TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Thursday, April 20th

Morning thoughts - wondering who wakes the birds up every morning at ten of five? Do they have built in alarm clocks? The sounds of so many of them chirping away has awoken me each day we've been here so far. Not complaining and they are a happy noise, but then they seem to wake the dogs across the way at Pt. Pirouette! So I guess what this means is there is at least one good thing to be said for airco running beyond the obvious. Having it on and the apartment all sealed up does drown out the tweets and chirps and all the canine clatter of the early morning hours.

And as we sat out on the balcony waiting for John to see his first sunrise of the trip, we saw the Celebrity Summit pass by on her way into town. From afar she appears to be a long and lean ship as opposed to one of those mammoth tall cruise liners they're mostly building today. A very pretty ship from our vantage point...... and then Royal Caribbean - I think it's Oddessy of the Sea. Different from the Celebrity but equally beautiful in its pristine whiteness. That's enough ship watching for me today.

Another day at the pool spent catching up with recent arrivals - friends from past years and we just didn't have the oomph to head out to the beach. But the good news for us is we're both starting to feel better....so perhaps tomorrow will be a Mullet kinda day! I sure hope so since Saturday and Sunday will be airport run days. So much to do and so few days to do it all in.

We had a lovely dinner with a friend at Skipjacks. The Parmesan crusted grouper was every bit as good as I remembered and then some. It was nice to be able to catch up and share news back and forth, and all in all, spend a lovely evening in a place we were all equally satisfied with. We both had apps and drinks along with our entrees and dinner came in $110.00 for two and they do include the 15% s/c there. It seems this has pretty much become the island norm.

And one last thought - traffic! OMG!! The traffic!!! We left the Towers driveway and drove to just beyond the Maho roundabout and the traffic was backed up all the way to Royal Palm and then some. It took us a full hour and twenty minutes to get there and while no one seemed to know for sure, many felt this was beyond the five o'clock norm and perhaps there was an accident somewhere between there and town. But at least it pays to have friends in high places and Skipjacks held our waterside table for us. I don't usually get hung up about the traffic but last night it was Unbelievable!!

Thanks for another update. Traffic is so unpredictable. People worry about Regatta traffic, what you it sure sounds like an accident or something.

On several stays at Horny Toad, even with a/c running, the neighboring roosters were the alarm clock.

Thanks for the update! Glad you're feeling better and hopefully you get to Mullet today!

So glad to hear both of you are feeling better!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> Enjoy the girls!!

Sure sounds like you are taking advantage of having fun..in spite of not feeling 100 percent. I couldnt figure out traffic at all this trip last month. seems like when one didnt expect traffic....we hit it. When we knew there would be traffic...there wasn't.

As for the 15 percent add on. I mentioned the same in my posts. Seems like the new norm on the dutch side. I think Lee's and Mark's place was the only places that still let the discretion be up to the diner. Not sure if i ''like'' the add on...but when I am told what to pay...that usually is what i will....not any extra.

Glad you're feeling better Pat...and the sun is shining today!!!

Agree. Not need to tip when there is an extra charge already added... They love those that do feel the need, but we are not in that group..

Glad to hear you are feeling better, Pat.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> Happy you guys are better!!

Enjoy!!!