After 15 hours of travel, I stepped off my flight from Miami into Caribbean paradise. Well, actually it looked like it was about to storm, but Caribbean paradise none the less. I was coming to St. Croix to attend the 11th annual St. Croix Food & Wine Festival, held at the lovely Divi Carina Bay Hotel.
I was honored to be asked to attend as part of the media coverage of the event, and couldn’t wait to dig my feet into the sand. This Florida girl couldn’t believe it had been almost two years since she had swam in the ocean!! I guess that’s what Northern California does to you.
The Divi Carina Bay Hotel was generous enough to host me for the event. Check out the room!
My favorite part were the hardwood floors and the ocean front balcony (obviously!). Well, and the bed. And the shower.
Actually everything was my favorite part after being on a plane for almost nine hours.
Beds. Glorious, beautiful, comfortable beds. With fresh flowers and soft beach towels!
Now I know what I’m about to say will make absolutely no sense whatsoever, but the first thing I did when I got to my room was unroll my travel yoga mat! I was so tired I was almost dizzy, but knew after traveling for so long I needed to stretch. And I sure as heck wasn’t going to the hotel gym.
You wanna know the second thing I did? Eat two huge slices of pizza. And drink some rum punch.
Then I slept for 12 hours! Thank the Lord.
More about the food when I return!
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
April 18, 2011 at 5:14 amOh my gosh Jenna the pictures are gorgeous!! I have stayed at a Divi resort before in St. Maarten – they are so nice. Enjoy!!
Jessica @ How Sweet
April 18, 2011 at 5:19 amIt looks so pretty there. Remind me why I live somewhere where it’s snowing in April?
jen @ taste life
April 18, 2011 at 5:19 amYou called Adam and told him he needed to fly there to be with you because you were never returning to the States, right?
Cait @ Beyond Bananas
April 18, 2011 at 5:20 amWow, Jenna… this place looks amazing! Enjoy the sunshine, warmth.. and take lots of time for you and be sure to relax!
Sarah @ See Sarah Eat
April 18, 2011 at 5:23 amLooks like heaven to me! Enjoy 🙂
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
April 18, 2011 at 5:23 amThis looks lovely!!!! The beach is gorgeous and I love the bright colours in your room. Have a great day and I can’t wait to hear more about the food!! 🙂
Mary (A Merry Life)
April 18, 2011 at 5:28 amGorgeous! I can’t wait to read more about this trip. Enjoy it! 🙂
Mary
April 18, 2011 at 5:28 amThat’s awesome, I’m glad you’re having (or had?) such a great time!! I’m also excited bc I think that last picture means you went to Buck Island!
kalli
April 18, 2011 at 5:29 amsound like a wonderful start to any trip! love that you did some yoga, ate, and crashed! can’t wait to hear more 🙂
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
April 18, 2011 at 5:36 amThat first photo is absolutely gorgeous!
megan @ whatmegansmaking
April 18, 2011 at 5:44 amIt snowed this morning in Michigan. Like snow covering the ground. I’m jealous.
Ruth
April 18, 2011 at 5:51 amYay! What a post. Can’t wait to hear more.
Lia @ {sprightly}
April 18, 2011 at 5:52 amAhhh. I was in St. Thomas over the winter and these photos are so making me want to go back now! Hope you had a great time.
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
April 18, 2011 at 5:52 amLooks like a pretty fantastic trip so far Jenna! Great room, great view, great bevies and food. Can’t wait to hear more on the festival!
amy*
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat
April 18, 2011 at 5:54 amYou better have extra fun for those of us trapped in Wintery Spring weather up north!
Molly
April 18, 2011 at 5:56 amI need to hear all about this tropcial get away. Maybe it’ll take my mind off of our fresh powder that I woke up to this morning.
Em
April 18, 2011 at 5:57 amLooks beautiful there, Jenna.
What a great opportunity.
I hope it’s wonderful and relaxing and inspiring.
Soak in the sun and ocean and sand. 🙂
Chad
April 18, 2011 at 5:57 amI love the bright colors of that bedroom!
Holly @ The Runny Egg
April 18, 2011 at 5:58 amThat room is adorable! I love the bright colors.
Have a great time!
Salah (My Healthiest Lifestyle)
April 18, 2011 at 6:08 amHow gorgeous!!! Have a great trip!!
Jenn from Much to My Delight
April 18, 2011 at 6:13 amOh Mon. That ocean looks like a big blue puddle of heaven. You deserve a dip and a slice after a 9-hour flight.
kaila @ healthy helper!
April 18, 2011 at 6:20 amLooks like a beautiful place! I am always so tight after traveling……yoga sounds like the perfect fix!
R @ Learning As I Chop
April 18, 2011 at 6:32 amWow, I’m impressed. Can’t say yoga is the first thing I’d do
Amanda
April 18, 2011 at 6:33 amThe hotel looks so lovely! I can’t wait to hear about the food! 🙂
Elizabeth@The Sweet Life
April 18, 2011 at 6:35 amGorgeous–love the bright blue! Have a super trip.
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food
April 18, 2011 at 6:36 amohhh looks so glorious!
