Here I am trying to get back to reality after such a great trip. The biggest problem is catching up with regular life and the business missed while away.This is my first trip report, so please be kind. <br><br>Sunday<br> 4:30 A.M. Driving to Philadelphia from the Jersey Shore up The Atlantic Expressway with 2 large SUV's of boxes and luggage with my Wife, My Daughter, My Daughters <br>friend and a couple of My friends to help me unload. Arrived at phl and things went smoothly with the goodwill freight loading at US Airways (Thanks again). Flight was<br>uneventful, stop in clt. Breeze thru immigration, Met with Pinto of the St Martin Pony Baseball. While intros were being made the boxes started rolling on the baggage belt and my Wife started to pull them off. Buy now, people waiting for their baggage started seeing what was going on, and started helping to pull off the boxes. Met with Tom Burnett of the Daily Herald then Gabriel Brown of the PONY Baseball.<br>The Porters started to load the boxes not taking tips. When I got to the outside, there were dozens of kids in baseball uniforms greeting me. The smile on their faces is something that I will never forget. AAA car Rental was waiting for us when we finally got thru the airport with our usual standard underpowered rice eater. Checked into a villa at the Sapphire. Beautiful place with a small private pool. Threw the suitcases down, cleaned up and headed to a party with the St Martin PONY Baseball. What a great time! Talking dancing and of course drinking. Traded some culture (learned the Salsa). My Daughter was ecstatic to have so many people to dance with. Then off to the Sunset Beach Bar for some Heinekens and shooter nightcaps.<br><br>Monday<br>Stopped in the Market at Cupecoy for Coffee croissants and fresh squeezed OJ on the run and Off to Baywatch for Breakfast. As we got there they were cleaning up the last of tthe mall fire and Baywatch was closed. So over to Bikini Beach for a bite, some Heinekens, some decompression and sand gravity. The Island looks great to me, nice and green. There is a new road about to be opened from the top of the Cole Bay hill connecting in the middle of the road to Little Bay with a rotary at each end. And the potholes from Cupecoy beach up the hill have been re-paved. There's nothing like that first dip in the water that you can just walk into. Where I live, the Ocean isn't warm enough for me to swim in till late August. On the way home we stopped into the new Rams in Cole Bay (old Food Center). A lot of the food looked like it was left over from the old food center. Dirty boxes frozen food hard as a rock. You might want to stay away till the old inventory is depleted, But the Heineken looked fresh. Went over to the old Rams and the selection was much fresher looking. Dinner was at Pizza Pasta in Maho. This is one of our favorites. My wife being Italian thinks that they have the best tasting tomato sauce on the island. I love the veal scaloppini topped with eggplant and ham. After Dinner, we stopped in Cheri’s so the kids could watch the show.<br><br>Tuesday<br>Shopping day in Phillipsburg. Picked up some trinkets and the obligatory T-shirts. Visited with some of the merchants I have dealt with in the past. Raj from Joe’s jewelry, the folks at Dimples, Amit from Goldfingers. Drank some Heinekens. Headed over to Baie Rouge for Happy Hour at Chez Raymond's. Their Happy hour starts at 3:30 and lasts till sunset. Raymond and his Daughter Kathleen Ann are very gracious Hosts. No, I didn't drink any Heinekens there, with Raymond making fresh fruit frozen drinks at 2 for 3$. The stewed Conch was out of this world!<br>After sunset we went back to the villa to hang around. I decided to go to the Sunset Beach Bar for some Heinekens. I then met Jill and Michael. After some chitchat they told me that they were getting married on Thursday at Cupecoy at 5:30 and asked if I would like to come over with the family.<br><br>Wednesday<br>Over to Andy & Cheryl’s for a good old NJ breakfast, then to Bikini Beach with a soft sided cooler full of Heinekens. Back to Andy & Cheryl’s for Cheese steaks at Lunch. Dinner was at the Rancho in Simpson Bay. Prime Rib for 2 was excellent served with Heineken the perfect accessory to meat.