Hello Everyone! WE’RE BACK!!!!
We had a wonderful time and the weather could not have been more perfect. Cap Juluca in Anguilla is one of Jac and my most favorite places in the Caribbean. The people are absolutely the sweetest and most friendly. Like every where else, hard times have hit the island too and most hotels were only 20% to 35% occupied…….not good for this time of year. As you can see from the photos the architecture is Moorish and there are villas along the waterfront with 5 suites per building. The island is very small and there isn’t a large airport to accommodate large jets, or a large harbor for cruise ships, so it is a very quiet island…….just the way we like it. We met a terrific couple…..Scott and Gina and shared lots of stories. They too, have been coming to Cap Juluca for many years. I like to rent a car so we can just go anywhere…anytime we feel like it. There are some really good new restaurants, so I have not gotten on a scale yet and don’t plan on doing it for a couple of days after some vegetable dinners! A typical day is up at 7am….which is late for us….go to breakfast at “Pimms”, one of the restaurants on the property….with an incredible view. Then back to the room and get ready for a day on the beach…..sitting under the umbrella and reading in between naps! At noon the beach attendant brings freezing cold hand towels to put on your face, head, arms etc and at 2pm they come around with frozen sorbets in different flavors. We usually order some lunch served on the beach, or if we are feeling ambitious…..we will take the car and go for lunch. At 4pm you can go to the main house for tea and cookies or scones. Jac and I continued our Gin Rummy tournament. We would leave the beach at 5-5:30pm or so and get ready for diner. Then it starts all over again. Sometimes, if we need a break from the sun we take rides and explore, or go for a frozen yogurt at a local beach shack. However, my favorite past time is just laying on a float in the clearest, bluest water anywhere in the world. That is a color I can never quite reproduce…..and I have tried. It was really hard to leave this time…….and back to reality. The sea wall is still being worked on and my lawn has turned into mud from all the trucks tearing it apart, but I just click onto my pictures of Anguilla and know that this mess too will pass…………………I will be on QVC again on Dec 27th. I do not have my own show, but I do have 6 or 7 new wonderful things that will be sold that day……..then a huge show on Jan. 7th…………..until then, take care, be well and God bless!!!!!………..much Love…………………Louis
Louis and Jac
We’ve talked Cap Juluca and Anquilla before…my favorite place in the world besides Tuscany…My first visit in 1995 was a graduation present for my daughter who had gone back to Harvard to get her graduate degree. Cap Juluca has an outstanding staff. Subsequent visits and renovations have made Cap Juluca even for stunning. That sky at night is the most beautiful view with zillions of stars and that warm tropical air. So thrilled you two were able to have some gorgeous down time after your Sandy experience. We will be there in February for my annual snow getaway. Just wore your silver lace jacket and it was an instant hit!
So glad you guys are refreshed and looking forward to the holidays. Will be watching your appearances on the Q…looking forward to them.
Dear Victoria…..I am totally jealous! I wish I were going back in Feb.The restaurant “Blue” at the beach and “Spice ” next to Pimms were closed for renovation, so please let me know when you get back if they look any different. The morning we left we could hear the jack hammers at “Blue”. I can tell you the clients who had just checked in were not very happy…..and I don’t blame them. We discovered two restaurants on this trip La Dolce Vita and Da Vita….both excellent.The Barrel Stay, Straw Hat and Mangos are still good and Blanchard’s is always good but we thought had gone down a little. Have a great time. The work here continues and frankly it feels like we never left.
Hi Louis: You probably didn’t notice, but there is a huge shark fin behind you as you float on the raft. (Just kidding). Beautiful, beautiful place and at least you escaped CT for awhile. What a mess – we can only go up from here. Bless you and Jac – that modeling DNA will always be within her – she is just beautiful, you are too. Bless you both and the girls/
Welcome back Louis, I have a serious case of LINEA withdrawals. In order to survive the month of December I need sneak peeks to help me get through the worst month of the year for me. So please Louis please put out a few things, if you have six new things could we see three?
Dear Sharon, I haven’t photographed them yet. Just got home and have been so busy with insurance companies, AT&T and the new construction, plus deadlines for next fall sketches……but they will be coming.
Sketches … Fall Sketches … we’ll wait for you, LOL. Take care of what you need to; don’t undo the good of that vacation 🙂
Cathy in PA
So glad to see you enjoying a well-deserved break away to the Caribbean, the second most beautiful waters in the world -second only to the emerald waters of Destin, Florida (said with great prejudice, LOL). It is wise to take breaks during reconstruction. I went through five months of it following Hurricane Ivan, so I feel for what you are going through. Looking forward to your appearance(s) at the end of the month and the big show in January. That is when the ivory ponte knit is due to be presented, right? The ponte knit pieces I have from your previous collections are my go to garments when I expect the work day to be unusually hectic. Deborah
Louis, this looks just sublime!!! There is nothing more relaxing than sand, sun, and the sound of water. Balm for the soul….I know you returned home with much work still to be done, but you will have your Connecticut paradise back before you know it. And who says you can’t have a return engagement should you need to slip away again? Welcome home!
Mr. Dell’Olio-I am a fairly new customer to your line through QVC but have been an admirer of your talent since your time at Anne Klein! I must say your Anguilla trip reminds me very much of my time spent on Orient Bay in St. Martin-your days pretty much mirror how I spend time when I am there. Nothing compares to Caribbean blue water. I look forward to the purchases I am sure to make on Dec. 27th and Jan. 7th-Please tell your lovely wife, Jac that “A girl in a bikini may be hot, but a woman in a bikini is sublime!” She looks incredible!
Dear Louis and Jac,
What a lovely site- the place and the people:-)I get such a kick out of seeing your beautiful smiling faces on vacation. It was a long time coming and most well deserved! That spot looks like heaven on earth. I’m glad you are safely back, though!
Welcome back, Jac and Louis. What a beautiful, relaxing get-away. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season.
Judy Ann
Well, Jac certainly rocks a bikini. (You look cute carrying out a ploy that I, too, use — that of grabbing camouflage wherever I can.)
So glad you love the Caribbean. I ALWAYS become seriously ill after visiting that part of the world. When it happened the third time, I swore I would never return, and I haven’t.
I just knew you were someplace where you could choose to be incommunicado. Good for both of you!
Sitting here in grey, dreary PA, nursing the cough and sniffles I got from last weekend’s visit with the little grandson (worth every cough LOL), wrapped in a blanket … and what appears on my computer screen? A lovely blue paradise … THANKS, I needed that!
So glad you and Jac had such a wonderful rest, and thanks for sharing it with us; it’s a lovely place, and oh, that blue water … sigh. Keep your chins up, and when that construction gets to you, escape through your beach photo as we are. “See you soon”; looking forward to those new pieces and assuming we’ll get a few sneak peeks eventually 🙂
Meanwhile getting great use out of all my Linea pieces … Welcome Home! Cathy in PA
A well deserved respite in paradise with a smokin’ hot wife. You’re a lucky man, LDO! While I’m not pleased that we won’t have a show until the end of the month, it makes me happy to know that you can have this time to sink back into your home and enjoy the holidays. Will look forward to “seeing” you on the 27th and sneak peeks before then. By the way, I love your evening watch so much, it’s the Linea gift I am giving to four of my friends this year (they all look forward to something from you and have for the past 4 years and no, they don’t live in the same city!) Blessings on you and Jac this season. Kate
Absolutely gorgeous! Such a well deserved diversion from the construction at the home front. Thank you for sharing your vacation photos with us. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season.
rae
Sucha lovely place. Welcome home and so happy you had a wonderful relaxing time.