Day 3…

Today, Geoff and I decided it was time to get the kids into the water with their snorkel gear on. We had snorkel vests for them so that they would float better. They are both strong swimmers, but we didn’t know if they would really know how to relax and float on top without a bunch of kicking and stuff. After breakfast in the villa, we headed down the road to Secret Harbour, which was 5 minutes from the villa.

We followed the rules and didn’t use the chairs. We had our own beach blanket thing. The blanket history is a little funny because Geoff had been in Bed, Bath and Beyond a few weeks earlier and called to see if I wanted anything. I asked him to look for a “neat sheet”. He was like “uh, ok, but I have no idea what it is”…after checking with a few people and getting funny looks, he determined that a neat sheet was not in our future…but he insisted that he’d found something better. I, being the stubborn person that I am, was not confident that whatever he’d found would be anything like a neat sheet. Actually, it wasn’t…but it turned out to be a really nice beach blanket thing that folds up and turns into it’s own bag. It is also really pretty and colorful. I’m learning to be flexible….slowly….but learning.

Ok, so everyone was geared up and in we went. This is when the hand-holding began in the water and the girls wanted to snorkel 4 across, with them in the middle. We indulged them, hoping that they’d grow more comfortable and confident with time. They did really well and we went out pretty far. I’d never been out that far at SH and was surprised that the water is so shallow all the way out. We didn’t see anything major in terms of fish, but did get to see a good deal of interesting coral, huge sea uchins, large yellow-tail, parrotfish, etc….the usual. We stayed out for a good while until the girls said they were tired. We then came back to shore and let the girls build sandcastles. At some point, we grabbed lunch from the Blue Moon at ate it on our blanket.

the Gabbi's

My Gab snorkeling - she found an orchid on the ocean floor

I think it was around 3 when my parents called and said they were at Coki. We said we’d come over and join them. We packed up…and the older kids called and wanted us to take them from the villa to Burrito Bay. We did that and then went to Coki. Mom and dad were just about ready to go, but settled back down so they could hang out with us as the sun began to set. This is my favorite time at Coki…..after the ship people leave and the sun goes down a little. We opened our fantastic blanket again (smile) and my dad laid on it and fell asleep. The kids didn’t want to snorkel anymore, but Geoff and I did. Mom and dad agreed to watch our stuff while we went in. So, we snorkeled again – on the wall at the right side of Coki. I didn’t venture out too far this time, but wish I had.

Mom then called me over and said she and dad were leaving for Tortola the next morning, so she and dad wanted to take the girls to dinner so Geoff and I could get a night out by ourselves. At first, it sounded great. But, the girls protested because they wanted to go to Indigo and Mom and Dad were set on Molly Malones. Since we’d been to Molly’s the night before, the girls were groaning about that. In the end, Geoff and I decided that we were too to make a big deal of it, so we wouldn’t go out…but, in protest, we told the girls that were eating pizza in the villa and everyone was going to bed early. More groan and complaints from the girls!! Good – that made us feel victorious!

Back to the villa and we ordered pizza to pick up from Sopchoppy’s – mmmmmmm, amazing pizza (now called Island Time Pub). We had Rotary 2 for 1 coupons for it, so we ordered 2 pizzas. Mom and ad were getting ready for Mollys and I called Molly’s to order some conch for myself (I have to be in the mood for pizza, which isn’t often). Molly’s said they were swamped and my order would take 45 mins. I told Mom and Dad and they said “for get it, we’ll wait forever if we go there”. So I offered to pick up some Molly’s take-out for them…and I planned to use the 2 for 1 dinner coupons I had for Molly’s. I ordered 4 entrees, a salad and a soup.

Geoff and I went to Sopchoppy’s first and picked up the pizzas. Then to Molly’s. When I handed the bartender my coupons, she said she didn’t know if I could use them. (they didn’t say I couldn’t use them for take-out and other dining establishments had no problem with it). She called the owner over (the wife of the husband/wife team). The owner walked over to me and said “you cannot use those for take out becaue we expect you to eat here so you’ll order drinks and we’ll make more money off of you!!” – and then she turned and walked away…no smile, no thank you for coming, nothing but a turn like she was giving me her azz to kiss. I was shocked. I looked at Geoff, who was still looking at her walk away…and then I looked at the bartended, who had wide eyes like she knew this was bad. I just said “is she serious?”….she said “I think so”…and I could tell she felt badly and didn’t know what to say. I was really wondering if the owner was drunk…because I cannot imagine anyone ever saying that to a customer with a straight face and then sauntering off. In retrospect, I should have walked off and left that $70 worth of food sitting there. But, I paid in full and left. When we got home, we realizeds that we were missing the salad….and Molly’s charged us a surcharge for taking out!! Yes, they charge extra for take-out. So, Molly’s…..you are OFF of the Blu list and I will repeat this story to anyone who asks me about your spot….and also those who don’t.
And, I hear you are from Philadelphia. So are we. You must have been down there too long, because we don’t do things like that here, hon.

After returning to the villa, everyone was steamed up about Molly’s. It bummed me out for the night. We all decided to go to bed early. Mom and dad were packing for their departure to Tortola and the rest of us were going on Born to Rhumb with Landlockedbeachlover and her family to BVIs at 8am.

I put Molly’s out of my mind and focused on our good day of 4 across snorkeling.