Molly Baker the new temp in our office
and Ted Cox
from Molecular Biology who brought an interesting idea with him that will just
be too hard to do.
It was the start of a new year and time to think about a trip to a warmer place
but before I could think of going anywhere, I had to take a few pictures in
the office. So, I did on January 5 when I captured
Dan Garber from Philosophy
Molly Baker the new temp in our office
and Ted Cox
from Molecular Biology who brought an interesting idea with him that will just
be too hard to do.
Then, it was time to depart for warmer climes as we had done in
2004
and
2003
so we said good bye to Ben
and Jane
as Suzanne gathered her things
and the limo driver appeared
to load us into the car
and go pick up the Kramers
as we drove through the darkness
which was almost dark in the car as well as the driver provided us with some
unique memories by not knowing how to turn on the lights and not having
enough money (or E-Z-Pass) for the tolls. But we did get to the airport
and celebrated passing security
by stopping for coffee
before boarding the plane where I took this self portrait
and this picture of Suzanne
as we headed off
and my meal
looked better than Suzanne's
even in good light
though both benefited
from being buried. Before we knew it, we were looking down on San Juan
and stretching the wing
because the runway was approaching
for our landing
and we found ourselves in the air terminal
where this map
told us where we might go
as the American Airlines gate
told us how we'd get there though we'd have time to explore the shops
and walk the corridors
into and out of yet another shop
as I paused for a self portrait
and a profile
and another try
while Suzanne and Peter found a champagne at a good price
before we made our way to Domino's pizza
where the individual pan pies were waiting
but the service was painfully slow though we did get back to Seva
and Suzanne
so that Peter
and I could enjoy our water
and pizza
before heading back through the gate
to boarding
even as our luggage
got on the front of the plane
for the hop to Beef Island Airport. The view looked good
as we got off the plane
at the airport building
and took the requisite picture of the airport sign
even as our plane was being refueled
and we waited in line for immigration
and then customs
before this woman
got us ready
to check out the local license plates
as our car was being brought forth
to ferry us around the island.
On the trip to the hotel, I proved
that a flash doesn't work through a car window as I tried to capture
images of the Xmas directions at the rotary but instead ... At the hotel,
the desk clerk
checked us in but then posed for a better picture
so that we could get to our room and I could notice that we overlooked
the pool
as I tried to place myself in the room
which had nice space
and a semi-functional bathroom
even as Suzanne rested
while we waited for dinner.
Dinner began with the clinking of glasses of the drink they called the painkiller
which amused Suzanne
and Seva
and me
as I admired the plates
and ate my salad
as Suzanne had her fish
and the coffee
closed the meal
as we wandered off to see our first palm tree
of the trip and viewed the lap lanes
in the pool.
Saturday morning we woke up and watched the wedding pictures start
as Peter, Seva and Suzanne
and then Suzanne, Seva and Peter
gathered on the beach while I tried to get a picture of myself
though I seemed to have lost some of my touch
from previous trips. So we checked the map
and then headed back to breakfast
where the waitress
informed me that they had no granola so that I would have
raisin bread French toast
as Suzanne had her eggs and sausage
Peter had his pancakes
with the wonderful rum butter and Seva had her toast
which prepared us for a walk on the beach where we came across a
coconut and I took pictures of Seva
and she took these pictures of me
before we headed into the jungle
through the brush
and past the branches
to the view of the pond
and the century plant
before heading back to the beach to look for artifacts
as we made our way along the beach
and over the rocks
to the sand
that brought us back
to the hotel pool where Peter
went slowly
down the slide
into the water and climbed out
so that we could gather in the car and drive to Smuggler's Cove
over these muddy roads
and take warning
as we observed that the most educated Tortolans
do not gather the trash there. We were greeted by a clothing shop
as the beach beckoned
and once we got past the sellers
we checked the water
as I lay down with this view up
and this view to the side
which made me feel quite relaxed
even as Suzanne came back
step
by step
from her beach explorations with these treasures
and we passed the bar
and the clothes
to head back to the car
off the beach
and head back to the hotel where overlooking the tennis courts
we visited the pool bar
and I made my way
to the slide
and into the water
and back
though the record shows the drinks
we had and our happy faces
but no splash from my slide ride.
