24 Hours…in Tortola

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

I arrived Tortola around 4 p.m. on a Thursday. I had never been to the British Virgin Islands, but will never forget being herded around St. John and St. Marteen as part of the cruise ship brigade back in 1999. I was sure this would be a little more enjoyable.

There’s something unique about island life – it’s a slow (casual) way of living, and a foreign concept to the rushed and panicked Americans (like me). Everything and everyone is friendly in the islands.

Even customs was an enjoyable experience.

The air-conditioned bus was waiting outside customs to take us to Maria’s by the Sea, a city-center hotel perfect for business travelers and those who are staying one night before hopping over to their next island. This little hotel on the sea was perfect: a bed, a bathroom, coffee-pot in room, breakfast on the water, and a balcony that overlooked the crystal blue waters.

I walked to dinner that night to a local outdoor Fresh-infusion style restaurant. We sat around the round plastic tables and dined on escargot, baked goat cheese and grouper. We watched as locals trickled in, waved to friends and ordered up rum punch cocktails to celebrate the end of a workday.

A short walk back to the hotel and I was comfortably in bed flipping through the various Spanish channels on the TV. I woke up to a rooster crowing and the sounds of ocean waves crashing along the shore. It was a beautiful morning in Tortola and I was ready to set sail…