Tuesday- Breakfast at Zee Best. What I like about Zee Best is the quality and consistency of the food. Service is somewhat chaotic since they instituted the 15% service charge. No one waitress to deal with. Went to Philipsburg to shop for souvenirs. In recent years most stores are not open if the ships are not plentiful. There were 5 in that day so all was open. My wife dragged me to DK Gems to look at an upgrade. No final decision thank God. Stayed at Royal Palm beach since we were hot and tired from shopping. Went to the Bavaria for dinner, which we always enjoy.

Wednesday- Breakfast in Room. Went to Marigot for gift shopping. Cocktails on porch. Then off to Pineapple Pete’s, it was last year’s fav with my wife. Last year she went 2 times to Pineapple Pete’s for Lobster Thermidor. She loved it. This year on this day, they had only very large Lobster Thermidor for 2 for $51. It was disappointing to her and to me. Large lobster shell, a lot of bready filling and a little amount of tough lobster. Off the list.

Thursday – Breakfast in Room. Went to Orient Beach at Kakao. Cocktails on Porch. Went to Mario’s Bistro in Sandy Ground for 9:00pm seating. Had to wait for some late 7:30 people to leave to park. But had a nice table next to channel and lots of Tarpon jumping around. We shared a salad special on waiter recommendation (he said big enough for 2.) I had the famous 1/2 duck and she had the fish special and we shared a dessert-all excellent.

Friday – Breakfast in room. Did some clothes washing at RP-free now. Stayed at RP pool just to relax. A lot of kids on spring break but we are used to that with eight grandkids. Cocktails on patio. Then off to IZI’s, our first time. I had chicken parm and my wife had gnocchi her favorite. A little expensive, but very good. Met one of the few and far between Dutch residents of the island. They have spent 8 months a year here for the past 20 years. He said other than Karacter’s and Holland House very few Dutch-owned hotel/ restaurants on the island.

Saturday- Breakfast At Cabana restaurant at RP it was good. Packing day to move back to Oyster Pond (French side). Very windy in the AM. Provisions at Market Garden. Moved in just as it started to rain. Rains all afternoon on and off. Just sat on porch with Rose and cheese. Then off to BZH Creperie for dinner for our usual.

Sunday – Easter service at St. Martin of Tours. Very crowded and a long service. Then had Breakfast at the Pasanggrahan Hotel having the usual Bohemian style pancakes. Then off to Dawn beach. Cocktails on porch. Then dinner on friends’ porch. Astonishing how the person cooks a delicious meal with a small two-burner stove, toaster oven and microwave. It was a delicious Easter dinner. Red pepper soup, southwestern salad, pork tenderloin with potatoes au gratin and a wonderful chocolate lava cake all made from scratch. They stay for 3 months so they eat-in 4 to 5 times a week so she has plenty of practice. But she hosts as many as 7 people on their porch, for dinner unbelievable.

Monday – Breakfast on Porch – fresh baguette, butter and jam. Off to Dawn Beach. Cocktails on Porch. Then to Canoa. Canoa is gourmet-style caribe restaurant. Since many restaurants were closed on Easter Monday in the area, it was packed. The staff was sort of overwhelmed. We shared a Canoa app. Great as always - a plantain with tomato sauce and ground beef. The taste is much better than it sounds. I had red snapper and my wife had the fish special – we shared a dessert. It was great.

Part III this week sometime.