Our 3rd SXM trip and they just keep getting better!
Friday:
Woke up at 6:00am for a 7:00am taxi to the Long Island Railroad station. 7:30 train gets us to Jamaica station by 8:30am. AIRTRAIN from Jamaica to JFK JETBLUE terminal by 9:00am for an 11:00am flight. All goes well. Landing in SXM at 4:00pm (3:00pm NY time). Looking for Leslie from KENNYS car rental. This is the second trip Leslie needed to send an associate from another agency (RODEAL) but both times worked out fine. Stopped in Porto Cupecoy to purchase groceries. Even though there was a security guard in the parking lot I stayed in the car while my wife shopped since we had all our luggage in the trunk. Next sop, Paradiso Bungalow. Met Bruno for the first time and the bungalow is beautiful. Dinner at GUTSIDE and for the second trip in a row we are the only customers. My wife had the Garlic Shrimp and I had Mahi Mahi. Both were excellent and we just love talking to Richard. Bill was about $40.
Saturday:
Spent the day on Orient Beach. Pastries at Le Boutique were very good. Massage at Club O spa for me by Anna and Facial by Natalie for my wife. Massage was a little too light for me. Facial was expertly done. Lunch at Pedros (good ribs as usual and an extremely strong Margarita). Happy hour drinks at the Perch (BBC and Papagayo Delight) were great. Happy hour was crowded (good for Willie). Started getting a bit cool on the beach by late afternoon but we stayed and spent some time at the Papagayo Happy hour. Only 3 other couples at this happy hour. Dinner at the Grand Case LOLO on the water side in back of Skys the limit. Woman running the place was nasty and they were out of Johnny Cakes and Christophines. Food was OK but won't go back. Bill was about $20.
Sunday:
Drove to airport for our trip to SABA and the hike to the summit. This was one of the best things we have done in our 3 trips. We knew it would be a great day when we saw a Rainbow during the flight.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5513:106306211214/jpeg/BG http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/4674:706306211214/jpeg/BGhttp://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/4899:777716211214/jpeg/BG On the way down from the summit we come upon the ECO lodge we where had lunch. I had an amazing Tuna salad with vegetables from the restaurants' own garden:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5403:302406211214/jpeg/BG Taxi from the SABA airport to the trail and then back to the airport was $30.
Shortest commercial runway in the world:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5553:902406211214/jpeg/BGWe arrive back to SXM safely around 6:00pm and need to eat right away after all that exercise so we stop at Pineapple Petes for the first time. We were attended to by at least 5 people including Pete. Food/drinks were very good. I had the WAHOO and my wife had the Pineapple Pork. We also had appetizers and Mojitos. Bill was about $90.
Monday:
Pinel Island. Great day with a nice lunch/drinks (Bill about $50) and nice hike to the other side.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/4899:702406211214/jpeg/BGDinner at ENOLDS in Grand Case was just OK.
Tuesday:
Great beach day at CUPECOY (our 1st time). $15 for 2 chairs. Ribs and Rum punches were great and delivered to us right on the beach. Bill was about $28 for 1 platter (we shared) and 4 rum punches. I gave Danny $40 and told him to keep it. He does a great job!
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5541:906306211214/jpeg/BGDinner at Le Cottage. This was one of the best dinners we have had anywhere!! French onion soup, Escargot, Mahi in Coconut, Lamb Au jois were all beyond excellent!! Total bill with 1 glass of wine about $110
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5658:216306211214/jpeg/BG http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/4931:497716211214/jpeg/BG http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5669:612406211214/jpeg/BG http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5418:212406211214/jpeg/BGWednesday:
Marigot shopping in the morning. My wife loves to purchase something from this one artisan (seashell jewelery) every year. She finds it annoying when the cruise ship folks try to bargain with this gentlemen who already is selling his product at a reasonable price. Don't people appreciate talent?
A snack at Serafinas:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5376:416306211214/jpeg/BG Off to MAHO to watch the planes. This Yellow DHL prop plane one came in way too low!!
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5500:897716211214/jpeg/BG Karakters for lunch. Great food here (try the Quiche or the Indonesian Karakter) but slow service and not enough beach chairs. We saw Steven Spielbergs yacht:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5372:812406211214/jpeg/BGBack to MAHO for the sunset:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5698:322406211214/jpeg/BG http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5669:616306211214/jpeg/BG Thursday:
We do a morning walk on Orient beach where we meet Bob & Kathy (from NJ) who we met a year earlier on Peggys island boat tour! What a coincidence. We talk some more later in the morning as they are set up near us on the beach. Lunch at Andy & Cheryls was again one of the best we have had ANYWHERE!! I had the Buffalo Margarita Shrimp and my wife had the Philly Cheese Steak. She travel to Philly occasionally and she said Andys Philly Cheesesteak is way better than the actual ones you get in Philly! The Shrimp were amazing as well as the Margaritas. Total Bill about $60. Dinner at Lotterie was very good. The atmosphere here is VERY cool!!
Friday:
Butterfly farm in the morning. If you have never done this you should at least once. Very interesting.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5677:816306211214/jpeg/BGCrepes at Paradise view for brunch before we head to the airport.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5537:508716211214/jpeg/BG http://www.kodakgallery.com/imaging-site/services/doc/5517:137526211214/jpeg/BGNot sure when we can get back to SXM but hope it is not to long.
