BVI Travel Report, May 25 Day 1
Departure day but more importantly, ARRIVAL DAY. Up at 4 for a 6am flight. Get to the airport and flight is delayed for some mechanical problem. After 40 minutes, USAir Express decides to put us on the only other plane available. Since we have a 35 minute connection in Charlotte, I go to the agent and request a Meet and Assist for transport to our gate. (It really helps to be a frequent flyer out of a small airport sometimes. I get extra special treatment from a wondeful local group.) We take off and the pilot promises to make up time, alters the normal flight plan (I've made this same flight too many times) and increases speed. We arrive a mere 15 minutes late. I throw carryons on a cart and attempt to get on along with the other five people and the driver informs me that she cannot take me as that will be over capacity. I tell her that I requested this Meet & Assist and if she feels so inclined, she can select some other poor soul for removal. She quickly rescinds her stance and off we go. An auspicious beginning....but from then on, smooth flying. We walk straight on to next plane, door closes and we are off to San Juan.
San Juan airport---This has to be one of the more difficult airports to navigate. The signs are poor and lots of people just wandered back and forth trying to find the way. We finally found the American terminal and decided to check the carry ons for the leg to Tortola. Boy was that ever a good idea because the arrival in Tortola parks the plane over 200 yds from the terminal because of the construction. There was an earlier flight but it was full so we had to kill some time in SJU. Skip the Madella beer! It's all light and just awful. Ended up talking with a gal from Atlanta who was on the way to St Marteen for the umpteenth time and gave us lots of info about that island but she knew nothing about Tortola!
Debra and the St Marteen travler
Smooth flight to EIS and a rapid exit and then the long walk to the terminal which gave us a nice chance to stretch again. Sure was glad I wasn't lugging the carryons across that hot asphalt though. This situation will change, I am sure, when they complete the tarmac area over the location of the old terminal. When? Who knows...looks like a slow process.
Immigration officer was a bit disinterested and blah but we didn't care. The Customs officer was great! The usual questions, bring any gifts, meats, etc. After answering those questions we were then asked if this was our first trip to de islands of his beautiful country. When we affirmatively responded, he cried out "What took you so long mon?" What a hoot! Out the door (finally, we kept trying the wrong one) and we were met with numerous offers of cabs. A polite no thanks, we have a car and they are ready for someone else. I think one of them was actually listening to us in case we had a question, which is a bit different since once you say no thanks, most of them just turn away. He even pointed to the parking lot and said we would probably find it "ovah dah' mon." The friendliness was increasing and our relaxation levels did likewise.
The car was located and it was just as requested. International had left it ready for us. We loaded up and flipped back that soft top, attempted to tune the radio, gave up and headed out. We wound up in Trellis Bay by mistake immediately. Well, not literally but durn close. New airport-no signs on how to exit. Immediately we thought of hitting Da Loose Mongoose but decided to press on to Lambert Bay for the first night. It was now after 3 and some serious limmin (BVI slang for relaxing in an island way) without worry about more travelling was needed.
The new bridge appeared to be ready but was blocked. No one was in the "tollbooth" for the old one and we headed for East End. Okay, I expected the goats, some cows, chickens and a few speed bumps. I had not expected to see Ford F350 trucks going 75 kmh! Where do these guys go so fast on such a small island.......
ALERT! Signs in East End directing you to Lambert Bay or Josiah Bay do not exist. There is a sign at the intersection of these roads and the Coast road but it is for those approaching from those bays, not going to them, so approachers from the airport or Road Town cannot see the sign! Luckily, thanks to my anal retentive requirement for being aware of the area and hours of map study, I guessed at at a road and turned. After a couple hundred yards and before the ascent began, I stopped and asked for help. A young boy began to direct me to Lamberts and was approached by a woman who asked "where day go?" He told her and she redirected us and turned to him and said, "why you give dem de long way?" He just shrugged. Turns out we were on the Josiah Bay road instead of Lambert so a quick jaunt right and we were on the right track.
Digression----The driving and the roads. With all the previous discussion on the Traveltalkonline board I was ready for the roads, the inclines and the switchbacks and critters. I was not ready for some of the local driving techniques such as pass any dang time they want without horn blowing. I had been expecting to be tooted every time some guy thought he would fly by, curve or not. A quick attitude adjustment and I was fine though. I was also surprised by some of the road conditions, better than expected in many places I would not have thought and worse in places I would think would be better. Regardless, neither the road conditions nor the drivers kept us from exploring Tortola.
A slow steep climb and slower descent took us to Lambert Bay
and a quick check in took us to the beach for a survey and then the bar by the pool since it was the first one we found. Naomi was more than happy to provide some painkillers which we quickly indulged in and conversation with some British visitors was a riot. We also had a talk with a couple who had just returned from a week aboard Endless Summer and were a bit unnerved by the experience. Too much wind for their taste and the other guests were not to their liking. We then spent the next couple hours talking to Judith, a provisioning supervisor (hope that is right) with the Moorings. Boy did we get some tales and information from her. A delightful lady!
Debra waits for the Porter. Our room was behind the trees.
Lambert Beach Resort-- A nice place. Nicely landscaped, comfortable rooms with great patios and a very nice beach. Cows wandering thru so be careful of your step! This would be a great place except for the restaurant. It was blah. turned out that Saturday night was buffet and everything was over cooked. The service was alright but the food was a reminder of public school cafeteria. We wished we had gone elsewhere. But the painkillers were good and a few of them back on the beach at night made things better and soon it was off to dreamland.
DAY 1 summary
What I would do differently--
We did not need 2-3 hours in SJU even despite our wanderings in the airport. I would schedule closer.
I would not eat at Lambert.
I would ask more directions sooner--like before leaving the airport.
What I would definitely do again--
Carry on till SJU and then check to EIS.
Have that car at the airport.
On to Days 2&3
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