Sorry it’s taken me so long to post this. We returned late and I was back at work EARLY the next morning. I’m not sure if it was the jeg-lag or the fact I feel like I’m coming down with a cold, but I’ve had a real difficult time with “re-entry” after this trip. I wrote most of this on our way home, but justgot it finished and ready for posting …
We’re on our long journey home. I am hoping you understand that I didn’t post everyday because we were busy enjoying our time on this wonderful island. That isn’t to say we didn’t have time each day for checking e-mail, but the villa was so open and light that computer screens are really only readable from the small kitchen island; and I preferred to spend as much time as possible enjoying the view and sunshine.
We had a wonderful time on this vacation and will most definitely be returning.
After we picked up our rental Jimny (think Rav4-like) we took off exploring the island. I have to give kudos to Tony for driving as these have to be some of the scariest roads we’re ever traveled. They were windy, steep and often only 1 ½ cars wide … even on the two-way streets. It was crazy to look out my side of the car down the steep cliffs that dropped unprotected from the side of the road. Occasionally I would see a thin (6”-8”) strip of pavement about 10’ long that had been added to make the road slightly wider. Although I’m sure it should have gave me comfort, I definitely got the feeling it had been added because too many cars had gone off the road in that location. And you’d think that with these road conditions, drivers would be cautious, but no. Most drivers drove as if they were on the Grand Prix circuit!
There was one thing that was a pleasant surprise … it doesn’t have to be as expensive as everybody says. Yes, everything is in Euros (and right now the dollar isn’t too strong), but if you were smart about where you ate and what you ordered, fantastic meals (including a bottle of wine) could run $140 - $160 for two. And if you wanted pizza (which is fantastic at both Le Bistro and Andy’s) it could be nearly half that price.
Staying in a villa is definitely the way to go and there are literally 100s available ranging from 1- to 8-bedrooms. Not all are on the beach, or have a pool, but what a villa offers you is the opportunity to eat in for breakfast, make lunches for the beach and eat in a couple of nights.
The nightlife on the island is amazing, but as we found it can be hit-or-miss. Friday night we went the Le Yacht Club and found a fun party that really only got started around 11:00p. Other friends of ours went to another hotspot, Le Ti, and found it to be completely dead. Saturday night we went to Le Ti and it was definitely hopping. Sunday night we returned to Le Yacht Club and it was completely dead. So you have to be prepared to move-on if a night-life is what you’re looking for. It’s worth noting that the reason things get going so late is because the local restaurant staff are the biggest patrons of the nightclubs. So the attendees early are the young rich and the late partiers are the locals. The later is definitely more fun.
I must take a moment to talk about Le Ti. We had heard about it from friends and I couldn’t wait to give it a try. Technically, it’s a restaurant (and although the food is fine, its not the best on the island) but once all the people have eaten, the waiters clear off the tables and the DJ fires up the music. Because it’s a restaurant, the space is filled with tables … so what do people to do? Dance on the tables!! It was so much fun! Unfortunately, because it’s located in a “neighborhood” they have a noise restriction and have to close at 11:30p.
What we learned early on was that one must on the island is Sunday lunch at Nikki Beach. It’s the place to see and be seen (from what we were told). So reservations were made (also a must on the island). It definitely wasn’t our cheapest day, but how can you put a price on fun? Recently people have taken to bringing the Le Ti experience to Nikki Beach and as the crowd loosens up on wine and the DJ’s music starts pumping the dancing begins. Once again we closed the place down (6:00p) and made some fantastic friends along the way.
Someone at the San Juan airport asked me about people being stuffy. It became clear early on that there are two types of people that come to St. Barths. Those that come to be seen, and those that come to enjoy all the island has to offer. The least social people we ran into were Americans (but definitely not all the Americans we met). Oh, I’m sure the people on the yachts had their own level of stuffy, but we didn’t typically hang out with them (as their role was more to be seen sitting on the decks of their yachts while in the harbor). However, we met so many nice Americans and French that who needs to worry about those that don’t know how to have fun? My #1 observance would be the friendliest Americans were those that have been coming for years, and have made local friends. They’re the ones that come to have a good time … not to be seen.
I think Tony and I both were trying to put off the packing as long as possible and trying to think of ways to stay a few more days. If we hadn’t been on so many airlines (and I didn’t have to get back to work) we probably would have tried to stay a few more days.
In the end I was really surprised by St. Barths … on so many levels. My concerns over the cost of things were mostly unnecessary and if the dollar had been stronger against the Euro the prices would have been like anywhere else. As well, I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun could be had … and in such a variety of ways. I think Lance and Libby were concerned that the island would be to quite for us, but the reality is that we love a nice relaxing day on the beach and a nice quite dinner with friends. So St. Barths offered just the right mix of both.
We’re already talking about how we can get back this summer … so I guess you can say it was perfect.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The First 48
Our first two days in St. Barths have been filled with beautiful sights, extravigant sights, outlandish sights and lots of surprises.
Our first stop after "checking-in" at our villa was a visit to some friends from Fantasy Fest that were leaving the next day. Admittedly, I was really just looking forward to unwinding when we landed, but seeing their filla and the view was enough to put my travel weary thoughts aside.
Their villa was AMAZING and every bit the type of style we adore. Sleek, white and silver metals adorned the hilltop retreat. The "compound" consisted of two buildings, one on each side of the pillared entrance that lead to the pool overlooking the ocean. We'll post pictures later, but this place was not to be believed!
Our next stop was downtown Gustavia where we took in the sights of the super yachts in town for Carnivale (or just the long weekend). Several of the yachts in port I've seen featured in TV shows, but to see them up-close-and-personal was amazing. The excess cannot be believed!
For dinner we went to a local restaurant downtown. Yes, the prices are high (the exchange rate on the Euro doesn't help), but decent prices can be found. The night ended with a nightcap of local vanilla rhum on the deck of our villa.
Where we're staying isn't one of the "super villas" on the island, but it's absolutely lovely. The only downside is that it doesn't have a pool, but that's what the beach is for, right?
Tuesday morning we woke to a strong breeze and sunshine. The breeze is great because it keeps the mosquitos at bay and keeps the temperature just a bit cooler. After the ritual of coffee downtown and buying bagettes at the local boulangerie we returned to the villa to make lunch and head out to one of a handful of nude beaches on the island.
After only a couple of hours in the sun we had to pack up and get ready for carnivale, in Gustavia. The parade was very entertaining and it seems everybody on the island came out to celebrate. Jimmy Buffet was even sighted in the crowd (although not by us). If I had realized how much fun it was, I would have packed a Fantasy Fest costume ... although I'm not sure I have many that would have been appropriate. :)
One of the surprises on the island is how many kids there are. We have learned that the local kids can stay on the island until they are through Jr. High ... then they have to either return to France or go to St. Martin to finish their education. Of course, some of the locals are wealthy enough to hire tutors, but mostly what you see around town are young kids between 1 and 10.
Our second day we got a bit of a late start (it's a 4 hour difference for us) so the morning ritual was more of an early lunch jaunt downtown for coffee and bread. After our first day in the sun (without proper sunscreen) a break from the beach was in order so we walked around downtown, did some shopping, picked up our rental car and returned to the villa for lunch and a nap. Early evening we went to the local "see and be seen" spot, Nikki's Beach.
Now, with our own car, Tony and I made a couple side-stops on the way back to prepare for dinner. We definitely want to fine a "local" bar where we can have a couple of drinks for less than 40 Euro ... and we found it (I'll have to tell you the name later ... sorry). For the first time since we landed, we found a place for a Mojito and beer only cost 11 euro ... such a steal!
Dinner was at The Wall on the far side of the harbor overlooking the super yachts. Although we rarely do this, we went for the Prix Fix menu ... and boy were we glad! The shredded crab cake and salad was to die for and I'm sure we'll be returning before we leave for a lunch of the same.
Our host and hostess, Lance and Libby, have been wonderful giving us the lay of the land (not hard to get lost as there's really only one road) and showing us the best spots for bread, coffee, etc. But now that we have our own car we're looking forward to taking the next few days to discover the island for ourselves.
Our first stop after "checking-in" at our villa was a visit to some friends from Fantasy Fest that were leaving the next day. Admittedly, I was really just looking forward to unwinding when we landed, but seeing their filla and the view was enough to put my travel weary thoughts aside.
Their villa was AMAZING and every bit the type of style we adore. Sleek, white and silver metals adorned the hilltop retreat. The "compound" consisted of two buildings, one on each side of the pillared entrance that lead to the pool overlooking the ocean. We'll post pictures later, but this place was not to be believed!
Our next stop was downtown Gustavia where we took in the sights of the super yachts in town for Carnivale (or just the long weekend). Several of the yachts in port I've seen featured in TV shows, but to see them up-close-and-personal was amazing. The excess cannot be believed!
For dinner we went to a local restaurant downtown. Yes, the prices are high (the exchange rate on the Euro doesn't help), but decent prices can be found. The night ended with a nightcap of local vanilla rhum on the deck of our villa.
Where we're staying isn't one of the "super villas" on the island, but it's absolutely lovely. The only downside is that it doesn't have a pool, but that's what the beach is for, right?
Tuesday morning we woke to a strong breeze and sunshine. The breeze is great because it keeps the mosquitos at bay and keeps the temperature just a bit cooler. After the ritual of coffee downtown and buying bagettes at the local boulangerie we returned to the villa to make lunch and head out to one of a handful of nude beaches on the island.
After only a couple of hours in the sun we had to pack up and get ready for carnivale, in Gustavia. The parade was very entertaining and it seems everybody on the island came out to celebrate. Jimmy Buffet was even sighted in the crowd (although not by us). If I had realized how much fun it was, I would have packed a Fantasy Fest costume ... although I'm not sure I have many that would have been appropriate. :)
One of the surprises on the island is how many kids there are. We have learned that the local kids can stay on the island until they are through Jr. High ... then they have to either return to France or go to St. Martin to finish their education. Of course, some of the locals are wealthy enough to hire tutors, but mostly what you see around town are young kids between 1 and 10.
Our second day we got a bit of a late start (it's a 4 hour difference for us) so the morning ritual was more of an early lunch jaunt downtown for coffee and bread. After our first day in the sun (without proper sunscreen) a break from the beach was in order so we walked around downtown, did some shopping, picked up our rental car and returned to the villa for lunch and a nap. Early evening we went to the local "see and be seen" spot, Nikki's Beach.
Now, with our own car, Tony and I made a couple side-stops on the way back to prepare for dinner. We definitely want to fine a "local" bar where we can have a couple of drinks for less than 40 Euro ... and we found it (I'll have to tell you the name later ... sorry). For the first time since we landed, we found a place for a Mojito and beer only cost 11 euro ... such a steal!
Dinner was at The Wall on the far side of the harbor overlooking the super yachts. Although we rarely do this, we went for the Prix Fix menu ... and boy were we glad! The shredded crab cake and salad was to die for and I'm sure we'll be returning before we leave for a lunch of the same.
Our host and hostess, Lance and Libby, have been wonderful giving us the lay of the land (not hard to get lost as there's really only one road) and showing us the best spots for bread, coffee, etc. But now that we have our own car we're looking forward to taking the next few days to discover the island for ourselves.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Portland to St. Barths in Three Days
Our Valentine’s Day escape has officially begun, although it’s going to take us a few days to get to our destination.
Originally we were scheduled to San Juan via Washington, DC on the 14th, spend the night and fly into St. Martin and on to St. Barths on the 15th. However, all the snow and bad weather on the East Coast had us a bit concerned, so Tony worked his magic and had us re-routed through Chicago on the 13th.
That caused a little panic because it pushed our departure time forward by 18 hours, but we scrambled around and got everything ready and packed with time to spare. It also caused a packing dilemma. How do you pack/dress to spend one day in sub-freezing weather and the remaining time in 80-degree weather? We decided on layers, which of course is the obvious choice. But what about footwear? I ended up selecting a dress with a sweater … so far so good … but open-toe high-heels on my feet! My body will be warm in Chicago, but my toes are going to be freezing!
We actually had a leisurely start before heading out. I ran a couple last minute errands and Tony finished up work in his office. We had to do a little car shuffling because I was dropping mine off at the shop for some work while we’re gone. So we built in an extra 15 minutes to make the drop off and with Tony following me we were on our way.
Just before we entered the city, there’s a spot on the freeway where traffic always slows down, day or night, weekday or weekend. We came around the corner and sure enough, the traffic was stopped. I stopped and out of habit looked in my rearview mirror at the car behind me (Tony) just in time to see the car behind him lock up his brakes and hit him. Just what we needed! Like a parade all three of us pulled over and I collected insurance information while trying to keep Tony from going too crazy. Luckily the other driver’s car received all the damage (gotta love Land Rovers) and within 5 minutes we were back on our way. How Tony’s body feels later will be another story …
But it must have been crazy driver day. No more than 2 miles later I had a car cut me off from two lanes over and if I hadn’t slammed on my brakes I would have had a new hood ornament. Then as we were pulling into the airport parking lot a guy ignored the “yield” sign and nearly ran into the side of our car!
