Boise to Sint Maarten (Jan 4th - 6th)
Sint Maarten - one day (Jan 5th)
Sint Maarten to Guadeloupe (Jan 6th)
Guadeloupe - four days (Jan 6th - 10th)
Cruise - on Costa Cruises (Jan 10th - 16th)
One day at Sea (Jan 11th)
Tobago, Scarborough (Jan 12th)
Grenada, St George (Jan 13th)
Barbados, Bridgetown (Jan 14th)
St Lucia, Castries (Jan 15th)
Martinique (Jan 16th)
Martinique - 3 days (Jan 16th - 18th)
St Maarten - 5 days (Jan 18th - 22nd)
St Maarten to Orlando (Jan 22nd)
Orlando - 3 days (Jan 22nd - 25th)
Jan 4th -5th Saturday/Sunday - Boise to Sint Maarten:
Our flight leaves Boise at 4:55pm which is great to not get up early, but it also means the flight we could find to Guadeloupe this year is a night flight not our favorite option. Last year Norwegian Airlines (discontinued this year) had a flight, because this is not a popular travel spot for Americans so flights from the US are limited. With that said there are 5 flights a day from Europe (two a day from Paris). But a night flight to a place where our plan is to lay on the beach and relax still sounds pretty good.
Night Flight – Boise to Seattle (1.5 hours), 3 hour layover, Seattle to Philadelphia (5 hours), 4 hour layover, Philadelphia to Sint Maartin (3.5 hours), Taxi Airport to hotel -10 min (Debbie found a hotel on the beach and close to the airport because we leave the next day)
Jan 5th - 6th Sunday/Monday - Sint Maarten
Maho Beach
View at Hotel
Hotel right by Maho Beach where everybody comes to watch (and feel) the planes land and take off. Debbie got 5-6 hours sleep on the whole trip, Bill more like 3-4, so we are both tired, but when we travel, we try and stay up to at least 8-9 pm to quickly get into sync with the time. It was easy stay up with all the views especially watching the planes come and go. We could also watch the people get sand blasted and blown down the beach when the big jets took off. (you can search for Maho Beach online and see lots of videos of the people). We got a excellent night’s sleep and did not get up until 9 or 10 so we made up for the night fight. It was an all-inclusive resort, so we had breakfast right before the 11 o’clock check out time. But when we checked out they asked if we wanted to keep our wrist-bands on to continue to take advantage of the resort, food and drinks until our 6 pm flight at no additional charge – Great – I was surprised and delighted. So we enjoyed the resort the rest of the day.
Jan 6th Monday - Sint Maarten to Guadeloupe
Off to the airport and our Antilles’ Air flight, Antilles’ air seems to us other airlines
ground staff instead of having their own.
In line they asked us what airline, when we said Antilles’ Air, she kind
of rolled her eye and said we were in the right line. When we got to the counter and say Antilles’
Air, she said Oh I will have to get a supervisor and the lady beside her kind
of let her breath out and rolled her eyes.
Security was easy and we got to the gate and they said the plan is here
and we will start boarding soon, but they keep boarding other flights at the
gate, when we ask they said as soon as we get everything else board we will
board the Antilles’ Air flight, So an hour after flight time it boarded. Over all they sound like they do the ground
services for Antilles’ Air, but not very happy about it.
On a more positive note we met and chatted with John a
Broadway singer that was headed for a Seaborn cruise as an entertainer on-board.
We also watch a lady that was upset about everything, our
theory was she was upset that her lip enlargement had gone so poorly and over
did the size of her lips 😊 She
turned out to also be the one still walking around the aisle when we were
taxiing (and asked to sit down) and the one getting up early when we landed and
walking around (and asked to sit down) and the one that lost her passport at
customs and held the line up. There is
always one huh.
Upon arrive Debbie’s bag was one of the first
ones out with about 50% of the people’s bags.
Then I noticed the baggage people had come out of there offices and were
watching us (not a good sign – I thought) then the announcement - to come to
the baggage office. About 50% of the
bags did not make the flight and they would find them and deliver them to the
hotels. Jan 6th - 10th Monday/Friday - Guadeloupe
Well 2 days later I got phone call they had found my bag,
but I would need to pick it up at the airport myself. Nice to have clothes again without washing
underwear at night (but it has been dry in the morning.
