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13th - 17th February 2016
So we knew, once we boarded our very early morning flight to Antigua we were coming towards the end of this fantastic vacation. We left our hotel on Tortola in pitch darkness at 6 a.m. our last time at getting up at silly O' clock. (Or so I thought!)
We landed at the very plush V. C. Bird International airport just after 9 a.m. after a quick stop off at St Kitts and a very pleasant flight it was. Even though we had read dreadful things about LIAT Airways, we've even been told other words for their name -Leave Island Any Time and Lost In Antigua's Terminal - but for us they were on time and our luggage trundled around the carousel in record time. So yet another taxi was hailed outside the lovely new terminal building and in no time we were zooming along good tarmac highways (the first seen on our Caribbean jaunt) to Long bay on the eastern side of Antigua. We wave to the iconic Cricket stadium named after Sir Viv Richards who was born on the island and one of the world's best known cricketers.
We arrive at Grand Pineapple resort and what a pretty sight it is. All the buildings are only two storeys high, painted in lovely shades of yellow, pinks, greens and orange. A very colonial feel with slatted window covers and dark wooden floors in the reception building and very comfy Chesterfield sofas make you feel totally at home. The gardens are filled with aged trees and colourful shrubs and the sound of birdsong is everywhere. We are here on an all-inclusive basis for three nights to literally flop-out and chill. So before we know it we are guided to the Topaz restaurant to help ourselves to breakfast, which at 10 a.m. is still available at the buffet. All the windows are open air and therefore birds fly in and out and as we find over the next 4 days, the staff fight a loosing battle to keep them at bay. We quickly learn that if you leave your table unattended you immediately cover your drinks with small plates, provided purposely I feel. The lovely yellow finches and Grackles (a glossy blackbird) love water, tea, coffee, juices or wine; they are not particular. Every precaution has been taken to cover the buffet. The birds don't overstep the mark and they only eat and drink from tables devoid of humans! But the funniest thing at both breakfast and lunch is a resident hen - we never found out if she had a name - walking gracefully between the tables pecking up anything the birds haven't eaten, I guess she goes to bed early as we never saw her at dinner!
The food generally was good, not the biggest selection we've seen, but we are used to fabulous buffets in Sharm our favourite All inc. destination and I think if we had stayed for a week or more we might have been bored. There was a lunch venue, situated a fair walk up a hill at the back of the resort with wonderful views over the whole of Long Bay, called the Outhouse. It had a huge reputation as we found on Trip Advisor for its bar-b-que of Chicken and Ribs, with salads, breads and fruit along with ice cold beers and sodas. A lady, famous in these parts, called Miss Mary rules this kingdom, but when we paid our first visit sadly she was absent and we were not that impressed. But as we spoke to fellow Brits later we thought we should try it again and both the service and the availability of food was spot on during that visit.
Pineapple also has has an al a carte restaurant that takes bookings and not realising Sunday was Valentine's Day the only time we could get was 8.30p.m. But as we wanted to try this venue we took, which for us, is a late time to dine. We were glad we did and the food was wonderful, again as everywhere in the Caribbean the service was on the slow side, but 'Chill Man' as they say so hurry, no worries! Yes, I guess after 2 weeks jumping from island to island around this wonderful part of the world, we ought to have got used to the slower pace of life: you can take the Brit out of Britain, but it's difficult to change our way of living life.
The beach at Long bay is truly beautiful. A lovely crescent of white sand over 500 yards in length. We were told yet again it was good for snorkelling but it didn't come up to our high standards, but the calm, clean, waters were wonderful for a cooling dip and as the hotel has 2 pools, one for families which we avoided, for the peace and tranquility of the Adults only one right on the beach. With a strawberry daiquiri or two which help get you between breakfast, lunch and dinner I can think of worse ways of spending four days. Plus with such perfect calm waters it's ideal for Peter and I to again renew our love of Kayaking as we had in the Galapagos and Costa Rica.
The temperature in Antigua hovered around 85 degrees whilst we were there with just the occasional cloud flitting by. Also we had a couple of showers but neither more than a minute or two of cooling rain to clear the air. Life at Grand Pineapple is good. If fact quite a blissful way to relax after an amazing holiday. The hotel is part of the Sandals/Beaches brand - is neither really but a bit of both. We were invited to the Manager's cocktail party on our last evening and we then could discuss any problems we had with him. A really nice guy who listened and introduced his staff like family. He also mentioned the wildlife walks that occur on a weekly basis and the next one was at 7.30 a.m. tomorrow. Guess what? Yes the next early get-up for yours truly and Peter was our leaving day.
O.K. we wanted to make the most of our final day as our flight with Virgin back to London didn't leave until 6.40 p.m. As we were all packed up, a walk to Devils Bridge a natural formation of the dramatic coastline would be a good way to start our last day, especially before the sun was up too high. Twenty of us headed off and somehow Peter and I managed to walk with a lady who was born in Teignmouth! Small world. We enjoyed the walk, 30 minutes each way, which got us ready for a good breakfast.
Time flies and before we know it we are flying back to Gatwick on the smoothest flight of the 15 we've flown this past 6 weeks. As Peter and I had booked our train tickets before we left Teignmouth we had plenty of time to waste at Gatwick before our train left and Sod's law prevailed with the fastest trip through Gatwick, from passport control - are you listening Miami? - to luggage collection and customs. But the security of Police with guns and sniffer dogs around keep everyone on their toes.
My final part of this blog must mention the station at Reading, where we change trains for our final leg home. A major refurbishment has taken place at the station, reopening eighteen months ago and an amazing open airy station it is. BUT this is England and I dare say 75% of the year is windy, wet or cold or all three as it was today. We had left a balmy 85 degrees in Antigua, sat cozily in Virgins 737 across the pond, and started shivering on the 09.10 South Western train to Reading so what we needed for our hours wait was a wonderful warm coffee shop! What we got was something quite different. We even told the lady in the information booth we needed heat! There must be an indoor coffee shop, surely. We had found a Starbucks open to the elements with seats. We'd seen a Pumpkin cafe that sold everything, but didn't provide seats! So we were getting desperate and dragging 6 weeks washing around in 2 cases and 4 rucksacks, up lifts and down, getting colder by the minute. We were told there was a Delice de France cafe on Platform 8 and as we got closer we saw the welcoming tub chairs and delightful pastries, we could even smell the coffee! But why? Because it again was open to the elements for two thirds of the frontage. With just a tiny fan fighting a loosing battle to heat the place, over one of the open shuttered doors, it was perishing. So we took the lesser of all evils at Reading and huddled into the waiting room on platform 8 (two doors diagonally across from each other, so the wind gets you wherever you sit!!!) and drank our Delice cuppas.
When finally we found platform 9 their waiting room was warm, why? Because one of their doors wouldn't open! Perfect irony. Thank God for the 11.33 Great Western Mayflower which we had booked First Class as we do for our holiday train trips. The carriage was wonderfully warm, there was room for all our bags, a heap of newspapers were waiting for us and the lovely man with the trolley kept us full of supplies as we dozed our way to Newton Abbott and Beryl our wonderful neighbour who, not only had looked after our Apartment in our absence but provides a great cab service through the wind and rain of a miserable Devon return.
THE EPILOGUE
So what have we learnt after 42 days of travelling the globe, through six countries and some of the most spectacular scenery there is on our wonderful planet?
Trailfinders are an amazing travel company, you know when you book they dot every 'i' and they cross every 't' and Marie Dorsey at their Exeter office will do everything within her power to make a varied trip happen. It took us 2 attempts to get through this trip due to last year's premature return from Cuba, but God did we enjoy it this time.
G Adventures are a great company for planning great adventures (booked via Trailfinders). Our thanks to Omar our guide in the Galapagos (and the Captain and crew) for a superb trip on The Queen (just don't have a cabin above the engines!) Also our other boat trip with Scott our Skipper on Spyglass, I loved every 'Awesome' moment.
To Travel Excellence of Costa Rica (again organised via Trailfinders) your guides and tours were utterly fantastic and especially for visitors in strange lands, spot on for your punctuality. We will never forget a minute of those blissful days.
My biggest worry before we set off was the thought of being in a confined space i.e. A boat, with 16 people for a week on the Galapagos. But I found out if you put that many people who have a huge love of wildlife on a vessel geared to tour around the most majestic area of islands and ocean on this earth, you will have so much to talk about and you'll be so tired at night you just cannot do anything but get on with each other. Our Galapagos Sixteen were fantastic, from 26 - 75 years young we had a ball. Thank you all.
The only other thing I must do before I close this year's blog is say an enormous thank you to my travelling partner and love of my life, Peter, who makes these trips possible. I'm truly thankful that I'm the one chosen to laugh, love and wander the globe with him. We have the most amazing time together and manage to keep each other going when we go through the ups and downs of travelling. I hope you've enjoyed sharing our travels, thanks for your comments along the way and I hope you will now look at the pictures and videos I post NOW we have constant, decent wifi!!! So for now, Adios Amigos.
- comments
fleegle It's been a blast, thanks for sharing
wanderlizzy Graybing says thanx Fleegle. Liz will read ur trip properly tomorrow but she says it's almost the same as there's. Xx
Maureen & Richard Swift Hi Liz and Peter, we totally agree that the Galapagos 16 were amazing! We have so many fond memories of not only the magnificent scenery and wildlife but also of the people that helped to make it such a terrific experience. While we were pleased to be returning home to secure clean clothes once again, we are already thinking of our next trip!Christopher and Heather continued on for a few weeks after the Galapagos and ended up adopting a dog from Ecuador!! It doesn't happen often in Ecuador and they ended up being on the radio and on national TV. They are all adjusting to life back home and especially with a new family member to train!
Liz Armstrong Thank u so much Maureen and Richard - fellow members of the Galapagos 16 - its great to hear from you. It's been wonderful to get all these comments and news from various folks. Send our best to the rest of your family. We really did 'have a ball' on that trip and loved getting to know them all. I'm now attempting to put some photos on the blog (lack or strength of wifi was difficult during our travels) We would love to hear from the rest of your crew, especially to see pictures of the 'new' woof!!! Best wishes Liz xx