Friday, October 10, 2008

Anguilla....Like Vanilla (British West Indies)

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

Here is where I begin our honeymoon re-cap! I will be going in reverse order, and going over the details of our honeymoon first, and our wedding second...

When it came to planning our honeymoon, the one thing I was sure of was that I wanted it to be a complete surprise. Sometimes, in my weaker moments, I would try & convince Ryan to tell me where we were going. I was also absolutely convinced that we were going somewhere where the native language is Spanish, since Ryan is fluent & loves to use it whenever he can. So I would blurt out every Mexican/South American country I could think of & watch for a reaction (Spain was out because of the euro). He held strong though, and in the end it was completely worth it! Finding out was like waking up after the best day of your life to a big Christmas morning (does that make sense? I hope so!).

I do have to admit though, when Ryan finally did tell me, I really had absolutely no idea where Anguilla was, and it took me two days to even pronounce the name correctly (hence the title). Luckily, Ryan is accustomed to my semi obsessive compulsive ways, and had a packet made for me with all sorts of articles about where we were going. It even included articles from People about the celebrities who have vacationed there (again, the boy gets me...good thing I married him). Sadly, it is where Jen & Brad had their break-up vacation...but lets focus on all the happy times you can have there! It seriously is such an amazing place...extremely secluded, unbelievably relaxing, and there are tons of amazing restaurants! It was the perfect place for us after such a crazy year.


Here is an overview of the island from iExplore:

What Anguilla lacks in size, it more than makes up for in that much-sought Caribbean asset: pristine, powdery beaches. Boasting 12 miles (19km) of white coral coastline, Anguilla’s calm and polychromatic waters are enough to lure any potential visitor. Anguilla also comprises Sombrero, and numerous other smaller islands and cays, which are even more secluded. Many call Anguilla 'tranquility wrapped in blue'. Surrounded by blue skies (Anguilla has an average monthly temperature of 80°F/27°C) and vivid blue ocean, Anguilla offers the perfect cocktail to absorb and relax in.For those seeking an altogether different type of cocktail, nothing can beat staring out at a Caribbean sunset while sipping an Anguillan tipple. Those who like their food need not worry either, since restaurants on the island are excellent and offer a mixture of cuisines, with a natural emphasis on seafood. Al fresco dining is everywhere, with roadside barbecues and beachside bistros and grills speckled all about the shoreline. The nightlife is centered on the hotels and the tourist areas and has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Accommodation ranges from luxury-class resorts to guest houses, apartments, villas and cottages. Some feature the latest in spa and wellness facilities, services and treatments to further guarantee you unwind. If you ever get bored of relaxing, there are a myriad of activity choices. Many resorts and hotels are situated on the beach and offer boating, snorkeling, fishing and scuba diving equipment for adventurous types. For the culturally minded, Anguilla, despite its diminutive size, has around 15 art galleries to stroll around and observe Anguillan talent.The name Anguilla was given to the island by the Spanish and means ‘eel’, in reference to the island’s eel-like shape. It is therefore only apt that Anguilla slips out of any attempts to ‘define’ its appeal as a destination. Whether in pursuit of adventure, relaxation, romance or vibrancy, Anguilla has it all. It is little wonder that Anguillans are fiercely proud of their island, having first fought their way out of British control in 1967, and then out of a three-island self-governing entity with St Kitts & Nevis, which formally ended in 1980, when Anguilla emerged as an independent British Overseas Territory.

Geography- Anguilla, the northernmost of the Leeward Islands, also comprises the island of Sombrero, lying 48km (30 miles) north of Anguilla, and several small islets or cays. The nearest islands are St
Maarten, 8km (5 miles) south of Anguilla, and St Kitts and Nevis, 113km (70 miles) to the southeast. The islands are mainly flat (the highest point, Crocus Hill, is only 60m (213ft) above sea level) with, arguably, some of the best beaches in the world.
Coming Up...
- Somewhere you can fall asleep & awake to paradise
- 2 foodies eat their way through Anguilla
- Exploring & Recommendations
*Lots of pics to come in the following posts! Promise!

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