I’m so jealous! I want to be back there! 🙂
Hannah (Culture Connoisseur)
April 18, 2011 at 6:46 amYou’re going to have such a great time! I love your room. The hardwood sets off the blue like crazy. It looks like you’re in an island bungalow. Hope you get rested and ready for an awesome festival!
Aileen @ Happy Little Southern Nest
April 18, 2011 at 6:51 amThis looks amazing! Can’t wait to keep following your trip!
ashleigh
April 18, 2011 at 6:55 amSo gorgeous!! I want to be there!
Alex
April 18, 2011 at 6:58 amWow, that looks sooooooo nice 🙂 I love that red sky, unbelievable.
Alexia @ Dimple Snatcher
April 18, 2011 at 7:03 amWhat does your responsibility as “media” entail Jenna? Curious!!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope
April 18, 2011 at 7:14 amWow, it looks GORGEOUS! Can’t wait to hear more!
Natalia - a side of simple
April 18, 2011 at 7:19 amThe closest I’ve been to anything tropical has been in the form of a fruity tasty alcoholic beverage. These pictures are making me want to take that next step and actually GO 🙂
steph
April 18, 2011 at 7:28 amThat picture of the stormy skies is (strangely enough) beautiful.
Lauren
April 18, 2011 at 7:29 amOh my lord it looks AMAZING!!! Have a fabulous time!
kristina@beancakes
April 18, 2011 at 7:42 amthe blue in the decor is gorg! sounds like you’re having a blast!
Ellie @ The Mommyist
April 18, 2011 at 7:44 amEnjoy your vacation. I know I would! Warm water and sun, what more could you want?
Euniece[innerpeacehealthytreats&runningfeet]
April 18, 2011 at 8:01 amnot going to lie, i am SO EXCITED to see you eats : ) ps. that last picture is incredible
Kristin Eats
April 18, 2011 at 8:03 amOh man, that looks (and sounds) phenomenal. Hope you’re loving every second, AND I have always wondered how to get rid of that post-plane soreness… it’s such a basic concept but I NEVER thought of doing some stretching/yoga. My traveled muscles thank you. 🙂
Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing
April 18, 2011 at 8:58 amPretty sure I’d be totally down with someone sending me there 😉 Hope you continue to soak it all up! Such fun.
Claire
April 18, 2011 at 8:59 amAh, Carribbean, how much I love thee!!!
katie
April 18, 2011 at 9:26 amHow amazing! The hotel room is so cute too!
I wish I lived somewhere that was warm all year!
Can’t wait to see the food pics! I bet it was amazing food!
Michelle | GOLD-HEARTED GIRL
April 18, 2011 at 9:35 amDang that last photo is powerful!
http://goldhearted.etsy.com
French Heart
April 18, 2011 at 10:01 amYour pictures are a vacation. I love wood floors.
Andrea @ The Skinny Chronicles
April 18, 2011 at 10:13 amI wish I were there! Wow. Speechless.
miranda @ working mom works out
April 18, 2011 at 10:26 amYoga, Pizza, and Rum??!! My kinda gal!
Julie (Food & Other Things)
April 18, 2011 at 10:37 amIt looks so beautiful there…I can’t wait to read more!
Amy
April 18, 2011 at 10:46 amEven with the storm, it still looks amazing! I hope you enjoy your time Jenna
Baking 'n' Books
April 18, 2011 at 11:18 amLove the BLUE!!!
God Bless You – stretching and pizza 🙂
How long are you gone for? Do you mind if I ask if you contacted them or if they found you? I’m always interested to see how people get “exposed”!! But given the success of ELR – it’s no surprise of course! 🙂
Stacey (Being Healthy)
April 18, 2011 at 12:14 pmOooh, have a blast! I love the Caribbean!
dragonfly180
April 18, 2011 at 5:14 pmwhat a beautiful place! post more pics please! :o)
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
April 18, 2011 at 5:19 pmHaha! I would’ve done the same with rum and sleep 😀
Chelsa
April 18, 2011 at 5:32 pmbeautiful sunset
Connie
April 18, 2011 at 6:52 pmomg its gorgeous there! i need to leave vancouver and its flip-floppy weather!
Megan@Dirty Dishes Daily
April 18, 2011 at 8:04 pmI loooove the colors of that hotel room.
Joy
April 19, 2011 at 5:33 pmCan I move to st croix? Specifically that room? Even more specifically the bed on the right – I want the flower!
Sandy
April 20, 2011 at 3:26 pmCan you tell us more about your travel yoga mat? I don’t know what to use in a hotel room and never want to check a bag large enough to take my mat.
jenna
April 20, 2011 at 5:13 pmIt’s by Jade Yoga Mats and is super thin so you can fold it up and stick it at the bottom of your suitcase. I actually borrowed it from the studio but really want to buy my own because it was so light and easy!
The Taste of St. Croix – EatLiveRun.com «
June 10, 2011 at 2:09 pm[…] as I mentioned before, the whole reason I went to St. Croix in the first place was to attend the 11th annual Taste of St. […]