Just returned from our 10th trip to the island and as I sit writing this report, we are planning one for this July. We love every minute of our time and can’t get enough of it and it seems as if each trip is better than the last.

AIRLINES: We flew on USAir using FF tickets. Found out that the departure tax was not included in these tickets. Good flights. We left home (CT) on March 24 on time, changed in Charlotte and landed with a breeze. Our return was late leaving both SXM and Charlotte on the 8th of April but our arrival in CT was right on time.

TIMESHARE: We own at The Sapphire and spent the whole 15 days here. It is starting to see a little bit of age. Just needs to be spruced up a bit with painting and the furnishings. We had a great ocean beach studio and spent our mornings and evenings watching the cruise boats cruise by.

BEACHES: We usually do Orient only and vowed to try some different ones this time, which we did. We did Baigue Rouge(sp). Nice beach but the undertow and the waves did not make it enjoyable being in the water when trying to cool off. We would return though. Coco Beach – we had spent part of a day there last year when we stayed at Esmeralda and enjoyed it then. We had a great day, the waves were real tough and my husband did get pushed around quite a bit. Did our first trip to Pinel Island and what a great place. Toured the island and just had a great time chilling our. Orient Beach – what can I say—still our favorite. Just so nice and calm, little wave action and just so relaxing. Had a little bit of rain showers but nothing to speak of and nothing to make us leave the beaches early.

RESTAURANTS:
BREAKFAST ate both in and out. Went to Turtle Piece twice and to La Croissant in Marigot harbor three times and always seemed to have the same – the old fashion American breakfast and made our daily pit stops for croissants. Lunches were at the beach and as always, Baywatch where we saw the gang- Andy, Cheryl and Ross. Great food. We did have lunch the day we were at Coco Beach and shared a salad and sandwich ($35)
DINNERS: Pineapple Pete’s – sandwiches ($41); Los Gauchos ($80) great steaks, appetizer and beers; Dingy Bar ($45) what a hide-away. Had a delicious chicken dinner and wanted to go back but not enough time. Bananas ($54) – had to go here the last Thursday of the month for their turkey dinner and as usual it was great. We found Shrimpy’s both for dinner ($30) and for their happy hour. Again, a nice hide out. Had a couple of light meals at BBB – great hamburgers and atmosphere. The Lolo’s as well. Went to one of our favorites in Grand Case – Soleil (sp), sat on the porch, watched the rain come down over a bottle of wine ($120) and one of our best meals was at Spiga ($120) and our other best meal, at my favorite restaurant – LaGondola ($120) We have been going here since David was at Sandy Ground and always look forward to this. We hit the Greenhouse, Kissin Fish, BBB, Shrimpy’s and SBB for our daily happy hour.
SBB- was outrageously expensive and really doubt we will ever go back there. A frozen drink was $9.00 and beers $4.00. The atmosphere was not SXM and there was hardly anyone there.

SPARE TIME: Found Luiz while at Baywatch and had him make me up a couple of suits, tikini tops, skirts and a dress – all a hit back here at home. Hit the casinos a couple of times, donated a little bit and got a little bit back. I think, the nicest one is The Atlantis plus they give you match bets every day you stop in. I found the people at The Royale very rude and don't really feet comfortable goind there. Went to the marketplace and shopped in Marigot. Hit the stores on Front St for tee-shirts for the grandchildren, had to go to Belgium Chocolate for a fix. We were on a mission to buy Mikimoto pearls for our grand-daughters and found them at Majesty Jewelers at a nice price so that sorta limited our buying power this trip and, of course, we just had to stop in and see Deepti and the gang at DK to get a few items. Jeff had just left for Switzerland for a watch buying spree but we did get to see him before we left.

PARTIES: Belair (Kathy & Harold) sponsored two parties which we went to. The Wharf had the best turnout, there were about 60+ people and the food they laid out was nice. A thank-you to Sara for making great name tags. The other one was at Gutside and while the turn-out was smaller-40-(Ruth thank you for taking the time out to make name tags) was much more laid back. Maybe, because there weren’t so many people but it was great to see and meet new people at both places who love the island as much as we do—Nancy and Vinny; Mo and Bill; Clem; Ruth, Kathy and Harold and all the others whose names I can’t recall. We met some old friends-Sandy and Bill, sorry we didn’t run into you guys again and pat and John-nice to finally meet you. Ralph and Sharon and Joe and Chris, all from CT.

We have absolutely no complaints, yes, there was a lot of traffic, but there will always be traffic so just learn to relax we’re on vacation. We were there while the jeweler was abducted and robbed and also, when the group of men were assaulted outside of Bamboo Berne’s and read about both of them on the local paper. We will be back and it will be July.