Two million entries and only one winner.

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Geo: 18.43, -64.63

You are not going to believe this.... until you see the pictures! For many, many years I have filled out the entries for Budget Travel Sweepstakes. They raffle off trips to random places around the globe. One month I got the new one and it was for the British Virgin Islands. Of course I filled it out. While I was filling it out I remember thinking to myself "I don't know why I fill these things out....I never win". Well, several months later I got an email from Budget Travel saying they had been trying to get a hold of me. Please call us. So I called and I was told over the phone that I won. Ever the skeptic I keep thinking this is some kind of a scam. After what seemed like forever I got the tax forms, then I knew that it was real. I WON!!!! We started planning right away. The tourism board and the owner of the villa we would stay at were very helpful in planning our trip.

We picked the dates and they booked the airfare. After dropping Lily off at My Dad and Donna's we were off to LAX for a flight to Miami then to San Juan and finally to Tortola. Before we know it we were in the BVI. When we got off the plane our contact (Faye Smith-Penn) from the British Virgin Islands Tourism Board was there waiting for us. She whisked us through the diplomatic line of passport control and we were soon on a scenic van ride to our Villa.

Part of the sweepstakes package was a four night stay at the luxurious private estate, Emerald Crest at the Green Banks Villa. The owners, Roosevelt and Ethlyn George, were there to welcome us to our new home in paradise. Roosevelt and Ethlyn immediately made us feel like family and could not have been nicer. They gave us a full tour of the villa and showed us all that it had to offer. This place is amazing. I kept thinking we were in a dream. A private pool with built in BBQ and bar.... luxurious bathroom with a jacuzzi tub... a view so amazing you can see the curvature of the earth over the amazing green blue waters of the Caribbean. The Georges made sure that we had everything we needed including food in the refrigerator. We could not have wanted for anything.

Faye had arranged with DeDe's car rental to have our car waiting for us at our villa. The car was a brand new four wheel drive with power everything. DeDe's was great. Everything we needed in a car and the luxury of having the car waiting for us when we arrived. WOW.

After a quick shower at our the villa, Faye took us to Charlie's for dinner. Charlie's Restaurant is located at Sunsail Yacht Marina in Road Town, serving International cuisine. Kim had the seared Tuna and I had a pizza. Both were great and the cold Red Stripes and the view topped off an amazing meal.

We headed back to the villa with a 6 pack and enjoyed a swim in the pool while gazing at the sky filled with stars. Or first day in the BVI had been an amazing whirlwind and we were exhausted and ready for a great night's sleep.

After checking the Cruise ship schedule and finding out that there were no cruise ships scheduled to be in the BVI on Saturday, Faye suggested that this would be the perfect day to go over to the neighboring island Virgin Gorda. Faye arranged for Speedy to ferry us over to the Virgin Gorda and provide us with a rental car for the day. The number one tourist attraction in the BVI is the Baths. Encompassing the beaches and rocky shoreline at the southwestern tip of Virgin Gorda, The Baths is a collection of massive granite boulders as large as 40 feet in diameter, with white sand beaches and secret rock pools. I found a map online for the Baths. After our maze through the Baths we went for a snorkel. The waters were so clear and filled with life. We could see 20 feet straight down. It was amazing. We headed out of the baths to the restaurant up top called Top Of The Baths. We had a great lunch and a few drinks called Pain Killers. The Top of The Baths has its own pool and a sushi bar not to mention an incredible view. The other big point of interest on Virgin Gorda is the Copper Mine. The ruins were very cool and we are glad we made the drive over to see them. We had an hour before the ferry was heading back to Tortola so we made a stop at a bar called The Mine Shaft. We met some locals, had a drink then I discovered that there was a bucket on a cable near the ceiling. Well this piqued my interest so I asked the owner and I found out that the bucket contained the ingredients for there signature drink. I had to have one. In order to get this drink you have to put on a hard hat and a safety vest. Constructing the drink was quite a task and I was invited down into the pit bar to have a photo. The drink was delicious and we had a great time. Lots of great stories and fun. This was our favorite pub in the BVI.

We returned the rental car and hopped on the Speedy ferry for the sunset ride back to Road Town. We then headed over to the Fort Burt Hotel for dinner. There was a private function going on at the hotel but being the class establishment that they are they had made arrangements for us to have our dinner on the veranda. How lucky for us. There was a gorgeous, warm evening breeze and the view from the veranda was mesmerizing looking back into Road Town. We had seafood pasta and curried shrimp for our entrees. Dinner was delicious and the service was friendly and professional.

Every morning when we would wake up at the Villa we were honored with breakfast prepared by our personal Chef Elton (284-542-0121). This morning was no exception. Having worked as a personal chef for 8 years I know very well the work that is entails. Elton's culinary skills and knowledge of the best local ingredients insured that we were treated to the most amazing breakfasts each morning. My favorite breakfast dish ever is eggs benedict. This morning Elton had prepared eggs benedict to perfection. Served with hash browns, juice, toast and coffee this was a breakfast made for a king.

