our caribbean vacation

It's been over a week since we came back home from St. Martin, but we are still very much living off of our Caribbean vacation. We had such a wonderful time; it was very much like the honeymoon we were dreaming of, yet it was also a special time for us to focus on the baby. We were not two, but three, the baby always a part of our thoughts and often our conversation, feeling it and talking to it.

Our apartment was very pleasant, bright, spacious, with a balcony overlooking the marina. We had breakfast on the balcony every morning, croissants or musli, juice and fresh fruit. Then we packed up some sandwiches, fruits, snacks, and water for the beach. Every day we explored a different beach; beautiful white silky sand and turquoise water. It felt so good to swim in the salty sea, being carried by the waves for a moment, the sun revitalizing us. We didn't bring any work; I brought a beautiful memoir and a journal, both gifts from Leighton for my birthday. I would read, write, look at the waves, soak in the sun, and rest.

And food tastes so good when you spend all day outside! We had fresh bread with cheese and tomatoes for lunch, and every day we'd go out for supper at a new restaurant. All the food was delicious. We had mahi mahi and tuna, duck and veal, monkfish and sirloin steak. My favorite was probably the monkfish in a mango vanilla sauce with basmati rice, sweet potato, and ratatouille. Leighton's was probably the sirloin steak. All meals came with savory sauces and tasteful sides of vegetables.

On my birthday we had lunch at the luxurious La Veranda before my appointment with Estelle at the equally luxurious spa; Leighton had made reservations for me to have a massage and a facial, a complete and most delightful surprise! He really does know how to make me happy. The massage was heavenly, I felt wonderfully spoiled and pampered, and my lunch--lightly sauteed scallops and shrimp on a bed of lettuce with tiny bits of lightly spiced and crunchy croutons, bits of pineapple, and cranberries in a creamy yet fresh, citrusy almost, dressing, all in a carved out pineapple--was simply exquisite. In the evening, we had dinner in Grand Case and here too Leighton arranged for a surprise; a chocolate dessert with sparklers brought out after our meal. Then the waitress gave us each a glass of champagne. It was a perfect birthday.

We had only one overcast day, and that day we went to Marigot, the French capital, walked around and browsed the market, picked up some fresh fruits, vegetables and local jam. Had we had another week on the island, we would also have liked to visit the Butterfly Farm, Paradise Peak, and Columbier Valley. Instead we visited most of the beaches on the French side and enjoyed the unhurried time together.

It was nice to come back to see most of the snow gone—until the snow storm during first day of work after break. Now the snow has melted again. We've enjoyed a mild weekend with lots of sunshine yesterday, spring rain washing around us today. Last night, I had a baby shower thrown for me, it was such a blast and I could barely sleep afterwards from all the excitement. I am so grateful to belong to such a great community of friends, and not just in town; I also received greetings and gifts from friends in Norway, Denmark, and even Korea! Thank you all for your tremendous support, kind words, and much appreciated contributions.

caribbean vacation

spring break in st. martin

Hi, there. Anne said that I'd post an entry about our Carib trip, so here goes:

We're going to the Caribbean— St. Martin to be exact, the French side. We booked a bungalow at a small, family-run place called Les Balcons d'Oyster Pond. It's situated in a Caribbean garden; our bungalow has a private balcony overlooking the marina where all the sailboats are docked, and there's a private pool. The couple (and kid) who run the place moved to St. Martin from France, and all the reviews say they make Les Balcons. Plus, the French bakery down the street delivers breakfast in the morning.

Sint Maarten/St. Martin is a small island divided by the Netherlands and France. There are 37 picturesque beaches on the island, so we've rented a car to get around. Apparently the Dutch side is more touristy, and the French side more quaint; we opted to stay on the French side with the yummy croissants. Actually, Grand Case on the French side is called the "Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean," so we plan to eat more than pastries on our trip.

There's more that I can say, but I don't want to make anyone too jealous—especially if you have to stay behind in the cold.

Lastly, thanks to our family, who funded this trip (as a belated honeymoon) with their generous gifts of money for our wedding last year.