L’Esplanade hotel sits on a hill overlooking the village and bay of Grand Case. It is a property I have always admired from afar and finally, on a sunny February day and on an invitation from the hotel owner, I got to drive through the gates. My husband and I were both excited to see what it would be like up close. We were about to enjoy another staycation on French St Martin, and this time we would be calling L’Esplanade our home for a few days.
“Two things I was immediately aware of as we first stepped into our room at Le Petit Hotel. One: the surprisingly large size of the room. Two: I was going to have a very hard time leaving this place.”
Oh Guadeloupe, how you have enchanted me. Your rivers, beaches and food were enough to make me want to live there permanently. But then you showed me your art.
Dear readers, it seems I have finally found the Street Art Mecca of the Caribbean. I still have lots to discover and I was not always camera-ready to snap a photo (a real traveler faux-pas) of all the murals, graffiti and street art I saw while driving around beautiful Guadeloupe, but I am convinced that this is it.
Enough of my ramblings tough. See for yourself why these French isles are the best in the Caribbean to Chase Murals.
The Caribbean, a place that has long been called paradise by many and that is on the bucket list of countless. It’s a place that still knows the meaning of tranquility, simplicity and hospitality. It is where the term “easy living” is still a fact of life. I am just lucky to be able to call it home. The next 10 pictures will make you too want to buy a one way ticket to white sand beaches, gorgeous sunsets, inspiring sunrises and crystal turquoise waters.
It is known as the winter playground of the rich and famous. Words like chic, luxury, celebrities, expensive are all associated with it. Of course I’m talking about the ever elegant St. Barth, an 8.1 square mile island in the French Caribbean.
I visited St. Barth recently for a weekend and was curious to see what it would be like in the summer months, also known as the dreaded low season. If you’re planning to do some celebrity gawking and taking selfies with luxury yachts in the background, then this is not the right time for you to go. The rich and famous all flock to places like Monaco and Cannes in the summer, leaving this little French paradise almost deserted and mostly tranquil. But this is when you see the real St Barth.
Oh La La, St. Barth, playground of the rich and famous.
This beautiful French island lies in close proximity to St. Maarten, making it an ideal destination for a day trip. With the demand for St. Barth being quite high, especially around Christmas and New Year, there are several ferries leaving daily from different parts of St. Maarten. The reasons for visiting for the day are mostly the same; the ever so popular Plage de St. Jean, home to the infamous Nikki Beach, celebrity spotting and not to forget shopping, or at least window shopping if you’re like me and on a tight budget.