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Adding pictures hopefully mahokid 18 minutes ago Had to downsize pictures
Still takes a bit of patience for pictures to attach
got the hang of it now and will get caught up with pictures from previous posts and than any new posts should have pictures directly attached

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La Cottage mahokid 2 hours ago Awoke to another beautiful day.

About 15 minute trip over to friars bay to meet our friends from Italy who are staying up the hill behind friars bay beach Cafe

The surf was mild although about 15 feet of small stones immediately entering the water
We floated on our rafts and got caught up as we have seen them since last year and discussed our trip to visit them in Italy next year

Friars bay beach Cafe was closed so we packed up and spent some more time together while enjoying lunch at the Gutside
It is always very good and nice to not be eating French food
Also nice to see Richard and Lourdes
I always order a simply prepared whole red snapper while others had garlic shrimp, bbq ribs and chicken
All plates were well cleaned

For dinner.
We were very happy to be able to visit La Cottage since they thier vacation sometimes if during our visit
It may be our 2nd favorite restaurant on the island
We were welcomed by owners Tania and Stephane
I will say it took a few years to know Stephane as he is very business like but once he new I enjoy wine, we had something in common
Our primary server was Jullien whoose twin brother used to work at La Villa but moved back to France
I mention this as after so many years you expect to see certain familiar faces at certain restaurant

While Florence is no longer a partner in La Villa, our biggest surprise was to find John Carlos is no longer working at La Villa
We will meet up with him later this week at Orange Fever to get the scoop

La Cottage is a very comfortable restaurant pretty much in the center of Grand Case boulevard.
The air conditioning kept up cool all night as sometimes an open air restaurant can get a bit humid this time of year

La Cottage has a unique menu with an imagitive chef using some nice food combinations Beautifully presented plates
While I was tempted by several things off the menu and specials board but
I stayed with my usual lobster tasting

My first course was a lions head bowl of deep flavored bisque topped with a dome of puffed pastry, along side was a petite glass of what I would describe as a lobster mousse.
I could leave after this and be happy

My middle course was an open faced style lobster ravioli with a foam on top

A refreshing sorbet was offered with a fair amount of vodka to cleanse the palate although I thought my palate was already clean

A petite roasted lobster of maybe 4 ounces was my main course
It was tasty but just overcooked a bit but not so much that it was dry
I'll touch more about this in my next review

There are some great choices for dessert and we saw a "French toast" dessert go by that looked delicious but you must have the caramel souffle puffed high above the ramekins sides served with a side of salted caramel ice cream

My wife did eat as well, starting with an excellent scallop carpaccio served with a tar tar all artistically presented
Curious how great this dish was knowing the fresh scallops needed to be flown in

Off the enticing list of specials my wife selected Chilean sea bas topped with chopped shrimp
I enjoyed most of this dish while my wife enjoyed my lobster main course as her choice was just a bit too rich for her

Complimentary rum shots completed the meal

This is no list of wine by the glass as Stephane the sommelier will assist in choosing a wine for you
He may even open a special bottle for you something if you like is not already open

I stuck with the standard French sauvignon blanc, chardonnay for my meal

Always a excellent meal and so glad they were open this year

Last to mention is we always drive through the village before dinner and was surprised to see only Roasty's ( new in front left directly across from Le Piment) to be the only restaurant open in the village on a Tuesday evening.
Wow!
Yellow sub was open as well across the street

So far this week open restaurants in the village seem to be Roasty's, Maison Mere in the rear as well as Sao in the front right.
Many more closings this year as in previous years

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La Villa Hibiscus mahokid Yesterday at 09:28 PM Spent day relaxing at nearly empty community pool
Did say hello to some locals who live year round and fun to see their children grow up year to year

A short drive from our rental in Orient is La Villa Hibiscus in the former Sol E Luna in Cul de Sac

A beautiful restaurant, maybe the prettiest with a glass enclosed kitchen where you can view a very focused chef and sous chef preparing all the courses

They offer 3 prix fixes ranging from 75 euro to someone like 225 euros

We had tried the grand prix fix a few years ago and while it was an experience, I would mostly call it tweerer food from the cover of a gourmet magazine

We chose the "simple" 5 course which the server described as bisto food
I translated this to mean simpler presented and it was exactly that

Service is comparable to that of a michelin restaurant where the chef has worked at several back in France

All food is carried out of the kitchen on large wooden trays which are gently placed on a serving table in the dinning room, all food is presented to the table under a glass dome

There are 3 choices for each course

A stunning amuse bouche offer a spherical sweet pea mousse topped with caviar along with a demitasse cup filled with something carrot

Our first course choices were a "meat pie" which resembled a thick chopped country pate as well as carribean style ceviche
Both were nicely presented although we prefer a more traditional ceviche