After observing the proper cautions
we headed to the Sugar Mill for dinner where we were greeting with this
onion treat
was presented compliments of the house as I took a few tries
to be able to show that our places were set with eight pieces of silver
as we ordered good wine
and enjoyed the dipping sauce for the breads
before the group toast
as the hors d'ouveres
and salad
came before the main courses of empanadas
and fish
which was a little cold. After a visit to the bathroom where there was
this colorful basin
and this collection sign
we settled for dessert of home made ice cream -- banana, watermelon and
coconut
from a second view as well
which made us want their recipe. On the way home, we stopped at the Bomba
Shack to see when the full moon was
and to record the shack decorations
though filming inside was not allowed so I just took my own picture
and we headed off into the night.
Sunday morning, we noted the view
from our villa
as Suzanne had her fruit salad
sans hot sauce
and Seva had her cereal
while I miraculously had granola
before the rains came
as we chatted with this British couple
who were getting ready to depart. Back in the room, Suzanne read
as the rain water hit the pool
and puddles formed
by the golf course. We decided to drive around the island and headed
to Fisherman's Cay where the views of the Caribbean were nice
as waves splashed in
and Suzanne gathered shells
while the scene got darker
on the deserted beach
as I checked the water
Peter studied the map
and through this view
Suzanne showed off her finds
before we headed for West End where the cell phones worked
and a boat sat ready for action
so we decided to drive to Road Town and explore. Once in Road Town, we
passed a shop
and then went into the grocery store where we found cheese
and even the ever elusive Gouda cheese
before deciding not to go to the barber/braid shop
but rather got back in the car
and ate peanuts
as we continued our exploring until we reached Rudy's Bar
and took pictures of their sign
and license plates
before checking the car
and driving off from K's Beauty Supply
for Brewer's Beach where the bar was closed
but roosters
|
|
|
|
|
we saw a few on the other side
amid the nice sea scene
and more roosters
and a camp site
before we departed for Cane Garden Beach where Peter
Seva
and Suzanne
discovered the tire swing
against the beach backdrop
by the bar
and eventually decided to go for a swing
before we headed back to the hotel and our bottle of champagne (eat your
heart out ... )
as we watched rain fall into the pool
and assembled around the bottle
some cheese and crackers
from our excursion into town. Peter removed the wrapping
and gripped the cork
and removed it
and poured
for the group toast
that made Peter
Seva
Suzanne
and me
happy and made the sky begin to clear
as the Merrill Lynch people
gathered at the pool bar and we decided to head off for dinner.
Due to some confusion about the current year, we were not able to go to
our first pick of restaurants and so went to Fat Hog Bob's where we
had the specialty of the house drink
and salt fish patties (because of the rain)
and pumpkin soup
before blackened grouper
chicken
and salad
topped off by their home made ice cream
and a unique experience with a 19 year old girl being locked in the men's room
that amused us for the ride home.
Monday morning we woke up to sunny skies
and went for a walk on the beach
before Suzanne
and I
decided to head to breakfast where she had a fritata
and I had French toast (of French bread)
covered with rum butter
and then some of her fritata covered with hot sauce
as I experimented
and then got right the self portrait of me and a friend
to conclude our meal. We drove off towards Brewers Bay Beach passing
this cow
at the Bomba Shack watching the surfers
and this cow
along the road near the garbage truck
before coming tot he beach and admiring the Xmas creche
|
|
|
|
|
and obligatory phone booth
that led our way to the beach warning sign
as we walked the beach
and admired it
until some rains came and we decided to try to navigate to the next beach
through the ridge
stopping to consult the map
before we got to Josiah's Bay Beach
where we happily settled
and the Kramers took this picture of us
at the beach as we liked the other scenery
and wondered about Naomi's
even as our rented chaises
inspired Peter to give swimming lessons
and we relaxed
but no one more than Peter
until it was happy hour and the local drinks brought us all back
to life
to life as we studied the bar
and admired the beauty of the beach
often adorned by flying pelicans who would swoop down for their prey.
