A little over two months ago I found out my next trip was going to be a long one… really long… long as in nine weeks on the Caribbean island of Curacao which is just off the Venezuelan coast. To say I cried is an understatement and here is why…

1. I don’t like the Sun (It makes me hot)
2. I don’t like the sand (It makes me dirty)
3. I don’t like to lay out (I get bored)

What on EARTH was I supposed to do on an island for NINE weeks?! Seven weeks in London was a long time and at least London offers museums, markets, theatre, and shopping! This is a girl who prefers city streets to beaches, clouds to sun, cool air to warm, dresses and heels to coverups and sandals, dirty martinis to pina coladas, cute sassy clutches to big beach bags, oh my gosh… how would I survive?!

So basically that’s what was running through my head an entire month before I made my way south. If I did not change my way of thinking, this trip was going to be the end of me and possibly my beautiful career as a world traveler! I knew something had to change and unfortunately it was not going to be the Sun and sand, it had to be me.

I decided to ask friends and family for some suggestions on ways I could spend my time on the island and here is what they came up with…

1. Work out-Done and done. After not working out for years I have finally gotten back into it. While sexy R&B blasts in my ears I imagine myself looking tight and toned in sexy lingerie (Don’t judge until you have tried it and for those of you who can not get motivated by listening to Celine Dion like my mother, try some R. Kelly…trust)
2. Collect Seashells-Tried gathering some shells the first day I was here and fell…got angry…went to my room. Maybe another time on a more shell collecting friendly beach.
3. Read-Got a Kindle for convenience while traveling…I love my Kate Spade Kindle case a little bit more than the Kindle itself…it’s true.
4. Sell Treasure Maps-I should find all the hidden (And non hidden) beach bars on the island, make a beach bar pub crawl, design it to look like a super old treasure map (Beach bars are definitely treasures), and sell them to all the tourists…best idea ever!!
5. Learn to speak the native language-The native language is Papiamentu and Danki Dushi (Love it!), which means “Thank you sweetheart”, is as much as I plan on taking back to the US with me.
6. Learn to knit and play bridge-My sister suggested this and I don’t know whether I am more disappointed in her or personally insulted.

So I’ve been here a little over a month now and I must say…I’m reeeeally warming up to island life. I’ve gotten myself into a routine of working out, reading…a lot, swimming and snorkling, I went cliff jumping (Huge!), and even sip on the occasional banana daiquiri (Yums!). With my sun kissed look, there is no need for makeup. I still wear dresses, but have swapped the heels for cowboy boots and I watch the sunset almost every evening from my beyond beautiful balcony. This city loving lady has met the island girl within and is soaking up every minute of this beach bum life and a little sun along the way!