Back to Reality after Months of Fortune

After three months of each day being a Saturday, we are headed back to the Monday through Friday routine soon. These last few months have flown by in a blur--to be specific, 50,678 miles (that's twice the circumference of the world!).  If it weren't for this blog, if you asked us all that we've seen, we'd probably start our answer with, "Um, let me try to remember..." In less than three months, we have traveled to ten countries together, eight of which were new to us. We have crossed the globe, experienced new cultures, devoured a ton of great food, and savored every moment of this amazing opportunity.

Coming home after each trip only to remember that Granddad isn't around to hear of our adventures was the hardest part, especially since he would have celebrated his 90th birthday on June 15. However, it was very obvious that he was with us the whole time. Each time we made First or Business Class, that was Granddad. Each time a nice stranger would point us in the right direction, Granddad had a hand in that. Each time we got to sit together on a flight, well, that was probably Grandma, actually--she hated to see us separated. At every cafe where we overlooked some magnificent view while dining, Granddad was sitting right beside us.

We believe our Granddad would be happy knowing that we made the most out of his decades with United Airlines. He gave us the best gift anyone could ask for--a chance to leave the "real world" behind and actually go out and experience the real world. Forget stalking your phone and camping out in front of the TV, go see a castle, walk cobblestone streets with an ice cream cone, sit outside at a cafe with nothing to keep you entertained but conversation and people-watching. Life is not a spectator sport, and these few months have put us right onto the field.

So if you are curious as to our main take-away after traveling the globe, that's it. Go out and experience something, anything--domestic or international. Lastly, thank you to everyone who took the time to see where we were going and what we were up to! We didn't expect such a great response, and it's been amazing to see the number of hits our site has gotten. So thank you for "traveling" with us!

Until our next vacation,
Christina and Lisa

What We Learned in St. Martin/St. Maarten

• Coors Light probably owns the island, as it is the most popular beer.
• For a five day trip, one 1-oz can of sunscreen, one 1-oz bottle of sunscreen, and one 3-oz bottle of sunscreen is the perfect amount for two people.
• Euros are equal to dollars in the town of Grand Case, if you're paying in cash.
• The Dutch side of the island is Sint Maarten; the French side is Saint Martin.
• All houses and buildings are made out of concrete to withstand the hurricane season.
• Soccer and basketball are the most popular sports on the island, especially watching the NBA.
• The French side of the island is less built up than the Dutch side. Nature lovers should stay on the French side, and shopaholics should stay on the Dutch. We obviously stayed on the French side.
• There is not a clear border between the French and Dutch side.
• There are butterflies and flies everywhere. Hummingbirds can also be seen a lot.
• Pic du Paradise is an hour and a half hike up to the tallest point on the island, and almost an hour and a half hike back down.
• It is very convenient to hire a driver; you can get almost anywhere in just 30 minutes. Even better, businesses are very helpful and will call your driver when needed.
• Johnny Cakes are a treat in the island. They're essentially fried dough, and they are delicious.
• The drinking water is safe, which is great because bottled water costs about five Euro each.
• Gas is $1.75 per liter.
• To buy a car, you get it shipped from the states. There is also no shipping charge.
• It is a madhouse at the gates in the airport. They have enough seats for maybe one flight, while they have gates for five flights.
• In the airport, after you clear the gate, you are bussed to your plane.
• As an added bonus, Chris(topher) and I learned that we travel well together :).

Day 71: St. Martin & Traveling

Our last hours in St. Martin were packed with a tasty breakfast and a quick dip in the pool. 

After reluctantly getting out of the water, we asked an attendant to take our photo. Little did we know what we were asking. He proceeded to take 20 photos of us, which resulted in an awkward, yet awesome, string of photos. A few of them are included, along with some more pictures of our hotel. Not to mention, a cactus that looks like it is wearing a fez.

That pretty much summed up our day, minus the sheer chaos of St. Maarten's airport. BUT we made it home safely!

Day 70: St. Martin & St. Maarten

Aujourd'hui (or "today," as the French say) was wonderful. Chris ran for three mornings in a row (two, running hills where butterflies stuck to him like glue). 

After a lovely breakfast, we kayaked in the cove against pretty strong currents, then swam in the pool to relax. On a side note, we also saved a baby iguana from being stuck in the 150 meter-long pool indefinitely. AND we saved a beach umbrella that the winds had carried into the pool. The latter was less rewarding.

This evening, we visited the Dutch side of the island, St. Maarten, for a sunset cruise. For three hours, we ate, we drank (some more than others), and we rode the currents. At our table, we enjoyed the catamaran cruise with a couple from Kentucky and a mother-daughter duo from New York. The daughter from New York, Lisa (thought of you, Lise!), unfortunately did not do well with waves. So while Chris and I were on the nets egging the waves on, she was resting her head on the table. Poor lady. 

The cruise was a great way to end our last full day in the beautiful Caribbean. Tomorrow, after some food and sun, we'll head back up to Chi-town to cheer on the Blackhawks!

Day 69: Loterie Farm and Grand Case, St. Martin

For anyone who has ever hiked with me before, you know that I can get easily winded and one might also say easily irritable...

Today's hike up to Pic du Paradise was no exception. After an hour and a half of uphill hiking, wet rocks, and one wrong turn, I almost threw up the white flag. But then, we made it (finally!) to the top. The view was spectacular and crystal clear. The island looked stunning from the highest point on the land. Chris and I hugged, and then, it happened. The skies opened up in an instant and let out a torrential downpour. So all of our photos from the top are foggy. Well played, Mother Nature. 

The view truly was spectacular though, and our lunch at the bottom of the hill at Loterie Farm was some of the best food we've had yet on our trip. 

After our vigorous hike, we returned to the hotel for a dip in the hot tub and pool. Then we hit the road again to quaint Grand Case, where the main street is lined with restaurants for all palettes. We started at a local BBQ joint, then had amazing desserts (including rose ice cream) at a French restaurant.

Overall, a very busy but rewarding day for us, with lots of photos to share!

Day 68: Anse Marcel, St. Martin

We must be in the land of butterflies as they are everywhere here! They fly over the pool, greet us on our patio, and just make the hotel lovelier than it already is. Lizards are also in abundance scurrying around. I even saw one that looked like my old iguana!

The name of the game today was Soak Up the Sun. We started our day in the gym, then hit up the infinity pool, migrated to the beach, and toured the surrounding area. We swam, we read, we reapplied sunscreen. Oh, and we dined right on the beach for lunch and dinner. How's that for relaxing?

Tomorrow's activities will be quite the opposite, as we will hike two to three miles up to Pic du Paradis (aka, Paradise Peak). Yikes! Legs don't fail me now.

Lastly, thanks to the power of technology and the Internet, we are currently cheering on the Hawks while drinking wine and playing cards!

Day 67: Anse Marcel, St. Martin

Bonjour from St. Martin! The island where idiotic people hang on to a fence and try not to get blown away, while planes fly over head. Maybe you've seen the YouTube video. Fortunately, that seems to be the island's only downside :).

My boyfriend Chris and I arrived today at the half French, half Dutch island in the Caribbean. This island is the smallest land mass on Earth that is occupied by two different nations. And yes, it can be confusing that both of us are called Chris.

After flying over the beautiful turquoise blue water, we headed to our hotel, the Radisson Blu. Situated over a hill and right on a cove, the hotel is nicely secluded away from all the hustle and bustle - perfect for a little R & R.  The infinity pool and private beach look amazing, and we can't wait to dive in tomorrow!

We had dinner at the hotel, including a very unique pizza with Brie as one of the four cheeses. Food is one of the highlights of the island, which is just perfect for us :).