Suzanne gathered this hermit crab
and we headed off. On the way home, we decided to stop at Brandywine Bay
and ask what year it was. After studying the map
admiring the flowers
checking out the view
and enjoying their balcony
we chatted with Cindy, one of the owners,
about returning the next day. After admiring the spiders int eh cactus
we took a picture of the vacant Williams cow stand
and headed to West End where Suzanne was talking to Ben on the cell phone
as the sun began to set
and we admired the brush
and dropped sea glass that still needed seasoning
before admiring the sunset
|
|
|
|
|
|
before noting this sign
and hoping it did not represent the policy at the Tamarind as well.
Tuesday morning we awoke to a nice day
and met the Kramers
at breakfast as Suzanne
and I
had eggs
with toast
which I adorned with hot sauce
to accompany my tea
before we made our way up and down the local beach
before heading up the stairs
past the interesting tree
tot he hotel pool
and our departure for Long Beach where we were greeted with this important
message about Tanice
and a beautiful beach
that the Kramers
and us
were prepared to enjoy in the sand
pictures that were misaimed. While we were walking the beach, a launch
appeared
from this ship
and took some people from the beach
back to the main ship as this couple prepared to snorkel
on the wrong part of the beach and the waves
bounced gently as this sign
gave guidance and I took these Monet-like pictures
of the ocean floor
through the water. As we walked back, some snorkelers began to emerge
and give guidance about snorkeling trails
though we decided to head back through detours to Josiah's Bay Beach.
At Josiah's, we ran into Naomi
who posed for a family picture
and delivered chairs for our relaxation
and later sold us drinks so that Seva
and Suzanne
could audition for the role of mirage lady as we prepared
melted cheese
and nuts
for our snack before Peter
emerged
and slowly
came into view
to describe his journey
on the snorkel boat (with the Hoosiers) to Suzanne
and Seva
before the clouds
and birds and surfers at sea
made us think
about packing
and heading back
to the Tamarind where we wondered if we could have a drink and change clothes.
Peter drank
and Suzanne changed clothes
as I captured Cindy the owner (and kindergarten teacher and former
United flight attendant) with her husband and children
who either worked at the Tamarind or the Dolphin place but had all
found happiness on Tortola. After a picture of me
and me with Seva
and a failed attempt to get the cows
we packed the car
and capture Suzanne
and the two of us
before heading off to Brandywine Bay for dinner. Once there, Peter took a
picture of Suzanne, me and Seva
and we went in to meet Davide the owner
and to admire the table overcloth
as Spice our waiter appeared
and brought us a bottle of wine
that I seemed unable to capture. We toasted the meal
and studied the menu
before digging into the bread
and then starting with soup
homemade mozzerella
mussels
and a Greek salad
for a good beginning. While the others split this pasta
I had the portobello Napoleon
and then we had our main courses of lamb
tagliata
duck
and fettuccine
before finishing the meal with chocolate mousse
and tiramisu
which made us feel that we might keep next year's reservation.
Before departing we had a picture with Davide and Cindy and Spice
in the hotel's kitchen taken by this helper
who couldn't remain incognito once Spice posed with him
but we slept well that night after so good a meal.
Wednesday morning, as Suzanne slept
I considered the clothes
and we made our way
to breakfast
where there was no herbal tea, just Lipton
and the self portrait
and self portraits
came out well as the beach scene
welcomed Seva and Peter
in Peter's new shirt
as Andrea
appeared
to assure us that there would be salt fish and johnnycakes as Peter
audited his expenses before the salt fish
and johnnycakes
arrived though they did not evoke the expected reaction from Seva
though my johnnycake
was good enough to make up for the lack of granola or of a suitable substitute
so I had French toast
with rum butter
once more. After some lounging
at the pool
and an attempt at a close up
and a picture in bad lighting
it was time to gather our possessions into our suitcases
and carryons
to take a few more pictures while waiting
and to head into Road Town to the Mill Mall
where the only attraction was the health food restaurant
and then across the way tot eh Joshua J Smith Building
and to Ganzee
none of which produced the appropriate tokens of the trip. So, we
followed the rules
while getting gas
and then flew off. In the shuttle on the tarmack at San Juan airport
it took a few tries
before we got this picture of contented travelers
coming back from a vacation though I'm not sure that either
picture of my meal
or my meal with Suzanne's
could ever show the harshness of returning to the food you don't want to
eat and the weather you don't want to endure after a nice winter's trip
to a warm place with good beaches.