Um... AWESOME!

Good morning, Avid Reader, from Canouan Island!

First, I will start by saying that words absolutely fail this place. Any attempt to describe what I'm seeing -- even at this moment as I type -- are futile and pathetic. It's that amazing. Instead, you should be wondering why I'm sitting in the small library, breeze flowing through the open door, overlooking the Caribbean Sea not 30 yards away, and not shirt-free sun soaking. I'm wondering the same thing myself!!

However, true to form and true to you, experiences I get to have aren't made real until I'm able to share them with you. And I am dying for this place to become more and more real as I feel as if my plane(s) went down, I've died and gone to heaven. And I'm unsure if those words can even do this place justice.

It's my first morning in paradise. I just enjoyed hot coffee, fresh fruit, french toast and pastries for breakfast, bought some sunscreen (I know!), and thought I'd give a quick recap of the adventure thus far...

Nothing to report on the red eye to Atlanta, save Saskia and I having to try to get some sleep on the floor at the airport. Otherwise uneventful leg to Barbados. New lesson learned: duty free is amazing!! We loaded up on adult beverages (liquor) for pennies... and since soft drinks (mixers) are complimentary in our villas, this was brilliant!

We then boarded a small 17-person plane for our island hopping to Canouan... and island hop we did! For someone deathly afraid to fly (and oddly, who does so for a living!), Saskia was comforted by the fact that she and I scored an exit row. Brilliant! We enjoyed the sun set over some of the most beautiful water from the sky and landed in Canouan as the only four people left on our commuter plane.

We were met at the airport by Raffles Canouan staff, whisked through the village to the resort which is far beyond imaginable. Granted, it was dark, but it didn't take long to know that this place is something else. My stunning villa is something I'll have a hard time leaving... and I'm already excited about the deep soaking tub.

We enjoyed dinner at the high-end Italian restaurant with and compliments of the Director of Guest & Public Relations, then I explored the grounds, including the pier which appears in the previous post. Yes, Avid Reader, it exists! And last night, there was a yacht docked against it. I'm in that kind of place!

I thought my evening was ended and grudgingly started the go-to-bed process... only to get a call from Saskia & Stacey to come enjoy their 2BR w/ private pool terrace up the hill as well as what will be many nights of adult beverages and stories. Saskia, all too excited from our Eifel Tower photo shoot, decided we needed to capture our joy again and did we ever!!

So, my week on Canouan Island has begun. I'm already dreading its end, but for now, I'm going to enjoy the sun, this place, and being on island time. Greetings from the Caribbean, Avid Reader! Check back for new posts and photos of this amazing place throughout the week!!