Back in the BVI April 27 to May 3, 2010

April 27- May 3  Farewell, Dear Friends.

Our social concierges (Kenny and Kathy, MER SOLEIL) are leaving for St. Martin in the next day or so.  To get our last "fix" we joined them in the BVI. 

 

First night, LEAP OF FAITH, MER SOLEIL and SEAMAN’S ELIXIR met at the Happy Hour Bar atop the hill at Marina Cay.  Michael Bean, musician cum pirate, performed his take on Jimmy Buffet songs.  Kenny and Kathy brought a myriad of acoustic accompaniments they had gathered during their travels throughout the Caribbean, as well as guitar shaped fly swatters emblazoned with their boat name, MER SOLEIL.  We were certainly the best-equipped "musicians" in the audience, shaking-rattling-and-rolling with exuberance.

 

There was a moderately rowdy crowd, highlighted by a 60-something-pole-dancing-blond-wigged-dress-sprayed-on-Marilyn-Monroe-wannabe who gave new meaning to the phrase "too-old-to-care".  Boy!  Did she have her groove on…pretty good moves for a woman of her age? 

 

At one point, the musician hosted an audience participation segment wherein one could win free rum for sharing pirate jokes, toasts and stories.  "Marilyn" raised her hand (which he ignored).  She kept it raised, insistent he call on her.  He finally relented and she began to share her pirate joke, "What does a pirate use to remove chewing gum from his pubic hair?"  The musician made a small gasp and said, "There are children in the audience…"  Needless-to-say she did not have the opportunity to answer.

 

Later in the program the musician asked us all to point out our dinghy captain, give him/her a round of applause for a job well done, yet often unappreciated.  "Marilyn" pranced up to the stage, struck what she must have thought to be a seductive pose and announced, "I’m dinghy crew."  Based on her aforementioned description, I had to stifle my laughter.  All I could think, taking in her dress, make-up and flagrant, curly blond wig and out-there-attitude was, "Did she mean "dinghy" crew?"

 

We spent the remaining days in North Sound, Virgin Gorda, on mooring balls at either Saba Rock or Leverick.  Whiling away our time between snorkeling, playing games, doing laundry, our final night was a celebration at the upstairs restaurant at Leverick.  Dinner was superb.  A fitting goodbye until we meet again in…gasp…January 2011.  No doubt, we will miss them.