My Costa Adventures

A New Adventure!

2011-11-01T19:04:00.000+01:00

The ultimate adventure has become the authoress - she has become a mother!! Hence the quiet period on this Blog. She will return when, and if, time becomes a bit more of an apparent luxury!!

It must have been the Caribbean rum ^_^

St Lucia - Final Thoughts & Resort Contrasts

2010-11-20T10:06:00.011+01:00

To conclude the posts on my time in St Lucia I wanted to provide some contrasts between the resorts we stayed at and give a couple of final thoughts. I had a lovely time at all of the resorts, and as an adventurous tourist, these highlights might be of benefit to someone of a similar ethic. These scores are entirely personal and really, just for fun!

Location: Jalousie = 10 / Crystals = 8 / Rendevous = 7
Resort (facilities / rooms / aesthetic): Jalousie = 10 / Rendevous =10 / Crystals = 8
Scuba diving / snorkelling: Jalousie = 10 / Rendevous = 6 / Crystals = NA
Activity programmes: Rendevous = 10 / Jalousie = 9 / Crystals = NA
Range of complimentary facilities: Rendevous = 10 / Jalousie = 7 / Crystals = NA
Food and drink: Jalousie = 10 / Rendevous = 8 / Crystals = 3
Staff: Rendevous = 9 / Crystals = 8 / Jalousie = 8
Cleanliness: Jalousie = 10 / Rendevous = 10 / Crystals = 7
Wifi / internet access: Jalousie = 10 / Rendevous = 3 / Crystals = NA
Value for money: Rendevous = 10 / Crystals = 8 / Jalousie = 8

I would visit all three resorts again and my husband is certain we will be going back to Rendevous again in the next 18 months. The Jalousie has the wow factor and Crystals is a great place for creative people, however, its bohemian flare would be too much for those who prefer perfect surroundings.

I also wanted to mention the islands flora in this final post on St Lucia (for now), if one takes their time and uses an inquisitive eye, a treasure trove of gems lay scattered throughout the island.

All the resorts I stayed at and visited have embraced their botanical opportunities, with some glorious results.

I was gutted to hear how some people and businesses had been affected by the recent Hurricane Tomas, but my contacts at the Tourist Board have told me that they recovered quickly and now it is business as usual. For anyone who wants a magical honeymoon, luxurious adventure holiday or to simply sit in a hammock and admire the scenery, then St Lucia is a must.

Friday Night Fish Fry - Anse Del Raye

2010-11-16T11:50:00.019+01:00

Every Friday night is party night on St Lucia. Two events are held, one in Gros Islet, in the north of the island and one mid-way down the west coast at Anse del Raye. The first is 'Jump Up', a lively, loud and colurful street party; where islanders and tourists all come together, eat, drink and dance until the wee hours. The second is the Friday Night Fish Fry; and it was so good, we went twice! It starts earlier than Jump Up, around 19.00, then Jump Up gets going around 22.00.

For unseasoned travelers, visiting various parts of the island independently can be a little daunting, but persist and explore because St Lucia and its people are a treasure.

The first time we went to the Fish Fry, we drove in the 4x4; what a journey that was! It took us an hour to drive less than 15 miles - at an average speed of 20mph! The road we were traveling on was patched with good and bad spots, and by bad I mean holey, bumpy, tight-bended and very, very dark.

Safely arriving in Anse del Raye, we could hear the basey reggae music pumping through the streets as soon as we got out of the 4x4. People milled around street vendors and open marquess, supping up the atmosphere with big smiles on their faces, the smell of fish cooking on open barbecues was pure heaven! That first night we ate freshly caught prawns in garlic, herb and butter sauce (so, so good), fresh Red Snapper and Plantain; washed down with smooth Piton beer. The food tasted divine and the atmosphere was joyous and relaxed.

Our first night at Fish Fry was also our first night for trying the local 'Spiced Rum'. Talk about blow-your-head-off! This stuff is STRONG! It is basically the strongest rum on the island, spiced up with cinnamon, nutmeg and various other herbs. So be warned; if you are going to try something that looks like a leftover nuclear substance, water it down at least 2:1! It's meant to be an aphrodisiac, but my new husband fell asleep as soon as we got back to Crystals - boo!

(Spiced Rum; be very, very careful with this potent potion!)

Our second visit was even better than the first - once we got there that is! We had to wait 30 minutes for a shuttle to pick us up from our villa at Jalousie, which then made us late for, and miss, our water taxi. On the verge of crying, a security man hailed us another taxi and off we went. As we rounded the Petit Piton a huge full moon smiled down upon us, an aura of milky light around her. As the clouds glided past the moon we ragged through the black sea. The landmass looked daunting and shadowy, the Caribbean Sea smooth as black silk. We sped along, faster and faster, bending over to become more streamlined with the boat.

The taxi driver shouted out, asking if he was going too fast, 'no' we cried, 'the faster the better!'. It was a hedonistic journey, putting complete trust in a stranger, whilst in strange waters. We hung on for dear life, riding the boat as it rode the small waves. As we raced around the headlands, the winds would pick up and we would bounced along, adding to the excitement.

When we arrived at the Fish Fry, the atmosphere was even better than before! The journey had obviously boosted our adrenaline, and maybe the full moon brought out our primal selves. We saw other people we knew, joined forces and headed to the bar. We were laughing, joking, singing and smiling - soaking up the atmosphere as we danced alongside local people.

Again the food was lush, and this time we just had to try the lobster - it would have been rude not to!

As usual tourist kids played with local kids on the beach, and me, being a rather large kid, just had to join them! With pumping tunes blasting in the background we had an impromptu dancing competition and as a large crowd of small people gathered, some homemade fire crackers were thrust in to my hands by a gorgeous little local boy. Inspired I shouted at them to gather round. 'Right kids, who wants to play relays along the beach?', the response, dozens of children shouting 'me', 'me', 'me'!!

Getting the kids to pair up I numbered them all; 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2. 'OK kids, I want all the number 1's to get to the other side of the beach'. At the speed of light they fled along the shoreline. Drawing starting lines in the sand I warned all the children; cheating will not be tolerated, I WILL be watching you! They just laughed at me. 'Are you ready?', a unified response, 'YES!!!!'.... 'GO!'. I threw down some firecrackers which banged, crackled and popped. All the children ran, it didn't matter who cheated or who won, it was a great laugh.

I didn't want to leave, I wanted go dance in the streets and laugh and take more photos; but we were booked on to a water taxi for the return journey. This time we shared with some other Jalousie guests, sitting at the front of the slender boat, we watched the moon flit between the black hills.

Our last night on the island; it couldn't have been better.

Hurricane Tomas Hits St Lucia

2010-11-12T13:33:00.005+01:00

The shock felt when I found out about the damage Hurricane Tomas had caused in St Lucia caused me to shake; my stomach flipped and felt awfully sick. I had seen nothing in the news, it was difficult to comprehend that 14 people had been killed and large parts of the island trashed on October 30; just one week after we left to return home.

The force 2 hurricane battered the islands with strong winds, however, it was the rain and subsequent water that did most of the damage, causing numerous mud slides and destruction of roads, houses, resorts and businesses. The island was without fresh water and electricity for days; staff unable to leave resorts to find out how their families were.

My contacts tell me that Soufrière was the worst hit, a coastal town, it was flooded with water as the deluge spread from the mountains and out to sea.