A pork dish similar to a gallotine showed very well on the plate as well as the palate
My wife's choice was vegetarian for something different and was 3 large rigatoni filled with a eggplant puree
A great choice since we have been enjoying much fish recently

I hopefully can add pictures when I have my computer back for visual highlights

The cheese course offered a ramekin of melted gooey cheese

Desserts included a weird combination of an floating island in a perfect ball with a turmeric sauce
This somehow really worked well together

My wife's dessert was similar to a peach parfait that I found refreshing

Thier 5 course menu changes monthly

Wine by the glass started at 15 euros and a glass of red burgundy topped out at 22 euros which is high for the island although better quality

While my wife did not enjoy the previous grand tasting menu, she really enjoyed this meal

Definitely a bit more expensive than most all other traditional French restaurants. but still a very enjoyable evening

They do post the monthly menu on their home Facebook page

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Tortuga For Lunch CaribLee Yesterday at 05:42 PM Had to have the mahi mahi burger again. It is consistently very good. Fries are really good as well. Not much beach left after Erin and no beach chairs set up. A very warm day so getting ready to head to the pool. It's a rough life.

dance

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Smoking on beaches Tandoorii Yesterday at 04:26 AM I occasionally smoke cigars on a Caribbean vacation. I like to find a secluded area where my fumes wont offend others, usually walking along a beach. However, I've read that France is imposing smoking restrictions in their country as well as in their territories, including St. Martin. Does anyone have an update on local reaction or restrictions that might be or are already in effect on the French side of SXM?

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Car rental gone2beaches 08/19/2025 01:37 PM I know I've seen this before but can't find it.. Are there car rental companies that will meet at the airport (SXM) with the car to avoid the waiting and transport off site? Thanks! Thinking late November.

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Jet Blue / Boston timnboston 08/19/2025 01:06 PM I just rebooked $432 - round trip direct (Sunday-Sunday) in January. Lowest prices I can remember in 25 years! Don't know what is going on - but I ain't complaining

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My daughter's trip report Midsouth 08/19/2025 11:30 AM We have been waiting for the grandkids to be old enough that their parents feel comfortable taking them on a sailing charter. The kids grew up on smaller boats, cruising the Tennessee River, and day trips on every vacation, but mom and dad were hesitant to take them "sailing" until they were just a little older. The youngest is now 7, and they joined us this summer.

You simply can't do everything with a first timer, so we focused on having somethinge to do every day, lots of shore time, and keeping things fun and safe.

It's easy to forget just how awe inspiring the islands can be.

https://maegankaybakes.com/sailing-the-british-virgin-islands-for-9-nights-itinerary-route-tips/

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Arrived 8 17 Sunday mahokid 08/18/2025 11:14 PM Uneventful flight from philadelphia connecting through Charlotte
long line for entry. Need separate line for those with forms already filled out
Luggage waiting to be retrieved off carousel
Leslie from Kenny's car rental has car ready

Airport seemed chaotic but expected for a Sunday considering it ead closed on Saturday because of storm

Absolutely no traffic going to Orient where we will reside for the next 10 days staying at Neptune from blue ocean villas
Very reasonable, very well equipped with almost all you could need to cook and frig even stocked with beer, water and necessary condiments.
This is a return visit and our concierge Maglia lives close by and is very responsive if needed for anything

Astrolab is 5 minutes away and is our first night dinner considering we awoke at 2:00 am

Seating is around the pool
Service is friendly and attentive
I believe 3 course prix fix is up to 67 euros
A nice breeze filled the air

An amuse of potato soup started off our meal
Only lots of butter and cream could make this so good

The appetizers were the star of the evening
My wife chose the smoked wahoo while I loved the petite prawns served with baby boy choy, morels with a morel mushroom sauce
The morel sauce was unbelievable in flavor

My wife's fishbowl included triggerfish, mahi mahi, shrimp and octopus
Plentiful and tasty

Since the mahi mahi on the menu was not available they substituted triggerfish for me over the mahi set up of some creamy sweet mashed potatoes
Tradition cream burlee and a chocolate sponge card cake rounded out the wonderful evening

Complimentary shots of hazelnut rum were enjoyed

Astrolab continues to stay on our repeat list

They will be closing for vacation very soon

Apologies for any errors since we are both retired and have no need to luggage computer on vacation, review is completed using phone

Also trouble attaching photos so hopefully can do once back home

Return visit to la villa hibiscus in cul de sac above orient in the former sol Le Luna
Should be interesting as it is the most expensive restaurant on the island although we are doing thier lest expensive prix fix

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Dick g DICKG 08/18/2025 06:46 PM It’s been awhile since i have been on we had had a few things happen but we are ok just glad to be able to be on this sight

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