Trip Report March, 8-22, 2003<br>This would be our first time on SXM without children in 14 years. Everywhere we went we were ask;” Where are the boys?”<br><br>Got up at 4:00am, dressed and eldest son drove us to EWR. Check-in was fast and easy. After a few smokes, we went security and had eggs & bacon and coffee then waited for our Continental flight at 8:20.Plane was full, but not overbooked. Had a regular flight with one of the best crews ever. Arrived 15 min. early at 1:00 pm. Through immigration and picked up rental by 1:45.<br>Arrived at Belair, checked-in, got changed, and in the water by 2:30 chatted with some friends, got the chairs and umbrella assigned, and hung out till HAPPY HOUR at 4:00 Had a few chatted some,went to room to shower and change. Stayed at the Boardwalk Café for dinner.so-so meal, but we were tired, so it didn’t matter. Went back to the room to sit on the balcony. Life is good. In bed around 10:00.<br><br>Got up 7ish had breakfast, then off to shop.Went to the newish Le Grand Marche.Nice store. Back to room, then beach, till lunch. Had some pate and bread. Beached it again till HAPPY HOUR, change for dinner, go to dinner at Chesterfields. Because it was Regatta Weekend, place was busy, but got an outside table, and had a nice meal.<br><br>Now the rest of our vacation follows the pattern of up 7-7:30 breakfast on balcony, beach till lunch on balcony, beach till HAPPY HOUR[img]/images/icons2/cheers.gif[/img].We decide at Happy Hour where to go for dinner, or wait till the car starts to go somewhere[img]/images/icons2/grin.gif[/img] Monday is a little different. Same up to HAPPY HOUR[img]/images/icons2/cheers.gif[/img], then Sue(Mrs.Augie) plays bingo while I drink and keep her supplied. After that is the Timeshare owner’s wine and cheese party(not CO)[img]/images/icons2/yikes.gif[/img] followed by BBQ around pool with steel band. <br><br>Tuesday back to normal save a latter HAPPY HOUR[img]/images/icons2/cheers.gif[/img]. This was one of Dickey’s at Hot Tomatoes. Met Dicky and Frank, had the famous coconut punch. Thanks, Dicky. Now is when smart [censored] Wendell[img]/images/icons2/devil.gif[/img] got me[img]/images/icons2/grin.gif[/img](see his trip report).A good time was had by all. Some of us stayed for dinner. We had some pizza, and took the leftovers home for lunch.<br><br>Wednesday; regular day dined at The Hideaway at La Vista[img]/images/icons2/smile.gif[/img] then went to Dolphin Casino to make a small donation[img]/images/icons2/yikes.gif[/img] Walked out $10 up[img]/images/icons2/joy.gif[/img]<br><br>Thurs; regular day, ate at PLP.Nice steaks. A little loud that night(dart league)<br><br>Fri; Left the beach a little early to get ready for Cole’s party at The Greenhouse. Thanks, Cole. A fun time was had[img]/images/icons2/thumbsup.gif[/img]<br><br>Sat; needed some more supplies. Went to Rams. So so. Rest of day was normal. Ate at The Boat House. Not what it once was.[img]/images/icons2/sad.gif[/img], but not that bad.[img]/images/icons2/grin.gif[/img]<br><br>Sunday; Regular deal with doing a wash at lunch time. New laundry room is a welcome addition.[img]/images/icons2/smile.gif[/img]. Ate at Mark’s Place[img]/images/icons2/thumbsup.gif[/img] good as ever. Had curry goat[img]/images/icons2/grin.gif[/img].<br>Mon.; Same old; Bingo wine & cheese, BBQ.<br><br>Tues; Regular up to Happy Hour. It was Sue’s B’Day, and some friends had us to their room for some snacks and drinks, with apiece of cake with candles that re light[img]/images/icons2/devil.gif[/img]. Nice time[img]/images/icons2/smile.gif[/img] Off to dinner at Le Paris Bistro. Sue mentioned Gretchen to waiter. He said; “She posts a lot.” Both had a great meal topped off with some banana and vanilla Ma Dou Dou(not too bad, but I don’t see why it is so popular)[img]/images/icons2/yikes.gif[/img]. Bernard was there and we had a laugh about people having their picture taken with him, because he looks like George W. He grinned saying it was funny because he is French[img]/images/icons2/wink.gif[/img] <br><br>Wed; Regular day with a little excitement in the afternoon. A young couple from a cruise ship were swimming on our beach and lost id’s, money, in the water. Many people looked and looked, but lost items were not found. They had to get back to the ship. I wonder what happened. Ate at Marry’s Boon. Nice relaxing meal after putting up with the incompetent bartender( Moi)[img]/images/icons2/grin.gif[/img].A thanks to Dicky for the bottle of wine[img]/images/icons2/smile.gif[/img]<br><br>Thurs; Regular day[img]/images/icons2/thumbsup.gif[/img] Went back to The Hideaway for another nice meal. Then to Dolphin to put back winnings. Well we walked out $37 ahead[img]/images/icons2/smile.gif[/img]<br><br>Fri; Last full day[img]/images/icons2/sad.gif[/img] Normal day. Back to Chesterfields for another nice dinner[img]/images/icons2/thumbsup.gif[/img]<br><br>Sat; Had last swim, walk on beach, sit on chairs. Said good-bys. Checked-out, went to air port. Check in was easy. Hung out, ate upstairs, hung out, then went and sat by departure gate. Got to WALK to plane[img]/images/icons2/grin.gif[/img].Flight home was fine. Immigration line at Newark was long. Bags were on the belt before we got there[img]/images/icons2/sad.gif[/img]<br><br>The Island looked better than ever. Sand gravity had more effect than ever. We did less than other years. Just so comfortable staying on the beach[img]/images/icons2/smile.gif[/img].Not on purpose, but we never made it to French Side. We were going to visit the zoo, but never made it[img]/images/icons2/sad.gif[/img]<br><br>It was great to see people from past years, and see new ones.<br><br><br><br><br> <br>