I am going to preface every ‘Friday On Tour’, by adding that this travel diary was written some time ago, but over time shows how persistence can pay off. Please remember that many times when we were writing we were exhausted, out of our comfort zone and often on the edge due to just being tired. So occasionally we have a little dig at other countries, please as individuals don’t take it personally or be offended, we actually loved 99% of places we went and the people we met. I also occasionally might add comments in ‘hindsight’, If I do I’ll make them in blue. So please enjoy and fee free to make comments.

Hello to everyone,

David:

Thanks to everybody that helped in our final getaway. We had a busy time in Brisbane finalizing details and preparing for our departure but finally made it. As I write we are sitting in our room at the Clay Hotel Miami beach. Hotel seems to be a bit of a classic and the area resembles St Kilda a little.

Mel: (26.1.04, 2.20am local time):

It’s about 5.30 p.m. at home and both David and I have been having trouble getting into a decent sleep pattern. We have arrived in St Thomas and it seems to have been a journey and a half to get to this point.

We chanced accommodation in a fabulous hostel in South Beach, Miami. The room was on the basic side and the hall a little smelly, but it was located in a very cosmopolitan area, with trendy shopping and outdoor dining only two blocks to the beach. The area has a very Spanish feel about it, in fact Spanish is spoken as frequently as English and the shopping strip is located on Esponola Way. Dreadlocks and fuel gusling Chevs are also a common site.

The first night we arrived late and were pretty jaded from the traveling so we had a quick quesadilla and an early night. The second night we hooked up with a group of Aussies also staying in the hostel and ended up having a late night. Somehow we got tickets to ‘Kelly’s Birthday’ (we still haven’t figured out who Kelly is) at a place called Backdoor Bambi, which I though was a strip joint, but was only called this because you entered through the backdoor not the front. The free tickets included two free drinks, but the bar staff were quick to point out this didn’t include tips and they don’t except change. This was a bizarre place, what kind of of person wasn’t there, trannies, gays, gorgeous women, backpackers, women dressed as chickens and every thing in between. We only stayed for a few drinks because the prices made your average nightclub in Toorak look cheap.

Between the jet lag and expensive drinks we both felt like crap the next day, but had to be up early to get our flight to St. Thomas.

David: (30/1/05 10.00 AM local time):

We have now been in Tortola for approx. 3 days. We had 2 nights in St Thomas in the US Virgin Isles on the way. Scenery was quite spectacular but very touristy. Up to 8 cruise ships a day for very expensive duty free shopping. The locals thought we were British, no idea of what Australia was. Accommodation very exp. $90 US for room not much larger than double bed with shared bathroom down the hall. (Mel: but it did have a sensational view and breakfast was included) Hey Macca we met a bloke named Jeff in Red Hook, St Thomas who new of GF Marine, your service is famous all around the world. Good experience but were glad to be heading for Tortola.

Tortola: arrived via fast ferry (approx. 50 Min) at ferry terminal to be greeted by not very friendly customs officers. Eventually convinced them to give us a month.

Cheapest accom. We could find $65 US per night with 7th night free. Tiny room with fridge and en-suite practically no windows and on main road (quite noisy). (Mel: not to mention the roosters crowing at around 5am every morning)

Tortola. has much nicer feel with much less US influence as it is much harder to get long term visas. The scenery is absolutely stunning especially from small harbor side bar called Village Cay. (Mel: the view is stunning because there are boats tied up there worth more than half the RBYC fleet combined!!!) This is proving to be the place to hang out to network and make contacts. We have met some really friendly Canadians and an American who have been helping us with advice and contacts. The island seams to be very friendly overall with people just stopping to offer a lift if you are walking along the street out of town. The food is crap, the coffee not even that good and expensive but not as bad as St Thomas.

We had a caribbean deliverance style experience when we walked to a local suburb Purcell Estate looking for cheap accom. Definitely not an area we would be comfortable staying

The Charter industry is huge with The Moorings alone having over 230 boats on line.

Any news from Aus greatly appreciated because not many people seam to know it exists over here.

Mel: so far we have been asked questions like:

Australia is that any where near Greenland?

Is it true that Spanish is the main language?

Is it also true that it is always very cold over there?

And we have been accused of always eating bangers and mash and drinking Tetley tea.

David & Mel