set our sights on the 12:30 ferry and head over to stash our bags with Smith’s. I had to kill the guy from Native Son…he wouldn’t leave me alone. <br><br>We drop the car off at Jerry’s and he brings us back to the dock. We stroll down to JR for our last painkiller. Boy was that good! So we’ve been at the JR 4 times and Lou was nowhere to be found. Oh well, we hope to meet Lou next time.<br><br>We do the customs thing at St John and a quick stop at Red hook on our way to CA. I gaze at Sage Mtn until it’s out of sight…sad.<br><br>Get to the airport 3 hours ahead of departure (as per instructions upon arrival). We clear customs and security in 30 minutes soooooo. Nothing quite like killing a few hours at the STT terminal instead of ANYWHERE on Tortola.<br><br>Completely uneventful flights home. Hug the kids. We’re home.<br><br><br><br>EPOLOGUE<br><br>[img]/images/icons/thumbsup.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsup.gif[/img]<br>Ice Cream at La Dolce Vita<br>Seven Dwarf’s Rum & BBQ at Elm’s<br>Callwood’s Rum at Dorothy’s Grocery on Old Main St<br>Expedition BVI on our doorstep<br>Ginger Wine Chicken at Palm’s Delight<br>Clarence’s Ribs at C&F<br>Curried Goat, Mango Pancakes & Lore at Shell Museum<br>Devil’s Bay<br>Trades & view at our room at PR<br><br><br>[img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img]<br>PR charging guests to shuttle to an actual beach (Cheapest was $22 each to Smuggler’s)<br>Personalized porn at Bomba’s<br>“FREE THE DONKEY!!”<br>Washed out Saturday<br>Locals NEVER dim their brights<br><br><br>Best wishes to all of my TTOL friends for safe and happy holidays!![img]/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]<br><br>Dave<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 1/4/02 12:55 PM.</EM></FONT></P>