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Saturday June 11 #284443
06/12/2022 04:51 PM
06/12/2022 04:51 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
So, I was up early again today, but 'only' at 7 am, versus yesterday. I hung out for a while and when Eric got up, we had a nice breakfast (at home) of eggs, bacon and toast. We had decided we would go to Tropicana for lunch today, so basically just hung out during the morning.

A little after 12, we headed out through Mullett and Sandy Ground to Marigot. Mark (from Mark's Place) had told us the other night that the island was incredibly dry, but I didn't know how much so until we rounded a corner and saw the golf course. OMG. I don't know that we personally have ever seen it that dry. It was horrible. Although this was Saturday and not Sunday, which I know is the huge test, there were NO cars parked on the side of the road along Mullett, which is a very good thing. We saw the 'gate' or whatever leading to the new restaurant there, and noted a golf cart type vehicle headed that way, so guess that is in place for sure, transportation from the site of the closed casino there in Cupecoy. Starz? I think?

And of course, it is always gut-wrenching to see the remains of the Ocean Club. We only stayed there once, but it is such a crime to see what is there now. And further sadness ensued, heading past where Dreams used to be.. Sigh..

I have got to say that the road through Sandy Ground surely is ROUGH, or perhaps it's the 'lovingly used' shocks on the vehicle we have. smile I do prefer a vehicle with a few knicks and dings on it before we get it, which is perfectly fine with me.

Our destination for today was Tropicana. I lovingly remember a couple of editions of their Grand Marnier souffle, which they (used to) only serve on Saturday. The first question that I asked the server was whether they had the souffle today, and was decimated to hear the answer was 'no'. Sigh.

As of now, they have no printed menu, just a chalkboard for specials

[Linked Image]

and a different one for the regular menu.

[Linked Image]

I don't honestly remember whether they used to have a printed menu or not. We settled on a warm goat cheese salad to share, followed by a beef filet with fries for me and one of the specials for Eric, which was a salmon and mahi-mahi blend. We ordered a bottle of Beaujolais, which was absolutely brilliant!

[Linked Image] Honestly, that was almost the best part of the meal.. Not damning the rest of it, but I am going to look for that wine in the store while we're here!

So, I have had a lot of warm goat cheese salads over the years. I remember very fondly the one at Bistrot Cariabes. I have to say that this one was distinctly underwhelming.

[Linked Image]There was no POP of flavor--no honey, no walnuts or pecans, no pear, very little dressing. It was OK, but underwhelming to me.

My filet arrived perfectly cooked, medium rare, as I had ordered it, served with a lovely sauce. [Linked Image]

It came with French fries, which were good, not great. Eric enjoyed his fish in his entre, although he didn't really care for the sauce.
The meal came with garlic fried potatoes.

[Linked Image]

I tasted the potatoes and they had way too much garlic for me, but I guess that's the point of garlic potatoes, isn't it?

Although I had hoped to have the souffle, or at least SOME type of dessert, I discovered that I couldn't finish my (admittedly wonderful) filet, so we didn't even look at the dessert offerings. We did enjoy the complementary banana-vanilla rum after.

[Linked Image]

I have to say that, after looking forward to this meal, I was over all disappointed. What saved the day for me were a few moments. As we were having our meal, we watched what I assumed was either just a field trip of some nature or a sailing school, with three small sailboats, filled with mostly elementary school kids. We laughingly watched them sail into the marina and about tip over each of the boats, three or four times. After their sail the little ones trooped along the sidewalk through the restaurant, headed who knows where.

And, as I am want to do in almost every restaurant I patronize, I had to make a visit to the lady's loo. We were seated outside and as I went up the stairs to inside, a dog who was sitting with his owner decided that I didn't look suitable to walk by their table, barking fiercely at me. I laughed and gave him a wide berth and proceeded on to the bathroom. When I returned a few minutes later, apparently I still didn't pass muster, so he barked again. I said to the lady that I guess I still wasn't his friend. She said that he hadn't stood UP when he barked, so he was just saying hello. We both laughed and I walked back to our table.

The bill settled, we headed on to check out Monoprix. We had never been there before. Overall, an interesting store, with a nice selection of pre-made dishes and gourmet items. We probably won't go back. BUT! apparently our ship had come in, so they had mint! YAY! We bought two packages, as I wasn't sure whether anyone else would have any. We wanted to buy some plastic storage boxes for the room (which normally there are a few here in the room, but only one this time), so we headed on to Carrefour. We picked up some boxes there and headed home for several hours to hang out here.

Since there has been no rain so far, we have not had to deal with "Lake White Sands" at all. According to our guy from AAA, if the water gets too high there now, the owner of the Morgan pays to drain the lake. He's still a jerk though..

We knew we wanted a light dinner, so we headed over to the Driftwood boat bar for a pizza, which hit the spot.
[Linked Image]

We found a parking space out front, which was pretty shocking, considering the place was pretty full. So we had to sit back away from the ocean. There was no view of the sunset this evening anyway, so not a big deal. With a small box of leftovers, we headed back to BSV for an early night. Boy, we are really boring!!

Speaking of nights, so far we haven't been out very late at all, but there has not been anyone at the guard gate by Beacon Hill. Our security guard here at BSV has been here every night, of course.




Last edited by Carol_Hill; 06/12/2022 05:03 PM.

Carol Hill
SXM Sponsors
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284451
06/12/2022 05:41 PM
06/12/2022 05:41 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 795
Ontario Canada
Whale Tail Offline
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Whale Tail  Offline
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Posts: 795
Ontario Canada
Thanks for your report and the pics. Just love the food pics and menus pics. It's how we learn about all the places we've never been and maybe add them to the list for our next visit, but we never seem to get through our list while on island. And No you are not really boring your days are a lot like ours I'm sure when you sit on your lanai with your Mojito in hand and look out at your view there is a smile on your face. Enjoy.

Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284454
06/12/2022 06:23 PM
06/12/2022 06:23 PM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 246
Toronto, Canada
CanuckTravlr Offline
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CanuckTravlr  Offline
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Posts: 246
Toronto, Canada
Lovely report, Carol! Great pics and description. Sounded like a pretty idyllic day to me, especially now that you found some fresh mint. The menu at Tropicana looks very interesting. It's too bad that the experience overall wasn't better.

Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Whale Tail] #284455
06/12/2022 06:48 PM
06/12/2022 06:48 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Whaletail--yes, it's hard to beat sitting here with that mojito, looking at this view!!


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: CanuckTravlr] #284456
06/12/2022 06:50 PM
06/12/2022 06:50 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Canuck--my filet was excellent, I guess I was just very disappointed in that salad. Eric did not like the sauce on his fish. Perhaps we chose poorly on the menu..


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284459
06/12/2022 06:58 PM
06/12/2022 06:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,408
Yonkers, NY
fabila Offline
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Yonkers, NY
The best goat cheese salad I had on the island was at Captain Oliver’s for lunch. Four perfectly fried disks of goat cheese drizzled with honey, sweet nuts and sweet corn kernels on side. I loved it so much I begged the waiter Gilbert to ask the kitchen to make it when we returned at a later date for dinner. It was only on the lunch menu. I lucked out that night as they honored my request.

Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284461
06/12/2022 07:12 PM
06/12/2022 07:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 600
Eastern NC, N Topsail Beach
S
SXMFOX Offline
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Posts: 600
Eastern NC, N Topsail Beach
Carol you should have asked me about those plastic boxes, we have quite a few in #10 and where Vickie and Emmanuel are working in number nine they have some also. Sounds like you Eric had a great day. Don’t forget to have dinner at sublime

Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284464
06/12/2022 08:26 PM
06/12/2022 08:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
I know what you mean by the rough road along Sandy Ground. We had a fairly new Rav 4 and felt every bump and dip. You never gave a critique on those fries with your steak. They looked good in the picture but ?

Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284465
06/12/2022 09:16 PM
06/12/2022 09:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,772
So. Shore MA.
jollymonsrv Offline
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Posts: 1,772
So. Shore MA.
Nicely Said 👏

Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284467
06/12/2022 09:35 PM
06/12/2022 09:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,476
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Posts: 17,476
Ohio
Looks like a good trip so far.


