soca

The Love: St. Lucia

Beyond the award winning views of the pitons, beautiful beaches and lush countryside, St. Lucia means so much more to me than what aesthetically meets the eye. The love of my life is from there and we have a child who also has the beat of St. Lucia running rampantly through his veins. A real true soca baby.

I met my husband on MySpace (remember that?) in 2006. After emailing and chatting for about a month we finally met around our birthdays (mine is August 28th and his is August 30th). From August 31st on, life was never the same for either one of us as we quickly became inseparable.  

Fast forward to 2008. I spent my first Christmas holiday in the islands living locally. We stayed at a family member's quaint and cozy home in the village he grew up in. There was no AC, no hot water, the roosters woke me up at the crack of dawn and I could hear waves crashing somewhere off in the distance. I never felt more at home.

We spent Christmas Day walking along the beach. Coming from the big city this was a new experience for me and I absolutely LOVED it. The beach on Christmas?! Life couldn't get any better!  

We stayed through to New Year's Eve and attended a party at one of the all inclusive resorts nearby. We watched fireworks by the pool at midnight. I was in heaven.

After two years of dating exclusively I knew then in that moment he was definitely the ONE.  

I've been back to St. Lucia countless times since that first visit in '08 and each time I go back I seem to fall deeper and deeper in love with this man who I now call my husband.

Some sun and sand will make everything all right. I'm telling you! 

Welcome Back!

It's been a while. A LONG while. Life has happened (literally! I have a 1, soon-to-be-2 year old son) and well, to be honest, it hasn't been easy trying to balance life as a mom and middle school special education teacher. Though I absolutely LOVE the Caribbean, and I always find the time to make it there (I can never stay away too long). No matter my financial situation, I will ALWAYS find a way to get to paradise; my safe haven, security blanket, place of happiness and reflection. I don't know about you, but I NEED the sun, sand and waves. I NEED to see the vibrant greens of the swaying palm trees and crystal clear turquoise waters. It just does something to my soul. It's as much a part of me as the Bronx is. Yes, I born and raised in the Bronx but I consider myself an "honorary West Indian" (via my husband, who comes from St. Lucia). 

I love island life, period. Not just what a resort can offer because most times I prefer local living. Bob Marley said it best, "We'll be together with a roof right over our heads, we'll share the shelter of my single bed". YES! Less is always more in my book.