Bermudian Raygina Fox has lived in California since she was 9.

She works in real estate and construction just outside of Sacramento.

Whenever she goes home to Bermuda, her friends are always saying, I wish I could go too.

This time she brought them all.

She and a group of 14 women arrived in Bermuda just in time to enjoy the Cup Match holiday.

It was the first time on the island for most of her entourage.

“The only people in the group not a first-time visitor was my mother, Lynn Johnson, and my best friend who brought her mother and sister,” Ms Fox said.

Zeba Kamin, originally from Afghanistan, said: “I didn’t even know Bermuda existed until I met Raygina.”

Within hours of landing, Bayyinah Jordan had a goal: come back.

“I intend to become a repeat visitor,” she said.

On their first day, Ms Jordan was the first person awake. She said: “I went to the top of the hill and was just standing there in awe.”

Ms Fox said life in the United States can get very busy.

“We are always rushing, rushing, rushing,” she said. “It is always hurry up and do stuff.”

To relax she loves hiking with friends, but even then it can be hard to let go of the stress. Her friends tease her because even while walking she is on the phone still talking to clients.

The weeklong girls’ trip was a great way to relax. She turned off her phone.

“I have a great appreciation for Bermuda when I come here,” she said.

However, the trip was not without its challenges.

On arrival, the first hurdle was just getting everyone’s luggage to the St George’s Club, where they were staying.

“I brought four pieces of luggage,” Ms Fox said. “The average was two to three pieces per person.”

“It looked like we were moving here,” one person said.

Taxi driver Larry Franklin co-ordinated their transportation, arranging for an entire taxi just for the luggage.

“It all went in there,” one lady said. “It was like a game of Tetris.”

The next problem was Ms Fox’s clothing. She landed wearing a shade of red, a big pre-Cup Match no-no for a St George’s fan.

“Someone said, you need to change your clothes,” Ms Fox said. “I said this is not red; it’s fuchsia.”

She had to change into something a little bluer, especially since her early years were spent in St George’s.

One of their first meals on the island was a fish sandwich from Mama Mia’s in Hamilton Parish. The sandwiches are known for their girth.

“I would have thought eating one half of a fish sandwich would have been plenty, but they wanted more,” Ms Fox laughed.

Her friends went to the game on the first day of Cup Match.

Zeba Kamin confessed that although cricket is popular in her birthplace, she had never actually been to a match before coming to Bermuda.

At Wellington Oval they partied with some of Ms Fox’s family, and also visited the Bermuda Tourism Authority area.

“They absolutely loved it,” Ms Fox said.

Tatiana Smith’s first impression was that Bermuda was a little like Panama, where she was born.

“I moved to the United States when I was 13,” she explained. “The island brings back a lot of memories. The hibiscus flowers everywhere reminds me of Panama.”

She saw Bermuda as calm and peaceful like the Panama countryside.

Alicia Williams, from Columbus, Georgia, said: “When I felt the heat here, it felt like home. The contrast from day to night is strong in Georgia, but here it is more of a mellow change. I only like warm weather. I spent some time in childhood in Alaska. Growing up, this was our vision of paradise.”

Ms Fox enjoyed how the trip encouraged everyone to talk about their backgrounds.

“It has really brought us together,” she said.

The women were already discussing whose home country they would visit next.

The group was here until August 5. Ms Fox and her mother stayed on longer to visit family.