Our B.V.I. Adventure

On our recommendation, the Shands wanted to try the new restaurant on Virgin Gorda, CocoMaya.  And they were kind enough to invite us to tag along!  They picked us up from Trellis Bay and off we went!  No offense to the BVI ferry companies, but taking the Shands' boat, Camanoe Cadillac, is much more comfortable - just look at Michael!  He looks relaxed, doesn't he?

 The light was so pretty as we pulled into the marina.  Here's a great shot of Leslie and Shae.
We arrived at CocoMaya before our 7pm reservation and took in the stunning sunset on the beach.  I love the color palette in this photo below...
The restaurant looked beautiful in the daylight, and don't those beach lounges look comfy?
Dinner was delicious!  Just like we did when we went with Liz & Jeff, we ordered a variety of tapas and shared some sushi.  And for dessert?  We had a delicious white and dark chocolate mousse.  Decadent!
 After dinner, we took some photos on the beach.  Here are the Shands and the Orrells!

In an effort to hit all of the best BVI snorkeling spots in one weekend, we went back out on the boat with the Shands on Sunday.  We picked up chicken rotis from Trellis Kitchen and enjoyed them on the porch of their house on Camanoe.  I just love it over there...  The most beautiful breeze hits their home in Indigo Plantation.

The gang headed for Diamond Point while Anna Drake and I hung out at the house.  After spotting the largest stingray any of them had ever seen, they came back for us and we headed to Guana Island which is a private island in the BVI.

Monkey Point is on Guana's north side.  The water was so incredibly flat in this protected bay.


This is a fantastic snorkeling spot.  We took our time and combed over the rocks where we found some of the most fascinating creatures, including a lion fish!!!  Now THAT is a first for me!  I can't believe what an incredible shot Shae was able to get!

We also spotted this flounder below.  He was almost completely camouflaged, but when one of our fins got too close, he started to flutter.  And his eyes would turn in 360 degrees, opposite from one another!  It kind of freaked us out!  I did fall in love with the pattern on his back though.  It was electric blue!


The sweetest part of the day happened on the way back to Tortola, when Rodney put Anna Drake in his lap and let his BVI grandbaby drive the boat!  Do you think she was enjoying herself?

On Tuesday, we headed out with the Campagna clan to the beautiful Jost van Dyke.  We took the Mystique day sail again...I cannot speak highly enough of this boat!  It is in the Voyage Charter fleet out of Soper's Hole.


(Funny side note:  Once we had boarded, and we were awaiting the safety briefing, one of our fellow passengers looked over at me and said - "Do you have a blog?  I googled the Mystique boat this morning looking for their phone number and your blog popped up.  That must be Anna Drake!" While this isn't the first time I've been recognized from the blog, it's the first time in a long time.  So, thanks for reading nice lady from South Carolina!)

Soggy Dollar Bar may have the best painkillers, but One Love makes the best bushwhacker!
We also ate lunch at One Love and it was delicious.  We shared a few savory lobster quesadillas.  How sweet are little Charlotte and Vivian???  They adopted the chill vibe of Jost van Dyke and acted as if this was something they do every day.


We also introduced Liz to the dark and stormy drink.  Have you had one?  It's made with three simple ingredients:  1 part Gosling's Rum (that's the dark) 1 part Ginger Beer (that's the stormy) and then a squeeze of fresh lime.  Here's the finished product:
It was another gorgeous day in the BVI and another splendid day sail on the Mystique.  Thanks to our captain, Nico and hostess, Celia for making it so wonderful!
Don't you just want to dive in and take a swim?  Aunt Alison did - here she is enjoying the cool waters.

On Liz and Jeff's first full day, we headed to Smuggler's Cove on the west end of Tortola.  (No big surprise there!  It is, after all, our favorite beach!)

Some of our friends on island, who also have babies, met us there for a picnic!  See our fancy blue tarp?  That was the boy's attempt to provide some additional shade for the babies.  Aside from scaring Anna Drake, as it loudly flapped in the wind, it worked pretty well!



We all brought something to share and it turned out to be quite a spread!  Crisp apple chicken salad, shrimp risotto, pesto pasta (with fresh-from-the-garden basil, picked that morning!  Yum, yum Lisa!), mustard seed green beans, and so on...  All of it was delicious!  Since the beach bars closed there a few months ago, we had to improvise!

Michael snapped some sweet photos of the Campagna girls...

 This next one is my absolute favorite.  Miss Vivian on the left was having fun splashing in the sea!

It was a fantastic afternoon!  And tomorrow?  We'll be visiting that island off the in distance...Jost van Dyke!

An incredible videographer recently posted this video from his sailing adventure in the BVI.  It's been circulating on Facebook for the past few weeks and I thought I'd share it here.

