A vacation to fit two sizes

On board Delta Flight 560 St. Lucia to Atlanta — By golly, I think we’ve got it!

When Rob and I first became a couple, we could be thrilled just going to the grocery store together;-)

In fact, our first major trip together – to Bali – solidified our knowing that we never, ever wanted to part.  We were good travelers, a sure sign we were meant to be together for the rest of our lives.  For more than two weeks in Bali, we were in lock step, loving every moment, travelling about, taking in all the sites, enjoying it all.

Today, nearly 10 years later, you could say when it comes to vacations our goals, interests and needs have diversified!  Rob is not a lie-around-the-pool-or-beach kinda guy.  I’m not a let’s-shop-and-sightsee-until-we-drop kinda girl.  I like to meet new people, go at my own pace and flow, read, rest and decide what to do in the moment – or not.

Rob prefers vacations where he is expanding his universe and learning something significant to add to his many considerable skills.  He gets fidgety and bored just hanging out for days without purpose.  He is my man on a mission after all and I love that about him. But for me I need vacation to veg out!

This summer we chose St. Lucia, a Caribbean island with British and French influences, for our vacation when Rob decided to study with world-class photographer Joe McNally.

Joe, whose normal days are spent shooting assignments and covers for magazines such as National Geographic and Sports Illustrated, was offering a five-day seminar on St. Lucia.   And, clever man that Joe is he selected a gorgeous resort and spa that he’d been coming to for 15 years — Anse Chastanet.  Then, Joe organized the seminar schedule in such a way that couples and families spent plenty of down time together and seminar attendees enjoyed plenty of classroom instruction and photo shoots.

Win-win for Rob and me!

As we wrap up our week’s vacation in St. Lucia, we are toasting it as our best ever!  We’ve finally hit our stride on enjoying a vacation that served us both so happily.

He may be a world-class photographer, but Joe McNally worked magic to help us perfect our vacation.  Wonder if he has a strategy for going to the grocery store…since neither of us cares to!

Scouting locations

St. Lucia, West Indies – It’s just my nature that everywhere I go I like to bring others along, too.

Many of you know that as coaches Rob and I host various groups and meetings throughout the year, including Vision Days on Martha’s Vineyard and in Naples, FL.   Now, I’ve found a very special location in St. Lucia that sure would be fun for a Women on Fire getaway or group Vision Day.

Just up the hill from our cottage here at Anse Chastanet (with the most gracious, accommodating staff we’ve ever encountered) is one of the most spectacular facilities I’ve ever seen: Jade Mountain.

Travel and Leisure named Jade Mountain the number one resort in the Caribbean, and number three in the world.

Whaddaya think?

What a gift to be on vacation and ponder possibilities for the future.  Especially if I get to take you along!!

Staying in shape while doing nothing

St. Lucia, West Indies – I’d love to tell you that because Rob and I live and work from home on Martha’s Vineyard, we are on vacation all the time!  But, noooooooo…

While it is true we live in one of the prettiest destinations in the entire world and we love it, it is also true that I need to leave our island every once in a while to totally relax and recharge.

So, after last year’s “staycation” on the Vineyard, Rob pulled out all the stops this summer and has whisked us away to St. Lucia, an island in the Caribbean the size of the Vineyard.

So far so GREAT.  My goal is to do nothing but read and rest all week while my dedicated-to-learning Rob studies with one of the world’s greatest living photographers Joe McNally.

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Day 2 and I am meeting my goal!!  (And, by the looks of some of his pictures, Rob is meeting his, too☺ )

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What I hadn’t counted on until I actually counted them are the 250 steep stairs from our cottage in the mountain resort Anse Chastanet to the azure blue waters at the beach…500 steps roundtrip.  Multiply that by 3-4 trips a day and all I can say is my booty better be smaller and my calves firmer after my vacation of doing nothing!

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PS  Oh, I did “work” today…here I am with Maura after an absolutely amazing 1.5 hour deep-tissue massage.

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