With many, many visits to the island, our first trip report. We stay at Mary's Boon:

Thinking that the Saturday after Thanksgiving would be a slow air day, we arrived at PVD at 5:25 A.M., an hour and a half before our flight. Took until 6:10 to arrive at the counter. Immediately after having her passport and ticket checked, Dot left to get into the long line at the security checkpoint while I finished clearing our checked baggage. By the time I joined her, she had snaked about half way to the checkpoint.

US Air leaving Philly was an hour late due to mechanical problems.

Got into SXM at 3:45, a half hour late. KLM and Air France had just deplaned and the line at Immigration was quite long. Worse, we chose the slowest moving line. (There were several female and one male clerks. The male was the fastest by far). Surprisingly the lines moved fairly fast and we beat our luggage.

Met Lesley of Kenny’s Car Rental outside the terminal and signed the papers for the car in the parking lot. Getting the rental this way is a much faster deal than putting you luggage in a van and driving to an off site office. We were on our way by 4:30, some 45 minutes after arrival. Car was a Toyota Corolla in much better shape than what we had been getting lately from Paradise. The price was much better also. Felt important since car registration was R1.

Bought most of our supplies at Ram’s at Cole Bay on the road to Marigot. Good selection at reasonable prices. (We later found out that they are much cheaper than the Super Marche in Marigot. Supplemented supplies with trips to Triple D and Seven Alive.

Stopped at what was one of our favorites, Turtle Pier. Found out that many personnel changes had occurred with only a couple of the ladies we knew still there. Learned that Chris had moved on to Peg Leg’s.

The island is as green as we have ever seen in (10 years).

Caught a great Patriot’s win on Sunday at Ric’s. Friends from Maine, who stay in a beautiful villa a Orient joined us. The waterfront room was packed and I don’t think I ever heard any Colt cheers.

The lighting of the tree at Maho was attended by what had to be over 1,000 people. Cars were parked along the road past the air cargo terminal. Much more relaxing to watch from SSBB.

The beach at Baywatch was much wider than in April. Andy had two rows of beach chairs out. Not so for Kon Tiki.

Went to our first TTOL party on Tuesday. It was great! Plenty of good food and conversation. Met some nice people,

Missed the big snowstorm on the East Coast. On Saturday we sent an email notice to all of our stranded friends and family that, out of respect to their being cooped up, we would not go out that night but eat in at Mary’s Boon. Food at Mary’s Boon is exceptional.

Took a Sunset cruise on the Lamabada with our Maine friends. Very enjoyable, highly recommend it. Crew is great. Unfortunately we also took a snorkeling day trip to Anguilla on the same boat. Seas were to rough for their normal excursion and alternate plans were followed. Got to see some of the island, but would have liked to have seen Shoal Bay. Coming back was a disaster as it poured all the way. As much as the crew tried to keep our spirits up, they were facing a lost cause as we were wet and cold. Next trip we’ll go to Marigot and take the hi-speed ferry and use a cab.

Took in the Harley riders rally for a local orphanage. It started and ended at the BBB. About 35 bikers in all. Good show. Met several TTOL people there.

The new Marina at Snoopy Island filled up during our stay. Between megayachts and large sailboats, there had to be over 100 boats in the lagoon. Cream of the crop was Aussie Rules, used by Greg Norman. We ate lunch at the Sand Bar one day. This provides an up close view of the boats at the new marina.

Met two French gentlemen working on St Barth’s at Peg Leg’s. They were astounded that I spent almost two and a half years in a forest within a few miles of their homes in southwest France.

When the day came that we had to leave, we took out checked luggage over to the airport at 11:40. US Air opens at 11:00. There was no line for either the security or the ticket check. The only line at that time was to pay the departure fee of $20. Met Lesley at the airport at 3:00 and returned the car. Our flight was at 5:00 and there was a long line to get through security into the terminal. Making a big mistake, we stood in line and passed through into a jam packed terminal. There is a 3:55 US Air and a 4:20 Delta whose passengers had not commenced boarding. Next time I’ll sit upstairs in the bar until after 4:00.

Flights were uneventful, although it’s a long walk in Philly after you clear customs. Used to be a long walk to get there.

Other places where we ate:
Lees (my grilled boneless sea bass was tough)
Zee Best – their new place in Simpson Bay is first class for breakfast
Ric’s – great Tex-Mex food and owned by some great people. Staff is very friendly.
Uncle Harry’s – won’t tell you how good it was because it is too crowded already.
Banana’s – New England clam chowder made by people who have lived here.
Peg Leg’s – Jack and Linda are nice people who pride themselves in providing good food.
Hot Tomatoes – overpriced.
Baywatch – as good a breakfast as you will find on the French side.
Bistro Caraibe – 1:1.18 euro to dollar exchange rate hurts an already high priced establishment. Food is great, but many other Grand Case restaurants are showing 1:1 or 1:1.10 on their chalkboards.
Greenhouse – food was o.k., drink prices much better. No place to park.
LaRosa – first class Italian food served by a first class waitstaff.
Le Cottage – food and service match Bistro Caraibe, but the lower exchange rate makes a big difference
Yummies – hidden away near the airport, the quietest and cheapest of breakfast nooks.

We return in April

Bob (&Dot)