S - t - w,

I feel like we're talking about two totally different places in your description of Cupecoy and its environs. And I do believe we're all entitled to our own opinions and often times they will vary one from another so I will share my opinions here as well. I hope you don't take offense but I want the OP to know there are many sides to the Cupecoy story.

With regard to Porto Cupecoy, just curious - we have had very good breakfasts in the past at Ernst and Fidel's. Are they no longer there or no longer serving breakfast? And The Green Monkey at Ocean Club, just down the road, also does a nice breakfast. There may be other places but we don't do breakfasts out that much and when we do, we generally head in the opposite direction and usually to the Tortuga at Royal Islander or the Simpson Bay Yacht Club for the food and the views of those gorgeous yachts.

As for Mario's Bistro, it is and has always been, one of the better dining ops on the island - we've never managed to rack up a bill quite that high for the two of us but we're usually only good for a glass of wine and a bottle of water which might make the difference although the food is so good we always do a soup to dessert dinner there. And yes, the market at PC is expensive but not for what and where it is, IMO. We think of it as a very high end convenience store primarily intended for the convenience of the PC guests, but it's clean and very well stocked with virtually everything and anything we might need, and I think that's how many who use it feel. For a serious shopping order or good bargains, it definitely isn't the best island choice but I will say, I found a beautiful rack of lamb there one time and for less than I pay here at home.

In reading your post I almost feel like we know a totally different Cupecoy than you experienced, even though we don't actually stay in Cupecoy but in Mullet Bay, though we are close enough that we feel like it's our backyard. As for the road through Mullet, we've been driving it for forty plus years and while there was a time when it was a little tense going through there, today the derelict buildings are gone and it's well lit, so aside from the windy roads, it doesn't frighten us at all. We find it to be a perfect area in which to stay since it gives us easy access to Mullet, Cupecoy and Maho and at the same time equally easy access to Marigot. It's our quiet refuge from the busier areas and yet a stones throw to most of the places we enjoy. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />