Hi All<br>Sorry for the delay in this trip report but had a lot of work to catch up on when we got back<br>Spent 9 wonderful day in SXM Feb 11th to 20th<br>Air Travel & Transportation:<br>We live about 45 minutes from JFK on Long Island.. Had the 8AM direrct flight, AA suggested we arrrive 3 hours prior so we left the house at 4:30 AM , Boy is that early. No traffic on the road at that time of the morning. Arrived at JFK at 5 AM Only about 20 people on line at ticket counter. No problem checking our 2 bags. We were having breakfeast outside carry on security by 5:30 AM Breezed through carry on security and were at the gate by 6 AM They really have security under control at JFK. Flight was in the air a few minutes early. Had a great flight with a breakfeast. Watched the movie and had a few drinks to get in the Island Mood. Arrived in SXM a few minutes early. Since they seem to gate the big planes away from the terminal we were taken to the terminal bldg by bus. Imigration was a snap and we were at the luggage carousal before our bags. Bags were out in 5 minutes and outside was Myra from AAA Car Rental waiting for us. She drove us to her lot we did 5 minutes of paperwork and we were on our way to Esmeralda. Myra gave us the new bridge opening schedule and we mad plans for return of the car on the 20th. Arrived at Esmeralda, checked in and were on the beach by about 2:30PM. The return flight home was almost as uneventful as well except at one point while wating for our departure I went outside for a smoke and heard a news report from one of the cabs in the stacks about a man with a loaded gun and extra bullets getting through security somewhere. I thought it was another Island but no it was SXM the morning before. Then when I went back in a passemger by the x-Ray checkpoint was actually arguing with her to let him carry on a rather large pocket knife. Do you believe that someone could be so ignorant!!!!!! We needless to say his knife was not permitted. We had arrived at the airport the suggested 3 hours early. There was about 5 people on line and they had tables set up to do manual luggage inspection. The very pleasant inspector laughed at my 6 bottles of Ma Dou Dou. That check in took all of about 15 minutes. Shopping at duty free 5 minutes Lunch upstairs at the restaurant 30 minutes departure tax 2 minutes. Carry On and x ray checkpoint 2 minutes and then finally just before you leave the terminal bldg for the plane one last carry on and shoe inspection. Everyone was so nice and I feel sorry for the guy that does the shoe inspection as it is a gross job. Flight home was great we were about 20 minutes aerly and home in the house about 7:30 PM<br>Weather:<br>9 absolutely beautiful days. When we arrived Myra told us that it had not been so good for the past week so we were worried. Everyone said that we brought good weather from NY. Once in the middle of the night it rained and one afternoon the was a 30 second sun shower. Wind varied every day from the usual to none at all. Not a problem at all. <br>Beach:<br>Always the best part of our trip. Joseph and Laurent remembered us and our chairs were always out in the exact sam place every day. A couple that were in the room next to us were walking by on the beach and they remembered us. Another couple that were in the villa adjacent to ours last year were in our villa this year and they remembered us. We are really getting to feel like everyone there is “Family”. As I said the beach was great and the “Sand Gravity” was stronger than ever. We didn’t even have an urge to check out any other beaches. The sand situation has not changed as far as I saw and I guess the guideline is by Pedro’s stairs. The sand there was about 20 ‘ wide to the waters edge. <br>Driving:<br>Driving was never a problem with us but we did not go out for the first 2 nights to avoid Carnival in Marigot. We thought if we waited til Ash Wednesday night to go to the Casino we would be OK but we did get stuck behind a giant tractor trailer float. That only delayed us a few minutes though. I am not sure if it is because we are getting old or just “Mellow” but we only went out 3 nights to the Casinos and dinner. It was just so relaxing to have a light dinner at CoCo Beach and after all after you have had about 3 shots of the vanilla rum the path and the palm trees on the walk back to the room seem to want to move all over the place, LOL<br>Dinning:<br>2 nights at Cheri’s Café great as usual and also very entertaining. Cheri and Marianna also rememberd us and we got 1st class service, some complementary drinks and Champagne as well as a great table and a couple of T shirts besides. What great friends. I also finally found out where on Long Island Cheri comes from.<br>1 Night my wife and I shared a great Rib Eye steak at Charolais, I also had the Mussles apetizer and it was sooooo good.<br>4 Nights we ate at CoCo Beach nothing fancy just chilled out.<br>1 night we enjoyed the buffet dinner at L’Astrolabe which was very nice. The gang there also remembered us, Tomas, Francois and Amin, oh and we cant forget Ore the big Lab and her cat friend.<br>Casinos:<br>1 night at Dolphin lost about $120<br>1 night at Grand Casino lost about $100<br>1 Night at Pelican won $100<br>Not too bad in all<br>Misc:<br>Didn’t do much of anything else. Went to the butterfly farm one morning not for the tour but the wife wanted a particular print since our Grandaughters room is decorated with a butterfly theme. Did the mandatory shopping thing one day in Philipsburg and returned the next day to exchange sizes on some T shirts for the Grand kids. The time passed by so quickly and I know the coming year will take forever to pass.<br><br>Surely I have forgotten something but I guess I can add it later