I have a few confessions to
make! We have lived in the BVI now for a
year and a half and I went snorkeling for the very first time (in my life)
earlier this month. Yes, I have also
been to Hawaii
six times and never snorkeled there either.
I have a fear of the water. I
have some issues with claustrophobia and I was held under the water a little
too long once as a child. Growing up on
the Northern California coast, the water temp
requires that if you are in the water you wear a wet suit to stay warm. Not my idea of a fun swim. Yes, I didn’t even swim in the ocean until we
moved down here last year!
The boys really wanted snorkels
for their birthday. I thought they were
a perfect gift so we got them a starter set with masks and snorkels. They took to it immediately, even Reilly who
was not even putting his face in the water yet.
We have taken them to a few spots and they have loved every trip. A few weeks ago, we went to Brewers Bay
at the suggestion of our favorite chef, Regis at Brandywine.
There is a nice reef to the left side
of the bay and you do not have to go very far out to start seeing all kinds of
colorful fish. Chris and the boys
snorkeled for a while, then Reilly got out to play on the beach.
Something hit me and I asked to borrow his mask and I was hooked!! Half an hour later, all four of us were
several yards out from the beach and really having a blast!
My second confession is that I am
not driving here. I have a strange fear
of getting behind the wheel. It has made
it difficult to get around, especially since we live about 10 minutes from town
and there are no regular busses. I have
not been able to get past it for some reason.
It is not my driving abilities, I drove a manual transmission in San Francisco for
years. Drivers here will just stop in
the middle of the road to pick someone up or drop them off. Cars regularly pass on blind corners. Many of the “two-lane” roads and streets have
enough room for one car, if you are lucky.
It makes it less appealing to me.
There are also regular occurrences like these:
