Flew yesterday, JB from JFK. Good flights and no issues with carry-on bags - ours were tiny by comparison to many we saw and here I was worrying about being 1.5 over on dimensional issues. Late departure and early arrival. Go figger that one...... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Deplaned and cleared immigration in no time since those up front seats do come with some bennies. For the first time EVER since they opened the present airport we had to go through the baggage scanners just as you depart the airport to the sidewalk. The logic of that is beyond me but then, lots of things are these days and I'm sure they have a reason?

Lesley met us with his lovely wife and provided us with our trusty R-18 and we were off. His service is so good and such a pleasure........The island looks lovely with lots of greenery and flora everywhere so I guess they've been getting lots of necessary rain.

Checked in and were nicely greeted at the Towers - lovely studio on the 6th floor with a great view that we love. Dropped bags and ran up to Barcode for a light lunch and then back to the room to get organized. Jeannie of Shopndrop had worked her magic and we were going to lunch in but decided we were too tired and hungry to waste the time and effort. Very nice lunch and chocoladas for dessert. Yum!! They accept ccs and include service.

Back to room to unpack and nap. Off to an early dinner at around 5:30 - thought Pineapple Pete's for easy and casual, but that wasn't to happen. Once we rounded the corner by the Boat Bar it was wall to wall stopped traffic. Yikes! An easy u-turn and it was a quick decision - Boca Marina with a hint of skepticism on our part, based on mixed reviews of our past visits since it changed hands. It turned out to be a good choice - the service was a little sketchy which may have been because we were early diners (or not.....)but the staff members were all lovely and the food we enjoyed was very good - onion soup gratinee for both of us and baked stuffed grouper for me and garlic shrimp for John. Both meals very good and provided reheats for who knows when..... they accept ccs and include the service.

We were back in our room by 8:30 and heading for an early bedtime when some obnoxious people leaned on our doorbell and wouldn't let up. Reminded me of days gone by when our girls were younger and they'd do this to torment us. Since I was already in my nightie, John answered the door and OMG!! It actually was daughter number one and son in law thinking they would surprise us. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> They sure did what they set out to accomplish!! Seems we weren't the only ones planning a surprise here..........we visited for a while and made plans for later today before they headed out. I guess it is a fact "What goes around comes around...." We're here to surprise a good friend and they were here to surprise us. Well, okay, in all honesty it doesn't take much of an excuse for either of us to come here....... but this sure was a very nice surprise.

Up early this morning to the beginning of a beautiful day - the water in the lagoon is like a mirror and actually reflected the clouds. When I first awoke in the dark (5:45 am) I thought the clouds I was seeing was fog coming off the water and then I realized what it was.

And here we are on this beautiful Saturday morning, coffee and pastries done, planning our own surprise. It's a beautiful day on SXM - brilliant skies and not a cloud to be seen but methinks its gonna' be a hot one. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."