Our first major task has been to find somewhere to live as we only have one more week at the hotel we are staying in at the moment. There are 4 real estate agents on the island and we have seen pretty much everything in our budget that is available. Our current choice is between 2 apartments - both with sea views! Hopefully we will have nailed this down by the end of the week so we can move in next weekend when the hotel is up.
The more painful tasks this week have involved tackling the beast that is BVI official bureaucracy. As we are new to the island, we have had to get our medicals reviewed. To cut a long story short, as I reacted to a TB test (as I should due to my vaccination) I was sent for further tests. After 5 or so hours later, ten odd mosquito bites and a totally unnecessary bloody test and X-ray later, I was cleared.
Wednesday's task was then to go to the labour and immigration departments to get "processed". This involved yet more waiting, trying to figure out how and when to get served by the officials and generally not have a clue. Finally, by wednesday afternoon we had all our papers taken off us by an immigration official only to be told to come back today, Thursday, by which point all should be sorted. I will be heading their shortly to pick up my papers and then get registered for social security. Once all this is done, we will officially be allowed to work!
In sum, a total nightmare but a valuable lesson in patience.
Next on the list is a car. Everyone drives here and the roads generally don't have pavements so walking is not really an option. Many of the apartments are built up the sides of the ridge that runs along Tortola island. This means that the drive to and from home will involve some pretty steep roads and that a 4x4 is vital. Sadly, as the government here charge 21% duty on all imported cars (whether new or old), the market for second hand cars if very inflated. We are looking at either 4-6 year old cars like a Chevvy Trekker or a Suzuki Vitara for around $8,000!!! Naturally you have to haggle for everything so I hope by next week we will be set up with a set of wheels without breaking the bank too much.
I apologise for a somewhat mundane update, but it has been very cathartic to write about it all after a week of great frustration. However, as I would not want to disappoint I have set out a few more interesting facts below:
1) Around about 22,000 people live on Tortola - and island that is 13 and a bit miles long and about 3 and a bit miles wide!!
2) For such a small island and population, there appear to be more churches than any other type of public building...
3) Even when the cable tv doesn't seem to work properly, you can always get the god channel
4)The big news here and talk of the town is the new set of traffic lights which have been installed at the main roundabout in town. The traffic is apparently much worse now (maybe a 3-4 minute wait!!)... coming from London though that can hardly be bad compared to the traffic you get on the M25 or north circ!
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