I’m not sure what this means for the rest of the trip. Hopefully we’ve gotten all our “bad” stuff out of the way and the remaining 9 days are relaxing, peaceful and warm.
We landed in Chicago to the expected snow on the ground and sub-freezing temperatures. Tony booked us into the Renaissance O’Hare so we could just catch their shuttle and be near the airport for our next flight.
I’m going to take a side-bar here. There are two times you can bet Tony and I are going to have an argument … the night before we leave on a vacation (while we’re packing) and trying to navigate from airport to destination. You’d think for all the traveling we do, we’d figure this out and be able to avoid it … but that’s not the case. I’ll admit that a lot of it has to do with the fact that we’re both very independent and used to doing things for ourselves. Neither of us do them the wrong way, but we definitely do things differently. So we both end up trying to control the situation and it just makes for mistakes and head-butting.
Landing in Chicago was no different. Tony wasn’t clear on where to catch the shuttle, but wasn’t really interested in asking either. I went to the transportation kiosk and called the hotel to find out where we should go. “Follow the Bus/Shuttle” signs out of Terminal 2. So out we went and then Tony decided that we should keep walking to the right because we weren’t in the right place. Let’s remember, it’s freezing, I’m in high heels and we’re rolling/carrying our luggage.
After walking at least 200 yards, the only shuttles we had seen were for rental car agencies. Despite we my pleas to “ask someone” we just kept walking. Eventually, we saw the Renaissance shuttle drive by and started following it. Eventually it took us to a Shuttle terminal near the Hilton Hotel. We could see it stopped ahead, but it was still about 100 yards in front of us when the driver started to get in to drive away. So off I went … running down the middle of the road, waving my arm to flag him down. Luckily he saw me and waited for us. We got on board and immediately drove directly to the door we had just ome out of! I can only say that the ride to the hotel was very quiet between us, but we got over it … we always do. :)
The evening at the hotel was nice and peaceful. Despite being directly in the approach pattern for O’Hare Airport, the room was extremely quiet and we both had a wonderful night’s sleep. We love Marriott beds!
We rose early (and early here is extra early for us), sacrificing breakfast for a couple more minutes sleep, and boarded the shuttle for the airport. It always seems when you plan for delays, there aren’t any, and today was no different. From the time we left the hotel until we were through security was less than 30 minutes! Then we checked the board and found out our flight was delayed about 40 minutes. We could have had breakfast, or slept more! Oh well, that’s part of the joys of traveling.
Getting to San Juan was fairly uneventful and we arrived at the Marriott Stellaris within 30 minutes of landing. Last time we were in San Juan we stayed at the Renaissance and a short walk to down the street to its lobby bar had us wondering why we didn’t stay there again (no point nights available was the answer). While the Marriott is a fine hotel, it’s lobby dance floor and attached casino make for a very noisy entry. And because it has a large pool, it’s a favorite of families so there are kids of all ages running around day and night. Whereas the Renaissance is a decidedly more chic hotel that reminds us of South Beach.
Although it was Valentine’s Day, we decided a casual dinner of sushi sounded good. A nearby restaurant, Cherry Blossom, was our choice and after a wonderful meal we settled into our room for a brief night’s sleep before catching yet another plane in the morning.
San Juan airport is not our favorite. No matter what time of day you fly it seems it’s always in chaos. And this morning was not different. Luckily the American Eagle line was fairly short, unluckily everybody in line in front of us was traveling with body-sized bags that were overweight. This meant we stood in line for 20 minutes watching the people in front of us completely unpack their suitcases and re-pack them, trying to stuff shoes and t-shirts into their carry-ons to lower their checked bag weight. I don’t know where they were going, but unless they were moving to a third-world country, they over packed.
It was very strange flying into St. Martin after 18 months of being a way, and it made us feel nostalgic for the days of the Sunset Beach Bar and Orient Beach. We just might have to return in the near future to see our friends.
You can tell it’s winter/a long weekend/carnivale from all the leer jets parked at the St. Martin airport. There were no fewer than two dozen private jets parked on the tarmac and several more large yachts in the harbor. Oh to have that lifestyle for only a day …
The crime and weather in St. Martin may ebb-and-flow, but the one thing that is constant is the poor attitude and service of the staff at the airport. Let’s be clear, there’s a big difference between island time and rude … and these people are just rude.
When we landed and received our transfer boarding passes we were told there was an earlier flight to St. Barths boarding in 5 minutes. So we hustled our way up to the gate to see if we could get on board. We were told the plane had boarded and that we’d have to wait for our scheduled flight an hour later. Okay, but how weird is it that a mini-plane was fully boarded a full 35 minutes before it was scheduled to depart? As we sat there waiting for our plane we saw the earlier flight depart … 45 minutes after we tried to get on-board. Later we found out it landed in St. Barths with exactly one suitcase and no passengers!
While waiting at the airport we decided a little vacation cocktail was in order. There was one guy working the counter and I swear he was so slow making the drinks that the ice melted before he got it poured! After 10 minutes, he had only served two people in front of me … but I was second in line so I was making progress. Then the guy in front of me ordered 5 drinks … okay, that was going to take a while. After all the drinks were served he ordered 3 cheeseburgers, 1 quesadilla and 1 grilled cheese sandwich. I figured the cook in the back would take care of the food while he made my drinks … but NO! He went into the kitchen and started cooking. When it became painfully clear I was going to have to wait for the food to be finished I gave up and walked to the bar at the other end of the airport.
Finally it was time to board our “plane” for St. Barths. First, let me say that of all the people in the boarding area it was pretty plain to see who was going to be on our flight. The impeccably dressed and/or beautiful people were all on board … I’m pretty sure people were a little worried about us.
The plane was a riot! First, there were only about 12 seats and the pilot was our greeter at the stairs. One we were all onboard, he jumped into the cockpit and said his “security announcement” through the opening into the cabin (no door on this plane!). The entire flight is about 20 minutes long (from boarding to off-loading) and is absolutely beautiful. The sight of the yachts and super yachts in Gustavia harbor is amazing. Which is a good distractor to the landing. They actually recently cut into the mountain to make it less-dangerous, but basically you skim the top of the mountain and immediately drop down onto a short runway that slopes down into the ocean! Pilots have to have a special rating to fly into the airport, and only small planes are allowed.
