Hot Stone Massage... Pretty Please

Today's agenda includes more of the same... small breakfast, gym, spa, normal breakfast, sunbathing and dinner. :) Its a tough life on vacation!

My workout included cardio and an emphasis on legs.

20 minutes on the bike
15 reps of reverse lunges with a 15 lbs barbell
15 reps of jump squats with a 15 lbs barbell
15 reps of walking lunges with 10 lbs dumbbells

10 minutes running on treadmill
10 reps of reverse lunges with a 15 lbs barbell
10 reps of jump squats with a 15 lbs barbell
10 reps of walking lunges with 10 lbs dumbbells

5 minutes bike
10 reps of reverse lunges with a 15 lbs barbell
10 reps of jump squats with a 15 lbs barbell
10 reps of walking lunges with 10 lbs dumbbells

By the end of my workout my legs were shaky and ready to be massaged. :) We headed to the Red Lane Spa for our 'Hot Stone Massage.' As I got ready for my massage I stole a couple of glasses of water and a delicious banana because I was parched and hungry like a hippo. PS St. Lucia has the best bananas I have ever tasted and they are the perfect size. Check them out.

I was really excited for my 'Hot Stone Massage,' because I am always cold! As they started applying the hot stones I was in heaven and felt so relaxed. FYI if you think the stones feel to hot on your skin, SAY SOMETHING. Dave unfortunately didn't speak up and this is what happened. I didn't have this experience I thought it was simply magical. :)

Safe to say this was Dave's first and last 'Hot Stone Massage!'

After we showered we had our typical Lox and Bagel breakfast followed by some must needed pool time. WINK WINK. I started 'Cutting for Stone,' which was recommended to me numerous times. The beginning is filled with characters, background and tons of medical information but just stick with it and you will begin to love the characters. After reading 100 pages or so, I needed a nap and to relax a bit more under my umbrella.

Dave was kind enough to snap this picture. :)

I had a great nap and was ready to hit the pool bar for some drinks. After being in the sun most of the day we decided to hit the showers again and get ready for dinner at the 'Bayside Restaurant.'

As we were walking to dinner we saw the most beautiful sunset of our trip. The colors were truly amazing and we just sat down on the beach and appreciated it.

As we looked at the menu 'Bayside Restaurant' both Dave and I looked at each other and started to laugh. The title of the menu was "Lover's Menu," but there was nothing lovey about it except for the heart and cupid at the top. Again Sandals cheesefest! I ordered the Seafood Chowder and decided to give the Steak and Scallops awhirl. I forgot to snap a picture of the menu and our food... shoot but it really wasn't that wonderful. It was more of the same food the steak was rubbery and the seafood was frozen and the dessert was the same at every restaurant. :( 

After dinner we decided to walk the beach and resort to get some pics.

We ended our night listening to the band 'E-treme' in the lobby. They were playing Motown tonight and it was actually really enjoyable. We danced a bit, drank and enjoyed being outside on the beautiful patio. I'm guessing tomorrow will entail much of the same. :)

St. Lucia Day 1: Mission to Relax & Enjoy the Resort

Today was a busy day… woke up at 7 am to work out and then head to the Red Line Spa for an 80 minute massage, then hit the sun all day. I mean it is a busy day but it is the right kind of busy. On vacation I love to work out because it just makes any kind of day better. The gym facility was okay, it had a lot of equipment for every type of possible workout which is great but it was a small space and super hot. So even if I didn’t work out hard it sure felt like it. Today’s workout included 20 minutes on a stair climber, followed by (3) sets of my least favorite exercise moves but it makes me work and that is what this girl wanted and ended by running for 15 minutes on the treadmill.

15 reps of burpee push-ups, jump squats and exercise ball sit-ups

10 reps of burpee push-ups, 15 jump squats and 15 exercise ball sit-ups

5 reps of burpee push-ups, 15 jump squats and 10 exercise ball sit-ups

Let’s just say this 40 minute workout made me sweat like a fool! Next stop the Spa…

The spa is very small and quaint giving it a great appeal. The service was great, the facility was clean and the amenities were great for a small spa.

The actual spa hit the spot for me and I walked out feeling ready to get my tan on with a few tropical drinks at the pool bar. I also was really excited to read one of my (3) books. Before the pool we hit up the breakfast buffet for some lox and bagel! That is my favorite vacation breakfast… I order it for pretty much every time. It was tasty and this time I added jalapenos, which makes it even better. Try it if you like spice and I promise you will thank me. 

Vacation breakfast of CHAMPIONS!

Sandals Grande had (4) pools to choose from but it really was an easy decision to choose one… because only one had a pool bar. I mean at an all inclusive you have to get your monies worth right? We found a spot and stayed there the entire day. It was really enjoyable and I started ‘The Alchemist’ and enjoyed it because everything happens so fast and it’s easy to get sucked into.

After getting showered up, we headed to dinner at one of the (6) restaurants at the resort. We chose ‘Barefoot on the Beach’ because it was on the beach! We sat down and were serenaded by cheesy love songs one of the many cheesy things at Sandals… stay tuned for a post dedicated to that. We ended up ordering (3) appetizers because it the portions were pretty small. The coconut calamari and conch ceviche  were very tasty and I definitely recommend those. J The conch was marinated in a nice vinaigrette topped an jalapeno that added the right spice. The calamari was paired with a nice sweet sauce and cooked great.

 I ordered the Seafood Bouillon and it was pretty good. It had lots of seafood and the dumpling tasted yummy but the sauce lacked seasoning but nothing a little salt and pepper couldn’t help. Next was dessert… Chocolate Cake Mousse thingy.

The presentation was good and the taste was okay and the atmosphere was great! 

As you can see we shut the place down!

Today was a great day… Tomorrow includes more the same stay tuned.  

Beautiful St. Lucia

Finally I have arrived in beautiful St. Lucia after close to tweleve hours of traveling. And a little surprise hour and a half bus ride to our resort. Upon arrival we witnessed a perfect sunset and were swept away into the Sandals cult of carefree happiness. :) (Of course I didn't have my camera to capture the memory)

So I have never done an all-inclusive vacation mainly because I am so poor and not to mention pretty cheap. But this time the beau and decided to try it out and it is a magical concept. Everything is already paid for except if you want ridic spa treatments (yes... please!) or do anything touristy (another yes... please!) The goal of the trip is to relax, drink and witness beautiful scenary for 7 days... I think I can do that.

As we were walking to our room everything was beautiful with a bit of cheese factor... meaning everything is a lover's special. The resort is beautiful, well-maintained, quiet and super friendly.

The lobby is beautiful!

And a Sandal's wouldn't be complete without a heart-shaped pool! 

Check out our digs for the next week... not to shabby.

What's on the agenda for tomorrow... workout, drink and stay in the sun without burning!