For San Juan, St. Thomas and St. John, click here and for St. Maarten and Antigua, click here.
We had a bit of rain in St. Lucia, but that didn't stop us from going into town and exploring a bit. We did some window shopping, then found a tiny little bar that overlooked the sea. Jon and stopped in for a beer (Piton, the national beer, named after their famous mountain peaks!) and watched the rain fall until it finally dwindled into sunshine. Typical St. Lucian weather!
St. Lucia is often described as the Hawaii of the Caribbean, and if you've ever been to Hawaii, you'll understand why. It's very tropical and green with lush plants covering the rolling hills and mountain peaks. It's breathtakingly beautiful with small lagoons scattered about, surrounded by colorful houses.
This trip marked our first time back to St. Lucia since our honeymoon in September 2006. We actually went to two islands on our honeymoon because Jon and I both felt very strongly about where we wanted to go so we figured, why not do both? You only go on your honeymoon once, right?! Jon picked St. Lucia and we decided to go there first because the atmosphere seemed more relaxed and secluded and we figured we would need that after the excitement of our wedding! It was perfect. (In case you're wondering, we went to my pick, Jamaica, for the other half of our honeymoon.)
Imagine my surprise when our cruise ship sailed out of port and we passed right by the Sandal's resort we stayed at! I took over 40 pictures because I was so excited, but I managed to narrow it down to one for you all to see. Notice that blue building peaking over the right side of the main building? Jon is convinced that was our honeymoon villa. It was definitely around there somewhere, but I'm not so sure that was the villa. Regardless, it was pretty cool to see that place where we spent our first week as husband and wife.
I took this picture of Jon as we were sailing out of port. Rain brings rainbows and this was one of many of the gorgeous ones that we saw throughout the week. Doesn't hurt that it's right behind my gorgeous husband too!
This was the only group portrait that we managed to get the whole week. The only time you're ever really all in one place is when you're at dinner and this is exactly when it was taken. From top to bottom, left to right: Joani (my mother-in-law), Eric (my father-in-law), Linda (my mom), me, Jon, John (my dad), Tiffany (my cousin-in-law) and Bradley (my cousin). We really had such a good time with everyone. I couldn't have asked for better and more fun-loving parents, in-laws or cousins and of course, my incredible husband who loves to travel as much as I do! I'm such a lucky girl.
Our very last port of call was Barbados and it was certainly worth the wait. We took our third and final snorkeling trip here where we visited a popular sea turtle hangout and a shipwreck. Can you make out the skate (kind of like a stingray, but mainly found in warm seawater) in the sand below?
We also saw another beautiful rainbow from end to end. I haven't seen this many rainbows since my family and I visited Scotland when I was younger!
We waited and waited and waited for a turtle to come and I had just given up and gotten back on the boat when one finally decided to visit. I jumped back in for a closer look and it was really one of the coolest things I've seen. It glided so gracefully through the water and was such a serene and peaceful creature.
The shipwreck was actually a submerged barge that was sunk there as an artificial reef. All of the wrecks Jon and I have dived and snorkeled on have been submerged barges, but they're still pretty cool because they attract a lot of fish.
After we were done snorkeling, we went to a beautiful beach with our rum punch in hand. Here I am looking for more seashells. The racerback on my bikini is totally what made me fall in love with it. I think it's safe to say that this is my favorite swimsuit EVER!
Now this is what I call paradise. Just look at the blue of that water and the sand on the beach. That's our boat in the distance. And of course, rum punch in hand!
I found these baby hermit crabs when I was searching for seashells. They were so tiny and they tickled when they crawled across my hands.
If I were ever stranded on a deserted island, Jon is definitely the person I would want to be stranded with me. Especially if he brought rum punch along too! :)
This was the view of Barbados from our ship. Isn't it exquisite? I would love to spend a whole week there.
The second formal dinner on the cruise was that night and I finally got to wear my emerald dress! I love it so much that I think I'll be wearing it to every wedding we attend this year! May as well get my money's worth.
This was the very last picture I took, the striking view from our balcony. Le sigh. Until next time, Caribbean.