We hopped off the plane, walked up to a window that is akin to a ticket counter (which was their passport control) and out into the warmed and sunshine of St. Barths. Our dear friends Lance and Libby were there to greet us with water and hugs and smiles. We hear they have big plans for us this afternoon and throughout the week … and we can’t wait.
Originally we were scheduled to San Juan via Washington, DC on the 14th, spend the night and fly into St. Martin and on to St. Barths on the 15th. However, all the snow and bad weather on the East Coast had us a bit concerned, so Tony worked his magic and had us re-routed through Chicago on the 13th.
That caused a little panic because it pushed our departure time forward by 18 hours, but we scrambled around and got everything ready and packed with time to spare. It also caused a packing dilemma. How do you pack/dress to spend one day in sub-freezing weather and the remaining time in 80-degree weather? We decided on layers, which of course is the obvious choice. But what about footwear? I ended up selecting a dress with a sweater … so far so good … but open-toe high-heels on my feet! My body will be warm in Chicago, but my toes are going to be freezing!
We actually had a leisurely start before heading out. I ran a couple last minute errands and Tony finished up work in his office. We had to do a little car shuffling because I was dropping mine off at the shop for some work while we’re gone. So we built in an extra 15 minutes to make the drop off and with Tony following me we were on our way.
Just before we entered the city, there’s a spot on the freeway where traffic always slows down, day or night, weekday or weekend. We came around the corner and sure enough, the traffic was stopped. I stopped and out of habit looked in my rearview mirror at the car behind me (Tony) just in time to see the car behind him lock up his brakes and hit him. Just what we needed! Like a parade all three of us pulled over and I collected insurance information while trying to keep Tony from going too crazy. Luckily the other driver’s car received all the damage (gotta love Land Rovers) and within 5 minutes we were back on our way. How Tony’s body feels later will be another story …
But it must have been crazy driver day. No more than 2 miles later I had a car cut me off from two lanes over and if I hadn’t slammed on my brakes I would have had a new hood ornament. Then as we were pulling into the airport parking lot a guy ignored the “yield” sign and nearly ran into the side of our car!
I’m not sure what this means for the rest of the trip. Hopefully we’ve gotten all our “bad” stuff out of the way and the remaining 9 days are relaxing, peaceful and warm.
We landed in Chicago to the expected snow on the ground and sub-freezing temperatures. Tony booked us into the Renaissance O’Hare so we could just catch their shuttle and be near the airport for our next flight.
I’m going to take a side-bar here. There are two times you can bet Tony and I are going to have an argument … the night before we leave on a vacation (while we’re packing) and trying to navigate from airport to destination. You’d think for all the traveling we do, we’d figure this out and be able to avoid it … but that’s not the case. I’ll admit that a lot of it has to do with the fact that we’re both very independent and used to doing things for ourselves. Neither of us do them the wrong way, but we definitely do things differently. So we both end up trying to control the situation and it just makes for mistakes and head-butting.
Landing in Chicago was no different. Tony wasn’t clear on where to catch the shuttle, but wasn’t really interested in asking either. I went to the transportation kiosk and called the hotel to find out where we should go. “Follow the Bus/Shuttle” signs out of Terminal 2. So out we went and then Tony decided that we should keep walking to the right because we weren’t in the right place. Let’s remember, it’s freezing, I’m in high heels and we’re rolling/carrying our luggage.
After walking at least 200 yards, the only shuttles we had seen were for rental car agencies. Despite we my pleas to “ask someone” we just kept walking. Eventually, we saw the Renaissance shuttle drive by and started following it. Eventually it took us to a Shuttle terminal near the Hilton Hotel. We could see it stopped ahead, but it was still about 100 yards in front of us when the driver started to get in to drive away. So off I went … running down the middle of the road, waving my arm to flag him down. Luckily he saw me and waited for us. We got on board and immediately drove directly to the door we had just ome out of! I can only say that the ride to the hotel was very quiet between us, but we got over it … we always do. :)
The evening at the hotel was nice and peaceful. Despite being directly in the approach pattern for O’Hare Airport, the room was extremely quiet and we both had a wonderful night’s sleep. We love Marriott beds!
We rose early (and early here is extra early for us), sacrificing breakfast for a couple more minutes sleep, and boarded the shuttle for the airport. It always seems when you plan for delays, there aren’t any, and today was no different. From the time we left the hotel until we were through security was less than 30 minutes! Then we checked the board and found out our flight was delayed about 40 minutes. We could have had breakfast, or slept more! Oh well, that’s part of the joys of traveling.
Getting to San Juan was fairly uneventful and we arrived at the Marriott Stellaris within 30 minutes of landing. Last time we were in San Juan we stayed at the Renaissance and a short walk to down the street to its lobby bar had us wondering why we didn’t stay there again (no point nights available was the answer). While the Marriott is a fine hotel, it’s lobby dance floor and attached casino make for a very noisy entry. And because it has a large pool, it’s a favorite of families so there are kids of all ages running around day and night. Whereas the Renaissance is a decidedly more chic hotel that reminds us of South Beach.
Although it was Valentine’s Day, we decided a casual dinner of sushi sounded good. A nearby restaurant, Cherry Blossom, was our choice and after a wonderful meal we settled into our room for a brief night’s sleep before catching yet another plane in the morning.
San Juan airport is not our favorite. No matter what time of day you fly it seems it’s always in chaos. And this morning was not different. Luckily the American Eagle line was fairly short, unluckily everybody in line in front of us was traveling with body-sized bags that were overweight. This meant we stood in line for 20 minutes watching the people in front of us completely unpack their suitcases and re-pack them, trying to stuff shoes and t-shirts into their carry-ons to lower their checked bag weight. I don’t know where they were going, but unless they were moving to a third-world country, they over packed.
It was very strange flying into St. Martin after 18 months of being a way, and it made us feel nostalgic for the days of the Sunset Beach Bar and Orient Beach. We just might have to return in the near future to see our friends.
You can tell it’s winter/a long weekend/carnivale from all the leer jets parked at the St. Martin airport. There were no fewer than two dozen private jets parked on the tarmac and several more large yachts in the harbor. Oh to have that lifestyle for only a day …
The crime and weather in St. Martin may ebb-and-flow, but the one thing that is constant is the poor attitude and service of the staff at the airport. Let’s be clear, there’s a big difference between island time and rude … and these people are just rude.