Langley resort – what a wonderful place. On a great little beach, quiet, not a lot of
people, individual bungalows, secluded area of the island, close to Deshaies
(about 5 kilometers) with dining, bars and of course a very nice French Bakery
(after all Debbie did make the travel arrangements 😊
)
What did we do:
Well
mainly relaxing – last time we were here we stayed less time (before we
retired) and explored the island – we decided we would enjoy the resort more
this time – and we did
Went to
the zoo – very nice zoo with a lot of the paths between animals so you are
mainly just walking through the rain forest and about half the paths being
suspension bridges in the forest canopy.
Also where one of last year’s Death in Paradise episodes was filmed (a
death at the zoo).
Walkways at the Zoo
Dinner on the Beach at Langley Resort
Went
to the Botanical Gardens a very nice place to take a long slow stroll with lots
of exotic flowers. And of course a scene
of a murder in Death in Paradise and a villa used in the show – and of course a
murder.
Debbie & Bill in Tree Root at Botanical Gardens
A Villa you can rent at the Botanical Gardens to stay (also used in Death in Paradise episode)
Restaurant from below
Bill and Debbie at Lunch
We topped
it off with drinks and an appetizer in the restaurant at the top of the waterfalls. We started out at a table with a tablecloth,
but when we were going to only order drinks and appetizers they moved us to a
table with no table cloth, but with a better view. I think we have figured out setting at French
restaurants better – there are seats for ordering meals and seats for just
drinks – the tablecloth is the key – it has taken us time to figure this out 😊
Toured
the Death in Paradise police station and other Death in Paradise Museum.
Bill & Debbie on the set from Death in Paradise
Debbie and Bill Looking over a murder file :-)
Bill & Debbie Locked up in the cells on set
Debbie looking over another murder file
Drinks
and snacks at several restaurants in Deshaies topped off by drinks and Creme Brulee
at “Kathryn Bar” where almost every episode of Death in Paradise ends with the
cast having drinks – so what a good way for us to end our trip to Guadalupe
Debbie and Bill at "Kathryn's Bar" used in almost every episode of Death in Paradise
Had a good run the morning we left.
One exciting run!!! I was running through the trees when I felt something on the back of my arm, first thought - a branch rubbing on my arm, turned to see nothing there. Then felt something moving across my back, turned, again seeing nothing. About the time I was getting really worried, a 6 inch green lizard jumped over my shoulder and past my head. No problem getting my heart rate up on this run. I named him "Harry" and let him scurry off.
One exciting run!!! I was running through the trees when I felt something on the back of my arm, first thought - a branch rubbing on my arm, turned to see nothing there. Then felt something moving across my back, turned, again seeing nothing. About the time I was getting really worried, a 6 inch green lizard jumped over my shoulder and past my head. No problem getting my heart rate up on this run. I named him "Harry" and let him scurry off.
Run through the forest area
The run back to our resort/bungalow
Drive to return car to airport, Taxi to cruise terminal and
board our ship.
Jan 10th - 16th Friday/Thursday - Cruise - on Costa Cruises
We could not find a cruise that fit exactly what we wanted to do so... We found a cruise that started in Martinique, but the first stop is in Guadeloupe (where we are) so we board at the first stop instead of where it starts and it ends in Martinique. So we get to spend more time on two island instead of coming and going from the same island. Debbie is a travel expert and can find and make things work for us!!
People wonder about our travel choices; We are visiting an island (Guadeloupe) that known for Death on Paradise and taking a cruise on Costa Cruise line the is known for sinking off Italy when captain was showing off to family and friends to see how close he could sail to shore, and then immediately left the ship and returned later.
Jan 11th Saturday - Day at Sea
There is a sign on the toilet saying not to put foreign objects in the toilet - well I an American on a Italian Ship, that are feeding us 5 times a day - There is going to be foreign objects in the Toilet!
