Two Tickets to Paradise: Tropical-ness

Two Tickets to Paradise: Tropical Flowers

Two Tickets to Paradise: The End

Saturday was our last full day in St. Lucia. We tossed around a few ideas as to what to do: snorkeling, spa day, etc.


Wednesday we had planned to go snorkeling after our morning at the beach, but the other couple we were going to do it with cancelled. And because there is a minimum requirement of 4 people, our whole excursion was cancelled. :( Then we found out about a spot about 30 minutes from our resort that had excellent snorkeling, so we thought about getting a taxi and doing that on our last day.


We also thought about spending our last day at the resort's spa. Justin has never had a massage and we thought it would be a nice way to end our honeymoon.


But in the end we just decided to spend the day by our pool. And it was probably the best way we could have ended our vacation.


We didnt want to leave, but we also missed home and Maddie. Sunday we got up and had our last breakfast in St Lucia then headed to the airport to catch our flight to Atlanta.

St Lucia was the perfect place for our honeymoon! We've already talked about going back for an anniversary.

Two Tickets to Paradise: Volcano, Sulphur Springs, Botanical Garden & Waterfall

Ok... I have a sad story. The battery on my camera died Thursday night/Friday morning. And in the craziness of the last minute things Thursday morning before we left Newport News for Richmond, my camera charger didnt make it into any of our bags. So I have no pictures of the last 2 days of our honeymoon. I was extemely bummed, but there was nothing we could do. So I'll have to share pictures that I found online.


Friday we arranged to do another excursion through the resort. We went to the only drive-in volcano to see the bubbling pools of lava and there's also mud baths -- the same place that the Bachelor Jake took Vienna for their "steamy mud baths." We didnt do the mud baths, but there were some people in it.







Then we headed over to a botanical garden that was the location of the diamond waterfalls and mineral baths.

Hurricane Tomas

I'm cutting into my honeymoon recaps to share some sad news. I just found out today that Hurricane Tomas struck St. Lucia this past weekend killing 14 people -- 1 of them an American tourist. I've been looking at pictures of the aftermath and I have to say its really sad to see the island where we spent our honeymoon in such devestation.

Thoughts & prayers to St. Lucia!

Two Tickets to Paradise: Gros Piton

Thursday we decided to get out and take on Gros Piton. Stonefield offers hiking tours for both Pitons, but the Petit Piton is an expert level hike. Now I am no hiker, but after talking to other guests who had done it, I thought I could do it. I am not going to lie... it.was.HARD!

We woke up Thursday morning to rain, but we decided to still do our hike. Most rain lasts for a short time and then clears up. So we thought by the time we got to the piton it would be cleared up. We were wrong. As soon as we got into our taxi, it started thundering and lightning and raining buckets. But we still went. When we got to Gros Piton, it was still raining and they were closed, but one of the tour guides said he would take us up if we still wanted to go. We said we did and headed up.

It started out pretty easy, but then we hit the part where it was pretty much straight up. My legs have never worked so hard. Justin and the guide seemed to just fly up the mountain, while I struggled to keep up. But the guide was really cool and told me to take my time and that they would wait for me to catch up if I fell too far behind -- which happened A LOT.

We made it half way to the half way point and stopped to take a 5 minute break.

Us at the half way to the half way point. See me smiling through the pain.

Then we started up the mountain again. The guide was determined to get me to the half way point. So he kept telling me I was doing a good job and motivating me to continue. I told you it was hard.

We finally made it half way up Gros Piton. The view is supposed to be one of the best on the island. Remember when I told you it was raining? Yeah, well it was super foggy so it was hard to see. We sat there for a good 20 minutes hoping it would clear up, and it did some. So we snapped this picture.

Justin wanted to continue to the top and I was more than happy to sit at the half way point and wait for them to come back on the way down. But because of the fog and the fact that it wasnt clearing, it didnt make sense to continue since the view would be blanketed by fog. So we headed back down which was much much much EASIER than climbing up. I had no problem with the descent.

Eventhough it kicked my butt and I felt it for days after -- even when we got home -- its something that I am so glad I did. I just wish the weather had been a little bit nicer.

Two Tickets to Paradise: Jalouise Beach

Stonefield doesnt have their own beach, but they do have it in the plans for 2011. They are actually expanding the resort to include more villas, a beach, fitness and business centers. Because they dont have a beach, they provide a free shuttle to another resort's beach -- Jalouise Beach.

It's located between the 2 Pitons and provides the perfect setting to feel like you are in paradise. The water is crystal blue & clear and we saw lots of little fish without snorkeling gear. We spent Tuesday afternoon and most of the day on Wednesday here.