sbh2015 – day 13 // night shots, villa

So, last morning in paradise, we will take the Winair flight at 2pm this afternoon to go back to Saint Martin. Air France flight at 5pm to Paris. We should be at Basel/Mulhouse at 10am on Saturday… As usual, difficult to leave the island after all this quality/family time. Again, we had fantastic holidays here. With all these strolls, landscapes, views, waves, colors, beaches and restaurants… Very restful time, energizing. Adaptation back is always brutal :-) But again, we are so happy and thankful “we could make it”, we feel lucky. Some last pictures to be posted, first some night shots (yes, it was completely dark) with a very high exposure time (30s). Always strange and funny results.

From the terrace Palm trees and stars Marigot Bay Marigot Bay, the other side

We were this year in a stunning villa, Eden House, with a marvelous garden and access to the Marigot Bay. Swimming-pool was also very nice

Swimming-pool The garden Other view on the garden Access to the Marigot Bay Stairs in the garden

sbh2015 – day 12 // sunset fort carl, full moon, big waves at saline

Let’s start today’s review with … yesterday evening! After our first visit to Fort Carl, we have thought it would be good to go there for a sunset. This was done yesterday evening before going to the Sand Bar. Definitely a good spot for sunset, as Gustavia’s lighthouse, but another perspective, more open directly to the ocean.

Sunset from Fort Carl Great colors in the sky and in the sea Julien wanted to make also a picture of Laurence and I, the result is quite cool :-)

Picture taken by Julien Yesterday evening the moon was almost full, quite an interesting light during the night.

Almost full moon

Today, for our last full day in Saint Barth, we’ve decided to go back to Saline. What a windy day again! On the other side, the waves were just fantastic. Lot of fun with Julien (even Laurence) in the strong waves. I’ve taken my underwater cam to capture this special moment. Funny results.

Fantastic colors and waves at Saline Big wave In front of the wave Wall of water Another one Crazy colors and lights

Nice dinner at M&P to finish the day. And we’ve started to prepare our luggage for tomorrow… Last night in Saint Barth, we have our Winair flight at 2pm for Saint Martin, before crossing back the Atlantic.

sbh2015 – day 11 // grand cul-de-sac, wind, cactus

What for a day again! Starting with some showers, so first we were heading to MarchéU (umh, last shopping there, we are leaving on Friday, gggrrrrr). As the wind was so strong today and to avoid the “special skin treatment with sand”, we’ve done again the stroll from Grand Cul-de-Sac to Petit Cul-de-Sac. Never been confronted with such a wind there, impressive. Kind of giant hot hairdryer :-) Very rough sea again, big waves crashing on the volcanic cliff. What for a contrast between the calm protected bay and the open ocean!

The path coming from GCdS Chequered volcanic stones Powerful waves crashing on the cliff Waves! A break in the wind The path continues till Petit Cul-de-Sac Back to GCdS with some great cactus Limit between open ocean and the protected bay Impressive transparency and colors

We’ve stayed at one of the little beaches of Grand Cul-de-Sac, as they are very well sheltered from the wind. Very nice place, calm (you see almost nobody), fantastic colorful views on the Bay. A wow again…

View on the Guanahani Our beach today

Dinner at the Sand Bar from Eden Rock, “right on the water’s edge”.

sbh2015 – day 10 // breakfast, colombier, petite anse

As the weather was stable and sunny already in the morning, we’ve decided us for a full program at Colombier. This means: breakfast (Maya’s to go) and sandwiches for lunch (Petite Colombe) and enough to drink! We arrived there at 8am so we were totally alone quite a while , i.e. with the boats anchored in the Bay. Walk along the beach, readings, snorkeling, water polo, really a full program ;-) Only little inconvenience: a windy day again!

Several turtles on our way The nice path from Petite Anse to Colombier Breakfast on the beach, miam!

Empty beach in the morning Colorful view Cactus view on Petite Anse Petite Anse and Ile Bonhomme

Special program this evening, more to come!

sbh2015 – day 9 // toiny’s stroll, les petites anses, corossol beach

Again a very “intensive” day in Saint Barth :-)

We’ve started the day with our typical Toiny’s stroll. But this time, we’ve continued the path along “Les Petites Anses” and come back by the road from Le Toiny. At least doubling the duration of the stroll, but what for a landscape! Really the wild part of Saint Barth… What a pity that a part of the hill there seems to be used as a dump for rubble. Don’t know if it’s “official” or just used “as is”. Really degrading the nature and the landscape. An awful contrast to the beauty of Les Petites Anses…

Starting the stroll with a view on Grand Fond Stranded boat on Toiny’s beach Path among rocks First view on Les Petites Anses Nice place for a quick portrait A wave of Petites Anses Another nice wave Overlooking Les Petites Anses View from above of Toiny Bay Toiny contrast of colors

After the long stroll, we were heading to the calm and colorful Corossol beach.

