usvi-on-line
Trip Report, Part II: Virgin Gorda
Trip Report, Part II: Virgin Gorda
Leaving Secret was Harbour was sad, it is such a great place, but we were anxious to go to Virgin Gorda. As previously stated the desk clerk at SH was fantastic in checking on the ferry and calling a cab. Sadly she reported she had never been to Virgin Gorda herself. DH gave her a nice tip as we departed.
There was another couple in the cab heading to the airport. They had spent the night at SH after spending a week on a crewed yacht. It was nice chatting with them. They enjoyed their boat trip and had done the usual tour of the USVI as well as the BVI's. After hearing of our plans, a week on VG and then a week on STJ, they asked this question, "What is it exactly with St John, we've been to beaches but have never stayed there, but people seem obsessed with it, we just don't understand." Well, how do you explain the spell St John has on us? We tried, but by the looks on their faces, I am not sure they got it. I guess you just have to experience it first hand.
So we arrived at the ferry dock with plenty of time. The ferry was scheduled to leave Charlotte Amalie at 3:30. There were many VG islanders who were on board after a day of Christmas shopping at KMart. Lots of bags, wrapping paper and toys were purchased. They also loaded the boat with supplies (bottled water, soda and such) and lots of packages and mail.
The trip over was one and half hours in duration. After going through customs, we looked around for our rental car. Virgin Gorda villa rentals had arranged for a rental car through Speedy's and we were told it would be waiting along with directions to the villa at the ferry dock. Nobody was standing around holding a sign with our (or anyone else's) name. Finally I spotted a van with Speedy's Taxi and Rental Cars painted on the side. The cab took us to their lot. After filling out the paperwork, they said, "oh the car is at the ferry dock" So DH got back into the cab to fetch the car. A few minutes later he returned and we packed up and headed off, with a pretty vague map.
By this time it was starting to get dark. Luckily we were able to navigate our way to Leverick Bay resort. The office was locked up tight and was dark. Around the backside, I smelled dinner cooking and looked around. The host asked if I would like a table. I told him I needed to check into a villa, and also that dinner smelled good, we were famished. So he summoned a lady to escort us to our villa. On her advise, we ordered dinner with the hopes it would be prepared when we returned.
We followed her up to Villa Euphoria. The power was out and she fished around for a flashlite. She finally found one, tho' it was pretty dim. She said the power would probably be back on after we had dinner. She found candles and matches, in case it stayed out.
We returned back to the resort, and our dinner was served as soon as we were seated. The resort has a back-up generator and just as we were asking our server about the power, it went off and back on. Power was restored!
We found our way back to the villa. With lights, now we could look around. It was a lovely place. I was checking out the BRs trying to pick the master, when I walked into BR #2 and flicked the light on, I thought a moth landed in my hair. Brushing it away, however, produced a banana spider about the size of a hockey puck. THAT SUKCER WAS HUGE!
It had elbows and knees! I hollered and of course DH, the spider wrangler came to my rescue.
A few minutes later, as I was looking around the kitchen, DH calls me into the Master BR. After just killing a scorpion, he wanted me to be aware and not walk around barefooted. Great news!
As I started unpacking, I hear swat, swat, swat, swat, swat coming from the kitchen area. DH just killed a TARANTULA!! It's a good thing I did not see that thing alive and kicking.
So now I'm thinking, will I be able to sleep here? What's next? Perhaps no one has stayed here in a while. I know there are bugs on the islands, but this is getting ridiculous.
After finishing the unpacking and a nice warm shower, I am able calm down, read a little and relax. DH has no problem drifting off to sleep.
Part 3 exploring Virgin Gorda coming soon . . .
There was another couple in the cab heading to the airport. They had spent the night at SH after spending a week on a crewed yacht. It was nice chatting with them. They enjoyed their boat trip and had done the usual tour of the USVI as well as the BVI's. After hearing of our plans, a week on VG and then a week on STJ, they asked this question, "What is it exactly with St John, we've been to beaches but have never stayed there, but people seem obsessed with it, we just don't understand." Well, how do you explain the spell St John has on us? We tried, but by the looks on their faces, I am not sure they got it. I guess you just have to experience it first hand.
So we arrived at the ferry dock with plenty of time. The ferry was scheduled to leave Charlotte Amalie at 3:30. There were many VG islanders who were on board after a day of Christmas shopping at KMart. Lots of bags, wrapping paper and toys were purchased. They also loaded the boat with supplies (bottled water, soda and such) and lots of packages and mail.
