We got home this AM, safely with no incidents, I am happy to report. I will crank out a trip report as time allows. I hope it is as info filled as my days were serene!
Day 1, lundi, 4 août
I got a day off! Woohoo! Ran around making last minute stuff ready, packing, boarding passes, checking weather, etc. Waited for Amanda to get home from work, but we passed her on the way out. I felt bad, because she got to go last year and knows how great it is! We waved.
Took all carry-on. I have to say Continental had there act together. Quick lines, great website. Everything US Air & United wasn’t. I’m never excited about the red-eye. Tammy could sleep in line at Starbuck’s. Me – I never sleep. Emilie zonked out (thankfully) and Kevin was hit or miss at dozing. But I do get tired, and it was dark, so when the attendant came by for a last garbage run, she ended up with my iPod Shuffle in her bag. When I realized what I did, I told her, and she helped me look. And we found it! What a way to start. Gave out the first vacation hug!

Day 2, mardi, 5 août
Landed in Newark, with my BFF’s (TTOL: Rich & Leslie = “Libbby”) laughing at me good naturedly. Had a couple of hours to kill before take-off, so we caught up over a cup of Jake’s coffee & a yogurt parfait/fruit cup. Pretty tasty. Since they were first-timers, I recommended changing to shorts before leaving, since we had time. In a pleasant surprise, we found out that when we booked the flight at the same time (me in Portland, him in Syracuse) we ended up with all 6 seats in the row. Providential, ce n’est pas? Smooth flight, but we could be a piece of ice on a Phillipsburg sidewalk – smooth – and Emilie would get queasy. And she did. The airbags were being flung from all over at this valiant, green little ten year-old. One bagger – pretty contained. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sick.gif" alt="" /> Flight was on-time at high noon. Got through and out the door for the newbie’s first feel of tropics. I have to say, I missed getting on the bus to the terminal. Oh well. They were giggling – couldn’t believe the water colors in person…
Someone called Prestige Value for us and they were there in a couple of minutes. Rented a couple of Daihatsu Charades for a decent rent-7-days-pay-for-5 deal because of staying at Grand Case Beach Club. So we piled in the matchboxes and headed down the road. The first drive in is my favorite. The sounds, the smells, the character – all wonderful. We pulled up to GCBC and checked in. We were quite early, but the room was ready no-problem. Got the suitcases unloaded, and there was a knock at the door with a bottle of Dom Perignon for our anniversary, and a giant plate of fruit and cheese. Took our first swim, dried off and went down to Sunset Café for our first sunset. Everyone was there from before, staff-wise, except for Pascal who is no longer there (but still at L’Auberge Gourmand I was told…). We decided to do groceries tomorrow, so we ate there. Tammy and I both had Calamari & Shrimp appetizer, and Prawns over Rice for dinner. With a bunch of Chardonnay I was told. Lol.
I was pretty tired with having been up early Monday am for Mass, so I conked out pretty hard.