A Bathing Suit With That Anguilla Beach?

Coming to Anguilla Again

After ditching St. Martin for Anguilla, our backpacks still sat in Miami. They appeared the next day. Hence, two more ferries to and from Princess Juliana International Airport, and we had our belongings. More importantly, our bathing suits.

Walking Anguilla in the Fast Lane

One aspect of Anguilla really sticks out compared to St. Martin, it’s not as developed and simpler.

A single two-lane road crosses the tiny island while bushes and trees hug the edges.

Also there are no sidewalks to speak of. Walking requires that you walk on the street mindful of two types of passing drivers. Ones speeding by with young, hormone driven drivers or ones mellowing along with hormone deficient older drivers.

Once Nadine and I decided to explore a part of the island that was not attached to the glorious combination of beach and sea, we walked.

For snacks, we walked south along the winding road past barking dogs on fat chains to the small convenience store.

To the north, was a collection of handicraft stores.

At the Devonish Art Gallery, we were gently greeted by one of the nicest people you will ever meet, Carrolle. Over the next 30 minutes, she taught us a little about the island, Carrolle’s departure from Seattle and subsequent move to the Caribbean, and of course, how her children are doing. No need to worry, they’re fine and not living in New Mexico. After our talk, she kindly drove us back to our hotel at a safe speed.

Which One of You Beaches are the Most Beautiful?

Unlike the majority of our trips, our goal was simple, sit on a beach and nap, read, or just stare into the distance looking for other islands. We got pretty good at that on Mead’s Bay. Every once in awhile, we would swim out to a trampoline, and like Cypress Hill suggested, jump around, and then finally jump back into the water where we would eventually find ourselves back on the beach back at step one, napping, reading, or staring into the distance.

What Anguilla lacks in infrastructure is more than made up by beautiful, secluded beaches. Apparently that’s why really famous people visit this island. Plus, the laid back folks of Anguilla don’t much care harassing people, even the famous ones. No one bothered us. Not sure if they didn’t bother us since they thought we were famous or our skin was so white that it scared people away.

The soft, powdery white sand cupping the calm, blue water along picturesque Maunday Bay beach on the southern tip of the island, might have been the world’s top beach (sound like a travel magazine description?). It held the honor briefly.

However the next day, we found the top beach at unassuming Shoal Bay East (insert the same adjectives about this beach but even better). Too bad I forgot the same bathing suit that required so much effort previously. I had to watch everyone enjoy the world’s best beach. My bathing suit and I were in a bad spot in our relationship, we spent quite a bit of time apart.

Intimate Takeoffs

Days in St. Martin bracketed our vacation to Anguilla.

Watching large airplanes land and takeoff just feet away from a public beach was without a doubt the highlight of St. Martin (you probably thought the missing bag was the highlight or having to pay twice for a hotel). The Princess Julianna International Airport’s runway extends out to the edge of the water with just enough area for a spit of beach. As planes prepare to takeoff, folks take “advantage” of this time by running up and grabbing the chain link fence and endure a pure blast of joy of a mouthful of sand, dirt, trash, fumes and/or jet fuel spewing out of the back of the plane as it thrusts itself into the heavens.

On the flip side, when planes come in for a landing, people place themselves on the spit of sand and record planes landing intimately over head. The alternative viewing point is a restaurant terrace with a burger, fries, and beer in hand for the panoramic views. That’s where we found ourselves . . . in our bathing suits.