<br><br>Thursday<br>Great day for shopping in Phillipsburg (no cruise ships) went to fish alley for lunch but was closed (no cruise ships). Went to Kangaroo Court. Decent lunch washed down with Heineken[img]/images/icons2/cheers.gif[/img]. The kids thought their tuna salad was the best they ever had. Off to SSBB for Big Jet Day. Had a great time with Corinna trying to find her picture in the new St Martin book. Playing where's Waldo paid off when The Wife found her, and that was good for some free shooters. By 5:15 we had to dash off to cupecoy to catch the wedding, and what a treat it was! Jill & Michael looked great with the cliffs and the water as a background. Many people gathered to watch and give there congrats. After sharing a champagne toast, we left the happy couple to get to the Peg Leg Pub for the TTOL party. We told Jill & Michael to Stop by. It was great to meet some of the people I have seen posting on this board. I knew Patitaly right away when She held up her Italian Flag (great Idea!) PamJ And Dwayne, Judy& Bruce, Bob D, Dicky & Frank the wonder dog[img]/images/icons2/woof.gif[/img], Jack the new owner, and my troop. We all sat down and got to know each other and great friendships were building. For dinner I ordered the mahi mahi, which by the way was excellent, and I eat fresh game fish often living on the shore. The Heineken was at the perfect temp. (A great side with fish). Then Jill & Michael came in still in their wedding clothes. The party moved over to the Lady D floating bar, and I lagged behind at PLP for a couple of minute’s island time. By the time we got to the floating bar (2 Hours later), only Dicky was left, had a couple of drinks with him served by cool bartender named Colin. By then I wanted to take the Lady D out for a spin. I kept thinking about that movie with John Candy when they raced a restaurant! My 2 full of energy teens were about to hit the wall, and My Wife decided to gather up the bodies and head back to the villa. (Good call!)<br><br>Friday<br>Up at the crack of dawn and causing enough commotion to wake everybody up! Off to Bikini Beach with cooler of Heinekens in tow. This is a great place to camp for the day <br>when you have kids. Clean bathrooms, food and activities to keep them busy. Walked over to Andy & Cheryl’s for lunch. Went to the Boathouse for dinner. The food was excellent, but the service was bizarre! First, as we were waiting at the bar for a table, we ordered Pina Colodas. The bartender put the ingredients in the blender, turned it on and walked away. 10 minutes later the other bartender asked us if we were being helped, and I told him to look in the blender. By then I think it was ice cream. OK we sit down and order from a waitress who wasn't having a good day. She reluctantly took our order didn't ask me how I liked my meat done, and returned with a glass of wine that I didn't order. (Remenber, I drink Heineken!) Took an attitude when I did not want the wine. At this point a glass of wine would put my head into the plate. Then she came back with our meals Filet Mignon & shrimp, which would have been great if we ordered that, but we ordered filet mignon & lobster. I almost didn't want to tell her but I did and she had a fit. When the hostess came over to straighten out the mess, we finally got what we ordered. And I got lucky, my meat was done the way I like it. What a <br>coincidence having 2 people sharing the same bad day, but o well.<br><br>Saturday<br>Had to check out of the villa and find a place for 2 nights. Sapphire was fully booked. Went to the Maho Beach Resort. After a quick check in, it was off to dawn beach with cooler of Heinekens[img]/images/icons2/cheers.gif[/img]. Had lunch at Mr. Busby’s didn'want to walk to Mrs. B's (sand gravity). Pizza Pasta for dinner. After dinner, we met up with Pamj, Dwayne, Judy & Bruce in Cheri's. Had some drinks with them and watched the show again ( the kids love it). <br><br>Sunday<br>Early rise, and off to orient for sand gravity with cooler of Heinekens. Depression is starting to set in ,[img]/images/icons2/frown.gif[/img]cause I realized my vacation is about to come to an end. My Wife cheers me up by telling me we will be back in January[img]/images/icons2/joy.gif[/img]. Lunch at Le Fish Bar. Prices are cheap, lots of raw fish and dinner at Bella Napoli in the Atlantis casino. Great pizza! Then met up with the PONY baseball people for another party. (I am going to really miss them).<br><br>St. Maarten Day<br>Check out at 11:00 and over to Ric's place for Breakfast. Drove over to the airport to check bags and pay departure tax. We were invited over to the Beachside villas to wait out the flight. Sat around with Pamj, Dwayne, Bruce, Judy, and Dicky & Frank enjoying my last Heinekens in paradise. Left at 4, dropped of the car and boarded the plane for Philly. This is the first time I actually heard the captain inform us that when we leave the ground, we will be taking a sharp right to avoid the mountain. After a smooth ahead of schedule flight, we had to wait over an hour on the taxiway for a gate. I sure hope that they get that new international terminal done before January. <br><br>With the new security measures going into effect this week, I can only imagine what the wait will be.<br><br>All and all,it was a great trip and I can't wait to go back in just 8 short weeks<br><br>Pictures at<br> http://groups.msn.com/sxmphotos/nov3112002.msnw?albumlist=2