Wow

So this place is pretty amazing. I keep looking around and thinking, "is this right?" Dh says that since someone else is paying for it I shouldn't ask. Hmm.

First, our room is incredible. Two amazingly comfortable beds, a gi-hugic bathroom plus an entire room devoted to getting dressed. The ceilings are at least 20 feet high. And there's a balcomy with chairs & a table, overlooking the river. This part of The Cloister is just a year old, our cab driver said how many millions it cost to build it but I forget the number. The original Sea Island Beach Club is across the street and is nice but not pretentious. With a new Spa and a new Beach Club (being built) I would say they are giving pretentious a run for its money.

Still, the atomsphere is light & happy and all the employees are pleasant and call you by your name (through the wonder of caller ID, computers and my room card.) And dh and I are having a great mini-vacation together. (Well, at least 24 hours of one. Now that all of his meeting attendees have arrived I'm on my own. Which is ok too.) Last night we walked & talked the length of the beach (about 2 miles). This morning we got bicycles and rode the length of the Island, about 4 miles each way, riding past gorgeous home after gorgeous home... all built sort of Mediterannean meets Southern Plantation. Amazing trees draped with spanish moss.

There's definitely a class thing going on here. As in upper class, tennis-playing, Coastal Living-reading, country club-joining, polo shirt and bermuda shorts-wearing, Ivy League-attending. Pretty much white, slim & trim. We're seeing mainly retired and 30s with kids. There were two weddings here yesterday so we saw some late 20s, mostly women in skimpy cocktail dresses (many of them quite unattractive, really) (the dresses, not the women) and very high uncomfortable-looking heels.

The history of this Island (and the resort, golf, beach club on Sea island) goes back to the 20s, 30s, 40s. Lining the hallways of the Main Building are black & white framed photos which are fun to look at.

The landscaping is awesome and there are fresh flowers and fragrant bushes everywhere even though this part of Georgia is suffering from a drought.

Last night the "turn-down service" consisted of our someone leaving our robes (there are two in the room) on our beds, slippers next to the bed (on paper, mind you), bottled water and chocolates. Apparently the "wake-up call" means they come TO your room and start your bath. :-) The "butler" brings coffee or tea whenever you want it and will unpack your suitcase if you like.

Hope you are having a Happy Mother's Day wherever you are. I'll be back to my own house & home and sweet children in a few days.