Beachin' Good Time! Someone asked for a long report...? Xchanged a week of lousy northeast weather for SXM sun. Our fifth annual trip together, second week in May has never let us down. Perfect weather, mellow spirit at the start of low season. Overall activity quieter than past years. SXM was beautiful, flora exploding everywhere.<br><br>Easy departure from Liberty Intl :-) picked up a "special" white corolla from Lesley Bruce, dropped the bags at Belair, clean and beautiful as expected. We love the family-run feeling of the staff; seen the same faces for the past decade. Made the most of arrival day, lost our suits on Baie Longue for a few hours. Evening shopping for foodstuffs at Grand Marche, under new mgmt clean and well stocked compared to last years Food Center horror show.<br><br>Sunday at ClubO was ideal - bright sun, passing clouds, a light breeze. We reached saturation as the crew started to break down umbrellas in the late afternoon. Erosion no problem mon, the sand is coming back slowly. Plenty of room for all visitors. Anything north of Pedros could have been Mars (didn't go there either...) The group of regulars in front of us set a new heinekin+carib consumption record (those new magic bottles disappear into thin air!). All was good.<br><br>Monday spent at Happy Bay (it's real... and spectacular!). Worth the effort to hike 15 minutes up the stone trail north of Friars. Strong sunshine beaming down on a quarter-mile crescent of white sand. No amenities, we were prepared adding two umbrellas to our gear this trip. Two other couples made the hike, desperately seeking shade under a few palm trees along the beach. Another couple was seriously stylin', anchoring 50 feet offshore. Great escape to discover a private beach, even if only for a few hours :-) Sunshine, light breeze, calm shoreline with a soft bottom, goats baying on the hill in the background. Took full advantage of the tranquil setting and burned a roll of film.<br><br>Tuesday brought strong sunshine at Cupecoy. Mild waves = pleasurable swimming. Modest crowd of 20 couples along the main beach, a third remaining in textiles. Met a few other visitors in the water before politics took over the discussion and then bailed out (nothing like trying to have an intelligent discussion with people who have no understanding of history and culture, right? don't get me started...grrrrrrr.) Mr. Perv behaved alone in the corner. Think of the dude wearing an imaginary dunce cap and then he is just funny.<br><br>Wednesday back to ClubO. Three ships in port made for a busy shoreline... We planted near Papagayo and met a few really good people sitting all around us. Ever notice you meet great people when you are not wearing any clothes? (maybe it IS the clothing that changes people...) Still cute as ever to see first timers joining in the CO spirit; you know they will return in the future, just like the rest of us... advance scheduled a surprise for Natalie at the Spa (facial, seaweed wrap, vichy shower, oils and massage) - she loved it.<br><br>Thursday was a sleep-in vacation day - needed to cool out from the sun. Bummed around Pburg for the usual nothing but window browsing, and relaxed later with a few drinks and our books on the shoreline at Belair. Walked around Marigot before dinner at L'Arawahak, food was good and service was surprisingly friendly. The late-night view of the red moon and lunar eclipse above Little Bay was awesome.<br><br>Friday we returned to CO, did less, met more great people... We left late in the afternoon for a bite and a nap before the blowout under the full moon at Kali's. Still hearing the beat 48 hours later... GOD I HOPE IT NEVER STOPS!!! rasta-mon-vi-bra-tion we should have stayed one more day for the Burning Spear concert!!!<br><br>LOOSE ENDS: New roundabouts sprouting everywhere. The new connection between Cole Bay Hill and Little Bay is great. The election protest tree in Sucker Garden with lynched candidate dolls and DP casket was a great satire - I wish I was there for the mock funeral procession!. Confirmed the meaning of YA DONE KNOW talking with another local named on the May 23 ballot; Frankie is the owner of the large funeral home and family has financial interest$ in local Petrol stations - he is apparently as well liked, as much as he likes his own image plastered all over the island... Met rastafari Eddie at the Shell Grass Station, always smilin' on the downlo... (don choo be no bumbaclat mon) Foods? That was some mighty tasty brisket at HotTomatoes- didn't expect THAT! did you? Several nice meals, nothing worth special mention (i used to slave in a restaurant years back and know too much :-) It's JUST FOOD. Nightlife on the French side seemed non-existent after midnight...and some of us work too hard to play the indoor odds games. Saw those TTOLers everywhere... IMHO give up on these comfy local get-togethers and just jammm' under the full moon with some young bloods at Kali's... age is no barrier, and the vibes are guaranteed to add a few years to your lifespan. BTW, is SXM the only place remaining on the face of the earth without Starbucks??? Reason enough to visit asap! Stopped a few times by the roaming goats playing in traffic; those little babies are so-o-o adorable. Luis made Natalie two more amazing bikinis, one from a final piece of green and turquoise floral in the scraps material bag, and an orange-red floral from a sample of material he received, just enough for one bikini. *SHOUT OUT* to Sher and Bill from Toronto! (OH YAH!) Sher purchased her first (not her last) bikini from Luis. Pretttty laydee... you compliment the bikini as much as it compliments you. Natalie and I looked for you at Kali's but didn't see your smilin' faces in the crowd.<br><br>And Now...<br>the FINAL and...<br>WORST PART of this LONG report...<br><br>only 363 days left until our next trip to SXM :-( <br><br>-adamb.