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Friday, June 27, 2014

Villa Caloukaera: Our HomeAway from Home … in the French Islands of Guadeloupe

Pictured above: Saint-François Lagoon, Grand-Terre, Guadeloupe Islands


He who returns from a journey
is not the same as he who left.
~Confucius 


If you haven't been following The Passport Party Project on its Phase 2 journey so far, then you don't know that 10 American teen girls are going to the Guadeloupe Islands next June to get their very first passport stamps and to experience the French culture, environment and people of Guadeloupe. They will not be the same when they return to the United States. Of that, I am 100% certain. Submissions for the 10 coveted spots opens August 15, 2014.

If you haven't been following along on our journey so far, you also don't know that these same 10 girls will shack up in their very own home away from home sponsored by HomeAway, the world's number one source for vacation rentals with one million listings. #1MilWaysToStay

But, hey. Now you know. ;-)

Of course, as the Pied Piper of Passports (haha), I'm going too, along with Advisory Board Member, photographer and travel writer Lebawit Lily Girma, and my college staff Mary Mitchell, who is an American Red Cross certified lifeguard and who has traveled with me on teen trips to waterfront destinations before. There will be 13 of us females in total. And before you ask, yes, there are 6 toilets. Hey, it matters. #IJS

Saint-François

Our HomeAway from home villa is located on Guadeloupe's main island of Grand-Terre, in the commune of Saint-François, which is on the south-east point of the Gwada butterfly




It doesn't hurt that Saint-François is often compared to the Cote d’Azur in the South of France with its stunning location that combines the tropical Caribbean setting with French style and flair. Stroll along the bistro lined streets, go shopping at the markets for fresh fruits and vegetables, dine and shop at the beautiful marina on the calm turquoise lagoon, spend a day playing golf at the international golf course or enjoy its spectacular white sand beaches. #lesigh


Villa Caloukaera: Our HomeAway from Home

And here, mes amis, are the photos, courtesy of HomeAway and Villa Caloukaera:




That is a parental unit attached to the back of the house.
Guess who is staying there? #PiedPiperofPassports





For more images (of the inside) and to check out the entire listing, please click here.


And hey, why not buy a virtual (or real!) airplane ticket and join us? HomeAway has plenty of rentals to choose from. And besides, you won't be the same once you get back. Promise. ;-)