SXM 2013 – Jan 26 to Feb 9
Our third trip, 1st was a week, 2nd for 10 days, this time 2 weeks
Flight / RI La Plage
Our flight from Toronto delayed 2 hrs, used the pay premium Plaza lounge, worked out OK, and should have checked before we left home. Flight on AC was great, nonstop, arrived 6:30 pm. Customs quick, luggage fast, and used a cab to the RI La Plage. Check in was easy and fast. Room was stocked thanks to Jeannie at Shop and Drop – TTOL sponsor. A cold beverage while unpacking, then a quick walk and dinner at Pizza Pasta.
La Plage, the balcony is quiet, the ocean view fabulous, nice sunsets. Some noise comes through the “front door”, but if you close the bedroom door, it’s good for us, but if the planes are leaving early ie 7 to 7:30 and you want to sleep in, then stay in the #2 wing. The “1” wing gets lots of afternoon sun and not much breeze on the balcony vs the “2” wing, so choose accordingly – we had no regrets and would come back. Upkeep is great, the flowers lovely. We bought the month long internet package for $60 [weekly is $50], speed is good. They have some excursions; ie Thursday is Orient day, 10:30 to 3:00, $20 pp.

Beaches
Mullet beach had fabulous waves one day, surfers and boarders provided the entertainment.
Went to Orient three times, hung out at Orange Fever – wore my orange trunks to celebrate. Kept running into people from Minnesota, finally had to ask and that’s how we learned that Sun Country flies direct, who knew.
Our Sunday day trip to Anguilla, started with Wilfred Brooks – TTOL sponsor - picking us up to take us to Marigot to catch the 9:45 ferry. Wilfred was great and we used him several times, will do so again. With us was my sister in law. Another great sunny day, stayed in front of the Madeariman on Shoal Bay E. Last year “Tall Boy” was our cab driver, lost his card from last year, but guess who turned out to be our driver for the day. Bobbed in the ocean a few times, beach was great for walking. Two doors down is the old Ku location, now the Manoah, only looked at the beach bar / dining part. Upscale, menu looked good, local band belting out the hits, some up dancing, looked like fun plus Elvis showed up for one song.
Grand Case was good, spent the rest of the beach time at La Plage.
Maho, not much beach in front of La Plage. On busy cruise days, the area around Sunset was insane with people, better to hang out at the Driftwood.

Shopping
Shopped at Marigot, found the lady selling the French linens, bought some local jewelry for gifts, a friend bought some spices, nice day.
Philipsburg for pre valentine gift at Ballerina’s – TTOL sponsor. Drinks on the porch at Taloula Mango’s watching a band play across the boardwalk. Saw the Oasis of the Seas, it’s huge!
A few Heineken hats and that was it.

Food – Note, if not special, then no comment
Happy hour at the Driftwood beach bar provided entertainment, it’s insane, the girls behind the bar are just a blur, plus sitting there was an almost Admiral Sandecker aka William Macy, look alike sans the famed Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur cigar. Turns out to be Motown Tim of TTOL fame, not sure which moniker makes him more famous, nice chat.
Orient Beach, Orange fever for the pineapple / chicken curry salads and the shrimp garlic pizza.
Anguilla, lunch at the Madeariman was a Fisherman salad split three ways, mahi mahi, tuna, grouper, shrimp. That plus a lobster pizza was more than enough for the three of us. Service from Lucy was excellent and fun, Ginette was making great drinks.
Several lunches were homemade baguette sandwiches, with ham, fabulous cheese, mustard, French butter, fresh baguettes and cold beverages.
Pizza Pasta pizza was OK, but a little like sitting in your parents 60’s rec room.
Soprano’s made us a lovely antipasto platter, that plus a bottle of red and a pizza with lots of arugula on top was great as was Sandra the waitress.
Dinner at Le Cottage on Tues night was excellent. Unfortunately no Harmony night, but the street was packed. There was a duo in front of Ti Provencal and a house band at Zen, but that was all. The Lolo’s were jam packed
Moulin Fou, went a few times for the angry dragon roll, that and a bottle of either rose or Chablis hit the spot. The salads are huge. We split a roasted goat cheese salad and I thought they had made a mistake and brought two. Mateus is an excellent host.
Tried the Fashion Café, their signature salad and provence pizza were good.
Dreams is worth the trip.
The Tortuga Beach bar’s karaoke night played old Beatle songs, loved to hear “I saw her standing there”, memories of Pete Townshend and myself doing a cover version in his London basement in the 60”s.

Last Day
On the beach at La Plage, had my playbook, wifi and flightview app, so kept track of our delayed flight and ended up with a full day in the sun, all thanks to technology at the beach

Misc
Was surprised to see monarch butterflies, saw a bit of milkweed on the way to Mullet.
Saw a sunset green flash, must find the pictures.
One day coming back from Marigot saw Saba, Statia, St Kitts and St Barts, unbelievably clear.
Used cash – US - except for cc imprints.
TTOL sponsors – Shop and Drop, Wilfred Brooks - taxi, Ballerina – all deserve a mention and your business.
Orient sand, walked it several days and seemed to be lots of sand. For those want to stay at Mt Vernon, I walked from the pool deck to Pedro’s in 20 minutes, it was 10 minutes to Coco’s [I think]
SXM card worked as advertised, Jeannie was able to drop it with the groceries.
Special note – Jeannie called us one morning to check if all was OK, no issues, I asked where to buy the 10 Cane rum she got us, no problem said Jeannie, asked where we would be that day, hearing Orient, told us she had a delivery there and would meet us, and she did, Can’t beat that – rum delivery to the beach, a lovely woman, I’m a fan, we will be a repeat customer of Shop and Drop – check her out on TTOL. Have mentioned her to several at La Plage, they were unaware of the company and liked the idea.
Meant to but did not – breakfast or happy hour at the Yacht club to watch the boats at bridge time, day at Pinel, lunch in Marigot and Wed dinner at Ocean Club and more. However that is what next trips are for!

John & Bev