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#197669 06/15/2019 09:23 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
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Returned to SXM in May after a 5 year break. We set our expectations low as we knew the island was still in recovery mode. The thing that struck us most was indifferent attitudes of many of the island workers. Maybe we caught them at a bad time. We stayed our first 4 nights at SBBR and last 5 nights in a condo n Orient Village. Flights were all on time with very short layover times on AA....we were pleasantly pleased. Picked up rental car from Lesley at airport and we were off to SBBR to check in. We have rented from Lesley for several years and he continues to delver great service. Our rental car was a bit tired and in need of some maintenance. Lesley offered to exchange but we declined and just made do. Check in at SBBR went ok except that it was all business and no pleasantries....not even a welcome smile. When we left to find our room we got turned around and approached a gate from the wrong way, the guard warned us that he would open it this one time...but not again. Gimme a break... Room was ok, but bathroom was pretty gross and cleaning detail was woefully lacking. Got settled in and went to the resort beach for a couple of hours and had a few beers. Beach server was right there to take our first order, but after that we had to go up to the bar for our drinks. Not a big deal, but still a missed opportunity for the server to make a few bucks. Went to BBB for pizza and drinks, then to Peli Deli for provsons. Back to the room and retired for the night.

Next morning we had breakfast at the Yacht Club.....love this place. Food s always excellent and the staff is friendly and efficient. Servers were awesome every time we ate here. Cant recommend this place enough...great folks that understand customer service. On the way to Orient Beach we stopped at Carrefour for a few things and then on to the beach.this was pretty much our MO for the entire 9 days with the exception of a couple days. One day we ventured around the island just surveying all the damage. Drove to Friars Bay....that road is in bad shape. When we arrived the police were there investigating something. There was also a very strong odor of pot as we drove into the area....very strong. We turned around and headed to Margot for a little shopping, and then back to the beach n the afternoon.

Another morning we headed over to Parrotville and walked around for about an hour....we both enjoyed this very much. Very nice man gave us a short informational tour and then let us mozy around the place and take pictures. Cleanest restrooms lve ever seen on the island. l told him that and we both had a good laugh. Highly recommended!!!

We also spent an afternoon shopping n Phillpsburg. There was two cruse ships, so it was fairly busy. We stopped at a little bar down by the cruise ship pickup dock for a bucket of beers. l went over to cool off my feet n the foot fountain and as l returned l saw my wife with her hand to her mouth with a distressed look on her face. She was watching a man and his children take these little puppies by the nap of their necks and heaving them in the ocean as far as they could. The l ittle puppies would frantically swim back to shore and try to get away, but the kids would gather them up and do it all over again...it was horrific to watch. We observed a tourist lady approach the man and children but they continued. We walked over to the guard at the cruse dock, but he wanted nothing to do with it. This ruined our day. and we couldn't stop thinking about t. We searched for a police officer, but none could be found. We finally notified a shop owner and he got on his phone and made a call to authorities. lt was heartbreaking.


Our condo unit was right on the beach and we loved it. We stayed at Cote Chic and could not have been happier with our choice to stay here. The property manager, Moune, was a delightful host...loved her. There was still some construction gong on, so there was still some landscaping work to do at our property. Location was wonderful.

We are not foodies, so nothing to really report other than we had a terrible breakfast at Yellow Sub.....never again. Scrambled eggs were like soup and service was poor.

Writing this from memory so l apologize for the disjointed report. ln summary, the weather was wonderful, the beach was in great shape with little to no seaweed, and Cedric and his team d id an awesome job taking care of everyone. l will say that they could use a second bartender during the busy lunch hour....and maybe a 2nd server. l really miss Willy.

Struck up a conversation with the massage therapist, Fabienne, and ended up having the best massage of my life with her. l wrote about it in another post, so l wont repeat, but if you have a chance to get a massage, give her a try...you wont be sorry.

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Thanks for the report. What a heartbreaking story about the puppies. Wow.. Glad you had a good time.


Carol Hill
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Nice report. I hope the authorities showed up before the puppies drownd. What a despicable display for anybody to treat an animal. You don't want them take them to pet rescue. It's that easy.

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Thank you for sharing. Sounds like a good time for the most part.

I’m afraid there would have been terrible trouble if I had witnessed the scene with the puppies. I work with SXM Paws and help foster and transport puppies and kittens. I would have gotten them to the shelter and certainly addressed the children. What awful behavior and lack of respect for life to be teaching them. frown


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Thoroughly enjoyed your trip report, right up to the part about the puppies.