Corossol beach

And a nice dinner at Pipiri Palace to finish properly this day!

sbh2015 – day 8 // sunset lighthouse, lorient beach

Let’s start this post with our visit yesterday evening to Gustavia’s lighthouse. Quite crowded with locals having a big apero! As usual, stunning views there, I will never get bored ;-)

The “classical” view Impressive tree below the lighthouse Another perspective on the tree Turning to an unreal orange

This morning, after the now typical showers, we were heading to Lorient Beach. Always a good place for a walk (up to Autour du Rocher too). Crazy colors, the Bay was really fantastic and “wild”…

Entering Lorient beach From the rock near Autour du Rocher From the end of the beach Green and blue

This evening, quite excited as we will go for Le Gaiac!

sbh2015 – day 7 // rainbow, natural pools, showers

Interesting day again :-) The morning was quite rainy with some showers…and a first great moment with a marvelous rainbow over the Marigot Bay.

Rainbow over Marigot Bay So no beach and we’ve decided us for the Natural pools stroll at Grand Fond. As usual, lots of fantastic views, landscapes, changing colors. And a funny heavy shower when returning back, when we were at the Washing Machine :-)

Changing lights at Grand Fond Beautiful waves Washing machine, always impressive Arriving at the natural pools Waves at the natural pools Mother and son in the wind Heavy shower approaching Shower! And a little turtle in the middle of the path when coming back…

Little turtle
 

This evening, a dark dinner at L’Isola!

sbh2015 – day 6 // saint jean pélican, do brazil, shell beach

Another great day in paradise…
This morning, we’ve visited another beach, Saint Jean Pélican, very nice lights and colors again. By swimming with Julien, we’ve realized how far sea-grasses there almost disappeared. Very few fish, no turtle, only a little ray.

Saint Jean Pélican

Palm trees shadow

Transparency…

After some showers, we’ve left the beach for an excellent lunch at Do Brazil! We really like this place very much.

The view remains unique…

Saint Barth is family-time for us!

We’ve then visited the Fort Carl above Shell Beach. Funny that it’s the first in 14 visits to Saint Barth that we went there :-) A must-see actually! The view over Shell Beach is just stunning…

Shell Beach from Fort Carl
 

Another view of Shell Beach

Fort Carl, the other side

The path is now great and there are quite a lot of information all along (trees, flora, etc).

Renovated path to Fort Carl

This evening, no restaurant, as we will go to the cinema in Lorient (if it’s not raining) ;-)

sbh2015 – day 5 // saint jean, mosquitoes

Again a windy day, but no covered sky and no showers (yet).
As the 3 of us have little sunburns, we decided not to go for another stroll this morning.
Coming from the European grey winter to the Caribbean sun is definitely a challenge for our skins…

After 5 days, I have to say: not so many mosquitoes this year. At the villa and other places. Perhaps also due to the wind?
So we headed towards Saint Jean beach (airport side, not Pelican).
Take-off spectacle is still great, as this beach and its beautiful colors and sand.
Again a good water polo training in the waves. I have to admit I have started to have muscle aches after 3 days :-)
Still very funny.

 

Nice beach with the Eden Rock

Sand and light reflection

Sand and light reflection (bis)

These colors!

And transparency…

The (now famous) fences are really blocking for making the stroll on the whole beach.
The landing strip is now well protected (too much?).

Fences to protect the landing area 

We’ve seen a lot of turtles in the Bay this afternoon, so I will re-try some snorkeling but not today anymore.
This evening, dinner at Bonito in Gustavia.

sbh2015 – day 4 // gouverneur, sunset

Covered sky this morning with some showers, so first we went shopping to the MarchéU, still difficult to find Diet Coke bottles :-)
After some readings near the swimming-pool, we went to Gouverneur. No seaweed on the beach, some pieces in the sea but nothing disturbing.
The arrival from the top was just taking my breath away… Simply gorgeous colors…
The beach was almost empty (people are really coming late, which is perfect), a strong funny shower later, readings for the 3 of us, water-polo with Julien in the waves again.

Entering the beach

Almost nobody in the morning

Quite a lot of birds fishing

Caribbean colors

Walking on the wild side

From the other side…

Sunset pictures from yesterday

Still trying snorkeling at Marigot but the visibility is not good enough. I don’t give up.
This evening, dinner at Maya’s, miam!