Hey TTOL,
Finally!! Wheels up next Thursday for my first trip home since I retired. Sooo what better time to post the first part of our trip report from this past August. First, my usual disclaimer(with an addition). Except for the ferry rides, our trip was totally land based. You won't find great breakfast, lunch or dinner spots in the report. Our family members are probably the only ones who will find this report exciting, so I take no responsibility for anyone spilling hot coffee or anything else while falling asleep while reading this. (The addition: this report is being done in parts because for some reason the A key on my laptop is sticking, so if there's an a missing in the report - well I tried to ctch them all <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
Cast of characters: Davion (a/k/a Day Day) - 11 3/4 years old, Khalil (a/k/a Bad) - 6 1/2 years old, and Grandma (a/k/a da boss), Road Dawg (RD), my friend on Tortola
Highlights: Delta Airlines, meeting Debs of Island Surf and Jewel of Jost, kiteboarding with Racquel and crew. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />
Lowlights: cat handling, difficulty getting taxi when Bunn is off island <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />
My mission:
To spend 14 days in the BVI with my two rugrat grandsons and return in one piece, and (2) spend some quality time with them to try to help them deal with the passing of their great grandma.
The boys are also dealing with the arrival of a baby brother and maybe some of you older children can empathize. Bad has reverted to baby talk and Day is just tired of being the older brother. LOL I can certainly feel their pain, and I do understand. My younger sister still talks about the time I put her in a duffel bag which I then closed beore I went out to play. But I digress.
Day 1
Get to the airport later than I plan. Oh my gosh, people everywhere. Checking in is a breeze using the kiosk. Two of the bags are overweight but not to worry. I had my daughter's fiancee circling the airport just in case, so he came back and we sent some of the stuff back home. O.K. back to the agent, and we're still overweight, so we just get rid of a few things. On to the TSA line and my heart sinks when I see the size of the line. Line snails along and luckily the rugrats cannot see that I'm totally panicking. Finally we're through and our gate is on the other side of the airport. We literally run to the gate. I really like Delta. Tvs at all seats, nice amount of leg room and snacks. Day and Bad got kick out of using the flight tracker to chart our progress. By the way, the aisle seat wasn't bad. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />
Land at STT and all the bags arrived safely. Taxi to the ferry, check out Smith's next ferry and after consultation with Day, we decide to head for my favorite Chinese restauarnt. Stuff our faces, walk back to the terminal, board and climb to the top deck. O.K. I'm officially tired alredy. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> Bad falls sleep and Day checks out the scenery. In WE, I run into a surly immigration officer, and, well, I'm still in the NY state of mind, so she got back in kind. Of course, when we got to the front of the line, we got her for our check in officer. Uhh, she was nicer than nice. Hmm. Bad goes through customs and the officer asks him what's in the bag. O.K. Bad looks confused (he has no clue his mom packed it), but opens his bag and proceeds to tell the officer what each item is as he takes it out (jacket, ball, etc.) All of us laugh when she tells him to have a good trip.
Now the hard part, trying to find a taxi with two young ones and much luggge. Luckily, when we go through the door, facing us is Bouncer, who puts our stuff in the safari and we're off. Reach Rhymer's and the rugarts make quick friends with Kareem (Patsy's grandson). It's getting dark, but the boys say they have to go down to the beach. I totally understand. We eat dinner and head to bed. It's been a long day. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/snore.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/snore.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/snore.gif" alt="" />
Day 2
RD takes us to Island Surf where I finlly meet Debs(such a nice lady) when I pick up the rental cell phone. Back to Rhymer's where I laze around all day and watch the rugrats and Kareem enjoying the beach. Dinner and bed.
Day 3 (off to Jost)
Boys wanted to visit Mr. Ivan again (they met him in 2005). I love visiting Jost, it's my favorite place in the BVI, but Bunn is on vacation, so I dread trying to get a taxi with the rugrats. Of course, it was just as hard as I imagined, but the boys were so patient, so it was o.k. We get to the campground and it's very quiet, just the way I like it. Only one person Adam is staying at the campground. Dinner and off to bed, no complaints from the boys, I think they just wanna sleep, so they can get up tomorrow and hit the beach.
Day 4 (Handling the cat)
Of course, the boys wake up early, Day jumps in the hammock and Bad hits the beach. Stroll into the kitchen and notice a can on the floor. I think to myself, why would someone leave that can there. I bend down to pick it up and realize, ohmigod, there's a cat attached to the can. My surprise quickly turns to horror and I frantically call Day who looks just as horrified. I'm so scared but we have to try to get the cat out. I gently hold the cat, while Day tries to get the cats head out. Oh no, it's not working. My heart is beating frantically. O.K. I know it's early, but I'm crazy. I tell Day to walk through the campground and call out Adam's name to see if he can help. Adam comes running and we try to use a can opener to get the cat some air. No go. O.K. back to basics, I hold the cat gently, while Adam gently tries to dislodge her head. It seems like forever before I see an ear, then another. Finally, she's free and proceeds to run like a dog is chasing her.
Adam said from what he could see, she may have just had a small cut on her face. I'm hoping because she ran so fast, that's she's o.k. O.K. now my heart goes back to normal. Bad and Day play on the beach all day, with Bad building what he calls his castle. Hot dogs for dinner, pretzel time (we eat pretzels and talk about everything and nothing), then it's bedtime.
Day 5 (kneeboarding with Racquel)
Up at 8 a.m. (cloud) Breakfast and rugrats hit the water again. We're heading over to visit Racquel and the kids today. Racquel is taking Lily and Isaac kneeboarding and asks Day and Bad if they wanna go too. They're both excited. Bad is fearless, Day is more cautious. Turns out they both have a ball. Thanks Racquel you're the best. One Love is the only place I visit where when I need another drink, before I have a chance to order one, it's alredy being handed to me.
Bad, Day and I finally head back and stop by Jewels for the first time. We spend some time reading all the sayings on her walls. She is such a nice lady and we left feeling like we'd made a new friend. Yes, the burgers are unbelievable. Back at the campground, Bad goes to work on the castle again. With the help of some kids on boats, the castle now has stairs, scenery and a jacuzzi. LOL. One lady comes to look at the castle and talk to Bad and Day about how much she swims. She lets Bad try on her fins, and that's enough for a belly laugh. Dinner and we crash (after pretzel time of course).
Part 2 soon come!!
Trip Pics can be found here:
http://community.webshots.com/user/nightqueensharon