This is the type of childhood behavior that often leads to more serious adult crimes but obviously if there was an adult taking part in this atrocity I fear the die is already cast.. Disrespect for any type of life is to be deplored and I’m so sorry you had to witness this, but hopefully some or any of the authorities showed up in time to put an end to this barbarian behavior.

I do hope the rest of your trip was all good. Thank you for sharing.


Respectfully,

pat



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Thanks for the report, very sad situation with the puppies.


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Think if I had seen this performance would have gone insane and created quite a scene until this was stopped. Cruelty to animals in any form is appalling but this is on another level. SXM is not a third world country but hearing that a Guard didn't want to know, I would have taken a picture of him, told him that if he didn't do something right away and stop this, I would go to the press, police, whoever and make such a stink that he would also lose his job. My problem would be(and I have done this before) making sure they went to good homes which would possibly involve getting too involved and ending up getting them to Stateside, whatever it takes if nobody would help and I was sure they would be cared for. Sickening and sorry you had to see this. Thx for your report.

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Very nice report except for the episode with the puppies. Nothing angers me more than people mistreating animals.


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Short of a physical altercation, this guy was not going to let any tourist stop him. Approaching him would have only made a bad situation worse. We did what we could with the resources we had to work with. The answer is to get the government to understand the need for more police presence.....everywhere!!!! Unthinkable that we were unable to find someone that could stop ths situation immediately. How many more murders, robberies, thefts, assaults, animal abuse do we need to read about before they beef up police presence. Beginning to think they don't care......

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vacanakey--Sorry, NO ONE blames you. What a sad thing to have you witness.


Carol Hill
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"The answer is to get the government to understand the need for more police presence.....everywhere!!!! Unthinkable that we were unable to find someone that could stop ths situation immediately. How many more murders, robberies, thefts, assaults, animal abuse do we need to read about before they beef up police presence."
Total agreement. Glad you did what you could when you saw it happening. Hope it ended with a happy endng for those poor puppies.

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Glad you enjoyed Cote Chic. Mourn is a great host and we have enjoyed staying there as well. Thanks for the report.

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Yes Vacanakey, as Carol says, nothing you could do and no blame whatsoever your way.....wish I was with you to assist.

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Shelter? Only one on the island been gone since Irma.


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What would the guard Do? The government both sides dont care and all the people who mistreat or abandon their dogs get away with it. We are over run.


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Originally Posted by BillandElaine
Shelter? Only one on the island been gone since Irma.


The Animal Care Center SXM in Cole Bay (behind KFC) would help. Was not speaking of Ursula’s. Daily they assist with finding fosters and fur-ever homes. Our biggest group of fosters are the med students.

I choose to be positive, help with change and education. Not be defeatist.


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Originally Posted by BillandElaine
What would the guard Do? The government both sides dont care and all the people who mistreat or abandon their dogs get away with it. We are over run.



Over run with what? Dogs? Think you live there....How about contacting the press to start with and getting an article written about this and trying to make the place more humane to animals and perhaps to people by asking those who see this type of cruelty to report it and action taken, or again as you live there(I believe) are there aspects that you have seen that are just so out of control that as you state nobody cares, but surely you care and could make small difference or at least a start to improve things perhaps?

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Originally Posted by BeachKitten
Originally Posted by BillandElaine
Shelter? Only one on the island been gone since Irma.


The Animal Care Center SXM in Cole Bay (behind KFC) would help. Was not speaking of Ursula’s. Daily they assist with finding fosters and fur-ever homes. Our biggest group of fosters are the med students.

I choose to be positive, help with change and education. Not be defeatist.



so agree BeachKitten

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Perhaps the government (said tongue in cheek) could offer free neutering.

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Ursula just ran a campaign for reduced cost neutering, and I and many others contributed to the funds for it. She also frequently has articles in the paper. Although there is no physical shelter there, she is still very much involved in rescuing dogs and getting them foster homes or forever homes.She houses quite a few at her own home. If anyone would like to contribute, you can via PayPal at :
ILMID.org


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Lots of folks are involved, us included . Not defeatist, just pointing out how dire our situation is.


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Its publicized every day here . Every day. Totally disgusted govt will not respond or do anything to the folks who abuse these helpless animals.


Elaine
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