The couple we had met from Livity Art Studio had been swept 600-feet down a mountain side inside their home; with their two children. The pretty picture we bought from them hangs on my living room wall and I will never forget Sabby and his wife, who we sat with conversing and sharing food upon one visit. It is so upsetting knowing how they have left this earth.

(Part of the Livity Art Studio, with beautiful local artists' paintings)

Many of the places we visited while in St Lucia have now disappeared or are almost beyond repair; like the 'Drive in Volcanoe', Diamond Botanical Gardens, Sulphur Springs and Waterfall.

To catch just a little glimpse of what the result of a category 2 hurricane is, look at some of the videos featuring Soufriere on YouTube, for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PSCOkL9kRk

If you are generous enough to donate, make sure your money goes to the right place, there were already a lot of desperate people there before the hurricane. Contact an official charity such as the St Lucian Red Cross.

Life is just so precious.

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling in St Lucia

2010-11-10T13:25:00.022+01:00

After talking to many islanders, I found the large majority of people on the island rated the beaches at Anse Chastanet and Anse Des Pitons the best on the island for snorkelling and scuba diving. Both located on the west side of the island and blessed with the warm waters of the Caribbean, one could drive between the two beaches in less than half an hour.

It should be said here that ALL BEACHES ON ST LUCIA ARE PUBLIC. Therefore, everyone has the right to access the beaches, even if they are located and primarily used by private resorts.

Always eager to get in to the water, my husband and I are consistently keen snorkelers, and upon this trip I even had a go at underwater photography, with some pretty poor results! (Therefore I will be using and accrediting other peoples pictures so I can still illustrate a few of the awesome fish we saw whilst snorkeling and scuba diving.)

The trip to Anse Chastanet was our first real chance to explore on our own. The road north of Soufrière splits at the Hummingbird Resort and leads straight to the Anse Chastanet Resort. The road is best traveled by 4x4 and is quite tight, so watch those corners and your speed! The best snorkel site is on the left / south side of the beach, as seen here:

Our bags were thrown in the sand and we ran in to the sea with our snorkels. Within a few strokes we were met with schools of Sergeant Majors fish. A little further out and towards the cliff face, fish of different shapes and sizes. Damselfish, Butterflyfish and Wrasse could be seen flitting between rocks and open water; the tiniest fish protecting territory chased off larger individuals; Barracudas partially hid away in the shadows.

Sergeant Major's (courtesy of museumsinthesea.com)

Damselfish (courtesy of subtropicalenvironments.homestead.com)

Great Barracuda (courtesy of e-themes.info)

We revisted this site on several occasions, each time I spent hours on my own, basking in the biodiversity, memorized by the peaceful yet pulsating environment.

On one occasion I rescued a girl who had become scared after feeling a current pulling her. I heard her screaming for help and immediately called to the life guard. I bombed over to her, desperately hoping it wasn't a shark attack (dramatic I know), and asked her nicely not to pull me under, before turning her on her back and softly talking to her while we swam towards shore.

The lifeguard took his time, and when he returned to his post once the girl had gone, he ignored me. No 'thank you', no 'well done' - nothing. I wish I'd written down his name so I could print it here. He works for the Anse Chastanet Resort and once word spread that I was a writer, he came to me with a dribbling apology.

We had wanted to scuba dive at Anse Chastenet, but were advised resort policy states that we must complete a shore dive first. We decided not to as we had already snorkelled the area several times, it seemed a bit over the top, but hey ho! Next stop, The Jalousie Plantation!

Within an hour of arriving at The Jalousie Plantation resort we had ditched our bags and were in the Caribbean Sea. The first area we entered was in the centre of the beach; not so good. We walked towards the sheer face of the Petit Piton and entered the water. Wow! The water was teaming with a diverse range of fish; an intoxicating array of colour, that was visible as soon as we were only a few metres offshore.

Male Parrotfish dazzled my senses every time I saw them; their colours are an exquisite mix of blue's, greens, yellows, oranges, purples and pinks. An important part of the marine ecosystem, their parrot-like beaks chomp on the seaweed that grows on corals, ensuring they do not become overgrown.

Male Parrotfish (courtesy of snorkelingonline.com)

Other common species included the Wrasse and Angelfish, both of which presented further colouful and shimmering delights underwater. They are easy to spot and enchanting to watch, as with many fish their colours deepen and lighten as the amount of light filtering through the depths changes.

Blueheaded Wrasse and Spotted Eel (courtesy of coreyfischer.com)

Queen Angelfish (courtesy of condocaribbean.com)

Spotted Trunkfish are funky looking creatures, I always (mentally) smiled when seeing them. Shy in nature and poor swimmers because of their portly shape, the toxic secretion they emit from their glands in defensive situations is potent enough to kill sharks!

Spotted Trunkfish (courtesy of miss-scuba.com)

Every underwater experience we had was captivating and enchanting; the sincere feelings stirred deep passions within me. There are several highlights which I will always draw fond memories from; my first encounter with a Green Turtle while on a drift dive along the Petit Piton, spotting the locally-rare Spotted Drum (at Anse de Piton) - on three separate occassions!...

Spotted Drum (courtesy of jimleffardphotographer.com)

Green Turtle (courtesy of biology-blog.com)

... The first immersion at Anse Chastanet beach, where a Triggerfish tried to nibble on my toes (painted a teal colour from my wedding a few days before), swimming through the engine room door on the underwater wreck, Lesleen M; and snorkeling along the Coral Gardens, beneath the mighty Gros Piton, while it rained heavily on my head, back and legs - four hours before we were due to fly home!

Days Out in St Lucia: Onboard Calipso; Courtesy of Barefoot Holidays

2010-11-09T15:36:00.019+01:00

Before reaching St Lucia I had been liasing with a lovely lady called Shiryln, from Barefoot Holidays. I had briefed her on what my objectives were while on the island and we met up once I had settled in. Barefoot Holidays specialise in excursions; they help tourists uncover the island's gems, be it by jeep, helicopter or boat.

I had an array of questions for Shirlyn (and her colleague Allison), and they were happy to answer them, plus give me additional suggestions on activities I could do during my trip. They suggested places to visit; specific estates, reserves and beaches, all of which were welcomely received.

They also arranged for us to take a catamaran trip along the west side of the island onboard 'Calipso', a lively party boat. On the day in question we were picked up by a courteous driver and taken the short distance to Castries Port. After a small shower of 'liquid sunshine', we set sail, out of the Port and in to the Caribbean Sea.

The 'baby-maker' rum punch was soon flowing, even if it was only 10.30, we were on holiday :) From the sea the land could be seen in all its seductive glory. Lolling, fertile peaks, with the odd beach-side town or dwelling making an appearance as we motored south to Soufrière. Just sitting back watching the island unfold was an adventure all on its own.

It didn't take long to reach Soufrière; from here we boarded comfortable minibuses and were shuttled inland to the only 'Drive in Volcanoe' in the Carribean. A small site which smoulders foul-smelling hydrogen sulphide gases, it is no longer active. There are also accessible springs here and even though we wanted to revisit and lather ourselves with the grey-brown mud, we didn't get the chance.

Next stop - Diamond Botanical Gardens! Just a short drive away, this was one of my favourite parts during the whole time on the island. The gardens offer a mesmerizing encounter with flora; along the snaking trail a kaleidoscope of colours and textures pop out of the greenery.

The trail peaks at the Diamond Waterfall, a small opening among the towering trees. Streaky brown and yellow sides produce a stark contrast to the forest, and reminded me of Willy Wonkers chocolate factory!

