Guadeloupe: We spent our first day just resting up from the frantic rush to get ready and the long trip. We got our first taste of the beaches and were pretty impressed. As expected we had the white sand and crystal clear water, but there were also many great ocean “swimming pools” where a sand bar or reef s a few hundred yards offshore allows the the waves to break and provides “warm bath” swimming areas. We were duly impressed. Our hotel is an interesting model. For $100 a night we rented a decent sized studio which has a balcony with full kitchen. There is no room service of any kind, and the restaurant and bar is open only periodically though the day. By 9:30pm, everything is closed. But it suits us nicely. Towards the end of the day we rent a car and prepare to start exploring the island.