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Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE #211074
12/12/2019 09:14 PM
12/12/2019 09:14 PM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
jazzgal Online content OP
Traveler
jazzgal  Online Content OP
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
Tuesday, November 12, and Wednesday, November 14

My fourth post-Irma trip! Tuesday started very early with a pre-4:00 a.m. call to Uber. Everything went smoothly until time for take-off. The pilot came on two or three times to tell us about a delay caused by paperwork related to maintenance: not maintenance itself, just paperwork. I don’t recall exactly how long the delay was, but it was between thirty and sixty minutes. I often have no more than sixty minutes’ layover at DFW and was glad the layover was longer this time.

My first-class fare was reasonable for Portland: $519 one way, which is likely part of the reason I had a five-hour layover in DFW. I opted to go to the American lounge. I remember paying $100 for this privilege in the past, but it was only $75 this time. The extra amenities are worth it to me: free food, nice lounging areas, clean and spacious rest rooms. Very nice way to pass some time.

[Linked Image]

After boarding in DFW, we were again delayed for, you guessed it, paperwork related to maintenance. The flight was fine once we finally got going; it was on a 777, and I love the first-class amenities on the 777s.

Overnight was at Miami International Hotel in the airport. The room was clean and comfortable and not as tiny as some of them I have stayed in. Departure for SXM was around noon, with arrival before 4:00 p.m. No ramp; had to use stairs to deplane. No bus to shuttle to the airport as it was a very short walk. I think we must have been the only plane. The wait for luggage was not unreasonable. Leisure was waiting for me outside the terminal; a short ride to their office and a couple of minutes of paperwork, and that was it.

When I arrived at The Horny Toad Guest House, the gate didn’t seem to be working quite right. It started to open, then closed, then opened again. I learned later that both the inkeeper and JD/RuralCarrier were attempting to open it at the same time! I parked the car and innkeeper Debbie came up to greet me. I hadn’t seen him for a while, but I assumed the gentleman who was helping with my bags was her husband Doug. Turns out it was JD, who carried both of my bags upstairs for me. We had never met in person before, and I was thrilled to finally make his acquaintance. What a nice man! We ended out being next-door neighbors on the second floor at the Toad.

I unpacked and had hoped to make it to Tech Hub to get wifi added to my phone prior to their closing, but traffic was just too heavy. So I stopped at The Palms for a quick drink and to say hello to newlyweds Greg and Joelle prior to an event at Palapa Grill across the street.

The event was organized by the administrator of one of the Facebook groups and was a sit-down dinner after a cocktail hour. I heard that Palapa didn’t know it was going to be dinner until two hours prior to the event, but I don’t know that for a fact. There were thirty-plus of us: one long table and then two or three smaller tables. Service was friendly, but food coming out of the kitchen was spotty at best. Some folks were leaving before others had received their dinner. I had salmon which was just okay. Being from the Pacific Northwest, I am spoiled by outstanding salmon so it would take a lot to impress me. Those who had steaks said they were good. After dinner I headed back to the Toad and crashed.

I wasn’t yet into island mode and don’t have any pictures from this event. However, the interior of Palapa Grill is quite pretty.

Thursday, November 14

Ann Elliott and I had hoped to get a group together for a sail on No1SXM for Saturday, but there wasn’t enough interest. So today we joined Pat’s daughter and her friend and two others for a sail to Tintamarre. What a wonderful day! For those who don’t know, No1SXM is owned by Pieter and Mirian, who had the now-sunk Passaat. They don’t motor; everything is sailing in the wind. It was a perfect day for sailing and was heavenly relaxing on the netting to the sound of the waves. Pat’s daughter was thrilled to see a turtle. I just floated by the boat and wasn’t as lucky. We enjoyed sandwiches on the boat and had a leisurely sail back. Just a perfect time.

After the sail I headed to Tech Hub to get wifi on my phone and also to add more dollars to my top-up Chippie card. Then back to the Toad to get cleaned up.

There’s a “foodporn” group on Facebook that holds two dinners a month: one at an inexpensive location, and the other at a higher-end restaurant. Tonight was a dinner at Jamtillean . . . which I completely forgot about. It was on my calendar, and I have no excuse. I was mortified when I found out, especially when I learned that half of those who signed up didn’t make it. I ended out having drunken ribs at The Palms and had plenty for leftovers.

The view from my balcony is addicting, and I will probably be boring you with too many photos. This is at night.

[Linked Image]

Friday, November 15

And here are some morning views.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

I am writing this report on Thursday, November 21, and don’t have much recollection of this day. I know I spent some time on the deck talking with JD/Ruralcarrier and his wife. I also went to the Marigot market and picked up a couple of items.

[Linked Image]

Dinner was at Bar Code with a couple of friends, where I had a special of tuna tartare, which was good.

[Linked Image]

Saturday, November 16

Time for a down day. Ann Elliott and I headed to Anse Marcel. Shortly after our arrival, there was a shower which took us off the beach. It soon passed, and we were back on the beach. The weather never warmed up enough that I felt I had to get into the water to cool off, so didn’t. There was a little seaweed on the sand, which I hadn’t seen there before. I also enjoyed a new beach towel I purchased from Amazon which has pockets that are very convenient.

