A panoramic view from the top of our building, facing the lagoon (click to enlarge then scroll from side to side for the full effect)

I thought it would be fun to share a few images of the complex where we live, Rainbow Beach Club.

My feelings about this place are mixed. In some ways it’s a great place to live, and in other ways it drives us nuts. (See post about not having water for three days.) It was intended to be an upscale resort, and while it falls short in some ways, in others it absolutely succeeds.

The hunt for a place to stay before we moved down here was long and difficult. Many places were considered and most were dismissed for various reasons. The complex we really wanted to live in was Tradewinds, which is right across the street from Rainbow and is visible with the red tile roofs in the foreground of the panoramic shot above. But in the end everything turned out for the best. We can look past most of the problems at Rainbow, and the ones we can’t look past we learn to deal with. Overall, it’s a splendid home base 20 months.

Piper and I took a walk around the grounds yesterday and snapped some photos.

	This is where we spend the most time. I’m not a huge fan of the artwork, but at least it’s comfortable and cozy. And in all honestly, it’s a nice place. Size wise it’s not our five bedroom two bath house in St. Cloud, but other than the size we really have no complaints about our actual condo.
	Sometimes Cari tries to study at home instead of going back up to school. I hope it works for her because we like having her around.
	This is our oversized balcony where, surprisingly, we don’t spend that much time.. Even though we can see a small sliver of the ocean, the view is mostly of the parking lot, one of the swimming pools, and the next building.
	Hallway from the entrance leading to the living room. The bedrooms and bathrooms are off of this hallway.
	Our entryway complete with our makeshift screen-door which we picked up our first week on the island. It allows us to keep our door open and have a wonderful cross-breeze which cuts way, way down on our AC expenses.
	The front view of our condo complex, which, I feel, is a little disappointing. This is the front and first of three buildings. It’s also the one we live in. I’ve been told that the original plan was to have the first two floors be filled with shops and restaurants, but somewhere along the way those plans were scrapped and now the windows on those floors are filled in and painted over.We don’t know why plans changed, but we have heard that the owner of Rainbow is constantly in court defending herself against law suits. She also owns the private k-12 school CIA.It could be much worse, of course.
	Alvin, our friendly security guard.
	Directly below our balcony, this is the first of three swimming pools on the property, and it’s also the one that absolutely nobody ever swims in. Ever. The building on the left is the second of three buildings in Rainbow Beach. The building on the right, the first, is ours.
	Another view of the first pool. Our balcony is on the first row above the blue windows.
	The cobblestone parking lot and the arch bridges between buildings two and three give it a distinct European flair.
	The back corner of our building.
	The grounds are immaculately kept.
	This pathway leads to my favorite part of the complex.
	Further down the path.
	Almost there…
	No matter how man times I come down this path, the view never grows any less stunning.
	The kids have nicknamed this pool “Iguana Pool” because there are always iguanas hanging out on the cliffs looking over the beach.
	The beach directly below our complex.
	Looking down the path from Iguana Pool towards the third pool.The people at Rainbow fall into three categories: 1) Weekly rental vacationers, 2) Condo owners who spend six months here and six months at home in the States or Canada, and 3) Medical students (and sometimes their families). This couple is part of the first group.
	The path from the Iguana Pool to pool three and to the stairs leading down to the beach.
	Pool three.
	An older pic of Andi, Tanner and Piper in pool three.
	Path leading from pool three, through the gazebo, and down the winding stairs to the beach.