Bonnie Bee and Yond: Takin' the 3:15 to T&C

The first of three alarms went off at 3:15 am. We rolled out like the calvary and hit the ground running. The syndrome commonly known as MBEttA (Must Be Early to the Airport) appears to be chronic and incurable. I was putting my shoes back on after clearing security at ABIA at 4:23 am for our 6 am flight. 🥱 But we were NOT late!

I played some Zach Brown "Toes" to get us in the mood while getting ready.

So much has changed at ABIA since we were here last in July 2022. It seems all grown up now.

Ricky tried and liked my new travel pillow. I found him one of his very own at an airport gift shop.

Every vacay needs to start with a taco from Earl Campbell's Taco Truck.

A good enough taco

Airport selfie

Our flight to Ft. Lauderdale was super smooth. We landed at a convenient watering hole.

The flight to Providenciales was late leaving. There seemed to be issues getting everyone boarded and settled in. Once we lifted off things were smooth.

I wish I had gotten pictures of the "airport" when we landed. One low slung, old, sad one room building. Hot. Barebones. Sketchy af. We descended down a moveable stair and walked a long way on the tarmac in the heat. Then we stood in a long line for immigration. Signs every where warned against cell phone use, video, pictures. Even though people were using cell phones, I didn't see anyone taking pictures and I decided to err on the side of caution. I didn't want to be hauled off to a cell on this remote island that clearly operates without rules.

Immigration was quick. Citizenship? Where are you stating? How long? Have a nice stay.

Customs was eye opening. Two lines- Do you have anything to declare? Yes or no? No one monitoring or even noticing as we got our luggage and breezed out. No one had anything to declare. No searches. No questions. Obviously this island is wide open to any and all kinds of activity.

We had another hot wait on the sidewalk. A van (not Beaches, obviously a vendor) arrived to take a load of us to the resort. The driver was surly and his vehicle dirty. The crowd of people taking taxis and vans was loud, boisterous and looked locked and loaded for some heavy duty party time.

We rode in complete silence and I really questioned our decision to come here, missing Maui, choking down anxiety as we drove past squalor in a trash filled van.

We were both feeling aches and pains in knees and joints which added to our angst.

Then we arrived. Once inside the gate, we entered a different world.