When we landed and received our transfer boarding passes we were told there was an earlier flight to St. Barths boarding in 5 minutes. So we hustled our way up to the gate to see if we could get on board. We were told the plane had boarded and that we’d have to wait for our scheduled flight an hour later. Okay, but how weird is it that a mini-plane was fully boarded a full 35 minutes before it was scheduled to depart? As we sat there waiting for our plane we saw the earlier flight depart … 45 minutes after we tried to get on-board. Later we found out it landed in St. Barths with exactly one suitcase and no passengers!
While waiting at the airport we decided a little vacation cocktail was in order. There was one guy working the counter and I swear he was so slow making the drinks that the ice melted before he got it poured! After 10 minutes, he had only served two people in front of me … but I was second in line so I was making progress. Then the guy in front of me ordered 5 drinks … okay, that was going to take a while. After all the drinks were served he ordered 3 cheeseburgers, 1 quesadilla and 1 grilled cheese sandwich. I figured the cook in the back would take care of the food while he made my drinks … but NO! He went into the kitchen and started cooking. When it became painfully clear I was going to have to wait for the food to be finished I gave up and walked to the bar at the other end of the airport.
Finally it was time to board our “plane” for St. Barths. First, let me say that of all the people in the boarding area it was pretty plain to see who was going to be on our flight. The impeccably dressed and/or beautiful people were all on board … I’m pretty sure people were a little worried about us.
The plane was a riot! First, there were only about 12 seats and the pilot was our greeter at the stairs. One we were all onboard, he jumped into the cockpit and said his “security announcement” through the opening into the cabin (no door on this plane!). The entire flight is about 20 minutes long (from boarding to off-loading) and is absolutely beautiful. The sight of the yachts and super yachts in Gustavia harbor is amazing. Which is a good distractor to the landing. They actually recently cut into the mountain to make it less-dangerous, but basically you skim the top of the mountain and immediately drop down onto a short runway that slopes down into the ocean! Pilots have to have a special rating to fly into the airport, and only small planes are allowed.
We hopped off the plane, walked up to a window that is akin to a ticket counter (which was their passport control) and out into the warmed and sunshine of St. Barths. Our dear friends Lance and Libby were there to greet us with water and hugs and smiles. We hear they have big plans for us this afternoon and throughout the week … and we can’t wait.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Art of Bodypainting
I was recently asked about the body painting I have done. I suppose with the latest Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition featuring models with their suits painted on, the artform is going mainstream.
The first time I was body painted was for an art party in Portland called the DaDa Ball in 2001. We met the painter at a local festival called Art in the Pearl and started talking about the upcoming party. She mentioned that she was doing some body painting for some attendees and the though intrigued me. It took me about a week to talk myself into it, but eventually I made the appointment. It was a “full chest” of flames to match a skirt I had. At the party, there were a few others painted, a woman dressed as a starfish and a man dressed as a leopard.
The paint was amazing, but what I liked most was how it made me feel. I was surprised at how uninhibited I felt. I never actually felt like I was “exposed” and I loved that my body was turned into a piece of art.
It wasn’t until two years later that I really saw body painting at its full potential. Our first Fantasy Fest year I had the same flames painted for parade day. But what I saw on other women inspired me. The next year, we decided to create costumes of Medusa and Persius. We didn’t even have a painter lined up when we arrived, but we soon found three guys called the “Three Airmigos” painting on the Sunset Pier. One of those painters was Pashur … and from there, I guess you can say the rest is history.
Pashur is one of the rare, true artist painters. At Fantasy Fest, body painters are a dime a dozen, but finding one that actually can and does make a living painting and teaching the art is very special. He paints at the Playboy Mansion and travels the world painting for corporate and private parties, conventions and advertising campaigns. Yet when he’s painting you, he makes you feel like your body is the best canvas he’s ever painted on. If you let him do what he wants, with just a little theme guidance, you will always get more than you ever thought possible. Even the simplest ideas become works of art.
I’ve always liked the female form; our house is full of art based on it. So to be able to take my body and turn it into a piece of art is breath-taking to me. Many people wrongly assume that because I get body painted I am an exhibitionist, or crave the attention it draws. Neither could be further from the truth. I do enjoy being naked, and I enjoy that being body painted allows me the opportunity to be naked in public. If I got painted and not one person stopped me for pictures or commented on it the only thing that would bother me would be for Pashur … that people weren’t appreciating his talent.
I also enjoy taking the “flat” aspect of body painting and creating something more 2-D with it. The first time I did that was the year Fantasy Fest was postponed due to a hurricane. I had a red teddy painted on and attached fir to my skin to create a trim. Since then I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to go 2-D, but am always looking for ways to bring the painting to life with accessories like with the Geisha.
The act of being painted is monotonous. The longest painting session took 5 hours, but won Pashur 1st Place in the Living Canvas competition so it was worth it. Standing still for that length of time takes a huge toll on your body; by the time he was finished my legs and back ached so bad all I wanted to do was sit or lay down, which of course is next to impossible. Over the years, I have learned how to lie down for a short period of time if I have been painted early in the day and have to “last” into the night.
Full-body paintings come with their own set of challenges. Sitting is extremely difficult unless the art isn’t solid and you can find two small patches of skin on your ass to sit on. Going to the bathroom is also difficult. About 3 years ago the Fantasy Fest police cracked down on total nudity under the painting, so for full-body art you have to wear something called “Stripper’s Tape” which is flesh-colored tape that is placed over the pubic area to “cover” you. It’s completely comfortable, but basically prohibits any bathroom functions. So you learn to not drink much once you’ve been painted.
I’m not sure what type of paint Pashur uses, but I think it’s his own brand (if you’re interested you can reach him at www.canvasalive.com). He applies the paint with both a brush and air-gun, and uses free-hand detailing, glitter and gems to give his art a finishing touch. Whatever the paint is, it is extremely comfortable and you don’t feel it on your skin at all.
All of this comes off very easily in the shower, and by morning, unless I’ve done a bad job in the shower, you can’t even tell I’ve been painted. This year, for the majorette painting, I did have some skin discoloration from the lime green paint, but with a little extra scrubbing it faded away. The down-side of how easily it comes off in the shower, is that it will also easily come off in rain or heat. This past year Pashur used a “sealant” that did a great job on the paint, but did cause a little irritation on my skin and didn’t allow the skin to breath.
The other downside to how easily the paint comes off, is that you have to become a “no-touch” zone. That’s not a bad thing with some of the gropers on the street; condensation from drinks and sweaty shirts bumping into you will cause the paint to smear so I find myself saying “don’t touch” a lot. But it also means that hugging Tony is a big no-no. So he patiently waits for me to shower when we get back to the room before he gets his lovin’.
