Marina Royal in terrible shape but La Main et Pate was open and full. We only had lemonade and an order each of Accras---I love it and always get it there, the best-. Owner said business was good. Paris Bistro was destroyed. The place at the other end (forgot name) wasn't open. We liked to have breakfast there in the past. Some shops were open.

Chatted with a young family in Marigot. Stopped to see their beautiful baby. They thanked us for coming back to their island and hoped more would come. At Altra in Porto Cupecoy another couple also said they were glad to see tourists coming back and to tell all our friends SXM is alive.

Saw sign at KFC "Get your SXM Strong Cup here" wanted to but we never got around to stopping.

The only negativity we got was on a corner in P'Burg when we stopped to chat with a man wearing a colorful shirt. It was receptive but then a cab driver joined him and said SXM will never be the same. We reminisced about change, things gone things added and he said it was the tourists that had spoiled his beautiful island. We quickly said we we late and must be on our way and left.

Talked to some students from the medical school. None had stayed during hurricane. They were quick to tell us the Spaghetti place was open and Bar Code too and that soon the bar on the corner would be opening. They seemed excited about that.

Overall, it was one of the best weeks spent. Very relaxing, quiet, and refreshing. I guess BSV had a lot to do with that.

"Very relaxing, quiet, and refreshing. I guess BSV had a lot to do with that."

Yup, you got it!!

Thanks for the reports.

Rosemary,

So glad to hear your trip was good and the Island is coming back as fast as it apparently is. We just couldn’t return this soon but we were jaded by memories of our early return after Luis.

Coming home must be a bummer given the weather reports we’re hearing. Thanks for sharing all your info.

Thank-you for your reports.
We hope to be there soon.

Enjoyed all of your reports. Thank you.

What's the Spaghetti place?
Fat Tony's?

Can't remember what it's called, but it is a spaghetti place in the same plaza as Jules, at the far end. Fat Tony's is still waiting for new refrigerators that should have been there last week but didn't arrive

Love Fat Tony's I just hope they rebuilt the bathrooms !!!!

OOooo, that looks good! Has anyone had the bolognese? How is it?

That's the one, hope Fat Tony,s builds bathrooms not just rebuilds what was there :-)

Actually, most of the students were here for the hurricane and were among the first evacuated thanks to great work by AUC staff. They had an amazing shelter set up at the school for students and staff. We got a couple of hot meals there and friend with baby were allowed to stay until they closed the shelter after about two weeks.

Spaghetti House is great! And priced for what pasta is worth. Enzo LaRosa, for those who know him. Bar Code has been a staple in Cupecoy for a few years, and happily their pizza place has recently reopened.

Sad to hear some of our islanders feel that way. Most do not.

A bit of good news, street lights up and on in Maho and Mullet Bay this week!

" but then a cab driver joined him and said SXM will never be the same. We reminisced about change, things gone things added and he said it was the tourists that had spoiled his beautiful island."
Nothing like a cabby biting the hand that feeds him. Without tourists he won't have much to do.

My thought too Scuba. I think it might have more to do with himself than tourists. Perhaps he's a Gypsy driver and regulation has hurt him.

We really appreciated your reports - thanks so much for taking the time and providing some extremely useful information.

The countdown is on for us...we arrive April 3rd for one week and we're staying at Mary's Boon. I must admit I'm a little nervous about what I'm going to see and I'm worried I'm going to be in tears the whole time. sigh...
However, I am determined to remain optimistic about SXM's future and will continue to support the island I love so much and the people who live there. Buildings and businesses can be rebuilt. For now, all of our support and hugs will have to do.

You will still see some disturbing sights, but focus on the hardworking folks who will welcome you back with open arms and all the rebuilding you will see. Funny how the sound of jack hammering becomes music to your ears! And you can see by the report here, go with a smile, return with a smile. And a tear or two.

Perhaps find a way to volunteer for an afternoon?

Elaine, do you have any recommendations for volunteering?

There are several groups that coordinate volunteer efforts. All About A Smile, K1 Britannia. If you want to spend time with kids, Tom Burnett at the Little League Stadium runs an after school program for kids of working parents living in temporary shelter accommodations next door at Carnival Village. You can read them a story, bring them some US State quarters and help them research them. Help with homework. Open weekdays 12 - 5, Saturday 9 - noon I believe. He is doing great work there!

Elaine--do you have contact info for these organizations?

https://k1britanniafoundation.org/

https://allaboutasmile.org/

https://www.facebook.com/tom.burnett.3720

top 2 also have FB pages

Thanks very much!! I'm going to start a new thread with this info, so that more people see it.

Teresa,

If this helps at all, my daughter has been back at least two or three times since the hurricanes and is actually there now. She has said it gets easier each time and you can almost see the progress daily. Just this past weekend they finished the lighting through the Mullet Bay Area and every little step makes a big impact. Once you get beyond the initial impact you will be fine. And I think you will enjoy your time at Mary’s Boon. Perhaps not up to your accommodations from your last trip, which would be hard to top, but it’s a great place to stay.

There may be tears but mostly for the joy of being there & knowing you are helping them recover! Just to see their joy that you have returned & care for them & their island . I shed tears in the tent waiting for luggage just overjoyed to be there not expecting to arrive in January! Well,maybe there were a few before that as we came across the bay to land . You will be glad you went! We sure were!

Yes, we found happiness to see us. Everywhere people thanked us for coming to their island. We spent more money on local things, cover-ups, local foods, actually some things we didn't actually need, than in the past. We felt we were helping out. We gave $2 bills to all the children we met, more to some adults when we heard their stories. We wish there was more we could have done. If we could have I think we'd have helped some reconstruction but we're too old now.

I can't believe a local said "tourists spoiled his beautiful island" according to RonDon. Maybe there are some bad apples out there, but do all locals pick up other peoples garbage on the beach like I do, or respect their roads driving the speed limit and letting people out of parking spots. How about donating their money to help with stray dogs not to mention being loyal to all our favorite shops and restaurants. Not sure what he meant by "spoiled", but maybe he should talk to his island friends and see what they can do to make our beautiful St. Maarten better. I respect the island and it's people just as I do here at home on Long Island.

Thanks Pat, Jeepers and RonDon...I really appreciate your posts and thoughts. It helps a lot!

Making it worse is that comment came from a cab driver. We think maybe he has problems and is blaming them on tourists.

I think that most people who live on island right now that have to work (as compared to those who are retired), I'm sure are having lots of problems. It's a very difficult time for people living on the island.

I have been a resident of Florida since 1993, originally from New York, then New Hampshire. Much as some SXM locals feel that the "tourists" have spoiled their island, I used to hear from Florida natives that us "Yankees" ruined Florida. It all depends on your point of view and even though some believe that "perception is reality" it really isn't. Sure things are not the same in Florida as 50 years ago as I am sure things in SXM are not the same as they were 50 years ago. Just remember that there are people who would win the Florida lottery and complain that they have to go to Tallahassee to pick up their check.

Crap.... I'm gonna hit the Powerball tonight and I have to drive from Cape Coral to Tallahassee to collect???