Very late trip report!

Being our first trip (1/31 – 2/14/04), I thought I would take really good notes for this report. Well, my intentions were good (I even bought a little journal) but the excitement of the island and all the new friends took over and the notes never got started!

Our flights down were uneventful…MSP to SJU to SXM. All on time, luggage with us and fast immigration lines in St. Maarten. Life is good… We were met at the airport by Mickey from Tropical, but the vehicle was not what we ordered. We went to their office and were told to return the next day. No problem…we were finally here and on our way!

We found our way to Vista Royale II and Craig from Packlight pulled up behind us. Great timing and what wonderful service. He helped us carry baggage into our villa and he agreed that we did well in our choice! Our villa was beautiful, clean and even more than we had expected. We asked Craig directions to Baywatch as we were off to our first TTOL party! He asked if we had ever been here before, started giving us directions and then gave us his opinion that it might not be the best trip in the dark across the island on our first adventure. Since we had been up since 3:00am and we were hungry, he suggested Chesterfield’s at the bottom of the hill for dinner. I could hardly keep my eyes open through the wonderful Cajun Shrimp Caesar Salad, so it probably was a good choice to miss a party even though I hate missing a party! Note to Contessa: We did bring a dozen limes for the party but we put them to good use during the two weeks!

After two trips back to Tropical, an hour wait and an extra $150, we finally got a different vehicle and were on our way. We stopped for some essentials at Rams, forgot beer and rum so stopped again at Sang’s Market on the way back to the villa. The selection wasn’t as large as at Ram’s, but the prices were very reasonable. They kept us well stock on bananas and mangoes for Gary’s wonderful fruit drinks! Then we were finally off to our first TTOL party at Ric’s (Superbowl Sunday). I told you this was a late report! We met up again with more new TTOL friends at BBB the following week which was also really fun! You are all such great friends and we are so thankful to have met you!

We met so many great people…Amy and her group, Wayne and Louise, Norm and Betty and Kathy, Howard and girls (Iowa_Girl) and many more whose names I can’t remember! We had met Kathy and Howard in Minneapolis the night before they left, and enjoyed them so much! I can only reiterate that it is the people that make this island so special and were the top highlight of our trip! A special thanks to Norm for all his help in planning this wonderful trip, too! I look forward to seeing all of you again on our “next” trip, if not sooner!

Our two weeks went way toooo fast (and I wish I had taken notes!). We took two day trips…one to Anguilla by ferry and another to St. Barth by air. Both are so beautiful and so very different from St. Maarten. The flight to St. Barth wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, in fact I felt a lot better on it than I had on the ferry over to Anguilla! We took taxi tours on both island and they were both outstanding. We thought the beaches on Anguilla were wonderful and had fun snorkeling Shoal Bay and having lunch at Uncle Ernie’s! We could easily return to Anguilla for an extended stay. On St Barth, we wondered if we could afford lunch after $9.00 coffee (two cups) and $9.50 cokes (two cans)! We were relieved when we went to LeSelect and had great cheeseburgers (in paradise, you know!), fries and beverages for under $20!

We had such wonderful food in St. Maarten, but I have to say my most memorable meal was the live lobster we purchased by the bridge on the way to Marigot. After selecting our “catch” (it had to be 30” long), the kind French lady par-boiled it for us, her husband cut it in half and removed the yucky stuff and we brought it home on ice and finished it on our grill. Add a salad, some wonderful French bread, the sunset view over the bay – what could be better!! We also had two wonderful lobster dinners proceeded by great coconut shrimp appetizers at Turtle Pier (we like lobster)! Gary would say that his favorite was breakfast at Zee Best in Marigot. Yes, it is across the island from where we were staying but he rated it higher than the new one in Simpson Bay. How else could we put over 300 miles on our rental car in two weeks? He also votes Ms B’s as his favorite ribs, but Talk of the Town were really great, too.

Silliest thing I did and would not recommend: On our last afternoon we returned to Happy Hour at The Greenhouse for our second Friday at the crab races!! I can’t recall the bartender’s name (can’t imagine why), but I started trying all kinds of wonderful concoctions at his recommendation (remember it was two for one!!). By 8:00 I had had way toooo much to drink, no dinner and it got even sillier as I got Gary involved in some ridiculous balloon race in which we had to break balloons in assorted body positions! I had a great time, but I paid for it the next day flying home with a tremendous hangover!

Beaches: We tried new beaches almost every day! It was really windy when we were there and found Friar’s Bay to be calmer so I would have to say that was our most enjoyable! It wasn’t real windy the first time we were at Orient, but when we returned it was almost like being sandblasted! Did enjoy lunch and drinks at Baywatch, though! The scallops were outstanding!

Shopping: I think I would have to say that, other than the jewelry stores and the artwork, Gary enjoys the shopping more than me! He enjoys bartering and the little markets! We did find the little MaDoudou Rum shop, the ceramic shop and many off the beaten track shops! We enjoyed the walk down the boardwalk in Phillipsburg and never felt unsafe wherever we were.

Thanks again to all of you who made this trip and its memories to very special,
Gary and Belinda

PS Our luggage did get home intact four days after we did! Thanks AA!