I have met women at Fantasy Fest that have had their paint on for literally days. One woman was painted as a butterfly the first day and ended having to wear the same costume every day because it wouldn’t come off. She later learned that there are some basic, household cleaners/oils that will remove it; wouldn’t it have been nice if the painter had told her that at the time?
Each year, about now, we begin planning our painting/costumes for the next Fantasy Fest. So far I’m toying with a Marie Antoinette-theme and maybe a ballerina. If you have any ideas, please send them my way. If I pick your idea I’ll send you a glossy 8 x 10 of me all painted up afterwards.
The first time I was body painted was for an art party in Portland called the DaDa Ball in 2001. We met the painter at a local festival called Art in the Pearl and started talking about the upcoming party. She mentioned that she was doing some body painting for some attendees and the though intrigued me. It took me about a week to talk myself into it, but eventually I made the appointment. It was a “full chest” of flames to match a skirt I had. At the party, there were a few others painted, a woman dressed as a starfish and a man dressed as a leopard.
The paint was amazing, but what I liked most was how it made me feel. I was surprised at how uninhibited I felt. I never actually felt like I was “exposed” and I loved that my body was turned into a piece of art.
It wasn’t until two years later that I really saw body painting at its full potential. Our first Fantasy Fest year I had the same flames painted for parade day. But what I saw on other women inspired me. The next year, we decided to create costumes of Medusa and Persius. We didn’t even have a painter lined up when we arrived, but we soon found three guys called the “Three Airmigos” painting on the Sunset Pier. One of those painters was Pashur … and from there, I guess you can say the rest is history.
Pashur is one of the rare, true artist painters. At Fantasy Fest, body painters are a dime a dozen, but finding one that actually can and does make a living painting and teaching the art is very special. He paints at the Playboy Mansion and travels the world painting for corporate and private parties, conventions and advertising campaigns. Yet when he’s painting you, he makes you feel like your body is the best canvas he’s ever painted on. If you let him do what he wants, with just a little theme guidance, you will always get more than you ever thought possible. Even the simplest ideas become works of art.
I’ve always liked the female form; our house is full of art based on it. So to be able to take my body and turn it into a piece of art is breath-taking to me. Many people wrongly assume that because I get body painted I am an exhibitionist, or crave the attention it draws. Neither could be further from the truth. I do enjoy being naked, and I enjoy that being body painted allows me the opportunity to be naked in public. If I got painted and not one person stopped me for pictures or commented on it the only thing that would bother me would be for Pashur … that people weren’t appreciating his talent.
I also enjoy taking the “flat” aspect of body painting and creating something more 2-D with it. The first time I did that was the year Fantasy Fest was postponed due to a hurricane. I had a red teddy painted on and attached fir to my skin to create a trim. Since then I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to go 2-D, but am always looking for ways to bring the painting to life with accessories like with the Geisha.
The act of being painted is monotonous. The longest painting session took 5 hours, but won Pashur 1st Place in the Living Canvas competition so it was worth it. Standing still for that length of time takes a huge toll on your body; by the time he was finished my legs and back ached so bad all I wanted to do was sit or lay down, which of course is next to impossible. Over the years, I have learned how to lie down for a short period of time if I have been painted early in the day and have to “last” into the night.
Full-body paintings come with their own set of challenges. Sitting is extremely difficult unless the art isn’t solid and you can find two small patches of skin on your ass to sit on. Going to the bathroom is also difficult. About 3 years ago the Fantasy Fest police cracked down on total nudity under the painting, so for full-body art you have to wear something called “Stripper’s Tape” which is flesh-colored tape that is placed over the pubic area to “cover” you. It’s completely comfortable, but basically prohibits any bathroom functions. So you learn to not drink much once you’ve been painted.
I’m not sure what type of paint Pashur uses, but I think it’s his own brand (if you’re interested you can reach him at www.canvasalive.com). He applies the paint with both a brush and air-gun, and uses free-hand detailing, glitter and gems to give his art a finishing touch. Whatever the paint is, it is extremely comfortable and you don’t feel it on your skin at all.
All of this comes off very easily in the shower, and by morning, unless I’ve done a bad job in the shower, you can’t even tell I’ve been painted. This year, for the majorette painting, I did have some skin discoloration from the lime green paint, but with a little extra scrubbing it faded away. The down-side of how easily it comes off in the shower, is that it will also easily come off in rain or heat. This past year Pashur used a “sealant” that did a great job on the paint, but did cause a little irritation on my skin and didn’t allow the skin to breath.
The other downside to how easily the paint comes off, is that you have to become a “no-touch” zone. That’s not a bad thing with some of the gropers on the street; condensation from drinks and sweaty shirts bumping into you will cause the paint to smear so I find myself saying “don’t touch” a lot. But it also means that hugging Tony is a big no-no. So he patiently waits for me to shower when we get back to the room before he gets his lovin’.
I have met women at Fantasy Fest that have had their paint on for literally days. One woman was painted as a butterfly the first day and ended having to wear the same costume every day because it wouldn’t come off. She later learned that there are some basic, household cleaners/oils that will remove it; wouldn’t it have been nice if the painter had told her that at the time?
Each year, about now, we begin planning our painting/costumes for the next Fantasy Fest. So far I’m toying with a Marie Antoinette-theme and maybe a ballerina. If you have any ideas, please send them my way. If I pick your idea I’ll send you a glossy 8 x 10 of me all painted up afterwards.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Public Service Announcement
Every once in a while I think ... what good is a blog if it doesn't do good? So today I'm going to provide you with a Public Service Announcement. Please do not have your car's oil changed at Jiffy Lube ... or Jippy Lube as I will now and forever refer to it.
I'm no car mechanic, so for years I have had my oil changed at one of the many "oil stations" around the city. Typically I alternate between Jiffy Lube and Oil Can Henry's ... depending on which one has the oil filter for my car.
I had never put two-and-two together on my experiences with JL until yesterday. I'll let the past issues remain in the past, but I have to share the experience I had yesterday.
I was planning on having my oil changed, so I felt really lucky when I pulled up and saw a "Next Car $10 off" sign being twirled at the entrance. YEA! Chore done ANY money saved.
During the car inspection, I was told that I was low on coolant. I thought that a bit weird because I had just topped it off 4 days before and questioned the attendant. He insisted it was low ... so what could it hurt to have him top it off ... maybe I didn't fill it all the way. Because of the activity under the hood at the time, I could not see the coolant reservoir to check for myself (there is a gauge that rises out of the reservoir when it's full) so I agreed to have him top it off. When he moved to fill the reservoir I could see the gauge sticking up quite a ways so was anxious to see just how low it was.
