Our day started in a room with a view (of a huge parking lot, a highway interchange and a bit of the hotel swimming pool) to enthrall a 3-year-old at our Toronto Airport Hotel. More than once this morning he told me that he could "just jump right in" to the swimming pool!
We couldn't look out the window all morning, though, because we had a flight to catch. David and Carolyn waited, and waited, and waited outside security for everyone else to show up (they were waiting at a different security check) while Noah and Doug rode the moving sidewalks over and over again and the rest of the airport watched the Canada vs. US gold medal hockey game at the Olympics.
Eventually, David and Carolyn realized we were already waiting at the gate and showed up in time to board the plane. The kids were amazing on the four hour flight. They played quietly, made faces at their Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents and all of them had a good nap.
Finally, St. Maarten was in sight and we got to disembark into the wonderfully hot, humid and fragrant air that characterizes the Caribbean.
After clearing customs it didn't take us long to gather up all our luggage - 15 bags including cars eats and kite board - and pile into our taxi-van for the 2.5 minute drive to the 'ferry' that would take us to Anguilla.
Our 'ferry' (to Paul's surprise and delight) was actually a private speed boat with double 'Merc' 300 engines (to Doug's delight). We weren't aboard 3 minutes before we were offered around of rum punches. Heavenly!
The ride was vary fast and quite choppy (to Noah's delight). Noah laughed aloud with every wave and swell that we crashed down on or rolled over on the 20-minute ride to Anguilla.
After clearing customs in Anguilla, we loaded on to one more taxi-van for the 5-10 minute drive to our villa. At least half of us were in the pool within minutes of arriving, the rest of unpacked and started to settle in. Dinner was a pre-arranged Caribbean BBQ of ribs, chicken, rice and peas and cole slaw finished off with a lemon meringue pie. It was a yummy and very warm welcome to what is shaping up to be a very fun and memorable family holiday.
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