St. Thomas and St. Maarten

3.15.2012

On the evening before we were to pull into St. Thomas, our captain came on the loud speaker and told us there was a fairly good chance that we would not be able to make it into port. That the weather was potentially too dangerous to navigate into St. Thomas, which in turn would mean we would spend the day at sea, ultimately missing our island experience. Fortunately, the good Lord above heard my prayers and the skies cooperated, dropping us off at 9 am at the gorgeous caribbean island.

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We hadn't planned on taking a guided tour during any of our stops, but we somehow got caught up in a sightseeing expedition. Some yelling and cursing may have been involved, but that is besides the point. We ended up on an open air bus with fifteen other strangers, stopping off at random points of interest on the island. Hey, at least there was free local rum.

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I asked for that giant bottle of rum to go. It exceeded the weight limit at the airport. 


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After our guided tour thingumajig, we had our driver take us to a private beach where we could swim and snorkel. We ended up at a fabulous bank with tiny grains of soft sand and teal blue waters. It really was like all the pictures you see in a magazine.

Only better.

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(and yes, I photoshopped my stomach. Do democrats lie pigs fly?)

I had an underwater case for my camera, but unfortunately, there wasn't much to see.

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I asked the husband to take a picture of me underwater, for keepsakes.

This was the result...

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He didn't even try.
Men.

After swimming in the ocean all afternoon, we worked up quite an appetite. This little shack had the best food south of the United States of America.

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You know what else they had? A little blue bag full of some unknown substance. A guy working at the shack motioned for my husband to come over, and once he did, he tried to slip him a blue baggie into his palm. When the hubs asked what it was, the guy answered "cocaine, or anything else you want." Then my husband had the gall to respond with "sorry dude, but I don't do drugs." Excuse? Speak for yourself dear husband. What, could you not do one nice thing for me during this trip?

No worries though, because I'm pretty sure shack man snuck some magic into our pina coladas.

God this place is great.

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And don't you forget it.

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When I snapped this picture of hubs on the beach...

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I had a deja vu moment. Haven't I seen this scene before? Oh yes, I took the exact same picture almost one year ago...

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(photo taken in the Dominican Republic. Hubs, time for some new swim trunks.)


St. Thomas was amazing, but it was nothing compared to my favorite stop, St. Maarten. (Besides the "extracurricular activities"). 


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I loved St. Maarten. It was gorgeous. Simple. Serene.

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I'll take the boat on the right, thank you.

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We hopped in a cab and asked to be taken to a phenomenal secluded beach where we could just relax and take in the sweet ocean air. We got our wish.

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oh don't worry St. Maarten, you will. You will.

Another highlight? Stopping in at a jewelry store on the way back to the ship and trying on a $150,000 flawless diamond ring. Needless to say, hubs didn't buy it for me.

Asshole.


Tomorrow: Caribbean Cruise Vacation Encore.

45 comments:

  1. Love the pictures. I want to go on a cruise NOW!!

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  2. Love these two islands!! Looks like you guys had the best time!! You are too cute for photoshopping your stomach: I would too! We are not vain at all:-)

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  3. The islands look gorgeous :) And you're looking hawt in the bikini, girl, no worries there.

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  4. goooooorgeous! Also, I looooove you pink scarf!

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  5. DAMN YOU! I want to go NOW!!! We went to St. Thomas a few years ago for Beau's friend's wedding and it was GORGEOUS!!! Love all your pics sister!

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  6. wow that water looks amazing! So gorgeous! i need to be a on a beach stat. But in a full on mu mu.

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  7. The Virgin Islands is my faovrite vacation spot! Meagans' Bay is absolutely gorgeous!

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  8. Gorgeous photos, Raven! The water is to die for and so are all of your scenic pics -- holy hell I need to go back there, NOW!!! You look so happy and gorgeous!

