TCI/Provo 4/7-4/21/16: 4/7/16 ON OUR WAY!

4/7/16 Alarm goes off at 4:00 am. Quick breakfast-donut and coffee. We leave our house at 5:30 am arriving at ALOFT by 6:30 am. This is where we will park/leave our car for the next 2 weeks. A light rain is falling. Take ALOFT shuttle across the street to the Buffalo/Niagara Airport. There are no long lines so we easily check our 2 bags. Cost $50.00 Our flight AA #858 is on time 8:19 am departure. Flight is full so people are being asked to check their carry ons as no room in overhead bins. I decide to do this but it turned out to be a horrible decision as some of the liquid items even though 3 ozs. or less exploded/leaked. Luckily they were in ziploc bags but it was still a mess. Won't do that again.

Our flight is #858 going to Charlotte from Buffalo

Our plane on the tarmac

Internet access/WI FI available on the flight for a fee. Fee for movies also. These airlines nickel and dime you for everything! For my free beverage I chose ginger ale (to settle my stomach that is not used to getting up so early). We also get a packet of cookies-whoopee! The food items for purchase don't appeal-snack box-nothing like a hot breakfast that I can remember getting on flights many years ago and it was free!

Leaving Buffalo

We arrive on time in Charlotte. Just enough time here to get to our next gate, use the restroom and pick up a copy of a magazine about TCI which is on a rack by our gate. I will read this on the plane. This next flight from Charlotte to Provo is not full so my husband Richard and I have the row of 3 seats to ourselves-hooray! This time free beverage coke and a pkg. of pretzels or cookies. Pilot announces we are going to arrive early-around 2:00 pm. I think-great will have time to be at the beach or the pool.

View of Charlotte from plane

Getting ready to land in Charlotte

Our departure to Provenciales AA #879 is on time

In this picture my hair is reddish brown. Coming home my hair has turned blonde-from the sun I think??

Charlotte skyline as we're leaving

Close to landing in Provo

Oh my!!

Wrong!!!!! It took us 2 1/2 hrs. to get through Immigration in Provo. Line is out the door of the airport. Only 4 agents working and going very slow. I had made arrangements to get our rental car at 3:00 pm. They have a grace period of 90 minutes. I don't think we'll make it. Panic. The guy in line in front of me calls Grace Bay Car Rental to let them know of this problem. People are not happy. Even though there are signs prohibiting photos lots are taking pics with their phones of this mess. Of course our bags are waiting for us as is a lady in a blue/yellow uniform with GBCR sign. She walks with us the very short distance to the office where we get our car. Silver 2004 Nissan Sunny with about 137,000 miles or is it km? on it. She and my husband do a walk around check. We're told to bring back full tank or will be charged. Given a map with directions highlighted/marked to get to Ocean Club West.

Provo airport

Our plane from Charlotte to Provo

GBCR office

Rear view

Our 2004 Nissan Sunny rental car

Steering wheel on the right

Seating for 2 in the front, 3 in the back

Driving is not as bad as Richard thought it would be and we are at OCW by 5:00 pm. In OCW lobby I pick up copies of Where/When/How and WWH's Dining Guide. Both will be read thoroughly and will be very useful. We park our car in the lot/area closest to our condo building.

Entrance

Our condo is in Sea Drift, 2nd floor, unit 421. Owner has given us the security code and voila-we enter what will be our home for the next 2 weeks. It is just like the pictures on VRBO and so much more. On the DR table I find a lovely welcome note along with 2 bottles of wine-red & white-a big bottle of FIJI drinking water, and a bag of TCI coffee. Our unit is so spacious and immaculately clean. There is even an iron and ironing board in the BR closet-won't be using that! There is also a safe in the closet. Closet has tons of hangers. BR has a comfy king bed and a flat screen TV. 2 large chests for clothes. Master bath has this HUGE walk in shower equipped with dispenser shampoo, conditioner, shower jel. Huge vanity so plenty of room for toiletries. Lots of rolls of TP. Extra fluffy towels. BR also has a ceiling fan. We will use this instead of A/C at night. 1/2 bath has pedestal sink and toilet. In the hall leading to bathrooms and BR is a closet that hides the stackable washer & dryer. There's even a bag of laundry detergent pods. This is also where the furnace and water heater are located along with mop/ bucket. Kitchen has full size appliances including a microwave. Stove is smooth top electric with oven. There's a DW-never used it. Bottom freezer fridge. On the counter are coffee maker, toaster, blender, etc. In the cupboards are dishes, glassware, pots & pans, silverware-everything you would have in your own kitchen back home. Under the sink are all sorts of cleaning supplies. Sponges & scrubbers. Dishwashing liquid to hand wash the dishes which we did. Rolls of paper towels, tin foil, ziplock baggies. Salt, pepper, other spices. Cutting boards. Knives. I guess you can see the picture. We never expected the kitchen to be as equipped as it was. Moving into the DR. Table and 4 chairs. Desk where I will put my laptop. LR-huge sofa (can turn into a queen bed) and 2 chairs. Bookcase with lots of books. Big flat screen TV. Screened in balcony. View of pool and the sea. Contains table & 4 chairs. A day bed. Outlet even out here. Check out the closet when you enter the condo-pool toys-noodles and float rings. Tote bag. Wheeled basket. Beach towels. This condo is well worth every penny we paid.

Our building is Sea Drift

We are in unit #421

Flat screen TV in LR

Bookcase

Welcome from condo owner!

DR table & chairs

Kitchen is fully equipped

Desk

Pool toys

Beach towels & even a cooler

Stackable washer & dryer

1/2 bath

Vanity in master bathroom

Large walk in shower in master bathroom

King size bed

Storage for clothes

Day bed on balcony

Table & chairs on screened in balcony

View of the sea from the balcony

View of pool from balcony

We leave our bags and decide to check out the resort grounds. Walk over to the pool which is large lazy river configuration. Plenty of loungers & umbrellas. Walk to the beach. Just like the pictures although it's a bit choppy. Was hoping for very calm water. But the colors!! We spend some time in the pool which feels so refreshing.

Richard having a break in the pool

Lazy river style pool

Pool

Grace Bay beach by OCW

GB beach with OCW loungers & umbrellas

Because we are exhausted from our long day we decide to have dinner at Seaside Cafe which is part of this resort. It's Thursday so original plan was to head to the local fish fry but we don't have the energy for it. Not many folks dining. They're probably all at the fish fry! I order my 1st pina colada and must say I wasn't impressed. It was ok but no WOW! Richard orders the blackened mahi filet with pineapple/mango salsa, plantains, and veggies of carrots zucchini, and broccoli. I get the miso glazed tuna with jasmine rice and sautéed veggies same as Richard's. Cost without tip was $77.28 We feel so much better now after a good meal. We sit out for a bit on the balcony and then call it a night. First day gone already!