tampaart CONGRATS!!! St Maarten is one of my favorite Islands. So much to do and see! You have to sample foods and shops from both the French and Dutch sides. It is an absolutely beautiful place. I used to teach scuba diving and one of the perks was acting as the travel connection through the dive shop I worked with. Resorts and Travel agents would send me 2fers on trips to try new resorts. You just conjured up many wonderful memories! There used to be a hill top that had a huge billboard with the word "GOD" overlooking the ocean and underneath there were all kinds of signs recognizing different higher powers, we nicknamed it "Have a Godly Day Hill". on one of the side streets was a Muffler shop that wanted to be hip only they misspelled MIDAS...it was "MidAss Muffler"! It is such a colorful and friendly island. I am sure you will have a blast. Please take lots of pictures to share with us when you get back-unless you go to Ormond beach, please don't share pics we can't handle! lol Safe and happy travels to you and your family!

Oh have a great time! We love St. Maarten/St. Martin too. Great bar on Orient Beach right where the taxi drops you off then another one way down the beach called Boo Boo Jams. Good food, cold beer, naked people, frigate birds and crotons taller than 8 feet. You just can't ask for more.

Oh Wait...it's Orient Beach not Ormond Beach, Thanks Kate. Is it still the Nudie Beach??? Good food, good drinks and nekid people! lol

ps, I kept my bikini (YAH I could still wear one then) in place! Makes me want to go dig out photos to share with ya!

Oh, I'm happy to be learning too much about you two!
Now I'm wishing I'd been there too in my more nekkid days.
LoLoL;>

Yeah, my nekkid days are behind me - but (butt?) it's still a great beach and they won't kick you off for wearing clothes. It's a 'must do' part of the island and worth the cab fare to get there from the cruise terminal.

(Look out! What is that big spooky thing behind me? OMG, it's my own ***!)

We are doing an Alaskan cruise later this summer. I'm fairly certain the only public nakedness we'll be seeing up there will be on the seals and whales. Possibly a bare bear.

Oh I want to do an Alaskan cruise soooooo baaaad! But have to wait till after surgery. I could not imagine going and then not being able to walk anywhere. It is on my dream list and I am damned determined to get there one day!

Soltice98, we'll give you award for the most homonyms.

I prefer to call myself boutylicious.

We went to Alaska several years ago on a cruise/tour. It was about a different from Florida as you can get. I loved the cruising, it's almost like assisted living-

Blushing, nekkid people? Well...I was going to go up to the top of the island and tour the mango plantation from 1790's...but since you mentioned nekkid people...THAT's another story (but alas... no pictures on here - that's for sure). Grinning that devilish grin. See everyone in a week - ENJOY!

We expect a detailed report upon your return!

"...it's almost like assisted living". OMG that is SO TRUE! I hadn't thought of it like that before but it is like practicing for our elder years. Confined space. Nobody gets to wander off. Long hallways. That slightly dizzy, unbalanced feeling. Very attentive caregivers. Lots of people using walkers. Various levels of inappropriate attire.

Better food though.
I hope.

Thanks Barb - this was by far the best laugh I've had today and I'll be sharing it with the rest of my family who will be on the Alaska cruise with us.

Glad you enjoyed it, Solstice98. The food is scrumptious, Tampaart will agree-he'll have to get some fat pants when he comes back. On a serious note, let me suggest bringing some of those little alcohol swabs and go over the phone and door handles in your room, don't touch the handrails.