We left Costa Rica on the 8am flight for our short trip to Miami where we stayed until our late pm connection to Freeport; this was followed by a very quick taxi transfer to our resort.
As we were a little late and had missed the supermarket run the manager offered to take us which was great as we were able to get milk for a cup of tea and a few other essentials.
The week was spent having early morning runs; relaxing by the pool- we ventured to the beach on one day but that was enough; on a couple of days we a cycled on the resort bikes to Port Lucaya where the best shops on the island are and to the Rand nature reserve - a small reserve set up by a US philanthropists family- it is where we saw the Bahamian parrot ( today's photo) and walking. John also caught up with our washing - which meant there will be less to do when back in the UK.
The Bahamas have really been hit by the US economic crisis - no real tourists except for cruise ships for the last 5 years and its obvious that a lot of businesses have gone to the wall - the international market place is a shade of its former self and almost derelict in places.
After a nice relaxing week we left bright and early on the 7.50 flight to Miami - clearing US customs in the Bahamas which was great - our baggage was checked through to London - what more could we ask for!
Well in Miami we boarded our 1145 departure for New York and sat while a technical error - missing screws were sorted -but a photo to Tulsa saw the plane coming out of service - we deplaned and luckily got near the front of the rebooking queue. American Airlines weren't really interested in us missing our Virgin flight at 1800,which we would, but they did let us phone Virgin who said we could get on the 2115 from Newark or it was Monday morning! We then heard our American flight would leave at 2.30pm so we said yes we would go for the Newark option. The flight finally left at 3.00pm and we arrived in JFK just before 6pm. We checked whether or not the message to collect our baggage at NY had got through,fortunately it hadn't, and were told it was enroute to Virgin. This meant we didn't have to continue standing waiting around the carousel for it we could head off in a yellowcab to Newark. It was now 6.30pm and although the roads were busy the hour or so trip and $142 (including tip) were worth it as we arrived in Newark at about 7.35 and were able to check in for our flight (check in closed at 8.15 so we didn't have much time to spare!). Once on the flight I went straight to sleep as I was knackered - more emotional that physical energy expended I think! We landed in London just before 9am only a few hours later than expected and went to the Virgin counter who confirmed our luggage was with them in New York ...phew.... and it would be fast tracked and delivered to home ASAP ( it arrived Monday evening). We had a nice light journey home and it was great not having to lug bags on the tube or train to Cambridge!
A great month away - cool on our arrival home then snow overnight.....what a welcome!
Next trip in February to Tanzania for more wildebeest migration adventures.