What a way and what a destination to spend the last full day of our Classic Caribbean Windstar Cruise: Fabulous St. Bart's as we Americans refer to it. As I have described nearly every morning each was a sight to behold. Without fail we viewed sailboats anchored in our vicinity along with the occasional cruise ship every morning under brilliant blue skies. Clearly the best was saved for the last. I could not contain the gigantic smile that emerged when I witnessed today. All the fabulous yachts basking in the sparkling waters. Truly St. Bart's is the glamour capital of the Caribbean and a home to the rich & famous. If you want an example just Goggle Chopi Chopi Yacht.

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The skies are glorious and the waters reflect the sun's glow. After another fabulous breakfast on deck at The Veranda we are off to explore. We have reserved a rental car so we can explore St. Bart's in depth at our pace, making sure we don't miss anything on our long To-Do List. St. Bart's here we come!

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For those of you who cherish shopping - there is none better than Rue de la Republique, the main street along the harbor in St. Bart's. Bvlgari, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada and dozens more high end shops line the streets on both sides of Gustavia Harbor.

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With map in hand we are off to experience St. Bart's. Flamands, Colombier, one beautiful beach after another, and a stop to overlook the airport runway. This is the shortest runway in the Caribbean, situated between a mountain drop and the Saint Jean Bay. Prepare to get buzzed as the private aircraft barely clear the road before dropping quickly down to the runway.

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We thoroughly enjoyed the dramatic eastern end of the island with one Cul-du-Sac Bay next to another near Marigot. Popular restaurants line the beach while upper end homes perch on the sides of cliffs delivering spectacular views of the mighty Atlantic Ocean.

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No self-respecting Jimmy Buffett fan would would miss the chance to gaze at Autour de Rocher, what's left of it, above the village of Lorient. well. We certainly did that. What an infamous history. And the same pertains to Le-Select, where Cheeseburgers in Paradise and Heineken were consumed in mass quantities.

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By all means explore the harbor area by foot. Wonderful ambiance, amazing shops, and restaurants that rival those in France. We suggest you take advantage of the world class cuisine since the Wind Surf anchors until 10pm. Include a stroll over to Shell Beach. It is a bit of a hike from town and a little uphill. But behold, a beach covered in millions of shells. I kid you not. See out photo on the left. Shell Beach, by the way is a great locale for sunsets. 

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As for excursions, start with something on the water if you can pull yourself away from Gustavia. The rugged, scenic coastline and spectacular private homes along the coastline make for wonderful viewing objects for any type of sailing. Snorkeling is excellent and the semi-sub gives you a terrific view below the surface. There are also diving excursions and sunset sails. Or explore the island via a private driver or on you own, as we did. It's easy,

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Back on the Wind Surf we admired the gorgeous views of St. Bart's, the neighboring yachts, enjoyed the final Sail Away ritual and marveled at one final glorious Caribbean sunset from the deck. We enjoyed our final delicious dinner at AmphorA and even requested some Escargot from Stella Bistro, which our server graciously complied with. 

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DRINK OF THE DAY: Mojito Madness

A variety of mojitos are available for purchase.