Why can't this be my view everyday?

[L Stegall]

This is my favorite image I have processed so far from our recent trip to Anguilla. The view @ 6:00 a.m. from outside our room.

[DigitalScape]

Very nice image, Lisa - I would like to see that scene every day too.

[J Eddington]

Just turn it into wall paper and put it up on your wall :) It is very peaceful.

[venchka]

Stop it. That's not nice. Where the heck is Anquilla? Looks like a place I would love to visit. Arriving on my own boat. I can't convince the Lisa in my life to live on a boat.

[catfish]

I can hear the water on the beach, nice!

[Tasneem]

Very nice picture.

[srwatters]

Very inviting image!

I can't wait to see something very similar in August. We're headed for Grand Cayman and 7 mile beach! Hopefully I'll be able to make some great images too!

Thanks for sharing.

[L Stegall]

Thanks for the comments guys! This is my wallpaper on my office computer. I find myself staring at it often, although being littered with tiny icons doesn't do it justice.

Venchka, Anguilla is about 6 miles from St. Martin. If you can't get there by boat, AA flies directly to Wallblake Airport or you can get to St. Martin and take either a private water taxi, a public ferry or a short hopper over. The short air hop will sometimes detour through St. Barts, always an interesting landing and subsequent takeoff! This was our 3rd visit, the first being our honeymoon, so it is a special place for us. Anguilla is tiny - maybe 20 miles long and 3 or so miles wide at it's widest and the island itself is pretty scrubby. I'll post some of the interior later. But, it has an abundance of incredible beaches, luxury accommodations - hotels and private villas, and great restaurants. The people are very warm and friendly and always concerned about how you like the island (they love to hear you are a returning guest). Very laid back. So laid back that, for example, we rented a car from one of the local guys, an independent rental company, this trip. Made the reservation online, no credit card needed for deposit. He left the car for us to pick up at the ferry station. No paperwork. Only an email message saying he'd meet up with us one day while we were there to get the paperwork done and get a credit card. He left the form for us to fill out for an Anguilla temporary driver's license. On Day 5, he finally calls - we meet outside the post office and sign the rental agreement. On departure, we leave the car and the keys at the ferry. No problem. And I could give other examples of that type of treatment as well. One of the other things I like most about Anguilla is that people leave you alone on the beach. All of the beaches are public - even at the priciest resorts - and I really like not being hounded by people trying to sell you stuff. It is a place that I can feel my blood pressure drop by at least 10 degrees immediately after clearing customs.

Scott, thanks. I hear 7-mile beach is gorgeous. Cayman is one of the islands we just haven't hit, for whatever reason. I'll be interested to hear your trip review!

[BillLee]

beautiful beach. wish Galveston looked like that!

[Digigeek]

You can have that view everday if you would like. The problem is paying for it.

There are some "really nice" places to stay on Anguilla, and can often run into celebs. Great adult getaway.

[L Stegall]

Originally Posted by Digigeek

You can have that view everday if you would like. The problem is paying for it.

Yes, my problem exactly.

The celebs really seem to gather there during high season and especially the Christmas/New Year's holiday. We favor shoulder and even off season, when it's uncrowded and, well, a bit more affordable.

We had cocktails twice at the new Viceroy Hotel. A definite celeb preening ground if ever I saw one (in high season). It is a resort on steroid overload: big, bold, beautiful and sexy .... just didn't seem very Anguillan to me. I like the smaller places - give me the old school Cap Juluca any day for more understated luxury (our honeymoon destination). Although Cap Juluca has gotten so pricey, that we've found some very nice, relatively reasonable villas more casual and affordable resorts as well, ala Ku Resort.

[Digigeek]

My wife and I stayed at Caneel Bay on St. John a few years ago for an anniversary. Laying on the beach, we started the mental calculation of what it would cost to live that lifestyle 24 X 365. I came to about $600,000 per year, after tax, from passive sources. That did not include the cost of raising the two kids we left at home that week, college, etc. It's probably about 20% higher now.

[L Stegall]

Originally Posted by Digigeek

My wife and I stayed at Caneel Bay on St. John a few years ago for an anniversary. Laying on the beach, we started the mental calculation of what it would cost to live that lifestyle 24 X 365. I came to about $600,000 per year, after tax, from passive sources. That did not include the cost of raising the two kids we left at home that week, college, etc. It's probably about 20% higher now.

Yep, I do that same depressing mental math every trip as well as I peruse the real estate section and lament why someone clearly switched me at birth to take me away from my real, uber-wealthy parents who could have easily afforded me that lifestyle.

[Digigeek]

You don't have a trust fund????

Mines worth about $1.59 (dollars not millions).

[carrbowl]

one question...what in the (&*^^ are you doing awake at 6 am on vacation when it is that quiet???? : )