With our bellys full of Elton's incredible breakfast we headed down to Brewer's Bay to do some snorkeling. We saw lots of pelicans diving into the water in an area to the left so we headed toward them. There we found huge schools of fish. The snorkeling was incredible and the bay was something out of a post card. After a few hours of snorkeling we headed back to the villa for a shower and off to have lunch in Road Town. We headed to Treasure Isle Hotel for lunch. Once in the hotel, to get to the restaurant you walk past a beautiful pool. We were greeted with a smile and seated at a table with a great view. For lunch we both had the bean soup and I had a club sandwich while Kim had a chicken caesar salad. Our server was friendly and prompt and we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch.

We headed down to Smuggler's Cove for more snorkeling. This was the best snorkeling yet. It was also the most picturesque beach. While snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Smuggler's Cove we came upon a huge Conch shell that had an ginormous hermit crab living in it. Crazy. We saw the similar scene of pelicans diving into the water so we headed in that direction. We came across a huge school of 2 inch long silver fish. I swam into the center of the school. It was unbelievable. In every direction there were fish all around me. Millions of them all swimming in unison. As I got to the end of the school it transitioned into a new school of the same kind of fish but these ones were 4 inches long. It just kept getting better. Next we came across a sea turtle then a sting ray. WOW!! This was a day I will not forget for a long time. After swallowing a little to much salt water we headed to Bomba's Shack. I had read lots about this place and the Full Moon parties. While we would not be there for a full moon we still had to stop. Gotta say I was a bit let down. Kind of a dump of a place. What they called a bathroom did not even have a door that would close. I love a good dive bar but the only thing worth returning here for is the sunset. One of the best of my life. We headed back to the villa for dinner and beers on the deck.

We awoke the next morning to the smell of Elton cooking guavaberry pancakes, johnny cakes, and salt fish. Elton had out done himself again. This was media day. We were meeting with a local reporter to talk about our experience in the BVI. Sean was very nice and made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. After yet another fabulous breakfast, we had reservations for the Dolphin Discovery and we were both very excited. We showed up and had our orientation then headed into the water to meet the dolphins. While I knew this would be a great time it exceeded my expectations. Lianne we thought of you a lot during the dolphin swim and wish you were with us. We got to pet them, hug them, kiss them, hold onto the dorsal fins for a ride and at the end we got what is called a foot push. Where you float in the water like you are flying like superman and two dolphins, one on each foot, push you through and out of the water. It is amazing to feel the strength these creatures have. It was so great I didn't want it to end. If you ever have the opportunity I highly suggest you do it to. You will not be sorry.

We met up with our new friend Faye and she took us to an area of road town called Crafts alive. This Road Town shopping area is filled with all local vendors featuring colorful clothing, locally made crafts and treats. We headed over to Locally Yours. The owner is an incredible woman named Ermine Mathavious. She is a BVI native but spent 30 years in the USA. She has moved back to her home and is selling these incredible products that she makes all her self. They are all made from local ingredients. She has home made popsicles, fruit liquors, rum cakes, and jellys just to name a few. We were lucky enough to get into her shop and she let us try a sample of almost everything. I needed a bigger suitcase because I wanted to bring it all home with me. Everything she makes is so fresh and clean in flavor, No heavy high fructose corn sweeteners. Just what comes from the fresh fruits she uses. This place is the gem of Road Town and could not be owned by a nicer person. We are so happy Faye took us here.

We saved the best for last. On our last night in the BVI we had dinner at the Sugar Mill Hotel (Imagine dining by candlelight in a romantic, 374-year-old, stone sugar mill, with a tropical garden to add to the atmosphere. You can - at the Sugar Mill Restaurant.) This place was breathtaking. The menu changes nightly and it does not disappoint. One of the best meals we had on Tortola. You can tell right away that this is a up scale establishment. The dinning room had an old school charm with all the elegance of a 5 star modern restaurant. We started with two appetizers, egg plant with smoked mozzarella and mahi mahi tartar (melts in your mouth). For entrees we had grouper and lamb shank. The service was second to none. We happened to arrive a little early and I even caught the head server checking all the tables to make sure everything was set up perfectly. We were very happy with our meal
and would recommend the Sugar Mill very highly.

On our final morning Elton made us Caribbean wraps and coconut tilapia. Yum. Roosevelt & Ethlyn came over to see us on our last morning. We got to spend some time chatting with them and telling them about the time we spent in the BVI. They are so sweet to chat with... we hated to leave.

Here is the link to the TV interview we did for the local News.

While the BVI had the amazing blue water, incredible scenery, great restaurants and a never ending list of things to see and do, we were surprised by one thing.... the people of the BVI. We had never been anywhere else in the world where everyone (and I mean everyone) is so friendly. Not only did we win an amazing trip and was able to experience a new and wonderful place... winning this trip had a better reward..... the friends we made. The Georges who opened up their gorgeous villa to us. Elton that greeted us every morning with a smile and delicious food. And most of all Faye. She was there for us every day. To make sure we experience all the best that the BVI had to offer. To make sure we were never lost and to make sure we always had everything we needed. While the BVI will always be fondly remembered by us as this incredible island paradise we will always remember the people of this paradise first. Thank you BVI for everything you are.

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Comments

[Lois]

Wow! Looks fantastic - so happy for you. Take care.xx

[Scott]

Awesome story and video!

[Faye]

Amazing photos. Remarkable!