Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011:

This morning the skies are filled with clouds again and it’s raining off and on.  Occasionally the sun will find a hole in the clouds and shine a while, but the skies are ever changing and in minutes it’s quickly gone.  We decided that we would go in search of sun today and take a look at some of the other beaches again.  We haven’t seen them in a while. And maybe the other side of the island would be better, which it often times is.  We didn’t pack a lunch or anything, just took a bottle of water. So I threw some chicken in the crock-pot (Gerald loves that) and off we went.  As we turn the corner and head around the mountain behind our apartment, we see that the clouds cover the entire island, and they are dark rain clouds too.  Our hopes of finding a sunny beach have just disappeared, but we are going to go look anyway.

Our first stop was to go over on Simpson Bay Beach.  This beach is a pretty long one and is opposite of our timeshare condo at Flamingo.  It also runs directly alongside the airport runway.  Mary’s Boon Hotel is on that stretch and we have stayed there before.  It was a pretty nice place. We just didn’t like the little French gal charging us for drinks we never had at the steel-a-drink bar, and arguing with us about how it was no big deal. Whatever! I would like to stay there again, but my pride won’t let me! (darn genetics!) =)

We drive down the little lane behind the hotel to the end of the road which takes you to a place called Karakters.  It’s a relatively new (2 years old) bar/restaurant on the beach that has become very popular.  Looks like someone drove a bus to the end of the road and set up a business – typical.  The property looks like it use to be a residence at one point, because there is an abandoned foundation there.  I believe in 1993 hurricane Luis hit the island hard and tore up everything on this bay and most of the island really, and they just never rebuilt.  So the next best thing is to drive a truck/bus in and have fun! Unfortunately today Karakters was closed! Just our luck.  The beach is nice, but it’s course sand and steep.  The waters are a little rough here.  We walked around a little, took some pictures and headed out to the next stop…Baie Longue.

This is the beach in front of Mary's Boon, and Simpson Bay area:

 This is the destroyed remnants of a dwelling just before you get to Karakters:

 This is Flamingo out on the point - that's where our timeshare condo is!

 Mary's Boon again:

 Looking towards the airport:

 This is Karakters - we'll have to try it!

 This is what the sky looks like today! =(

** 

Baie Longue (Long Bay) is on the French side.  It’s a very long beach (hence the name)!  It too has course sand and mostly rocky shore.  The waters here are also rough.  This area consists of very expensive homes and the La Samana Hotel…one of the islands most expensive hotels.  It’s not a big place, but it’s got a big price!  The bad thing is there are no amenities unless you walk down to the LaSamana.  To get to the beach you have to go through security and a drive quite a ways through the Terres Basses subdivision (for lack of a better word – it’s more like an area).  Terres Basses is an exclusive and expensive area on the island. You don’t see any of the homes in this area as you drive through, just the massive stone or concrete walls and gates that mark where the properties are.  Just take my word…it’s like Ladue!  We finally got to the beach access and walked out…just in time for the next rain! But, I did take a few pictures before we left.

**Here is the entrance to the beach:

** 

Our next stop we figure would be Friar’s Bay (mostly because Gerald passed the other beaches up).  Friar’s Bay is also on the French side and north of Marigot.  We’ve been there before, but like I said, it’s been a while.  We get through the rain and pull in to the parking area.  You can see Anguilla pretty good from here…close enough it looks like you could swim…but I wouldn’t! We walk over to Kali’s and order a drink and sit at the tables for a while and enjoy the little bit of sunshine that peaks through the clouds. 

**This is Friar's Bay:

 In the distance you can see Anguilla:

 A break in the clouds! YAY!

 This is Kali's where we stopped to have a drink:

 It's a nice beach!

**

I think we probably sat there for about an hour and half taking in the sparse sun!  But it was about 4:15 and it was probably going to take us another hour and a half to get home because of the traffic at that time.  Plus we needed to stop at the store for a few things!  So, we paid the bill and bid ado to the Friar’s Bay beach and off we went.

We stopped at the Grand Marche and picked up our few items then came home to the wonderful smell of chicken cooking in the crock-pot!  Mmmmmmmmmm.  I made some stuffing and put some sour cream in the chicken…and it was YUMMY!  (if I do say so myself!)  

And that was it for today!