The Giandalias do Tortola.

After many blustery trials, the Giandalia family finally had enough of their 'Philadelphia Vacation' (aka cancelled flight and four day lay over) and arrived to the island on Christmas Eve. We have only two full days to show them around the rock. Today consisted of a beach & spectacular view tour/failed snorkeling attempt/loose island animal gawking/Christmas gift opening, island extravaganza. For our first tropical Christmas, it wasn't half bad. We even had a full band, complete with cowbell and banjo, pile onto our porch to play us a couple of Caribbean Christmas tunes. Here are a couple quick pictures to capture the day.

Merry Christmas to all!

Tears in my mask, fillin' up so fast...

Yesterday we completed our PADI open water diving certification. We crammed 4 days worth of theory (80's style DVDs), pool work and open water classes into 3 long Saturdays. I was never phased by the concept of breathing underwater until it was time to jump off of our boat into turbulent waves, wearing 70 lbs of gear. Matt was able to gracefully descend without a complaint, but i was shaking and tearing up in my mask.

Luckily our dive instructor was able to relax me, and although I was shaking my head and mumbling "no... no" through my regulator, he pretended I was fine and deflated my buoyancy control device so that I began to sink down the weighted rope.

Continuously I dug my wrinkled fingers into Matt's wet-suited arm as I was trying to remember that breathing in comes after breathing out.

Luckily my confidence grew with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th dive. I managed to slip trough the certification process without knowing how to control my body while doing a fin pivot, but non the less I've got the basics down and I'm ready to explore with the fishes.

Clint and Michelle cruising

Scuba- Pro

Slimming effect of the wetsuit.
Clint and Michelle

Checkin' out a small cave

Creature from the deep abyss

Trying out a mo- hawk of sorts... hovering above the sea floor.

Stopped for a quick photo op, compliments of our instructor/underwater photographer

Gary.

Baby Drum... gorgeous.

Queen Angel fish, this picture does her no justice.

Just what is Neptune's Treasure?

Due to the use of one "hurricane day" our thanksgiving break was cut a bit short. So,with a 3 day weekend on the horizon, we were both thirsting for a little exploration. Now, although this island offers plenty of surreal views, flower print and brightly colored fish paintings, I was feeling a desire to dive into some architecture, museums and maybe even a cobblestone street lined with cafes. I lightly suggested Puerto Rico, and was met with the response I knew I would receive. "Lets go to Anegada" So, for the Birthday Boy, Anegada it was.

We ventured to the coral atoll on Friday morn. This island is about the same size as Tortola, only completely flat (Anegada means "the drowned land"), unnervingly desolate and chock full of flamingos. There's one very small and rustic section of the island called The Settlement where about 200 or so people live. The beaches and roads are scattered with slow moving herds of goats and cows.... and the fishing is world renowned. (even though I only caught a fleeting, polarized flash of three... max).

Matt drooling as we approach the island. (you can barely see it on the horizon). Hundreds of ship wrecks line the surrounding reef.

Anegada Rock Iguanas...

Goats doing the cone portion of the Anegada Road Test.

Gorgeous creatures.

Deserted road on the way to the North Shore.

Heading to Loblolly beach.

We gladly gave up our current ride for a cruise in this whip.

As crowded as O.C. New Jersey, can't even find a spot for my towel.

I grew very fond of these plants. I believe they are of the succulent family. Tommy?

There was a wide variety or garbage that had washed up on the shore, luckily the waves had strategically placed the waste into pretty still lives for my pleasure.

Mangroves may be one of the most interesting plants I've witnessed. Hopefully this little guy will help prevent erosion once he gets a bit larger.

Our hotel NEPTUNE'S TREASURE.

This kind of scene makes me feel like i'm living in a Truman- Showesque, fantasy world.

I don't think i really trust anything this perfect. But I spent some time in the hammock

just to test the waters.

The dock outside our hotel. (where Matt was trying to wrangle some Tarpon.)
A wonky, abandoned vacation house, should have stayed here... free.

Complete with amenities.

Skulls! The ground was littered with assorted bones. Cows presumably....

Scoping out a fishing dock...

Found this heap of nurse shark in a boat. We found out from two reliable 6th grade sources that lobster trappers use the dried out skin/fins as bait.

Our future boat.

Nurse Shark Jaw. Check out those teeth.

While Matt was caught in a patch of quick sand, I proceeded to creep around a hobo-camp and get some more good pictures of stuff in trees and aesthetically pleasing piles.

Cruising along the beach... you could walk for miles without seeing a soul.

These are the mangroves I speak of. Gorgeous.

Caught in the act of catching a fish. Good work birthday boy.

Bone Bone Bone Bone.

Amazing reflective coloring.

This was before we had to army crawl out of the quick sand.

Trying to figure out where I am under that giant hat.

Mingos in the far distance.

The only people at the Lobster Trap for dinner. All of this for us? They shouldn't have.

I couldn't finish mine... so large and tasty. But don't worry, Matt made sure that no lobster would die in vain.

Savages.

Our dinner.

Fresh from the reef.

Our weekend went perfectly... but of course perfection is relative in the BVI. The ferry decided to cancel and leave us stranded on the island with only one slice of bread and work the next day. We had a pina colada, signed back into the hotel and took 1/2 a personal day. Oh Island time...