[Linked Image]

The beach was as wonderful as ever and so was the food.

[Linked Image]

Lunch was a shrimp and calamari “pasta” salad; the pasta was a grain of some sort. It was quite tasty although I found the calamari a little chewy.

[Linked Image]

I can’t go to Anse Marcel without having a dessert; mine was a very yummy chocolate mousse.

[Linked Image]

I topped the afternoon off with an espresso martini and headed back to the Toad. This was noted on the way out; I assume it’s a feeding station.

[Linked Image]

There was another meet-and-greet of the Facebook group at The Pub, run by Tanya and Michael, which is next door to Jimbo’s in the former Byblos location. There were quite a few people there, and many were smokers, which is something I am not comfortable being around. I didn’t stay long and headed to Sublime for dinner, where I enjoyed a very good dish of fried noodles with shrimp and chicken.

[Linked Image]

Sunday, November 17

Another great morning on the deck.

[Linked Image]

A “ladies’ lunch” with Barbara, Ursula, Elaine, Ann, and moi was on the schedule at Indigo Bay Restaurant in Cay Bay.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

It was a lovely time, except for the heat. They really need some fans. We shared some spring rolls, which someone said Sharon/The Queen recommends, and they were delicious. My entrée was a tartare, also quite tasty. The setting is very attractive, and the service was good. But oh, the heat from that afternoon sun! It just seems to gather and hang over you under the canvas ceiling.

[Linked Image]

There is a cocktail hour every day at The Horny Toad, and I hadn’t yet been to one. There were several guests in attendance, and I learned about the annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Toad. I decided to stay in for dinner and picked up some chicken from Pollos Hermanos on the corner; it was very tasty.

[Linked Image]


Rather than doing these reports by week, I’m cutting them off when I am nearing the limit of 20 photos.



[Linked Image]
SXM Sponsors
Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211075
12/12/2019 09:44 PM
12/12/2019 09:44 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
Traveler
pat  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Very nice. The views from the second floor of Toad are gorgeous. And Kim really was thrilled to have finally seen and swam with a turtle. Not to mention how much fun she said you and Ann are......😊😊


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211076
12/12/2019 09:52 PM
12/12/2019 09:52 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,482
Central Florida!
Great!!! Thanks so much!! Looking so forward to the rest of the story!!


Carol Hill
Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211080
12/13/2019 12:06 AM
12/13/2019 12:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,408
Yonkers, NY
fabila Offline
Traveler
fabila  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,408
Yonkers, NY
Great report Linda

Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211086
12/13/2019 01:26 AM
12/13/2019 01:26 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Yes. Those first class seats on the 777 flight from DFW to MIA are super. Did the return 2 times before. Is that the 30 day pass for 99 AA had before for their lounge now 75 or for one day only now. I've use the Alaska lounge at 25 for 24 hrs before but no longer has the AA reciprocal agreement.
The time I had the calamari there I thought it was chewy too.

Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211091
12/13/2019 02:02 AM
12/13/2019 02:02 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
kim Offline
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kim  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
So nice to finally meet you and Ann! And yes, I was so excited about the turtle we are going back to Tintamarre around New Years! Just bought a nice underwater case for my older iPhone and hope to get some good pictures!!!!

Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: SXMScubaman] #211092
12/13/2019 02:02 AM
12/13/2019 02:02 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
jazzgal Online content OP
Traveler
jazzgal  Online Content OP
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
It was a one-day pass.


[Linked Image]
Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211094
12/13/2019 02:09 AM
12/13/2019 02:09 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Thanks. Good to know. When it was a 30 day it included your spouse. That still the same?

Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: SXMScubaman] #211097
12/13/2019 05:25 AM
12/13/2019 05:25 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
jazzgal Online content OP
Traveler
jazzgal  Online Content OP
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
No idea.


[Linked Image]
Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211114
12/13/2019 09:55 AM
12/13/2019 09:55 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Thanks for the reports and pictures. It was good to meet you and chat with you the few chances we had. I am looking forward to reading and seeing all or your reports and pictures.


J.D.
Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211124
12/13/2019 10:54 AM
12/13/2019 10:54 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
SXMNorm Offline
Traveler
SXMNorm  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
Thanks for first installment. Could easily see why you loved your room view.


Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: kim] #211226
12/14/2019 01:45 AM
12/14/2019 01:45 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
jazzgal Online content OP
Traveler
jazzgal  Online Content OP
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
Originally Posted by kim
So nice to finally meet you and Ann! And yes, I was so excited about the turtle we are going back to Tintamarre around New Years! Just bought a nice underwater case for my older iPhone and hope to get some good pictures!!!!


Lucky you! I hope you post the pictures!


[Linked Image]
Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211233
12/14/2019 07:43 AM
12/14/2019 07:43 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 389
East Haven, CT
Wingman Offline
Traveler
Wingman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 389
East Haven, CT
Thank you so much for the report. The pictures are great as well. You're quite the photographer.

Re: Trip Report 11/12/19-12/6/19, PART ONE [Re: jazzgal] #211318
12/14/2019 03:22 PM
12/14/2019 03:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 891
WBL_Couple Offline
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WBL_Couple  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 891
So enjoyed your report and beautiful photos!
-- Belinda


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