Confessions

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: 

August Monday Parade

It is Festival time here in the BVI.  Yesterday we attended the August Monday Parade, held in Road Town on the first Monday of August every year as part of the country’s emancipation celebrations.  Slavery was officially abolished in the territory on August 1, 1834, which is said to have been on a Monday.  The parade is one of the highlights of Festival.  This year, the theme also centers on remembering the community’s cultural history and traditions.  Many of the floats and groups that participated in the parade highlighted BVI’s culture. 

We arrived early in the afternoon, not sure what time the parade was supposed to start.  It is never know year to year when the start time will be, but many thought it would be close to 4:00 pm.  We started the afternoon upstairs at Origin, with an informal wager as to exactly what time the start would be.  Everyone was surprised when the first contingent crossed in front of the Ferry terminal shortly after 2:00 pm. 

For the next four hours we watched floats, bands, marching troups perform their way down Waterfront Drive, entertaining all in attendance.  The boys and I loved the Moko Jumbies. 

I took over a hundred photos during the parade, weeded them down to fifty and below are my favorite ten. 

We're Back!

Last Fall I gave up blogging.  After a series of technological challenges (which included losing our internet connection) and a bad case of island fever, I was done.  Unfortunately, once we got the internet back, it was much slower and I was not ready to deal with trying to blog with it.  My island fever also lasted through the New Year.  Then in February, the boys and I went back to California. 

We had a much-needed 4 month break from island living.  I took the time to work on readjusting my attitude and catch up with family and friends.  Unfortunately, I could have used more time to see friends!  While at home, the boys took off the training wheels on their bikes and became expert riders.  (Well, as expert as one can be as a 5 year old!)  Reagan also became a much better swimmer thanks to all of the pool time we had. 

As we were packing up and getting ready to return to Tortola, my mom made one request.  Please bring back the blog.  For her, I hope I am able to keep up better this time around!

Since we have been back we have been busy catching up on things here.  We have spent a few afternoons playing at Nanny Cay and a few boogie boarding at our favorite beach, Long Bay Tortola.  We have been to lunch and celebrated the boys' 6th birthday at our favorite restaurant, Brandywine. The boys have learned to snorkel and Reilly is now swimming on his own!  We’ve had sushi at Origin and been introduced to a new restaurant that Chris likes called Fish ’N Lime Inn.  Overall, we seem to have picked up right where we left off, only with a better attitude this time around!

So, I hope to get at least one post up a week for my mom.  I will do a separate post about the boys' birthday, but for now, here are a few of my favorite shots from our first few weeks back:

Reagan back on his favorite mode of transport, a ferry!

Reilly limin at Watering Hole.

Sunset at West End.

Reagan is right at home at Long Bay Tortola.

Reilly is as well!