St. Maarten - "The Friendly Island"

[Kristen&Bailey]

Kristen, I really, really enjoyed your photos and descriptions!

The sea is SO blue, it's breathtakingly beautiful. The island looks lovely. I like the idea of the resort caring for the cats, as well as "Gizmo's Bar". Craig's escargot looked delish! I also noticed other places that looked like floating bars which look like fun. It's a shame you suffer from seasickness. I used to terribly as a child, but I'm generally alright now. It's a horrible feeling.

Your accommodations also looked lovely. How wonderful to have your own patio overlooking the bay?! The cruise ship looks like a floating hotel.

I also liked your seats on the plane! Very nice! How long is the flight from Boston to St. Maarten? I know Barbados is six hours from Toronto which is long enough.

Lastly, but most certainly not least, how was Bailey when he saw you? (I don't mind if you talk about that in a different thread as this is about the vacation.) I can't wait to see your videos.

Welcome Home! Thanks for sharing...that was wonderful! You and Craig make a beautiful couple.

The floating bar was a little place out in Little Bay that is there for some snorkeling trips. Little Bay apparently has some of the best snorkeling on the island and lots of snorkeling excursions bring people out there. It was nice how it was just a short swim off the beach for us to have good snorkeling, however the little floating bar was a ways off so wasn't swimmable for us. I'm not sure how they would react if we did swim up to it from the resort

The flight down was a little puddle hopper plane from Boston to New York and then New York to St. Maarten. The flight down was quite quick as we had "favorable trade winds" and it shaved 45 minutes off our flight. It took about 3 hours or so from New York to St. Maarten.

The way home was little plane from St. Maarten to Puerto Rice then to Boston. Puerto Rico to Boston took 4 hours. Pretty sure the Bos-NY and St. Maarten-Puerto Rico were about the same length which was an hour or so.

Bailey was excited to see us, but I think he was also a little confused. He wasn't as excited as I thought he would be. It took him a while to get up from where he was laying and actually come over to us. He looked up and just kinda stared at us for a few seconds. Then when he realized it was us picking him up, he ran over to us and jumped all over us properly greeting us.

Apparently he wasn't very well behaved for Craig's brother and sister in law. He had some accidents (I can't even remember the last time he had an accident anywhere indoors) and whined a bit. They crated him, so he had to get used to being in it again as its been a while since we have crated him. Bailey is also a creature of habit and routine. He has his routines. He sticks by them. He likes them. His world was turned a bit upside down by being at their house as their lifestyle is much different than ours. Always doing something. Always on the go. Always people over. Two munchkins (and all their neighborhood friends) running around expecting him to play with them 24/7. When normally he is lazy couch potato. So I think thats part of why he wasn't the best for them.

He seems very happy and content to be back home and getting back to his normal way of life.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Kristen, I just noticed the Canadian flag on the sailboat. Was that a Canadian boat?

Did you do some modelling in your past?

[Kristen&Bailey]

Everything is so beautiful! Even from just seeing the bedroom it looks like you had a very nice place to stay. It's too bad you get sea sick..have you ever tried ginger? I heard that helps. They have ginger pills I think.

Did you get lots of sun? You look a little pale in the first pictures! haha. I'm exactly the same. I'm always trying to get out there to tan (safely of course..with lots of sunscreen!). One of my friends is half portugese and has the most gorgeous dark skin. She talks about how pale she is when she hasn't been out in the sun, while she's 10 shades darker than me! haha.

I'm glad you had a good time. That parrot is hilarious..sitting in the shower. haha. I look forward to seeing the videos!

I haven't tried ginger. I'll have to look into that. I don't always get sea sick. I am usually okay if the boat is in forward motion. It's when the boat stops and is rocking back and forth that I have the most issues with. I was actually fine until we stopped and everyone was getting on their gear (there were 3 groups of divers and we were the last group in). It came on very quickly though as the boat was rocking quite a bit. I was fine for the rhino safari driving the little motorboats, as well as for the sailing (although that could be because of the dramamine) I also went on 2 fieldtrips the week before for work which involved being on a boat and was okay. But yea, when the boat is rocking, I get sick and its not pretty

I got a bit of sun on my face and arms and a little on my back, but my stomach is still pretty ghostly white despite walking around in my bathing suit the majority of the days. My legs are also still pretty white as well. I got burnt kinda bad on my thighs from driving the motorboat and not reapplying sunscreen after snorkeling, however that is pretty much fading and going back to white. Its very hard for me to get a tan, and what I consider a tan for me, is not very tan in comparison to other people. Usually I'm pale, get burnt, go back to white, or just barely get any color to begin with.

[Kristen&Bailey]

Yup. One of the sailboats was the Stars and Stripes boat and the other was a Canadian boat. We were on the Canadian boat. We lost

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

LOL Kristen!

[kriswak]

Loved all the pictures. It looks like a really nice resort and a beautiful location.

My parents also have RCI and have let me have a few exchanges. The resorts are almost always top notch.

Can't wait for the videos.

[kian]

I love the water, I want to snorkel there so bad. It is beautiful and the sailboat race, that would be so much fun. I just loved your pictures, what a fantastic vacation. Sorry to hear about the seasickness, that must of been a very long 3 hours to be on there.

First class on the plane, now that would be a treat. You and Craig have some wonderful memories. Thanks so much for sharing and will look forward to the videos.

[snifferspommom]

Awesome shots and descriptions, Kristen! I felt like I was with you!! So jealous of all of your kitty friends. I must recommend going there with the OH, even though he's allergic to cats! Nice to see pristine crystal clear blue waters too...

I've never flown first class either and probably would have behaved just like you. I like pushing buttons ("what does this do?")

[RubyJeansMom]

Kristen, What a gorgeous place to vacation, how could you not have a great time!
The sky and water are such a beautiful blue.

[daschoundsrule]

Kristen, All of the pictures are stunning. My son and I are going on a cruise in late July out of Ft. Lauderdale. I can wait to get my toes into that clear blue water.

I'm sure Bailey was so excited to see you when you got home. Cyndy

[Sadie G]

What a beautiful area! Kristen you and Craig make a very nice looking couple, your happiness shows in the photos. I'm very glad you had a good time, and I have to say what great parents you have

[Deerie me]

Great photos Kristen. The island looks lovely with it's crystal clear waters and bright blue sky. It sounds like you had a fantastic time.

[4 the Dogs]

I got lost in your pictures and had a mini vacation of my own! Earth to Kris, time to get back to work!
That parrot looked like a pretty goofy guy!

[Molly&Hudson]

Lol,..Kris,..i just came back to earth as well.

Kristen,..all lovely tempting pictures,...which would make anyone head to that lovely location,...and the bonus of a cat colony,.. ,...you won me over,...and the water,..boats of course!,..oh i did take a quick glimpse of that girl in the bikini,...of course1,.. ,...i will have another look,..at those boats!!.

[Kristen&Bailey]

Thanks everyone

I've been seriously slacking on the videos. I haven't even transferred them off Craig's laptop onto mine yet. I'll hopefully get them transferred today and start editing this week.