04-23-2013, 06:10 PM
<P>This is gonna be a long one with lots of pics. I'm gonna make each day an installment. Here we go.<P>Wednesday, April 10, 2013.<P>Airports were smooth. Miami is a huge airport. My extra baggies of liquids were no problem but the TSA guy in Columbus, did tell me they recommend 1 per person (for next time). Deodorant and eye liquids are exempt.<P>The Antigua airport is very small. They are in the process of building a new airport thanks to the Chinese government. You still exit the planes on the tarmac and walk in (like Jamaica used to be). There was no hustle from the baggage guys. There isn't a cambio in the airport but a real bank office right outside. Exchange rate was great. Exchange rate is 2.7ec for 1usd.<P>Taxi's were easy to get. They run out of a taxi stand and are all set at the going rate, so no haggling over a better rate. It was $23ec to get from the airport to our hotel. You get a receipt then they take you to a taxi.<P>My first impressions of Antigua were, NICE! It seems very clean. Not a lot of trash on the roadways and I only saw 1 wandering dog. Although, we weren't far from the airport so they probably try to make that area look extra nice.<P>We stayed at Windchimes Hotel for the first night. It is right next to the runway of the airport. It's a nice place to stay for a stopover but there really isn't much to do around the area unless you rent a car or pay taxis to get somewhere. Nothing is in walkable distance and it's on the highway. The cost here is $120usd a night. More than we usually spend but it's convenient for the airport.<P>We arrived at Windchimes but there was no one around. We waited for a while then I had to call the number on the door. A woman arrived within 10 minutes to let us in. The room was very clean, had a/c, hot water and cable. The planes were neat to watch land and take off. The last plane I remember hearing was about 8pm. The big jumbo jets were over about 6:30pm.<P>We called a cab driver (Jamaican guy) and told him to take us to a local place he likes. He took us to a chinese restaurant in St. Johns. I had the whole fried fish. Matt had Sichuan conch. We had a beer each. Total was $67ec. It was a nice restaurant and good food for the price. The lady told me "I drink too many beer"...I had 2.<P>We called the cab driver to pick us up and got another driver this time (from Guyana). He stopped at the gas station for us so we could buy some beer for the room. Matt got Red Stripe and I got Carib. The cost each way for the cab rides was $20ec.<P>We sat on the deck and watched a few more little planes land and take off while drinking our beer. The owner showed up and we went to the office to meet him. He told us we needed to pay but I told him it was already pre-paid. He said it wasn't that it was "just a hold" on our card. I had the email but it didn't say paid so matt signed the receipt. Guess what? We were charged twice. We figured it out when we got home and it's now in dispute. I'd like to think it was an honest mistake.<P>Our flight for Montserrat leaves at 8am the next morning. We had to be at the airport at 6am. We were in bed by 8:30pm.<P>Here are a few pictures of the first day.<P>Exiting the plane in Antigua<P><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0943_zps7ab4b612.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0943_zps7ab4b612.jpg"/><P>The deck at Windchimes<P><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0953_zps33aaa623.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0953_zps33aaa623.jpg"/><P>The room at Windchimes<P><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0950_zps5e202cd5.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0950_zps5e202cd5.jpg"/><P>The Chinese restaurant where we ate.<P><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0956_zpsfa93c57e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0956_zpsfa93c57e.jpg"/><P>Whole fish<P><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0954_zps25649477.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0954_zps25649477.jpg"/><P>Matt's conch<P><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0955_zpsdab3b085.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0955_zpsdab3b085.jpg"/><P>BIG Virgin jet taking off. (remember this plane).<P><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0957_zps61e4966b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0957_zps61e4966b.jpg"/><P>Little plane<P><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0960_zps5909e540.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0960_zps5909e540.jpg"/><P>Night view from Windchimes<P><img src="http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z97/jeannie_brim/Montserrat%20and%20Antigua/IMG_0964_zps4a4a0087.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0964_zps4a4a0087.jpg"/>