The trip over was one and half hours in duration. After going through customs, we looked around for our rental car. Virgin Gorda villa rentals had arranged for a rental car through Speedy's and we were told it would be waiting along with directions to the villa at the ferry dock. Nobody was standing around holding a sign with our (or anyone else's) name. Finally I spotted a van with Speedy's Taxi and Rental Cars painted on the side. The cab took us to their lot. After filling out the paperwork, they said, "oh the car is at the ferry dock" So DH got back into the cab to fetch the car. A few minutes later he returned and we packed up and headed off, with a pretty vague map.
By this time it was starting to get dark. Luckily we were able to navigate our way to Leverick Bay resort. The office was locked up tight and was dark. Around the backside, I smelled dinner cooking and looked around. The host asked if I would like a table. I told him I needed to check into a villa, and also that dinner smelled good, we were famished. So he summoned a lady to escort us to our villa. On her advise, we ordered dinner with the hopes it would be prepared when we returned.
We followed her up to Villa Euphoria. The power was out and she fished around for a flashlite. She finally found one, tho' it was pretty dim. She said the power would probably be back on after we had dinner. She found candles and matches, in case it stayed out.
We returned back to the resort, and our dinner was served as soon as we were seated. The resort has a back-up generator and just as we were asking our server about the power, it went off and back on. Power was restored!
We found our way back to the villa. With lights, now we could look around. It was a lovely place. I was checking out the BRs trying to pick the master, when I walked into BR #2 and flicked the light on, I thought a moth landed in my hair. Brushing it away, however, produced a banana spider about the size of a hockey puck. THAT SUKCER WAS HUGE!
It had elbows and knees! I hollered and of course DH, the spider wrangler came to my rescue. A few minutes later, as I was looking around the kitchen, DH calls me into the Master BR. After just killing a scorpion, he wanted me to be aware and not walk around barefooted. Great news!
As I started unpacking, I hear swat, swat, swat, swat, swat coming from the kitchen area. DH just killed a TARANTULA!! It's a good thing I did not see that thing alive and kicking.
So now I'm thinking, will I be able to sleep here? What's next? Perhaps no one has stayed here in a while. I know there are bugs on the islands, but this is getting ridiculous.
After finishing the unpacking and a nice warm shower, I am able calm down, read a little and relax. DH has no problem drifting off to sleep.
Part 3 exploring Virgin Gorda coming soon . . .
Patr
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
What is it with STJ?
We take a good number of people to STJ for their first time. In the last 14 months it's been 14 first-timers on two different trips. The people that "don't get it" seem to be the ones that want to sit on a beach and put the drink flag up for service and then head to the buffet for dinner. Those people that get freaked out about change and having to think for themselves. Those people that need to be entertained, yet are put off by talking to some salty locals.patr wrote:"What is it exactly with St John, we've been to beaches but have never stayed there, but people seem obsessed with it, we just don't understand." Well, how do you explain the spell St John has on us? We tried, but by the looks on their faces, I am not sure they got it. I guess you just have to experience it first hand.
There's another group of friends that don't fall in love with STJ, yet they really enjoy the experience. They are more adventuresome and are always looking for new experiences. One couple who has been to the island with us a couple of times hasn't come back because they've been going other more rustic places - bike ride across the Yucatan Penninsula anyone?
STJ is not for everyone. I'm cool with that.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
I don't mind geckos, reptiles, crabs, but tarantulas, and other big spiders I can do without! Looking forward to the rest of your story 
Hi Toni,
We had only visited VG on daytrips. I spent some time on a BVI travel forum (Travel Talk on Line or TTOL) and thought, why not?
After shopping on-line for villas and communicating with previous guests of Euphoria, we booked.
If you read the next part of the trip report, you will find that we were finished playing Exterminator, we did not see anymore spiders during our stay. I wonder how long since the villa was inhabited prior to our visit. It really was a very nice place.
We had only visited VG on daytrips. I spent some time on a BVI travel forum (Travel Talk on Line or TTOL) and thought, why not?
After shopping on-line for villas and communicating with previous guests of Euphoria, we booked.
If you read the next part of the trip report, you will find that we were finished playing Exterminator, we did not see anymore spiders during our stay. I wonder how long since the villa was inhabited prior to our visit. It really was a very nice place.
Patr
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