I watched intently as he pulled over a hose and literally did a 1-second squirt of clear liquid before the reservoir overflowed. It wasn't low at all! And why was the liquid clear? I've never seen clear coolant before. Oh well.
Next was the light inspection. I turned on signals, stepped on the brakes and turned on the high beams. At the end, the attendant tapped my car on the rear passenger's side then proceeded to tell me I had a bulb out, which they would replace for $6.99. First, I have a box of bulbs for my car at home ... which I paid about $1.50 for each set. So there was no way I was going to agree to paying $6.99 for one! But second, my car is a hypochondriac and will use it's on-board computer to tell me if it doesn't like the weather. So to not get a "light out" alarm was suspicious ... or weird at the very least. But I had declined to have it fixed ... so no harm, no foul. Right?
Then came the "you need a new rear wiper blade" announcement (when had he checked that?). Yes, they had them for $23.99. Hm. Because I know I haven't changed them I said "go ahead." However, and luckily, the supervisor informed my attendant that they can't change the rear blades on my car due to the housing ... or some such thing. I thought it weird when the attendant actually said "damn" when he heard that news, and then never told me they couldn't do it (I had just overheard their conversation).
And finally was the "your A/C needs to be charged." Really? Why? How much is that going to cost? I think he said something like $79.99 ... so I said no. It's the middle of the winter! No, I don't need my A/C charged. And if I did, I certainly wouldn't have you do it.
So when the attendant came to get my money I said 'I didn't see you do the rear wiper." It was only then that he told me they hadn't been able to do it and I wouldn't be charged. When the final invoice came I asked if it included my $10 discount for being the "Next Car" ... ooops, he forgot that. So 5 minutes later I had the updated invoice and was on my way.
As luck would have it, I had to swing by my mechanics to have the on-board computer updated. We got to chatting and I told him I had just had the oil changed. He asked what they had charged, which caused me to really look at the final invoice. Much to my surprise they had charged me $8.99 for a quick squirt of "coolant!" I was pissed and called them right away to complain.
Here's where it gets really interesting. I got the manager on the phone and explained what had happened. He asked what bay I was parked in, and when I told him he said "We don't even have a coolant hose in that bay." That would explain the clear color to the "coolant." The attendant put in water and charged me $8.99 for it!
I then learned that they get a kick-back on every up-charge thing they sell ... like wiperblades and lights. We then checked the light that they said needed replacing and it's working fine. But unless I had gotten out of my car at the oil station to check it, I would have never known and they would have made more money.
So what started out as a quick oil change has turned into an additional 15 minute telephone call and another stop-in to get my refund. I am sure they're hoping I don't take the time for $8.99 ... but boy will I ever! These people are trying to rip you off left-and-right!
I have to add my "not everybody is bad" statement and say that maybe not everybody that works there is as deceitful, but I got the feeling when I spoke to the manager that they do refunds a lot, when customers actually take the time to read their receipts.
Yes, they're going to make it right ... but there is no way this was an innocent mistake and it's the principle of the deceit that matters. If you find yourself with no other option but to use Jiffy Lube for your car's oil change ... please, please, please ... be sure to decline their add-on items unless you know for yourself it needs to be replaced. If they say a bulb is out, ask to get out of your car and see it before you agree to fixing it (although bulbs are easy to replace and can be purchased at an auto supply store for cheap).
This has been a Public Service Announcement from Cheri's Blog. Thank you for your attention and have a nice day.
I'm no car mechanic, so for years I have had my oil changed at one of the many "oil stations" around the city. Typically I alternate between Jiffy Lube and Oil Can Henry's ... depending on which one has the oil filter for my car.
I had never put two-and-two together on my experiences with JL until yesterday. I'll let the past issues remain in the past, but I have to share the experience I had yesterday.
I was planning on having my oil changed, so I felt really lucky when I pulled up and saw a "Next Car $10 off" sign being twirled at the entrance. YEA! Chore done ANY money saved.
During the car inspection, I was told that I was low on coolant. I thought that a bit weird because I had just topped it off 4 days before and questioned the attendant. He insisted it was low ... so what could it hurt to have him top it off ... maybe I didn't fill it all the way. Because of the activity under the hood at the time, I could not see the coolant reservoir to check for myself (there is a gauge that rises out of the reservoir when it's full) so I agreed to have him top it off. When he moved to fill the reservoir I could see the gauge sticking up quite a ways so was anxious to see just how low it was.
I watched intently as he pulled over a hose and literally did a 1-second squirt of clear liquid before the reservoir overflowed. It wasn't low at all! And why was the liquid clear? I've never seen clear coolant before. Oh well.
Next was the light inspection. I turned on signals, stepped on the brakes and turned on the high beams. At the end, the attendant tapped my car on the rear passenger's side then proceeded to tell me I had a bulb out, which they would replace for $6.99. First, I have a box of bulbs for my car at home ... which I paid about $1.50 for each set. So there was no way I was going to agree to paying $6.99 for one! But second, my car is a hypochondriac and will use it's on-board computer to tell me if it doesn't like the weather. So to not get a "light out" alarm was suspicious ... or weird at the very least. But I had declined to have it fixed ... so no harm, no foul. Right?
Then came the "you need a new rear wiper blade" announcement (when had he checked that?). Yes, they had them for $23.99. Hm. Because I know I haven't changed them I said "go ahead." However, and luckily, the supervisor informed my attendant that they can't change the rear blades on my car due to the housing ... or some such thing. I thought it weird when the attendant actually said "damn" when he heard that news, and then never told me they couldn't do it (I had just overheard their conversation).
And finally was the "your A/C needs to be charged." Really? Why? How much is that going to cost? I think he said something like $79.99 ... so I said no. It's the middle of the winter! No, I don't need my A/C charged. And if I did, I certainly wouldn't have you do it.
So when the attendant came to get my money I said 'I didn't see you do the rear wiper." It was only then that he told me they hadn't been able to do it and I wouldn't be charged. When the final invoice came I asked if it included my $10 discount for being the "Next Car" ... ooops, he forgot that. So 5 minutes later I had the updated invoice and was on my way.
As luck would have it, I had to swing by my mechanics to have the on-board computer updated. We got to chatting and I told him I had just had the oil changed. He asked what they had charged, which caused me to really look at the final invoice. Much to my surprise they had charged me $8.99 for a quick squirt of "coolant!" I was pissed and called them right away to complain.
