Round The World and other travels

A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries

This is: Spring Fever 2008

Caribbean-bound

I'd set my alarm nice and early, which allowed me to enjoy the unexpected bonus of breakfast in the Hilton Executive Lounge. It was then an easy matter to re-pack my suitcase, check out and head back to the North Terminal. I checked my bag in at the First zone and then waited for my travel companion on this part of the trip to arrive - none other than my friend Bruce (a.k.a. sftrvlr), who has turned up on these pages a few times now   And yes, he really did make the journey from San Diego only to re-cross the Atlantic in BA First, making use of the first of my two Amex 2-4-1 vouchers this year. He soon appeared, having stayed overnight at the Sofitel, checked in quickly, and that was that. Or so we thought. One of the BAA yellow-shirted people handing out liquids bags at Security decided that his rollaboard looked marginally too big (for what? - certainly not for the First cabin!) and refused to let him pass through, necessitating a return to the check-in desks. Not the greatest start - welcome to the UK, Bruce!   That hurdle negotiated, we made it to the BA First Class Lounge and set about the serious business of having a bacon roll and a glass of Champagne. Ah, that's better

(Link to flight log in side panel)

We were intercepted prior to immigration at BGI and processed - if that's the right word - for our transfer to Canouan. Although we had not officially entered Barbados, the 'process' involved the collection of the USD30 per person departure tax for which, most unsatisfactorily, no official receipt was issued   We then made our way to Gate 9 for our second flight of the day.

(Link to flight log in side panel)

Arrival at Canouan - incidentally, the correct contemporary pronunciation is CAN-oh-wan - was a delight. The entry formalities for the fourth new country of the trip - St Vincent and the Grenadines - were completed in a friendly and welcoming manner and Raffles cars were waiting outside to take us on the final leg. The roads were quite something. I don't mean they were in particularly poor condition; rather that I had not been expecting such dramatic, hilly terrain. Arrival at the resort was equally enjoyable, check-in taking place in an armchair setting, with welcome drinks to hand, and bringing the news that we'd been upgraded to a Junior Suite   We were transferred to Room 332 by buggy and were delighted by the standard of the accommodation and by the view.

With the time change, it had been a very long day indeed. We enjoyed what was meant to be a light room service meal, although in the event the portions were US-style   I went to bed shortly after nine and was asleep within two minutes.