Day at Sea -just relaxing on board not much to write 😊
Jan 12th Sunday - Tobago, Scarborough
Glass Bottom boat tour, OK, but not very great tour. The tour/boat operator was distracted and
spent more time on his phone then keeping track of the people in the
water. Some good underwater photos of
reef, but the water was rough and it was windy.
Time in the water was limited by weather. Then did a sand Bar (about 4-5 feet deep)
less windy and smoother water so that was better, called the Nylon pool, named
by Princess Margret, the boat operator called it the island pool.
Snorkeling on the Reef
Jan 13th Monday - Grenada, St George
Van to beach area, very nice. Rented some beach chairs and an umbrella,
good because we need to spend some time out of the sun. We are a little red, but not really burnt,
doing good with the sun screen lotion.
There was waiters on the beach so we ordered drinks and food. Talked to some very nice people from
Louisiana (LSU fans, going to watch a game that night), they were on Silver Sea
small cruise ship. They said they had
one of the smallest cabins at about 800 sq feet. A very high end cruise line.
Very nice day at the beach, with very nice locals, food,
shopping, bar service and great beach and warm water.
Barbados – did a catamaran tour Turtle watching, one turtle
but good. A small reef that was OK, But
a very nice cruise along the west side of the island with a very good
crew. We had been on this tour before
and it was good both times, would do it again Tiami Cruise was the company (http://www.tiamicatamarancruises.com/).
Motoring/Sailing back to the ship
Swimming with the Turtles
After a day out in the sun, wind and swimming came back and
just relaxed in our room.
St Lucia – Doing another beach break for 3 hours on the
beach and 30 minute drive each way. It was a nice beach, the water was a little cooler then the other islands, but still warm. We were very lazy, just lounged on the beach, when to Spinnakers Restaurant & Bar (www.spinnakersbeachbar.com) had a welcome rum punch (good and strong) I had mine and 1/2 of Debbie's drink.
Spinnakers Restaurant & Bar
https://www.facebook.com/Spinnakers.St.Lucia/
Well tomorrow is the last day on our cruise, they said be can check out late at Noon so that will be nice to sleep in as we have been doing tours so getting up and going early (or at least early for retired people)
It has been great!!!
One thing that will be nice is personal space is different in different counties and when you stand in line on this ship people are bumping into the back of you as you wait.
As for lines (especially for food) the Men and Younger People are normally better unless they are with the older ladies. You know when you go to Costco and there is free food and the older ladies almost stampede you over if you get between them and the free food, well the older ladies on this cruise are like that on steroids with food, shopping or any line, pretending they don't understand the concept of a line at all and plowing right into the front of the "line". They are about 4 1/2 feet tall and built like NFL linemen and operate as a group or pack with other ladies sometimes with husbands and younger family members in tow plowing into the front of the line ahead of everybody else. Favorite strategy is coming into where the line is exiting and plowing in front of you. I explained the concept of a line to one of them, she did not say a word and just tried to cut between me and the lady behind me (who also just pointed to the back of the line as I had done) Did not watch her but she was working her way down the line from the front trying to find someone to cut in front of that would not say anything.
On the catamaran tour they explained the concept of a line to them and then made sure they went to the back of the line (in a very nice way). But they had to explain the concept over and over again to the same people on the tour. It is quite humorous if you remember you are on vacation and it does not really matter :-)
Jan 16th - 18th Thursday/Saturday - Martinique
We got off the ship early in Martinique, the ferry's were a little further away then we had researched (the ferry's to other Island was right beside the cruise ship port, but the ferry's around this island are not), not big deal a short taxi ride and the lady at the ferry helped us with the tickets. People are almost always very nice. We landed at a very cute area. We asked and worked our way to the hotel, actually very close to the ferry dock. There is a shopping, lots of restaurants, short walk to several little beaches and of course a bakery right in this area. Very nice area, we checked out apartment rentals should we return in the future for a week or so.
Jan 18th - 22nd Saturday/Wednesday - St Maarten
Your Apartment/Room on Sint Maartin
Jan 22nd Wednesday - St Maarten to Orlando
Jan 22nd - 25th Wednesday/Saturday - Orlando
?? Orlando to Boise
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