This is no long-awaited sequel, but I thought December would be a nice time to offer up more on our tropical honeymoon five months ago. Thing is, it doesn't feel like winter in Sitka. No snow, near 50-degrees and some sunny days. No snow flying past the window, slush in my boots, or a poofy jacket to heft loaded with scarves and mittens. I guess I don't need a mental vacation from winter to remember warmer places, but c'mon...the free drinks alone give cause for reflectin'!
Andy did extensive research for where we should spend our newlywed indulgent getaway. Resort or no? All-inclusive or not? Typical age-range? NO KIDS. Big enough for variety, but not thousands of guests. Where in the warmer hemisphere? Again, we recommend The Sandals resort chain if that's your thang. Here's some pics from the lovely grounds.
We liked to poke fun at the poor dolphins spotted with bird poo! Just outside our door the gardens were incredibly lush.
We were set in just a wee bit from the beach. Our lil' building looked just like this one below, which I snapped while coming in from snorkeling.
A lovely part of our room was the bar area. Hunter and Lincoln, or liquor fairies, always kept it stocked. Honeymooners get a trophy if they consume everything, including the bottles of booze, during their stay. We wanted to make our butlers proud and contemplated the feat. Then we realized it's impossible because it all gets restocked and replenished as soon as you feel the buzz!
We also left the resort twice for excursions. Every Sunday night an island party bumps at Shirley's Point. It's a gorgeous cliff-top setting for visitors and neighbors to BBQ, jam out and walk along trails filled with cacti (in the Carribbean??). We went with a couple from NY and the sunset was lovely. Behind Andy along the peninsula is an estate that belongs to...Eric Clapton. He's been known to show up and play on Sundays at Shirley's Point. Total gimmick sale-hope I bought into!
Highlight of the excursion was the legit steel-band reggae machine pumping out music. There was about a dozen people working drums of all sizes.
Wanna hear a sample? I just loved watching the local guy who danced in front of the band the entire night.
Then another group came on and Andy had his cheesy reggae fill. Me? Lapped it up all the time. I mean this guy has PASSION for his pop song. The video is crap to watch because people kept walking in front of me, but there are moments you hear and see the talent.
We heard excellent live music throughout the trip. A reggae performance of Prince that would bring you to your knees. Unfortunately, nearly all song selections everywhere on the island were behind the times. We revisited the music scene from several years ago. The most current tune we heard was Black Eyed Peas "Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night." We heard it so much, in stereo or performed, that it's basically ruined for us.
So as we gear up for our next travel adventure to Nome, Alaska along the frozen Bering Sea, we'll remember our special time by the pool as a newly married couple. I wonder if G2 will act as our Butler and stock a special orange cooler wherever we go on the snowy tundra??? Probably not, so these last images will have to do!
The big fat BOO of the week goes to Andy being in Florida during the holidays. It's a week of work for him in Jacksonville. So I'm doing happy holiday things to enjoy/get thru the solitude. First on the list was hosting a small Christmas Cookie Exchange today. It ended up being just 4 lovely ladies and 5 kids but there was mucho cookies to go around. Yum!
Make sure your environment is fitting for the task.
Then, lay out your assembly line.
Finally, present the final product for the taking.
Gingerbread and christmas (corn flake and marshmallow) wreaths. Later this week I'll play movies Andy won't watch and whip up my usual peanut brittle and peppermint bark. I simply won't manage eating all these goods by myself so I guess Nome will have to be the beneficiary. Yes, I suppose I should bring the excess sugary cheer on our Nome Xmas trip!