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  9. I'm so glad y'all a great time! St. Maarten is heaven - we spent a week there on our honeymoon and I long to go back. It was perfect. =)

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  10. We went to St. Thomas & St. Maarten and loved them both beautiful places :-)

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  11. Ahhh so beautiful! Looks like you guys had a great time! I may or may not be super jealous! St. Thomas and St. Maarten have always been at the top of my list of places I want to travel to! :)

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  12. wow, def picture perfect magazine like pictures! oh I would LOVE to go on a trip like that!!

    gorgeous!

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  13. I am beyond jealous!!! I need some Caribbean in my life!

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  14. St. Thomas is beautiful, it is by far one of my favorite places that I have been. You are making me jealous! ** you look fabulous!
    xoxo, bree

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  15. Ok seriously im jealous. I am going to the Domincan Repubic in May and I need it to get here asap.

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  16. Gorgeous! I want to go there right now! And love your pink giraffe scarf!

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  17. ummmm WOW! those are two cruise places I have on my list to visit! GORGEOUS!!!

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  18. Going to st. thomas in may can't wait seeing these pics!!

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  19. U r too funny!! Beautiful water!!!! I need a vacay!

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  20. amazing job on the Photos!! im super super JELLY!

    also im still in shock about little Colt's hair....so depresssing..he sweet curls with the hippie head band.. LOVED.

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  21. Love this post. very entertaining. makes me want to be somewhere on a warm beach! almost makes me want to go on a cruise, but I think I'll pass and just find one island to vacation at.

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  22. You freaking crack me up! I need to go on a cruise. You have convinced me.

    P.S. About your previous post--I shaved my son's head last summer and I was totally bummed. We all do it at some point and regret usually follows, right? He's still a cutie though!!

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  23. These pictures are BEAUTIFUL!! Makes me want to board my cruise right now! Still have 3 months to go:( I love how your hubby has the same swim trunks...my man does the same thing. Men are funny!

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  24. Ahhh, I wet to both locations on our honeymoon cruise with Royal Carribean! Is that Meghan's Bay? We did the same excursion there! It's apparently the 3rd most beautiful beach in the world :)

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  25. Looks absolutely amazinnnng!!! :)

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  26. oh man wish i could go somewhere like that!

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  27. oh man Raven...I'm so jealous! Beautiful pics and looks like u had a blast! too bad you couldn't fit that bottle of rum in your luggage. haha.

    btw, happy belated birthday to Colt! i tried commenting on that post but couldn't? He is sooo cute! Can't believe your mom cut his hair! But no worries...it will grow back. :)

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  28. Ya'll are such a beautiful couple and always seem to soak up the moment with a tasty beverage and love your surroundings!!!!

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  29. Ya'll are such a beautiful couple and always seem to soak up the moment with a tasty beverage and love your surroundings!!!!

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  30. OMG your trip looks amazing!!! so beautiful & get photos! you got a new follower on GFC!

    xx Kelly

    www.MessyDirtyHair.com

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  31. BEAUTIFUL! :) I love the underwater picture of you hahaha! I made my hubby take like a thousand!

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  32. Hi, there! I'm so glad to find another mommy!! Your vacay pictures look fun,fun,fun! Not to mention your boys in the post before this.. they are so cute and made me think about my boys when they were that big (or small, rather)Now they are bigger and do not need mommy as much anymore and mommy has so much time at hand she even started blogging! I'm definately staying (following)and would like it if you could come visit me and see if you like it there to follow me too :)

    http://mrsjackofalltradesdaily.blogspot.com/

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  33. OMG I am so jealous and want to go there now!!

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  34. Ohhhhh I can't wait. ONE month from today, I'll be in the Bahamas sippin on some margarita ---- oh yes!

    Do I see a future guest post???Huh Huh Huh??? Whatcha say?

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  35. Always keeping it real!! Love you and your sarcastic self!

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  36. I've been to both of these places, and they were awesome! I have a pic of me with that same St. Maarten sign haha

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