The circular route led us back to the minubuses through more awesome vegetation, along the way signs pointed out various plants such as Orchids, Heliconia and Hibiscus. The last land stop was to the Val de Pitons restuarant, to munch on some traditional Caribbean fare and recharge the batteries.

I'll admit, by the time we got back onboard Calipso, I was fairly sozzled! The planned snorkelling stop was highly anticipated as the humidity was making many lethargic - but we had a great time bobbing along to the reggae being played and making new acquaintances. We stopped halfway between Soufrière and Marigot Bay, a location I would revisit later in the trip whilst scuba diving.

The snorkelling was ok, it was our first time doing it on the island so I was just happy (but a little dissapointed at the lack of variety) to see some fish! We were the last ones back onboard Calipso and after a quick peek at Marigot Bay (where Dr. Doolittle was filmed), we returned to Castries Port - slightly wobbly, but very fulfilled after an exciting day on and around the island.

(Captain of Calipso with the Captain of Serenity - my husband!)

For more information on Barefoot Holidays go to: http://www.barefootholidays.com/index.htmlro

Resorts in St Lucia - The Jalousie Plantation

2010-11-09T15:35:00.026+01:00

The Jalousie Plantation was the last place we stayed at in St Lucia. A five-star resort, it has been winning many awards this year including the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Travel Awards 2010; "Favourite Leisure Hotel, The Americas & the Caribbean."

It is a luxurious resort, spread out over 100 acres of rainforest between the Pitons. We stayed in a new luxury villa and as soon as we stepped in I could see that every last detail was finished to the highest standard; my favourite parts were the fabulous four-poster bed and spacious double shower. Our location presented awesome views of the Petit Piton, which looked great from our private plunge pool.

Eager to explore and check out the sports facilities, we were quick to dump our bags and get down to the beach. I could have cried at the view. For me, this was paradise.

The resort had a lot of activities on offer, although many were not complimentary as at Rendevous. Wakeboarding, tubing, water skiing and scuba away from the beach are all extra; Hobie Cat dinghy’s, snorkels, windsurfing, kayaking, archery, yoga and pedalos were included.

A shuttle bus service is used for guests to move around the resort as it is fairly spread out in the forest, our villa was located at the top of a steep hill. Although all of the drivers were smiley, friendly and courteous; the service itself needs some attention. On a regular basis the shuttles took 30 minutes to pick us up from our villa, which is quite annoying when you have dinner reservations or a water taxi waiting.

The food was great, we mainly ate in the beach-side restuarant, with great views across Anse de Pitons. For one meal we dined in the Great Room, a new restuarant on site with live piano music, soft lighting, impressive chandeliers and a gorgeous dark wood bar. We ate sashimi, Parrotfish and an open seafood lasagne; which were all divine. Only on half board at the time, we had to pay for drinks, and two glasses (of very good) wine cost $23 including two lots of taxes!

Although there are various board options at the Jalousie, one needs to be careful how they plan to stay there. All-inclusive is a simple, if pricey option, coming in at $123 p/person, p/day. Ever the entrepid explorers, we decided to take a mixed approach; booking part all inclusive, part half board and part with no package; choosing instead to visit local restaurants and stock up the fridge in our room with food and drinks. Alcohol is expensive here, but many people use the local shops to buy local Piton beer and rum. Mind you, the resort cocktails are just the best!

The Jalousie is currently undergoing a huge revamp, with the all older villas being replaced with the new luxury ones like we stayed in. The new villas have all the modern technologies and luxuries one would need. However, the revamp means there is constantly work taking place and the main areas are a buzz of builders, vehicles and materials. Not really what is needed when trying to make the most of paradise!

For us, the best part to the Jalousie is the snorkeling and scuba (although such fine accommodation did make it very difficult to leave!). This will be covered further in a separate post, comparing sites visited here with others on the island.

(Essential island kit)

Apart from making the most of the sports facilities, my favourite way of enjoying The Jalousie Plantation was from a sun lounger, on the beach, watching the sunset with a Pina Colada and loved one to hand; life can be beautiful.

For more information on The Jalousie Plantation please go to: http://www.jalousieplantation.com

Days Out in St Lucia: En Bas Saut Rainforest Trail

2010-11-09T13:15:00.012+01:00

During our stay at Crystals, we asked Monica about guided rainforest walks and she offered one of her staff, Pas, to act as our guide. The next day we set off after breakfast and.... got a flat tyre straight away! Once replaced we continued our journey, through small towns then further in to the countryside, bound for the Edmund Forest Reserve.

Again the road turned to track, we bounced around in the 4x4, which was bouncing around on the dirt tracks. Slithers of concrete slabs changed to rocky, bumpy, holey sections, which occasionally made small offerings of smooth, concrete slabs. The journey took around 40 minutes from the last small town (Fond St Jacques) to our destination, high up in to the rainforest and to the En Bas Saut trail. This same area is home to St Lucia's highest point, Mount Gimie (958 metres above sea level).

Mount Gimie)

The En Bas Trail is deep in the Edmund Rainforest, comfortably protected in a reserve , there are no dwellings or farming allowed by law. The entrance is marked by a small, wooden hut. We ditched the 4x4, donned a big stick and followed Pas in to the green and pristine ecosystem.

I would consider myself fairly fit, and we walked the length of the trail in about an hour. The walkways are well maintained, although a little slippy in parts. Pas was an informative and chilled out guide, he showed us and explained about different trees; like Mahogany, Gomier, Blue Ma Haut and Giant Chatannier.

After a short time it began to rain, and it rained for the rest of our time in the forest, which put a dampener on things, although we could then appreciate why the environment was so green. I was a little surprised about the level of biodiversity; although we were surrounded by trees, the only fauna we saw were fresh water crabs. We heard the St Lucian parrot, but did not see one during our stay in St Lucia. During the journey into the reserve my face had been glued to the windows as I watched a vibrant selection of flowers go by, but there was none of this along the trail in the reserve.

We made our way up and down steps, and along muddy paths, we hopped across stepping stones in small streams and gaped at the texture of the forest; steep slopes and cavernous gulleys. The real treat awaited us, Pas had led us to the En Bas Saut Waterfall. As we walked down some creaky and half rotten steps, the landscape opened up to share with us a magical kingdom. Even though I was soaked through and disappointed that the rain was stopping me taking a million photo's, I managed to hide under a stowed towel and take this:

We didn't stay long and it was too chilly to swim in the fall water; but I'll go back again one day. The hike back up to the car was easy going, I had wrongly presumed that the trail would be harder work, so was pleasantly surprised.

Soaked through but fulfilled and happy, we made our way back down the track to civilisation. We could have picked a better day to go but regardless, it was a beautiful insight in to what make up the lungs of our planet.

Resorts in St Lucia - Crystals

2010-11-09T11:43:00.015+01:00

Located a mere 10 miles away from Rendevous, it took us over an hour to drive to Crystals! The road snakes through rainforest and hills, and in some places is in awful condition. However, in my mind this adds to the adventure and the views along the way were stunning.

The sun set around 18.30 and it was quick to get very dark (no lighting along the roads), we found the track that led us to Crystals, and were extremely surprised by its awful condition. It is not a good introduction.

Crystals has a bohemian-chic feel to it; a small number of quirky cottages make up the development, all of which have fantastic views of the Pitons. Artistically decorated inside and out, it is a colourful, interesting and stimulating, yet a relaxing place to rest your head. The owner Monica is a mine of information and so very helpful, an eccentric lady who makes a mean rum punch!