J.D.
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: fabila] #284469
06/12/2022 10:09 PM
06/12/2022 10:09 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Louise--for sure, you know what I'm talking about!! A good goat cheese salad needs some pizzazz!!!!


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: SXMFOX] #284470
06/12/2022 10:10 PM
06/12/2022 10:10 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Fox--I didn't really look at the 'box' situation till after you left. Most units here have several of the plastic boxes. No worries, we will leave these behind when we go.


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: SXMScubaman] #284471
06/12/2022 10:11 PM
06/12/2022 10:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Scuba--the fries were good, not great.


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: ruralcarrier] #284472
06/12/2022 10:12 PM
06/12/2022 10:12 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
JD--yes, it's been good..


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284474
06/12/2022 10:27 PM
06/12/2022 10:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
jazzgal Offline
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Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
Disappointed to hear about your Tropicana experience as it's on my list for a friend and I to do this trip. Great pictures.


[Linked Image]
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284479
06/13/2022 07:16 AM
06/13/2022 07:16 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 568
Bucks County, PA
S
snuba Offline
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Posts: 568
Bucks County, PA
Looks like a very “productive “ first couple of days so far Carol. About those vine glasses at BSV, you buy the new ones every trip, don’t the maids save them? I also hate their thick glass ones but put up with them, the view while I drink out of them makes it forgiving.
Looking forward to the next couple of days report installment. Enjoy.


Life is short, travel the World.
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284480
06/13/2022 07:57 AM
06/13/2022 07:57 AM
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 180
E
erb923 Offline
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erb923  Offline
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Posts: 180
In April I had Friday lunch in marigot at La Petite Auberge, they still had an order of the Thursday mussels special.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaur...t_Saint_Martin_St_Martin_St_Maarten.html
Was very good, a nice option for the marina (although the area doesn't look that great!).

Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: jazzgal] #284481
06/13/2022 08:13 AM
06/13/2022 08:13 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Linda--Can't really tell you what to do, but we were not impressed. Service was also very slow, although I suspect they were down a server, as there were only the owner (??) and one other gal. Another thing I found annoying is that they only had the chalkboard menus, fine, but we had to wait at least a good 20 minutes from when we sat down, until they had a chalkboard menu available for us. And a group of 4 locals who came in after us, of course got a menu to look at before we did. I can understand not wanting to print more paper menus, but how much could it cost to get more menu boards, so that people don't have to wait to see a menu?

We're over it, after a very nice meal at Altro last night.


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: snuba] #284482
06/13/2022 08:15 AM
06/13/2022 08:15 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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snuba--you know, we have never asked them to save the wine glasses for us, and frankly we kind of look at it as another 'tip' for whoever wants them. It's a couple bucks. Makes us happy here and what happens when we leave is what happens.


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284489
06/13/2022 10:00 AM
06/13/2022 10:00 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Make it easy on yourself. Just pack 2 in your carry on so you have them first day you're there.

Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: SXMScubaman] #284490
06/13/2022 10:07 AM
06/13/2022 10:07 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
I don't want to worry about breaking stuff in my carry on. Like I said, I'm perfectly happy the going to Super U or Ace and picking them up and leaving them behind.


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284493
06/13/2022 10:16 AM
06/13/2022 10:16 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Auburn, WA
We used to keep a set of 4 in our storage box but now that Flamingo has nice stemless glasses we left ours for the maids. We do take a set of 2 acrylic ones with us for pool side and beach if we want to have some Rose. No weight or risk of breakage in checked or carry on bags.

Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: SXMScubaman] #284497
06/13/2022 10:21 AM
06/13/2022 10:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline OP
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Carol_Hill  Offline OP
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Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
There are plenty of plastic glasses and plastic wine glasses here, no problem with that.

I personally DESPISE stemless wine glasses. But that's just me.


Carol Hill
Re: Saturday June 11 [Re: Carol_Hill] #284520
06/13/2022 03:29 PM
06/13/2022 03:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,666
MIA
I
irina Offline
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irina  Offline
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Posts: 2,666
MIA
Drink from the bottle! Too good for that huh?
I won't judge.
I really don't care if it's plastic, crystal or Solo cups. As long as there is no leak.
Cheers!
irina


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