Guest Blogger, Da (Andrea) Orr: EVERYTHING BUT THE HOT STONE MASSAGE

Lazy mornings by the infinity pool, afternoons riding the waves at one of Antigua's 365 magnificent beaches (one for every day of the year), then a couple more hours logged at the pool and at the private beach of a famous fashion designer neighbor, before finishing the evening off with a five star meal, prepared in turns by Chef Preston and Chez Pascal, and retiring to a mountaintop cottage underneath the stars, where the surf crashed below me and exotic Caribbean wildlife hummed all around. That pretty much sums up my five glorious days in the seaside village of Galley Bay. Sort of like a spa, minus the spa treatments. Who knew this sleepy little getaway was home to one of the top ten eateries in the world (as ranked by Fodor's)! It's a well kept secret, but fine French food and a gregarious chef await anyone who can navigate their way to the top of the steep gravely road that leads to Chez Pascal, a path that's treacherous by car and murder by foot, especially in the middle of the hot Antigua day. I was lucky (?) enough to make the trek both ways, the second time in the company of a young chef and a sweaty young reporter in training (AKA Olivia and Noah) who successfully scooped The Antigua Daily Observer when they scored an interview with Pascal and pumped him relentlessly until he revealed his secret recipe for mayonnaise. Other entertainment came by way Karaoke Queen Caroline and daily excursions with Amanda and the ever-social Madeline into town. Here on Antigua, grocery shopping counts as an outing. Yes, life on the island can be a bit slow, but delightfully so.