There is no activity programme at Crystals, however, we hired a 4x4 (essential for getting about in St Lucia) from Benny at Red Tiger and explored! The town of Soufrière lies at the bottom of the valley between Crystals and the glorious Pitons, and visiting it was our first excursion out.

Soufrière is a small coastal town; as with many other urban centres on the island, it is poor and most of the people live a simple life. As with many other urban centres across the globe, they have their fair share of problems with drugs. Upon my first visit in to town, it was visible straight away, we came across quite a few hustlers and were frequently approached in the car. I'm not going to lie, it was scary to begin with. But as we needed to get supplies (breakfast only at Crystals,but every cottage has full kitchen facilities), we had to go in nearly every day. By the end of our stay on the island the apprehension had gone and we were fine about going in to town.

The first breakfast we had a Crystals was devine! A mix of sweet breads with cinnamon and coconut, locally grown, fresh papaya, banana, banana bread and omelette. Pity there was no coffee to wash it down with because although we had a machine in our cottage, it had small bugs in it - so we never used it. Unfortunatley after the first breakfast, standards slipped, as did the time it was served, so each day there was a little disappointment.

One thing that never disapointed was Monica's artistic flair, I loved the way she had adorned the property with aesthetic delights. No corner left untouched and I was especially keen on the tree house bar....

Crystals was a great platform from which to reach Anse Chastanet beach, well-known for it's amazing snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities. More on that later.

I enjoyed Crystals, and chatting away in the tree house with Monica; the location is amazing and it's decoration appealed to the hippy in me.

For more information on Crystals check out: http://www.stluciacrystals.com/

To hire a car through Red Tiger check out: http://www.stluciajeeprentals.com/

Resorts in St Lucia - Rendevous

2010-11-06T16:57:00.014+01:00

As previously mentioned, I stayed at three places while in St Lucia. The main reason behind this was because my husband is easily bored, and I thought this would be a good way to keep him occupied so I could rest a bit more - how wrong could I have been!

Upon landing on the island we jumped in a taxi arranged by the ladies at Barefoot Holidays and a lovely gent called Sammy drove us to our first resort - Renedevous. This couples-only, five-star, boutique resort is located in the north of the island. It took us about an hour to get there, along the way I extracted as much information from Sammy as possible. Happy to oblige, smiley and polite, Sammy was a great introduction to St Lucia. He even stopped half way to show us a fishing town called Dennery, which faces on to the Atlantic Ocean.

From our arrival, to departure, throughout the duration of our stay in St Lucia and even when we got home, we were so happy with our choice in Rendevous. It is a small and perfectly formed resort with courteous and friendly staff, in a quiet location. A short beach walk from Castries, Rendevous sits between two long stretches of golden coloured sand, palm trees hanging lazily over the beach at points, helping to create a picture perfect view.

We had a homely room with wooden four-poster bed, large double-shower and private balcony with views over sculpted gardens to the Caribbean Sea. The pristine and spacious beach-side restuarant was a pleasure to dine in, the adjoining open bar, a pleasure to drink in.

The resort had everything we needed and more, we couldn't have done all of the complimentary activities even if we'd dosed up on Red Bull every day. During our stay we frequently used the Hobie Cat dinghy's to whizz over to Rat Island and back, although the area we were permitted to sail in was quite small.

Other sports we participated in were archery, yoga, scuba diving (more about this later) and tubing, the latter of which saw us wedged into two inflatable, hollow rings and dragged around the bay by a speeding power boat. A couple were getting married on the beach at the time, I wonder if they could hear me screaming before I was unwillingly ejected from my tube?! I had been caught off guard after being catapulted off a wave and into my husband's tube, laughing hysterically I had loosened my vice-like grip for a nano-second.

The yoga was good, at the time, because for three days after the session I couldn't walk properly. Pauline the instructor is fond of Sun Salutations and practices Ashtanga yoga. I had a great session with her, but was surprised by her preaching to me about self-control at the end, she seemed to assume that she knew me. However, I really enjoyed the experience apart from that one issue.

My husband was so enthralled by Rendevous that we tried to book extra nights; but they were fully booked! We packed and left begrudgingly, on to our next resort - Crystals in Soufrière.

To see my overall comparisons with the other places we stayed, check out the 'Resort Comparisons' Blog coming shortly.

For more information about Rendevous, go to: http://www.theromanticholiday.com/16/home.htm

Taking a look at what St Lucia has on offer - overview

2010-11-06T14:31:00.011+01:00

I recently spent two weeks in St Lucia (in October)and for the first time, I could truly understand what the term 'tropical paradise' really meant. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder; but what I plan to do is to share an objective, but constructive look at what St Lucia had on offer.

Located in the south of the Antilles chain in the Caribben, St Lucia is a small, volcanic island, just 27 miles long and 14 miles wide. It is primarily made up of golden, sandy beaches and lush green rainforest. To the north there is Castries, the capital and to the south, the two Pitons, an iconic and famous UNESCO World Heritage site.

Temperatures range from 26c - 32c and the seasons on this tropical island shift between wet and dry. When I was there in October the weather was mainly sunny, with blue skies; sometimes a little humid and it rained on the odd occassion for a couple of hours. It was moving in to the dry season which will run from December to April.

Looking at the 2010 statistics released from the Tourist Board, I can see that primarily, tourists are honeymooners, the majority of which come from the US and UK. The amount of people getting married on the island are decreasing, but honeymoon numbers are looking healthy; up 31% from 2008 to 2009. Every month of 2010 has seen higher number than the same period in 2009.

Hewanorra International Airport is located in the south of the island; from here there is one main road which circles the island - but I'll come back to roads later! Accommodation in St Lucia ranges from apartments and small guest houses to all inclusive, five-star, fantasy-like resorts. During my time there I stayed in two resorts (Rendevous and The Jalousie Plantation) and one private estate with villas (Crystals). They varied widely and I'll be giving you the low-down on all of them in a separate post.

(Rendevous)

So, 'what about adventure sports?' I hear you cry! There was more than enough to stimulate my senses, every day. Infact, it took some time to get my energy levels back to normal upon my return home! St Lucia has loads on offer; scuba diving, brilliant snorkelling, rainforest hikes, dinghy sailing, kayaking, nature tours plus comprehensive activity programmes at the resorts. I'll be posting another blog about the sporting adventures I had on the island shortly.

Want to take a break off the well-beaten tourist trail?.....

2010-10-28T13:28:00.004+02:00

Then you should read my latest piece Costa Rica for some colourful and dramatic inspiration:

http://www.adventuresportsholidays.com/costa_rica/

St Lucia & The Time of My Life!!

2010-10-28T13:14:00.001+02:00

Becoming a commissioned writer has it's ups and downs! Starting out on a new path is always exciting, but what about the old paths? The Blogs, the Twitter postings, the attention to photo galleries and the million other daily tasks?!

I'm going to make a conscious effort to write more on me! I have so much to share!!

For example, my recent stay in St Lucia; AM-AZ-ING! I have stacks of notes and photos to share with you here and as I stayed in three different resorts during my trip, I can provide adventure enthusiasts with a precious insight about life on the island.

I'm chumping at the bit to get this stuff online; but have deadlines :( So bear with me chaps and I will be back in full force over the next two weeks.

Ciao for now :)

Guide to Italy - Adventure Sports Holidays

2010-08-11T10:41:00.003+02:00

Interested in going to Italy for an adventure or two? Then have a look at my short Travel Guide featured on the Adventure Sports Holidays website.

http://www.adventuresportsholidays.com/italy/

More detail and the full version available on request.