Here's where it gets really interesting. I got the manager on the phone and explained what had happened. He asked what bay I was parked in, and when I told him he said "We don't even have a coolant hose in that bay." That would explain the clear color to the "coolant." The attendant put in water and charged me $8.99 for it!
I then learned that they get a kick-back on every up-charge thing they sell ... like wiperblades and lights. We then checked the light that they said needed replacing and it's working fine. But unless I had gotten out of my car at the oil station to check it, I would have never known and they would have made more money.
So what started out as a quick oil change has turned into an additional 15 minute telephone call and another stop-in to get my refund. I am sure they're hoping I don't take the time for $8.99 ... but boy will I ever! These people are trying to rip you off left-and-right!
I have to add my "not everybody is bad" statement and say that maybe not everybody that works there is as deceitful, but I got the feeling when I spoke to the manager that they do refunds a lot, when customers actually take the time to read their receipts.
Yes, they're going to make it right ... but there is no way this was an innocent mistake and it's the principle of the deceit that matters. If you find yourself with no other option but to use Jiffy Lube for your car's oil change ... please, please, please ... be sure to decline their add-on items unless you know for yourself it needs to be replaced. If they say a bulb is out, ask to get out of your car and see it before you agree to fixing it (although bulbs are easy to replace and can be purchased at an auto supply store for cheap).
This has been a Public Service Announcement from Cheri's Blog. Thank you for your attention and have a nice day.
Friday, February 5, 2010
WOW!
Thanks to everybody who voted for my hair cut. I admit I was surprised by the # of votes, the comments and the fact that Short and Spikey ran away with it. I know there are a couple more days of voting left, but there was no way either of the other options was going to get caught up, so I went ahead and had it cut today.
The downside is that I tried a new salon; it's been so long since I had a professional cut my hair I "lost" my previous stylist. I have VERY thick hair so it can take a while for someone to "learn it." That means that right now it's a little short (but it grows fast so that won't be an issue for long) and doesn't have the right amount of spikes for my liking. I'm sure before we take off for St. Barths next week I'll take a pair of thinning shears to it and texture it up a bit more. So if you don't mind, I'm going to hold off posting a photo for a couple of weeks.
The upside is that it's been colored (no more mousy roots) and finally has some shape again. Last night I met up with some former high school classmates that I haven't seen in years and I have to say I was very tempted to wear a baseball cap so they couldn't see the mess my hair had become. But then I figured ... what do I care? I know I don't always wear it like this and that's all that matters.
So again, thank you for taking the time to vote and help me make my decision. I am a little disappointed that Shaved didn't get more votes 'cause I really like it that way. But that's the easy one ... maybe in a year I'll start working towards the Shoulder Length ... just for fun.
Have a great weekend ... Cheri
The downside is that I tried a new salon; it's been so long since I had a professional cut my hair I "lost" my previous stylist. I have VERY thick hair so it can take a while for someone to "learn it." That means that right now it's a little short (but it grows fast so that won't be an issue for long) and doesn't have the right amount of spikes for my liking. I'm sure before we take off for St. Barths next week I'll take a pair of thinning shears to it and texture it up a bit more. So if you don't mind, I'm going to hold off posting a photo for a couple of weeks.
The upside is that it's been colored (no more mousy roots) and finally has some shape again. Last night I met up with some former high school classmates that I haven't seen in years and I have to say I was very tempted to wear a baseball cap so they couldn't see the mess my hair had become. But then I figured ... what do I care? I know I don't always wear it like this and that's all that matters.
So again, thank you for taking the time to vote and help me make my decision. I am a little disappointed that Shaved didn't get more votes 'cause I really like it that way. But that's the easy one ... maybe in a year I'll start working towards the Shoulder Length ... just for fun.
Have a great weekend ... Cheri
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Catching Up On My Workout
So I haven't been great at keeping you up-to-date on my workouts. That's partially because I missed several days, but also because the days I worked out I didn't feel like there was much new to report.
But today I have news (from yesterday's workout). I finally remembered to wear my BodyBugg for the Yoga X workout. My total calorie burn for the hour and a half workout was 215. Not bad for a no-impact workout.
The Yoga X workout really points out your weaknesses. I am flexible and stable, but not flexible and stable at the same time. The standing leg extension pose kills me. I can stand in tree all day ... I can touch my toes (actually, wrap my hands around the bottom of my feet) while sitting on the floor. But ask me to do both at the same time ... NOPE!
And then there are all the moves that I think I'm doing so well until I catch sight of myself ... like Royal Dancer (sort of looks like a an ice skater move) and Wheel. Both involve arching your back and bending as much as possible. Compared to the people on the video I might as well be in a straight body cast. Oh well, it feels good all the same, and that's what counts. And I can definitely feel that I pushed myself hard ... all my muscles are slightly sore and tight.
One final progress report. I kept wearing my BodyBugg all day yesterday and my per minute calorie burn is up to about 1.1 per minute while I'm just hanging around the house. If memory serves me correct, that's up .2 from around the time I started all this ... which mean I must be building some muscle mass. The good news is I don't feel "bulky" like I have when I've been working on weights with my trainer.
We're just over a week away from out next adventure ... so hopefuly my posts will be more "newsy" while we're gone.
Have a great day everybody!
But today I have news (from yesterday's workout). I finally remembered to wear my BodyBugg for the Yoga X workout. My total calorie burn for the hour and a half workout was 215. Not bad for a no-impact workout.
The Yoga X workout really points out your weaknesses. I am flexible and stable, but not flexible and stable at the same time. The standing leg extension pose kills me. I can stand in tree all day ... I can touch my toes (actually, wrap my hands around the bottom of my feet) while sitting on the floor. But ask me to do both at the same time ... NOPE!
And then there are all the moves that I think I'm doing so well until I catch sight of myself ... like Royal Dancer (sort of looks like a an ice skater move) and Wheel. Both involve arching your back and bending as much as possible. Compared to the people on the video I might as well be in a straight body cast. Oh well, it feels good all the same, and that's what counts. And I can definitely feel that I pushed myself hard ... all my muscles are slightly sore and tight.
One final progress report. I kept wearing my BodyBugg all day yesterday and my per minute calorie burn is up to about 1.1 per minute while I'm just hanging around the house. If memory serves me correct, that's up .2 from around the time I started all this ... which mean I must be building some muscle mass. The good news is I don't feel "bulky" like I have when I've been working on weights with my trainer.
We're just over a week away from out next adventure ... so hopefuly my posts will be more "newsy" while we're gone.
Have a great day everybody!
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