Current Rock of Residence:
Tortola, BVI
Island Girl Since:
2012
Originally Hails From:
Annapolis, MD
Claudia lives in the BVI on Tortola though technically, she doesn’t live on the rock. She really lives on a sailboat attached to a piece of wood that’s attached to the rock. Close enough. In a prior life, she worked in real estate and asset management and did the whole rat race, soccer/karate mom, weekend warrior, high heels, BMW thing (yawn). But secretly, she and her husband were planning their getaway. Finally in 2012, they sailed south on the heels of Hurricane Sandy (oh, how aptly named) and headed for, well, the sand. They checked out most of the Caribbean for a year with their 2 kids (“boy” and “girl”), and when eating rice & beans was looking like a 5 star meal, they decided to get work. The BVI offered a place to stay, friends, beach bars, full moon parties, and a paycheck. Claudia’s enjoying having her proverbial head and literal toes buried in the sands of island life, even if not a day passes when she sees/hears something that makes her crack up (like the guy directing traffic at a construction site on the side of the road – with a machete…).
She’s also a holistic health coach. You can check that gig out at Heath That Fits (spoiler: she recommends lots of veggies).
Explore posts by this writer:
Experiencing Culture Shock When Traveling Off Your Island
There is a certain excitement one gets when going on a road trip that you don't get when flying. Yes, you dread sitting in the car all day, but you can listen to music all day and eat snacks that you don’t normally eat and your journey often has several destinations....
Sunkissed Christmas
This year I’ll be celebrating my 11th Christmas on this beautiful island and my main goal for this holiday season is to make the perfect sand-snowman. I can assure you that this is a task far more difficult than Pinterest or Instagram would have you believe. Last...
Christmas on Saba
It’s quiet out. And dark. The colourful street lights are up in each of the four villages of Saba, Chris Rea’s Driving Home for Christmas is playing, the tree is up, half hiding the presents underneath and the house smells of home-made cooking. It’s Christmas time...
My Love Letter to The Sea – How we are harming it and how we can protect it
I like the sea. That might be an under-statement: I really really love the sea. I love to see the different shades of blue, azure, turquoise and green. I love to take a stroll along the shoreline, barefoot, feeling the waves lapping over my toes, with various grades...
In Praise of Real Food
Island food culture is a wonderful riot, to be savoured and enjoyed. When we first came on island I was surprised by the food fusion between American, British and Caribbean fare. You would easily find an overblown pot of peanut butter alongside a similar-sized jar of...
How To Be An Annoying Tourist
The cruise ship horns are blasting. The streets are bustling with wide-eyed people donned in Hawaiian print. The smell of aerosol sunscreen spray fills the hot tropical air and stings your eyes. This can only mean one thing...peak tourist season is upon us. The...