Coming soon, travel and adventure guides to Cambodia, Costa Rica, Laos, Malaysia and the Maldives.

An Exciting Ride Through the Campo

2010-08-03T16:10:00.003+02:00

Quad biking through the campo is really popular this summer, with plenty of people eager to explore the landscape in a different way. Get your helmets and glasses to the ready, you're in for an exciting ride!

http://www.coastrider.net/main/features/spec-features/8819-the-quad-experience-to-outshine-all-others.html

I hope you find it entertaining, it sure was a great experience for me and my father-in-law :)

Cool Kayaking Excursion

2010-07-29T18:07:00.005+02:00

Kayaking is a fun and cheap way to check out the coastline, there are activity providers all along the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida that can help you to get out there!

Have a look at this article for inspiration!
http://www.coastrider.net/main/features/spec-features/8182-kayak-safari-with-aqua-adicta.html

Boaty-Type Articles

2010-07-29T17:44:00.006+02:00

Here are a couple of articles for those with sea legs. There are some interesting points about local and national laws that apply to those lucky enough to have, or have access to, power boats and yachts:

Yachting - Day Skipper Courses:
http://www.coastrider.net/main/features/spec-features/8357-training-sailors-on-the-costa-blanca.html

Power Boating - ICC Certification:
http://www.coastrider.net/main/features/spec-features/8517-power-boating-in-spain.html

The Hogueras Fiesta in Torrevieja

2010-06-24T14:56:00.001+02:00

Last night was pretty random. I started off as a guest at my friends gym and a participant in a fun, yet slightly punishing yoga class. It was good to have a proper stretch and learn some new poses though, even if I am having some strange pains in my gluteus maximus today.
I was then invited to a Spanish families pre-fiesta dinner. I turned up bottle in hand and was immediately met by a dozen smiley faces and a table full of food to die for - yum. By this time it was 22.30. I quickly found that it was easier to converse with the families 5-year old than anyone else, as I explained in my broken Spanish, my basic language skills make me a kind of baby myself :)
Soon we were rushing out of the door and taking a short walk to the beach around the corner from Los Locos in Torrevieja. Crowds were gathering and as we met them a single rocket was fired in to the sky and BANG! An opening explosion that nearly burst my ear drums.
Firework displays in Spain are an awesome event, you can be near or far away and they are always simply spectacular. This display was to celebrate Los Hogueras, a fiesta for the start of the summer. The display was coordinated to run alongside music, blaring from speakers placed in the streets. There were literally thousands of people in the streets, on the beaches, standing on chairs - everyone smiling while looking skywards.
The display lasted about 20 minutes, it was full of texture; colours, noises and shapes. Once over we walked along the promenade, sucking up the atmosphere and watching as all manner of events unfolded. Mature ladies danced the flamenca in groups on the sand, the men clapping and singing. Teens set (small and controlled) fires and played in the water. Couple kissed and hugged. Children played innocently, running between family members and friends.
School is out for students and they were there in their hundreds, celebrating and drinking sensibly, playing, laughing, dancing. The culture is so different from that in the UK. No-one was smashing anything up or fighting, or becoming drunk and disorderly - like they do in my hometown in the UK.
We decided to go home around 01.00, although I made a mental note that next year, I would be joining the party with a few beers.
There was just one thing that really annoyed me at the fiesta.... I forgot my camera and was absolutely gutted.

Pole Dance Fitness for the Olympics!

2010-06-05T17:20:00.004+02:00

And this is why:

The girls in Australia keep coming up with the goods:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF6t0shspBg

And this lady from the UK ain't bad either!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-lGjkXlOcM

Blog: Adventure Sports on the Costas

2010-06-03T09:52:00.008+02:00

Hello readers!
I want to introduce you to another Blog I will be writing called Adventure Sports on the Costa's; it's been created to compliment my newly designed website (coming soon - www.costa-adventures.com)

http://www.adventuresportsonthecostas.blogspot.com/

This new Blog will focus purely on adventures sports and related events / people / products and services, mainly in Spain.

Feedback is always welcome, so please feel free to get in touch if you have any.

If you are an activity provider that would like some publicity, get in touch for an informal chat :)

UK Trip

2010-05-27T11:53:00.002+02:00

My UK trip last week wasn't filled with the usual blood-pumping, adhrenaline enforced activities; but was to have my Hen party in London. I had a fantasic time with my group of loved ones and if anyone needs a bit of inspiration when making plans then I suggest:
Strada, Market Place - for pizza and pasta
Madame Jo Jo's - for live cabaret and entertainment
On Anon - for a brilliant clubbing experience in a maze of rooms and lounge areas

Thanks to all involved for making my do so special, I had a blast!

The Downhill Bike Ride Company - Benidorm

2010-05-19T12:00:00.009+02:00

Fancy taking a brilliant bike ride where you don't have to pedal?? Yes please!

http://www.coastrider.net/main/features/spec-features/7889-my-day-with-the-downhill-bike-ride-company.html

Hiking in the Sierra de Espuna with Vista Verde Trails

2010-05-04T12:03:00.005+02:00

It took quite some time to get this article published, for various reasons, but here it is now. I hope you like it and if you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with me or direct with Vista Verde Trails themselves, all their contact info is at the bottom of the article.

http://www.coastrider.net/main/features/spec-features/7641-hiking-in-the-sierra-de-espuna-with-vista-verde-trails.html

This area is definitely worth a visit :)

Sierra de Espuna and Monastario Santa Eulalia

2010-04-26T11:40:00.013+02:00

What a lovely weekend I have had! On Friday I travelled to the Sierra de Espuna again, this time to stay for the weekend at a converted monastery on the national park called Hotel Monastario Santa Eulalia (http://www.monasteriosantaeulalia.com/). The hotel itself has been converted beautifully and nestles between valleys and mountains, its gardens harmonious with the natural environment.

On the Saturday we ventured up the mountain, along roads that become thinner and thinner the higher we went. The views became increasingly awesome and the recreational areas we passed were buzzing with families cooking away on the public BBQ's. We saw hikers and climbers, although for once, it was nice to sit in the car and admire their efforts. Close to the top of the Sierra de Espuna is an area where there are derelict 'snow holes' (pozos de la nieve), structures which were used in the past to store snow (this would then be crushed and the formed ice would be transported down the mountain to the villages in the summer). Today some have been restored, they make cool sights when you come across them in the woodland.

Although beautiful and wild, the Sierra de Espuna does seem to have little wildlife. Maybe the human impact has been too much (although far from busy with tourism) but I was surprised not even to see any birds of prey. I shall sit still for longer next time :)

Aledo was the nearest town to our hotel, quaint with tight roads and a restored castle and church that can be seen for miles. We also visited a monument of Jesus, sat upon a high point that has many religious statues scattered around the ascent. From here we had more amazing views of the surrounding towns and mountain peaks.

Sunday was upon us before we knew it. I had a quick peek in the church at the hotel, filling up with locals for mass, the walls were all painted with various depictions and; stunning. Although not Christian, I have much respect for the architecture employed by churches in Spain.

On our way home I just had to stop at this house; it's for sale if anyone is interested!

An Introduction to the Coastrider Readers

2010-04-22T11:16:00.005+02:00

The ball is rolling again! Please use this link to see my first of many features for The Coastrider, a local paper here on the Costa Blanca. I'm really excited about the move and already have a few articles for them to print. I'll be bringing you the best of earth, air and sea experiences on the Costa and beyond throughout the year!

http://www.coastrider.net/main/features/spec-features/7500-an-introduction-to-my-costa-adventures.html

I've also been offered writing work through the UK's biggest adventure sports holidays provider and look forward to providing a unique insight in to adventure tourism in this area. More info to follow soon.... :)

Where Does the Time Go???......

