SUNDAY NIGHT SALE AND a special vacation spot!

Hi,  Just returned from vacation on the Caribbean island of Antigua and I wanted to share this special destination with you in case you are searching for a getaway.  It was everything we were looking for.....quiet and beautiful, attentive staff and good food, crystal blue water.   I booked on travelocity and checked trip advisor for comments posted from recent visitors.  Checking tripadvisor can drive you crazy as everyone's expectations are different.  You sort of ignore some of the negatives especially when there are comments like "we will never return because they kept overcooking my poached eggs."  We always look for a few things when we book our yearly winter getaway....direct flights, less than 35 minute drive from the airport and a small resort. Galley Bay has only 98 rooms and cottages and provided us with the escape we needed.... After registering you are driven by golf cart over their lagoon (Rog went fishing) and approach the main building.This is the center of the small complex.....everything is open to the warm breezes. this was it, everyday.... Most of the rooms are in 2 story cottages.  The British plantation style furnishings were new, mattress super comfortable with soft cotton bedding.  Window treatments were beautiful linen with gauze sheers underneath.  All the spaces were ample sized including the large bathroom and walk in closet. The vaulted ceiling is made from driftwood color local wood. See the ocean out the balcony??....we were steps from the water (all the oceanfront rooms were) and were lulled to sleep listening to the calm surf each night..... Can we pretend the long legged brunette on the balcony is me?? On the lagoon were Tahitian style cottages, the bedrooms were in these huts. Through an open area was the bathroom which, although beautiful, I felt was kind of odd...Maybe it was for those couples REALLY wanting to feel as though they were on a stranded isle.. shown here is the distance between both bedroom area and bathroom... each of the cottages had a plunge pool which was very private....lagoon in distance. the spa was small and lovely.... keeping with the Tahitian style throughout the hotel the few treatment rooms are reached by charming bridges... the gauze curtains were gently blowing in the island breezes....REALLY! they, of course, provide couples massages.... this is the small spa pool with tangerine panels (totally on trend) For your enjoyment..... I loved the bronze leaf form wall sconces adding to the subtle evening lighting in all the common open areas....there was live music each night. The resort is on Galley bay on the northwest side of the island....Giorgio Armani's home is at the end of the beach Beautiful pool..... towards the end of the beach near the far restaurant guests have been "building" charming towers of coral... I added the top rock on this one... The hotel is "all inclusive" with three restaurants. Not club Med buffet style, which was great when I was traveling with kids,  but a nice a la carte menu blending the cuisine of the West Indies and Europe offering fresh vegetables, seafood and even lamb for the British crowd.  The Ismay restaurant above is the only one of the three where there is an extra charge, which we felt worth the added cost for the special ambiance open to the water. This wall is constructed of coral..... The Gaugin restaurant is private dining in thatched cottages two steps from the waters edge......in the evening romantically lit with candlelight....I want to go back!!! The stucco and timber construction added to the exotic feel.... The cottages and spa have these wonderful twig detail windows.... Subtle details add so much.... These rocking chairs were right off the large open bar where we enjoyed sampling the rum drink of the day....by the end of our stay Rog was offering his own recipe to the charming bartender....  First we would work out together in the small fitness room and would follow it up with a couple of Bloody Mary's ... The resort also provides equipment for tennis and has bikes for a spin on their nature trail...and croquet  At the entrance to the resort is this wonderful sugar cane mill with large cacti surrounding.  Many of these beautiful stone structures are seen across the island since colonization in the early 1600's began it's once thriving sugar cane business.  I have to add, I am not surprised they placed the  resort's entry at this special antique structure as it naturally adds one of a kind charm and impact setting the mood for your visit.  I brought back a couple in case you're interested.....NOT!! OKAY now for the SUNDAY NIGHT SALE !!!! I brought these original 19th century herbiers (h 14 1/2, w 13) back from France and had them custom framed.  The writing is in French and has charming tapes and descriptions...offered to the first person to EMAIL ME at $95.00 for the pair!  Buyer pays shipping... GOOD LUCK!!   Warmest regards, Bonny    My favorite blogs:     Cote de Texas  Velvet and Linen    The Enchanted Home   Visit my blog or Enter your email address to subscribe: Delivered by FeedBurner     Bonny Neiman Antiques & Artisan  p.973-714-4541 www.bonnyneiman.com Trouvaille 12 Beechwood Road  Summit, NJ Monday-Saturday 10-5:30   Like us on Facebook