The underwater shots are incredible - a must see!



I think it captures what the "Hi Mary" video doesn't.  

If you want to know what it is, you'll have to watch this new video by the BVI Tourist Board.



I'm interested to know what people who've visited here think of this promotional video.  Is it an accurate representation of the islands?  I'm also interested to know what people who haven't been here think... Does it lure you in?  

It definitely portrays the BVI as a friendly place, but it doesn't necessarily show off the islands from the water, which is one of the most beautiful ways to see this place.  There are a few beach scenes, but I'm not sure those video sequences capture the essence of the BVI.

The video is well shot and edited.  Although, I had to watch it twice because at the end, when the voiceover lady says, "Just one of nature's little secrets you WILL discover in the British Virgin Islands."  I swear, I thought she said, "just one of nature's little secrets you WON'T discover in the British Virgin Islands."  The emphasis on the word "will" threw me off a bit!  Big difference in the meaning!  Ha!

We spent much of Thursday and Friday running around the island trying to reconnect phones and internet.  So far, we're one for two...  Still no internet at the house.  We're working with our neighbors to find a solution that works for both us! 

On Saturday, we were determined to get to the beach!  We met our friends, Paloma and Scott, for lunch at Islands on the West End of the island.  They too have had a baby recently!  We were so excited to meet their bundle of joy, Jude.  He is a doll!  He and Anna Drake are just a month and a half apart. 
After lunch, we lathered Anna Drake in baby-approved SPF 50 lotion and headed to Smuggler's Cove, our favorite beach.  She LOVED it.  Here are some photos of our beach excursion. 
Her yellow swimsuit is too big for her, but the smaller ones haven't arrived on island as of yet.  We shipped one box of baby things, and of course, her swimsuits and hats are in that box.  
She liked the way the water felt on her legs.  We didn't take her all the way in...maybe next time.  We want to make sure the water is warm enough. 
 And the last one...
This will surely be one of MANY baby beach days!

During their weekly gig at The Elm Beach Bar in Cane Garden Bay, Da Tree Men dropped it down low for a group from Chicago.  Dressed in 70's costumes, these people knew how to have a good time!  Even our guests Kaley and Shane got in on the fun by holding the limbo stick!  Check out the video.



It was such a fun night! 

We are slowly but surely decorating our new house, Gecko Manor II.  Last week, new draperies went up in the bedrooms and living room. I knew packing my sewing machine and shipping it to the BVI would be a good thing...eventually!  Despite collecting dust for a year, it worked just fine.  {I'm still trying to find the right time of day to photograph them; with the bright sunshine beaming into the room, it's difficult!}

We moved into the new house in November; the holidays soon followed which meant my decorating focus was the 9 foot fraser fir.  But I'm happy to report, we're back at it!  Just like this blog, the accents in the living room are a little bright! 

And when I am in need of a little design inspiration, I check out the blog of fellow Caribbean dweller, India Hicks. {That's about where our similarities end...I was not a model for Ralph Lauren, nor was I a flower girl in Princess Di's wedding...Ha!}
If you recognize the name, maybe it's because her father was David Hicks, who's described as the most influential interior designer of his generation.  What I wouldn't give to get my hands on some of his bright geometric pattern fabric!!!
India and her husband live in the Bahamas. They have four properties for rent there, each one as unique as the next. She's not only a model, a mom and Sugar Mill shop owner, she's the author of Island Life, a book about inspiration interiors of island homes.  I think that book would look pretty good on my coffee table.  Hmmm...

Soon, I'll have to take you inside the two home stores we have here on Tortola: House and Arawak Interiors.  Maybe they have a copy of Island Life.  Without these two stores, I'm not sure what I'd do!  They not only source furniture and fabrics, they have the best hostess gifts! 

Ashley and Gordon enjoyed a nice long weekend in the British Virgin Islands.  We were so happy to have them as our first visitors of 2011!  (My family was technically here in 2011, but we consider them our last visitors of 2010.  Ha!)

Well, here's their exit survey! 

Of the five Pusser's locations, which ones did you visit during your BVI adventure? (Road Town, Soper's Hole, Pusser's East, Marina Cay, Leverick Bay)

Answer(s):  Road Town & Marina Cay

Approximately how many cruise ships did you see pass by Gecko Manor II?

Answer:  Well, we should ask how many times did Milly bark???  A cruise ship wouldn't pass without her letting us know about it!

How would you best describe the bubbly pool on Jost van Dyke?
A) Boring...
B) Fun!
C) A must see.
D) A little dangerous!
E) None of the above

Answer:  Definitely C) a must see. But watch out for the machineel trees!

What was your most memorable meal in the BVI?

