Nov. 10, 11, 2022

11/10

As seems to have become our new norm this trip, we awoke early but actually started our day quite late. Headed out to Mary’s Boon for a little beach watching with breakfast. Breakfast, Eggs Benedict and French Toast, was yummy and seeing some old acquaintances was special, too. We haven’t stayed at The Boon for probably twenty-five years or more but it will always maintain a special place in our hearts. Said hello to some old friends and acquaintances and reminisced for a bit with the owner over a stay there when he was rebuilding after one of the major hurricanes that actually took out many of the beach properties along Simpson Bay. Not all were happy memories but memories nonetheless. The Boon has managed to transform itself and still be a very popular island destination after all these years. Breakfast was yummy.

And we were off.! Hoping to find Monique (Mo, Moose, Moss), one of the most well-travelled people I’ve ever known. We’ve followed her over the years from the earliest days of Karachter - the bus on the beach - to the Yacht Club and even to her days off, relaxing at Anguilla. Rumor has it she’s working at Lagoonies these days and hopefully we’ll find out for sure.

Dinner plans with friends at Yvette’s. I can’t tell you how many years we’ve wanted to try this spot but it just never happened until last night. We went with the_lurker (Terry and Rit Anzelone) and Bill and Elaine Miller and their friend and neighbor, Lorie. Left to our own devices and given the traffic at dinner rush hour (is there such a thing?), along with our relative lack of familiarity with the Orleans area, we probably would have turned around and said fuhgeddabowdit but so very glad we were passengers for this excursion. Dinner was delicious, all of us having different entrees. I had a pan sautéed red snapper filet and it was delish and served with a side salad, rice and peas, plantains and Johnny cakes that were to die for. And when all was said and done, I think our dinner was about $50.00, no sc included because it is on the French side. If it weren’t so far away I’d go back in a heartbeat. No glitz or glamour but great food and an excellent island experience. And we were actually out later than ten o’clock - a trip record for us this year.

11/11

Noon on Friday and it’s pouring. Again! But we are on a mission trying to locate that long time acquaintance back to the early Karachter days and so far we’ve had no success. We tried the Yacht Club, the Dinghy Dock and today, Lagoonies, all to no avail. Gave up our persuit and instead we lunched on a foot long hot dogs at Fat Tony’s and then raced home to chat with newly arrived friends from our Towers days.

And then, we were honored to have been invited to the birthday celebration of Sharon Harris, aka Queen of Sint Maarten by many, and don’t you know, we got stuck in traffic and ended up getting there late. It was a lovely party and so nice to finally meet a few people we’ve known only through media. Now we can actually put faces to names. It was a lovely party so again, our sincere thanks for being included in this prestigious gathering.

And then home which should have been a quick trip from the Royal Palm but If something silly can happen it will happen to us. Somehow, we managed to get ourselves into the middle of an island parade celebration for St. Maarten day. Floats, flashing lights and music. Oh, the music! We were detoured off the main road and onto backroads in the Simpson Bay area which we were totally unfamiliar with. It was after dark and very confusing with traffic and people everywhere. We came back out to the main road in the middle of the parade. Oh the people - and loud, loud, music. To say the least, it was quite an end to a busy day. Thank heavens the parade turned over the causeway and we eventually made our way back to BSV but it did take us almost an hour and a half. But to spend an evening in the company of all those notables it was worth it.