2010-04-10T13:59:00.006+02:00

It feels like ages since I've written my Blog, the time is just flying past and I have lots to tell. I have decided to stop writing for the RTN due for various reasons and have am now providing features to The Coastrider, another local newspaper instead. That way I am still getting published by someone locally and the readers are getting lots of cool info about what is available to them right on their doorstep. It's an exciting transition for me and as we move from winter, through spring and in to summer, the articles will shift from more earth bound activities to sea based experiences. Woo hoo!
The sailing school is busy (Serenity Sailing), we've had a fantastic start to the year, we're very lucky. Costa Adventures is in need of a revamp so my dear friend Anthony will be creating an amazing new website which will be launched at the end of the year.
I've recently had meetings with a group that will be starting a car club and a boat club. The car club already has 2 Ferrari's and another supercar for track use and the boat club has 2 tidy power boats and 2 jet ski's that are based in Torrevieja. More info to come as it develops.
I continue to go on brilliant adventures. This week I went on a 38km downhill bike ride in the mountains behind Benidorm - it was FANTASTIC! A special mention should also be given to the 2 members of staff that I was with that day, Terry and Alistair; they were fun, professional and so knowledgeable about the area. An article will be published soon about this amazing experience and I will publish it here.
I'm working closely with various activity providers so that I can keep bringing you information on events, races, club launches and interesting local developments. If you need any information about any aspect of adventure tourism on the Costa Blanca, please get in touch and I will do my upmost to help.
For now goodbye, but I will be back soon. Have a great weekend, wherever you may be.
Hasta luego! Anna :)

Vista Verde Trails & the Sierra de Espuna

2010-03-19T22:09:00.003+01:00

I must write a little something about todays adventure prior to the article I am having published in 2 weeks. I have had a fab day. I spent most of it with a lovely group of people, being led around part of the Sierra de Espuna by Paul from Vista Verde Trails. Paul is a good guide and gave us some great tips of safety and he and his partner, Alison, are a wealth of both local and general knowledge. The other guys in the group were all lovely too and my friend / rep surprised me with her sky-high fitness levels - she puts it down to Mamberry, the goji berry and super / nuclear fruit supplement she has been taking for a couple of years.
We walked for 5 hours and I would normally be crippled after that kind of walk (especially as my knee popped out of place last week), but this was the first major walk attended using my nordic poles. I don't want to jinx things but I am feeling surprisingly pain free, lets hope it's not a different story tomorrow :)
It was a shame that the visibility was not so good, but it just means I will have to go back another time - it was just so lovely and I can't wait to take my fiance.

Nordic Walking

2010-03-19T19:53:00.006+01:00

This has been one of my favourite activities to date, it was so fun to learn this new skill and the physical benefits were many (great sport for after Xmas):

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22738&Itemid=38

Talking of walking, I have just returned home after walking in the Sierra de Espuna for 5 hours! Great scenery, great company, great leader - great day! More will follow once I have wallowed in a hot bath :)

Inverted Crucifix & Superman

2010-03-12T12:07:00.004+01:00

What do the funny words in this title mean? ...... They are the pole dance moves that I did for the 1st time last night. So, so cool. I have some funky bruises on my feet and inner thighs but they are worth it!!!!! Got to start taking more photo's.
On the down side, I got home last night and while standing having a drink with friends, my knee popped out (old injury). So no dog walking tomorrow for S.A.T.S who I volunteer with :(

On the upside this means I can concentrate on my article deadline (about Nordic walking), do some course work and shoot some photo's for next Tuesdays digital camera club.
We have poo weather again, but that hasn't stopped Richard going shooting, glad he's forming his own hobby, gutted I can't play on my pole while he's out!
Anyway, here's to a fab weekend with some fab friends that are over from the UK - enjoy folks!

Yacht Maintenance & Anti-Fouling

2010-03-09T15:54:00.007+01:00

Every year or two we have to take our yacht, Serenity, out of the water for maintenance and do to something called 'anti-fouling'. When you anti-foul a boat you basically paint the belly (hull) with a substance that discourages growth e.g. barnacles and other marine life. If you didn't do this your boat would not go through the water so well as this growth, creates resistance.
Having the yacht out of the water also makes other jobs easier and we normally use the time to give Serenity a lot of tlc.
One of my friends asked how you get a boat out of the water, so I thought I would show you some pictures.

Serenity backs in to a holding area and a huge crane comes along, two harnesses go underneath her.

Then they lift her out of the water and pressure wash off all the crud.

She's then put on stilts so that we can work on her hull (belly). We paint and polish the sides and clean up the propellers.

2010-03-08T18:06:00.003+01:00

I had a really great time whilst being a guest speaker on Fab FM last Saturday. The DJ, Bob, really made me feel at ease and I enjoyed speaking about something I am so passionate about - adventures!! They have asked me to go back in 2 weeks as we ran out of time. This experience has really made me think about media and increasing the net in which my and my activity providers cover. Great things lay ahead.....

Heretat de Cesilia - An Award Winning Winery

2010-03-04T15:11:00.005+01:00

I visited this fantastic winery last month with some of my family and fell in love with their produce. Check out this article to read more about the award winning wines produced at Heretat de Cesilia.

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22558&Itemid=38

I'm thirsty just thinking about it. Maybe you should enjoy this article with a glass of full-bodied red ;) Yum.

Charity Walk Training at Casa la Pedrera

2010-02-20T08:37:00.007+01:00

Morning all
Here on the Costa Blanca, we have been subject to a long, cold, dark, damp and very cold winter - roll on lighter nights and warmer days!

There have been few beacons of joy as activities often have to be rescheduled due to the incessant rain. However, I have been able to join the advanced walking group at Casa la Pedrera twice this year, in a training effort for the charity walk taking place there at the end of February. To check out my training efforts and to get some more information, please copy and paste this address in to your browser:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22401&Itemid=31

I'll be back next week with some details of the day itself :)

Shooting in Alicante Mountains

2010-02-05T16:40:00.002+01:00

Hola all!
This is a good one, about clay pigeon shooting just inland from Alicante:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22220&Itemid=31

I'm back in my writing flow after the craziness over the festive season. Spring is looking good with a variety of visits coming up including: mountain and country walking, kayak safari's, bodega visits, nordic walking and of course my favourite - more pole dancing - yippeeee!

Have a good weekend folks!

Anna :)

American Pole Dance Championships 2009

2010-01-24T19:13:00.001+01:00

Anyone who knows me will know how much I love my pole dancing and pole fitness classes. Here is a little taster of why it fascinates me so much:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_NJiwIVu6k&feature=related

I Love Nordic Walking!

2010-01-24T13:21:00.004+01:00

Hello folks
I had to write as I am in love with Nordic walking. I will be writing an article about this fantastic activity and will post the link on when it gets published in a couple of weeks but I had to share some really good news....... I have managed to shed a total of 10.5 inches from my previous body measurements - in 2 weeks! The most notable difference is round my waist, belly and hips. I haven't been as careful with food and have even been having a sneaky drink during the week!
So if you want better stamina, an activity that is kind to your body and has quick toning affects, look no further!
Anna :)

Pole Fitness Tuition Caught on Tape

2010-01-16T11:20:00.002+01:00

I just found this while scanning the web. This film was made in May 2009 while we were at the Round Town News Lifestyle Expo. This is Maria from the Pole Professionals in action!!