Answer:  The Anegada Lobster (whether grilled, on a pizza, or on top of pasta)

In the battle of the island drinks on White Bay, who wins the match-up: Soggy Dollar Bar Painkiller vs. Jewel's Party Punch?

Answer:  Jewel's Party Punch

Of all the islands you visited, which one was your favorite? (Sandy Cay, Jost van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Great Camanoe, Marina Cay, Norman Island, Cooper Island, or Tortola)

Answer:  Sandy Cay

True or False. The girls dominated the board games the entire weekend.

Answer:  Gordon says "We'll let them think they did..."

What advice would you give to any travelers who fly into St. Thomas and take the ferry over to Tortola?

Answer:  Make sure you move toward the exit of the boat as the boat docks.  This way you will be at the front of the line when departing the ferry. Otherwise, grab a few drinks for the 1+ hour wait at Customs.

Great survey Glovers!  Michael and I loved having y'all here!  One of my favorite days of their trip was the excursion to Virgin Gorda. 
 We enjoyed a decadent lunch at Little Dix Bay, then explored the Baths...


We couldn't have asked for better weather!  They're surely taking some nice sun tans home with them!  Love y'all!!! 

Some of the most beautiful photographs taken of the BVI are by none other than "Island Jim" - the producer of OnlineBVI.tv that I've blogged about in the past.

He regularly posts still photographs on his Facebook page, like this one from Cane Garden Bay at sunset:


If you're a faithful reader of Our BVI Adventure and want a little more BVI in your life, definitely become a fan of his Facebook page.  This next photo is my absolute favorite:

Just gorgeous!

A new shiny banner provided the perfect backdrop for Da Tree Men's gig at The Elm on Wednesday night.

They played one of their newer cover songs or "an orignal by somebody else," as Pier likes to say into the mic.  It's called Kingston Town and it was written and recorded by UB40.  I really like the melody and Pier's voice fits it perfectly.



Kingston Town

The night seems to fade,
But the moonlight lingers on
There are wonders for everyone...woo ho
The stars shine so bright,
But they're fading after dawn
There is magic in Kingston Town

(chorus)
Oh Kingston Town,
The place I long to be
If I had the whole world
I would give it away
Just to see the girls at play

When I am king,
Surely I would need a queen
And a palace and everything, yeah yeah
And now, I am king,
And my queen will come at dawn
She'll be waiting in Kingston Town

(repeat chorus)
Oh Kingston Town,
The place I long to be
If I had the whole world
I would give it away
Just to see the girls at play, yeahhhh

When I am king,
Surely I would need a queen
And a palace and everything, yeah yeah
And now I am king,
And my queen will come at dawn
She'll be waiting in Kingston Town

She'll be waiting in Kingston Town, by now
She'll be waiting in Kingston Town, oh ya
She'll be waiting in Kingston Town, oh ya

Who knew MacGyver a) lives in the BVI and b) drives a converted Mistubishi truck?  Well, Adam found him driving in Road Town just yesterday! 

Oh, and just so you know, MacGyver is "not lucky, he's bless." 

"Did you feel it?"  That question is being asked by people all around Tortola and its sister islands today. 

Apparently, an earthquake hit around 8:40 a.m. The earthquake measured a magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter Scale, but it was far enough away that no damage was reported.  I didn't even feel it!  Michael was already at his office in Road Town; he said he didn't feel it either.

And if you're an avid reader of Our BVI Adventure, then you have been introduced to both of them!


Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II recognized the founder of Pusser's Rum, Charles Tobias as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his contributions to the British Royal Navy and the community in the BVI.  And fellow BVI resident and friend, Lorna Smith was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to the government of the British Virgin Islands!

What an honor for both of them!  Congratulations!!!  If interested, check out complete list of honorees, that includes Annie Lennox and Steve McQueen. 

Our apologies...
This exit survey is somewhat delayed.  With the craziness of Christmas and the back-to-back house guests, this post has been sitting in the drafts folder for more than a week! 

We had such a great time with Sharon and Dennis and we're so grateful that their trip could be extended due to Mother Nature!  Not only were we able to share Christmas together, but Michael's parents celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary while in the BVI...Happy Anniversary you two!  {Thanks to the staff at Charlie's at the Moorings who made it so special!  Dinner was delicious!}

Answer: I believe there were approximately 18 cruise ships and a few awesome sail boats!!

Answer:  OMG!! A HUGE DIFFERENCE! We actually felt like we were in the states.

Answer: Hey Jude! They rocked the night we saw them perform – all their music was great, but Hey Jude was the best!!

Answer: Breaking out into a cold sweat and fainting really does get you through the line faster, but then you have to deal with the EMTs who will discourage you from flying.

Answer: TRUE!! When we saw Santa at Soggy Dollar and his three "hoes" it certainly felt like Christmas!! What a fun day!