Our B.V.I. Adventure

It's been much like the Wizard of Oz around our house lately.  Picture this...

I'm confronted by a different creepy or crawly creature each time I'm go in or out of the front door it seems.  Not surprisingly, I let out a cry for help as if I'm the cowardly lion asking Dorothy (in this case, played by Michael - sorry babe) to come help me find the courage to cope.


On Tuesday it was a massive frog hanging out above our front door.  I hope it wasn't the poisonous kind!  The next morning it was a scorpion that dropped onto Michael's shoulder as he left the house to walk Milly.  Apparently, he had a friend; I stumbled across him on Thursday as I went to slip on my flip flops.  Throw in the dozen or more lizards we see through out the day hanging out on our porch and we have it all here at Gecko Manor II.  Yikes!  

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! 

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!

Of the five Pusser's locations, which ones did you visit on your trip? (Road Town Pub, Pusser's East, Marina Cay, Soper's Hole, or Leverick Bay)

Answer(s): We only ate at Pusser's East but we did drive by the Road Town Pub 734 times. Okay, okay. It only felt like 734 times. It was probably closer to 16 or 20.

What restaurant has the sturdiest chairs?
A) Nanny Cay
B) Jolly Roger
C) Pusser's East
D) The Elm
E) None of the above
Answer(s): While the chairs at all these establishments are outstanding, the Jolly Roger is the best place to visit if you like chairs that look sturdy but are actually cracked. The cracked chair leg makes for a fun, although somewhat painful, slow motion ride to the floor. Let the good times roll. Literally.(He is so perfectly describing my slow and painful fall, not his own.  I hit my head on the specials board which then fell over and pinned Travis in his upright chair!  What a mess!)
What was your favorite wake-up call?
A) The roosters
B) The sun
C) Milly politely barking at my bedside, her way of asking for assistance in getting on the bed
D) The smell of bacon
E) None of the above (I'm not a morning person.)
Answer(s):
F) All of the above. It wouldn't be a Tortola morning without hearing the 1,931 voices of the Crowing Rooster Choir sweetly announcing the arrival of the morning sun. After hearing of the torrential rains of the "rainy season" I was thrilled to wake up to blue skies and sunshine every day of my visit. Ms. Milly is a rock star and the bacon, grits, waffles, and OJ at the Daniels Café are outstanding! All in all, the mornings were pleasant even though I'm not a morning person at all. True or False:
The slide and overall pool experience at Scrub Island puts Dollywood Splash Country to shame.
Answer:
True. I did enjoy the slide, infinity pool, hot tub, company, and the serene setting overlooking the ocean at Scrub Island. However, there is something to be said for thousands of overweight, tattooed, bikini and jort clad rednecks prancing and dancing around in a waterpark induced high that tugs at my heart and brings a tear to my eye. It truly is a tough call on this one.
Finish the following sentence:
The thing that had changed the most since my last visit was...
Answer(s):
1) The accommodations at Chateau Daniels are much more refined and comfortable. They were good before but now they're outstanding!
2) The roads. Just when I thought the roads couldn't get any worse, torrential rains set in. Potholes galore. Enough said.
It was great having you here Travis!  You are such the comic relief in any situation...even when I'm the one falling out of my chair! 

Country music singer, Kenny Chesney is selling his estate on nearby St. John.  The $9.9 million home near Cruz Bay has 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms.  Any takers?  We'd be neighbors!



In unrelated housing news, we're moving!  Seriously, we are.  Not to Kenny Chesney's house, but to a new house here on Tortola!  It's just a short ways up our hill, so we are keeping are same great location.

Here is a sneak peak of the house before we moved in:



 A full recap is sure to follow!

The BVI is home to the smallest lizard in the world.  It's name is the Sphaerodactylus parthenopion - or the "Virgin Gorda Least Gecko" or less formally, just a "dwarf gecko." 

I'm not sure if this little guy is in fact a Spaerodactylus parthenopion, but he is tiny!!!
He's perched on a two-by-four here, so his body can't be much longer than an inch!

Gecko Manor is the place to be!  We sent Whitney off on day 95 and started prepping for our next guests to arrive on day 96!

Preparations always include a trip (or two) to the grocery store.  Many of you have asked about that experience and I thought I'd share a little bit more about it. 

While it's far from Publix, "where shopping is a pleasure," I've gotten the hang of it.  I usually stop at Riteway first, then One Mart.  These competing stores are both on the way home from Road Town and if there's something I can't find at the first one, I can usually find it at the second one.  With the exception of meats and seafood, I can get the essentials - and who knew an environmentally friendly mosquito swatter would make its way into my shopping cart and be considered an essential?  Well around here, it is!    

There are only a few things that these stores lack: grits, celery salt (go figure) and crushed red pepper, but they make up for it with a wide selection of gourmet cheeses and wine.  For those non-Tennessee residents out there, wine in the grocery store may not be a big deal, but that's prohibited in the Volunteer state!  The BVI grocery stores even have an aisle dedicated to liquor.

I sure do miss my Fresh Market.  Maybe I'll put some Purcell or Bach on the iPod and try shopping that way next time!        

Caty and Matt arrive tomorrow!  We are so excited...we've been busy preparing for their arrival.  We have a lot of fun things planned. 

They were here for their honeymoon back in August, so they know their way around the BVI.  We're actually counting on them to show us a few things!  We'll be renting a boat and taking it over to Jost Van Dyke, one of the islands I haven't been to yet, as well as to Willie T's and who knows where else?!?!

In other vacation news...it looks like Jeff and Liz are going to make it down here for a last minute trip.  And when I say last minute - they're coming on the 18th of THIS month!  We were just messaging about it tonight on Facebook.  Jeff claims it's the best last-minute Valentine's gift ever and I would have to agree with him!

McRee is also booking his trip and will be coming in March!  Cannot wait!

UPDATE:  Unfortunately, due to an appointment on Jeff's calendar that could not be rescheduled, Liz and Jeff are going to have to push back their trip to the BVI a month or so... 

For as long as I remember, I've been going to the salon to get my hair cut.

My first memories are of Kathy.  {I think it was it with a "K" - Mom, can you help?} Then Matt and most recently Elizabeth at Salon W - but tonight - we had our first haircuts on the islands. 

We didn't have to go far either.  Our stylist, Laura, came to us!  That's right, she came here to Gecko Manor.  {Did you know that was the name of our place?  I may have omitted that from the Grand Tour post a few weeks ago.}

Anyway, here she is in action!  Adam came over to get his hair cut too - we figured we might as well make a night out of it! 

I made dinner and within a few hours, we all looked "like new!"