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/pole-dance-fitness-interview-viva-tv-part-33/347583738

Hope you enjoy this little taster!

Anna :)

Happiness

2010-01-15T14:22:00.002+01:00

The tiniest things in life can give us the deepest fulfillment. A compliment about your work, a hug from a friend, a walk on the beach. But today I am happy because......

The sun has come out to play and after weeks of cold weather and rain, it is now 18C!
This means I can air my house and clear the backlog of washing!!

Today is a good day :)

Sea Experiences on the Costa Blanca

2010-01-07T15:35:00.001+01:00

Happy new year to one and all! I hope you have all had fun over the festive season and if you are reading this from the UK, I hope you are safe and warm.

This article was meant to be published at the end of last year as part of a 3-part summary of 2009, but hey, here it is now. Copy and paste this address and it will take you direct to the article on the Round Town News website:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21868&Itemid=31

It's a cold, grey, wet and miserable day here in Algorfa but the shiny silver pole that my fiance bought me for Christmas is lighting up our living room - so I have no reason to go out!

Take care everyone, especially all you guys in the UK!

Air Experiences Across the Costa Blanca

2009-12-26T11:53:00.001+01:00

Here is the next edition to my activity summary of 2009 - air experiences on the Costa Blanca.

As usual it's an article for the Round Town News so if you follow this link you'll be able to read all about it.

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21781&Itemid=31

I've just enrolled on a journalism course so am looking foward to my personal professional development in 2010, it's going to be an exciting journey filled with fun and adventure and I will be taking you with me at every step of the way.

I hope everyone that reads this has a happy, healthy and prosperous year in 2010.

Warmest wishes, Anna :)

Finishing the week with a bang!

2009-12-14T08:09:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we spent a lovely afternoon shooting at our friends school near to the Maigmo nature reserve in Alicante. It was FREEZING, but we soldiered on. My partner did very well, never having fired a shotgun before, I was very proud of him and I think he may have found a new hobby. I was less fortunate in my abilities and whereas in the past I have managed to fire of some accurate flukes; I missed all the damn clays this time. I think I need to work on which eye to focus with; or change the hand I hold the gun with. Either way I'm going to need major practice if I'm going to keep up with the boys!
The write up for this experience will be my first feature in the Round Town News in 2010 and will be posted here for you all to have a good chuckle over.

Earth Experiences Across the Costa Blanca

2009-12-10T14:00:00.001+01:00

The end of 2009 is upon us and for my next 3 columns in the Round Town News I will be looking at the highlights of the Costa Blanca and my adventures this year. This week starts by looking at earth bound experiences:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21646&Itemid=31

Check me out next week when we look at air, concluding with sea in the last edition of 2009.

Tara's Retreat and Dan's Mosaics

2009-11-25T17:06:00.001+01:00

This weeks article is about a really lovely couple I know, who run a yoga retreat and mosaic workshops close to Cartegena in the Murcia region.

There's also a shout-out to the Spanish Class 1 team who were up on the podium after coming 3rd at the last races in Abu Dhabi.

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21470&Itemid=31

Power Boating in Spain

2009-11-20T10:58:00.001+01:00

Good morning all! Here is my latest article published in this weeks Round Town News. This week I have covered power boating in Spain and some of the issues affecting this activity. I hope you enjoy.

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21411&Itemid=31

Have a great weekend! Anna :)

Ryanair Calendar Girls Photo Shoot - Video

2009-11-15T13:25:00.001+01:00

Hola!

Just found this online and thought I would share. I helped to coordinate the locations and team members featured in the first 2 minutes 16 seconds.

I have just submitted an article for next weeks Round Town News that will feature a bit more info about the calendar so will add the link for that next weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80b5Pm6sf34

Enjoy! ;)

Pole Fitness

2009-11-13T09:10:00.001+01:00

Pole dancing has been my passion for over a year now and not only is the sport totally cool but the instructor is one of my best friends. Check out this article to find out more:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21319&Itemid=31

I will be posting some films on YouTube by the end of the winter season, all the girls are getting so good now and we reckon we can produce a video that makes everyone look twice!

Watch this space people!

Ultralight Flying Session

2009-11-12T19:29:00.001+01:00

Here's another air-born article from the Round Town News, this time taking place right inland close to the Sierra de Espuña.

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21281&Itemid=31

I hope you guys are enjoying these!!

Anna :)

La Manga Club Charity Walk

2009-11-04T19:01:00.001+01:00

This is an article I wrote after climbing a lovely (small) mountain. It was a baking day but an easy walk compared to some of the others I've done.

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21162&Itemid=38

The Class 1 article I wrote recently has had some fantastic feedback and is being used to drill up further support for the races taking part in Torrevieja next year. Sooooo exciting!

Class 1 - An Introduction

2009-10-23T10:05:00.002+02:00

Hi everyone!
This article is one of my best yet! For all the petrol heads and wanna-be speed freaks, this is for you:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21140&Itemid=31

I'm proud to be the only English journalist associated with the Spanish team and can't wait to see how the story unfolds...... Watch this space

Crazy Days

2009-10-12T18:30:00.000+02:00

Well, last week was pretty crazy. Richard (partner and Director / Principle Yachtsmaster Instructor of Serenity Sailing) had taken some more experienced students to Ibiza for the week so I had decided to pack my week full of fun things to keep me entertained.
Cut to me getting hopefully lost south of Murcia in search of an airfield, I forgot to print off my directions and maps!! Darn! I ended up being 1.5 hours late and was so stressed out! I hate being late and have never been THAT late before, gggrrrr. I was visiting a microlight (ultralight in Spain) school for a flying session which I have just drafted an article about. That was a really cool experience, although not as adrenaline-pumping as I would normally get my kicks from :)
I then dropped in to a fabulous yoga retreat - Tara's Retreat - run by Vivienne and Dan from the UK. It was a lot easier to get to :) I took part in a great Pilates session with two other guests, Ben and Belinda. Ben has worked on the motor racing circuit since the 90's as a commentator, notably for Eurosport. I must get his full name so I have a proper claim to fame! Belinda is an events coodinator on the same scene and they both were just lovely. I really wanted to stay an extra day so I could talk with them more and do more pilates but the next morning, I had to dash off and climb a mountain!
I had made contact with a resident at the famous La Manga Club resort as they are running a month-long fiesta!! All the proceeds go to local charities and so far, it's all going really well and they've raised loads of money. I volunteered to walk a local mountain with a good-sized group of enthusiasts. The gentlemen leading the walk (Robyn) has a great knowledge of the local area and made it very interesting for all of us. He even managed to get us in to a mine that will eventually be opened as a tourist attraction! Good man! That was pretty cool inside. The walk took just over 3 hours, the highest point looking over La Union, Portman and if not for the haze, Cartegena. It was so hot that day and we were all drenched with sweat, nice :)
Anyway, you'll be able to read all about these adventures in my next few articles so watch out!

A Break in the Mountains

2009-10-12T18:24:00.001+02:00

Check out this article if you want to get just a small insight in to some mountains close to use, in the Costa Blanca north. Impressive by anyone's standards, this area boasts mountains, lakes, gorge's and farming the produces tonnes of yummy stuff.

