Where Exactly is San Juan Located? Day One in the British Virgin Islands

"Where Exactly Is San Juan located?"  - Day One of my British Virgin Islands Sailing Adventure

Hello from the British Virgin Islands ("BVI")!  My partner-in-crime and favorite baby sister Squidge and I have departed from the mainland for the sunny, tropical warmth and hospitality of life on "Island Time."  My work has been insane and I could feel myself getting very burned out and grumpy.  A vacation was long overdue.

While the US East Coast is blanketed in feet (not inches but FEET) of snow, we are basking in highs of 82 degrees, lows of 71.  

My sister and I share many common traits.  One being that neither of us can get a good night's sleep if we know we have to get up crazy early.  She had to leave for the airport in the Midwest at 4:00 am.  I had to head to the airport in Florida at 4:50 a.m.  Neither of us ended up sleeping that night.  A mind-numbing way to start a trip!

This is my third trip to the British Virgin Islands.  I have packing down to a science - suntan lotion, lots of swim suits and light, light clothing.  With my love of food, I have a nice insulating barrier of cells (OK fat cells) keeping me warm - so in the BVI, I am never worried about being cold.  

My sister and I met up at the Miami airport.  We had lunch at a place called Islands or Islander Bar and Grill - lack of sleep affects my memory.  I had a dolphin sandwich which actually was Mahi-Mahi.  Which I actually would have preferred it be called what it is so I didn't have to worry that I was chowing down on Flipper or some other beloved dolphin.  (Living in the home of Winter the Dolphin from the movie "A Dolphin's Tale," I would probably be banned from the state of Florida if I ever ate actual dolphin.)  The fish sandwich was pretty good for standard airport fare.

We then flew from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Our tickets only said "San Juan," which led my 22 year old sister to ask - "Um, so where is San Juan ... um ... located?"  I went to public school for all of my education from 1st grade on up.  My sister went to all expensive private schools.  I just shook my head and said "PUERTO RICO!"  And then spent the rest of the day mocking her for not knowing.  What are big sisters for, if not for heavy-handed mockery?

We arrived in Puerto Rico and had around 2 hours to kill.  The American Airlines terminal is not a huge, roaring stretch of airport in which to eat up a mass amount of time.  We wandered the hall from end to end.  Duty free shop, souvenir shops and two Margaritavilles.  Oh and a Cinnabon and a Nescafe coffee shop too.  After our third saunter down the short hallway, we decided to kill more time by getting dinner.  We went to the larger of the two Margaritavilles.  Each booth had their own TV screen that was playing music videos by singers I had never heard of - one I swear was a homemade American Idol style audition tape.  A dopey looking frat guy, sorta playing the guitar and telling people to shake it - or some sort of zaniness.  I think this may have been some sort of subliminal incentive to make people drink more.  

The table tent advertised a dessert special called a hurricane - which was basically a giant ice cream and brownie hot fudge sundae.  It should have been called heaven.  I really wanted it, but I knew serious lack of sleep plus a sudden surge of sugar would make Lily go BONKERS!  Squidge ordered the requisite "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and I decided I needed a little nosh, so I ordered the cheese, crab and mushroom dip appetizer.  My choice was basically like a trip back to the culinary 1950's.  It tasted like cream of mushroom soup with some "real" mushrooms thrown in, a tiny bit of crab and fifty-six layers of cheese.  It was served with big slabs of buttery garlic toast.  First, I have to say from now on all of my dippers or toast/cracker accompaniments need to be heavily buttered garlic toast!  It was rich, retro and freaking delicious - but I could only taste the crab if I peeled off the thick layer of cheese (think the top of a bowl of French Onion Soup).  It was like giving my stomach a hug from the inside.  Not healthy, not low cal, not low fat - but crazy delicious!  If you ever find yourself in the San Juan ("Um where is San Juan located?") airport, check it out.

We then took a propeller plane (not my favorite mode of flying) from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Beef Island airport.  The zipper pull on my carry on bag had broken off, so following a tip from my ever resourceful mother - I used a key chain ring as the new zipper pull.  The key chain I had used was one with a small stuffed cow on it that I had stolen from my sister.  I reasoned that I had purchased said cow key chain for my sister years ago - from either Germany or Amsterdam or another one of my European trips and she was not using it - so through the process of eminent domain or big sister-ness I felt it was rightfully mine to take back.  Having a stuffed cow on my carry on bag while landing on BEEF Island seemed either very right or very wrong.  I was too sleep-deprived to decide.

Since this was my third time to the Beef Island airport, I had selected seats in the last row of the plane - knowing that they board the propeller planes from the back.  We quickly got into our seats and were the first ones off the plane.  Experience comes in handy for accompanying Squidge on her first trip to the BVI.

We went through immigration and picked up my bags (yes, even for a 2 week vacation Squidge had everything she needed in 2 small carry-on bags!)  In my defense, I was bringing all of our toiletries, sunscreen, lotions, first aid stuff and gifts - but yeah I also brought a ton of clothes.  In the BVI, I like to wear cute outfits and because I am constantly sweating in the heat and humidity - I like to change those cute outfits A LOT.  I could never fathom being able to take everything I needed for two weeks in two small carry-ons unless I was going to be washing my clothes in a sink every night! 

After getting my massive luggage, we went through customs and looked for a reputable looking taxi driver.  We found one and headed out in the dark night (About 8 p.m. - 1 hour ahead of Eastern time zone) and to our hotel.  Squidge and I will be spending the bulk of our time on the Yacht Promenade - a magnificent sailing charter that I have had the great privilege of being on twice before.  It is a wonderful vacation and I knew my sister - a former competitive swimmer - would love it as well.  But the first night we would be staying in Wickhams Cay, Road Town on the island of Tortola.  There is a hotel  right on the marina - Village Cay Hotel.  It isn't spectacularly fancy by US standards, but by Caribbean standards it is pretty decent - clean with hot water and good air conditioning with a nice waterfront restaurant, bar and small pool - what more does one need for an overnight stay?  I was excited to see that they had free wifi now in the restaurant and bar as well.  Mid-day, the bar looked like an Internet cafe - everyone had either a laptop, iPad or smart phone.  (For the record I have my iPad 2 which I have renamed "LilyPad2.")

After an all-nighter and then three flights to get to Tortola, I was very happy to see the Village Cay hotel.  Our cab fare from Beef Island to Wickham's Cay was $30.  I have no idea if this is high, low or average - but just sharing it for travel info.

We lugged my heavy roller duffel bag up the stairs and went to our room.  We were both so tired and gross from the flying that we took turns taking showers and only then did we feel human again.  We passed out before 10 p.m. and slept like the dead.

I paid the extra money (about $40 extra) to have a waterfront room and I knew when we woke up we'd be looking at beautiful blue sky, fluffy white clouds and some of the most beautiful boats in the marina.  And when I woke up and saw that view I would know that we were truly in the British Virgin Islands and vacation had finally come.  

End of Day One .... stay tuned to LilyOnTheLam.com for more British Virgin Islands travelogue!