Paste this address in to your browser to access it:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20959&Itemid=31

I'll be going back that way for sure :)

Ryanair Calender Girls Photo Shoot

2009-09-25T12:40:00.001+02:00

Wow! This week was fun! We worked on a great project with the publishing house that deal with Ryanair's in-flight magazines. They approached us about helping them our with their 2010 calendar, use this link to read more:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20865&Itemid=31

The calendar will be out from 1 November and as it's for charity, you should treat yourself or someone you know :)

Family Days Out On Land

2009-09-20T09:13:00.001+02:00

Hiya. Please use this address to check out a Round Town News article on Casa la Pedrera and all the fun that families can have there:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20150&Itemid=31

This location is great for couples, families with young children and teens, groups and they also have access to another house which is a great wedding venue.

Water Sports on the Costa Blanca

2009-09-20T09:10:00.001+02:00

Use this address to check out an article in the Round Town News about what families can do on the Costa during the summer:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20293&Itemid=31

Stand Up Paddle Article

2009-09-20T09:03:00.002+02:00

Hiya everyone

My latest article in the Round Town News is about a fairly new activity in Europe, Stand Up Paddle (SUP). Paste this address in to your browser to check it out:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20725&Itemid=31

This was a really cool activity to try out and something that everyone could do! Enjoy :)

VIVA TV Interview

2009-08-31T08:02:00.000+02:00

I was interviewed by a local TV station at a lifestyle event in May. Check it out on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjx0pGuWHBA

A bit cringe-worthy, but hey, it's entertainment!

Hot Air Ballooning Article

2009-08-29T09:20:00.001+02:00

Check it out!

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20571&Itemid=31

So cool. And for the pictures go to:

http://s998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/costa-adventures/Adventures%20-%20Air%202009/

Kneeboarding & Double Trouble

2009-08-17T09:13:00.001+02:00

Here is the address for my latest article. This was the most fun I've had all year:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20395&Itemid=31

It has now prompted me to buy my own kneeboard so I have hours of aching and mobility issues ahead of me! Enjoy.

We Love The Summer Holidays!!

2009-08-01T13:31:00.001+02:00

Well, the summer is definitely here! Tourist numbers are right up and our accommodation providers, OPI, are all reporting high occupancy rates. Bookings for Costa Adventures are our best yet, with large numbers of families and groups doing activities.
Our top activities include sailing, power boat fun days, sea fishing, wakeboarding, scuba, quads, horse riding, air rifle shooting and archery.
It's just too hot for some of the other activities, such as pole dancing, although we are taking bookings for the winter now.
So far it has been very hot, with temperatures going right up in to the 40's, so we are always advising people to replace not just fluids but salts and minerals. Heat exhaustion is caused when you are exposed to the high heat and do not look after yourself properly, it is very dangerous and can lead to heat stroke. If you think you have it (symptoms include sickness, diarrhea and fever), then get straight to a doctors or accident and emergency at your nearest hospital. Don't forget your E111 and passport.
The beaches are packed and fiestas are happening all over the Costa, so people are making the most of the culture and entertainment while partying till the sun comes up.
Being so busy means less time for my own adventures, but I will be trying out wakeboarding next week! That should be a laugh, for everyone watching me. I'll be writing about it for my next article in the Round Town News and posting the article and pictures here so keep your eyes open.

My First Hot Air Ballooning Experience

2009-07-14T18:41:00.000+02:00

It's been a long time since I've gotten up early (pre-08.00) but it was most certainly worth it!
I had the most spectacular morning, gently drifting over familiar territory in a multi-coloured hot air balloon. Today has been a real scorcher (I clocked 37C in the shade at 2pm) and it was really hazy first thing this morning. I still got some good photo's though, check out my Photobucket gallery:

http://s998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/costa-adventures/Adventures%20-%20Air%202009/?start=20)

I will be writing an article to appear in the Round Town News and will link it in here as soon as it is published, probably in 3 weeks time.
It was such a serene experience and the family running the business are all lovely. It is easy to see why this is such a popular activity all year round :)

Pole Professionals / Pole Angels

2009-07-11T14:35:00.001+02:00

Article about my work with the Pole Professionals for the Round Town News Expo this year:

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18990&Itemid=38

Posters & People

2009-07-09T17:29:00.000+02:00

I finally have some posters that have been in the pipeline since February! My graphics skills leave a lot to be desired so my good friend Anthony offered to help me. And a fine job he has done. His skills mixed with my photos have resulted in some pretty impressive looking posters to be hung in the holiday rental company that I have collaborated with called OPI (http://www.opirentals.com/).
It's just a shame that I didn't have some better images of air-based activities to complete the earth, air & sea trilogy. But this just means that I have to do the activities myself and take pictures while at it. So, this weekend I am hot air ballooning and I have just arranged to go flying in a light aircraft when I return from the UK. I am also looking at collaborating with a microlight company in the south Costa Blanca so should get some good shots from them too.
Business is good with clients mainly wanting to do activities where they can stay cool. I am working on a collaboration that involves a local wakeboarder right now so look forward to offering that to people - and having a go myself of course!!

Sailing Article

2009-07-09T17:22:00.000+02:00

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20007&Itemid=38

The summer is here!

2009-07-01T19:49:00.001+02:00

The weekend has been busy with lots of enquiries for a range of activities. We are now starting to see more movement in the market as people check out what is available over the holidays. Watersports are always a favourite in the summer - for obvious reasons! But now we are seeing more bookings for multi-adventure days where the whole family can get stuck in. I have some spectacular locations for my clients so they really are given the wow factor.

Today we had clients horse riding and quad biking and are expecting the yacht back after being away in Tomas Meastra on a 2-day course. Yesterday we gave a new client a small introduction to power boating. It's always great to see people really getting in to a new activity, knowing that we are giving them a good service with plenty of input on safety. This client has now booked up for his power boating license (ICC - Internacional Certificate of Competence) in August.

It's a busy week ahead with more and more ladies joing the pole dancing classes, and even a couple of guys too! I'll be checking out some more activities so I can write about them in the Round Town News, one being jet skiing. I've never done it before and as a bit of a petrol-head, I'm emmensly excited. Once again taking the educational slant, I will be learning the safety and legislative aspects so I can pass my new found information and experience on to readers at some point over the summer.

Things are hotting up here but I see on the news that Britain is embarking upon a heat wave. I hope people don't get caught out and get sunburnt or too dehydrated.

The Costa Adventures picture gallery is slowly being populated and it gives me great pleasure to offer this free service to clients. Have a look, you may see someone you know!

Kitesurfing article - Round Town News, June 2009

2009-07-01T19:47:00.001+02:00

Check it out!

http://www.roundtownnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19786&Itemid=38

Numero Uno Blog

2009-07-01T19:45:00.001+02:00

Hello everyone!!
I am so excited to be starting this blog! This will be the first time I have had one so please bear with me while I iron out the creases :)
I hope to bring you a fabulous array of adventures and experiences over the coming days / weeks / months and years!
Costa Adventures is such a fabulous business and I am proud to be the Founder. Not only do I get do loads of really cool activities, but I get to see my clients, friends and family do them too. I bring people together in a fun and safe way and when I get to share those moments with them, it makes me feel very priviledged.
The Costa Blanca has huge potential as far as activity holidays go and although the area is not know for this aspect right now; I hope to be one of the people that changes it's current stereotype.
I have met and worked with some excellent schools, instructors, professionals and companies since starting Costa Adventures. Together we bring people (ex-pats, tourists, colleagues and companies) a superior standard to services.
I will be linking up my images, films and other interesting bits to this blog that I hope everyone benefits from.
For now, hasta luego and I will write again soon.
Have a cracking weekend.
Anna :)