Continued - I'm still disappointed all the pictures didn't copy Perhaps, Eric or Carol or Ray could give me some advice at copying pics!!<br><br>Part 2<br><br>Day 11 (April 11)<br><br>Weather - hot & sunny (about 28C or 80F) a strong breeze and big puffy white clouds. <br><br>Visited Dawn Beach but it was far too breezy to snorkel on the reef. Worked on our overall tans and then body surfed on the large rollers. Caution - be mindful of the undertow on a windy day, it's easy to get pulled back just far enough to not be able to reach bottom. Had a couple of Pina and Virgin Coladas at the bar there - a very nice setting. (Kisses #220 through #225 - romantic but a bit too breezy to be softly romantic).<br><br>Oh yeah, ADVICE- never turn your back on the waves on a windy day!!! Now we know what the spin cycle feels like.<br><br>Dinner - First repeat. Not even we could eat at a gourmet restaurant every night, so we went back to the Talk of the Town for dinner. Great value again and we actually took some ribs away to supplement lunch the next day. <br><br>Back to the cabin about 10 after another romantic Grand Case Beach walk (Kisses #213 through #219).<br><br>Day 12 (April 12)<br><br>Weather - hot & sunny (about 28C or 80F) a strong breeze and big puffy white clouds <br><br>To Marigot to get Brenda's French passport stamp. Then on to the Zoo.<br><br>We were quite impressed. If one expects the San Diego Zoo or the Toronto Zoo (both ranked in the top 10 in the world) you might be disappointed. But, the St Maarten Zoo is a great small Zoo providing homes to a number of endangered indigenous species. Nick welcomed us and we actually spent an hour and a half wandering around.<br><br><br>The Zoo is a worthwhile little side trip and we were glad we were able to help out with the Zoo benefit race.<br><br><br>The Zoo has a couple of issues - 1) No one knows where it is, and the signage to it was destroyed by the hurricanes. After all, it's more important to feed the animals & birds, but if too few people visit because they can't find the Zoo, there is not enough revenue to do just that - sort of a Catch 22. 2) The Zoo requires some cosmetic fix up as a result of the hurricane damage. Nick has some great plans, but it all costs money. 3) The animals and birds look a little bored because there aren't enough visitors to keep them excited (after all, what's a petting Zoo without some petters for the pettees). (Kisses #220 through #224). No, I did not kiss the monkey!!<br><br>Therefore, let's keep supporting the Zoo through the TTOL board and future events (like the possible Zoo 2 in 02 Race). Lastly, when TTOL members and friends are on the island, GO VISIT THE ZOO!!! It doesn't take long, it's not expensive and it will help the cause. By the way, it's on the north side of the salt pond opposite downtown Philipsburg.<br><br>Dinner - Went to dinner at the new Pinel Island Restaurant. It is along the road to Little Key and the Ma Doudou "factory". Had just opened. Notwithstanding the very bright neon sign, the place is beautiful, has character and is quite romantic. Good food and very reasonable (about 480 FF or $70US) with ½ bottle of Chablis.<br><br>30 second drive back to the cabin.(Kisses #225 through #234 - a surprisingly romantic evening). <br><br>Day 13 (April 13)<br><br>Up early as we planned to go on the Skoobidoo catamaran snorkeling cruise to Prickly Pear Island. It was pouring rain!!!!<br><br>Almost didn't go but at the last minute decided to give it a try.<br><br>Rushed out the door with no breakfast. On the way over to Anse Marcel (over the steep hill west of Cul de Sac) stopped to pick up two girls hitchhiking (never do this at home). Turns out they were 2 of the 3 crew on Skoobidoo!!<br><br>Time for a quick coffee and bun and lo and behold it was clearing up.<br><br>Signed up for the trip at the kiosk to the beach side of the opulent Meridian Hotel. $75US plus $8 departure tax. We remembered our passports thanks to TTOL board members (Prickly Pear is part of Anguilla - a British Colony).<br><br>By the time we were on our way, the sun was shining, the day was beautiful and we were motoring over to the Grand Case Beach Club to pick up more passengers. Scoobidoo was a well equipped 75 ft cat with full bar, music, 2 heads (washrooms), large foredeck trampolines for sunning and a great crew.(Kisses #235 through #238 - actually quite romantic).<br><br>Sailed to Prickly Pear leading a convoy of 4 catamarans (including Tatuna out of Simpson Bay, I believe). Anchored in a spectacularly clear aquamarine bay with a clearly visible coral reef just ahead. <br><br><br>Snorkeling was the best of our holiday, with great coral formations (please don't stand on the reef as you will kill the coral) and a large number of bright tropical fish. We had a plasticized fish identification card we'd bought at the Club O store which helped. <br><br>Delicious BBQ'ed chicken luncheon at the open air shelter on shore (included in the price). More snorkeling (despite quite a wind, the barrier reef protected the coral reef on which we were snorkeling making it very pleasant) and then sunning on the boats trampolines (topless and clothed). Advice - bring lots of sunscreen even if you already have a tan - being on the water amplifies the sun's effect.(Kisses #239 through #244 - even more romantic on the trip back - all that sun, sailing, waves, etc).<br><br>Left Prickly Pear at about 3:00 Beautiful sail back with an overall view of Anguilla (flat) and St Martin (very hilly). Arrived back at Anse Marcel (after a stop at Grand Case) at about 5:15.<br><br>Relaxed for awhile and then out to dinner at nearby Le Taitu (as recommended on the TTOL board)<br><br>Dinner - The only disppointment of the trip. Nice table upstairs (sort of an elevated patio with about 4 tables). Service and food was terrible. Started off with a tasting sip of a bad bottle of wine (which stayed with Mike for the whole evening). Creole sauce on shrimps was quite peppery with little flavour. Bananas flambe was awful (with no flambe). Service was not good - we felt like an afterthought. So left a very small tip (for the only time in 14 days).<br><br>(Kisses #245 through #246). Amazing how a bad dinner experience can take the edge off a nice romantic evening. To bed around 10 - we were pooped - all that sun, wind, water and fresh air.<br><br>Day 14 (April 14)<br><br>Weather - hot & sunny (about 28C or 80F) flat calm (not very often the ocean is mirror calm), no clouds. <br><br><br>Visited Pinel Island for the second time via the regular taxi boat ($5/person return). It was Easter weekend and the place was tent city (which we had not noticed from shore). So, drawing on more TTOL advice, we hiked over the island (8 minutes) to a quiet beach on the north side. As there was no wind (or even if the wind is from the south or southeast), the beach was perfect. Only 5 or 6 people - totally au naturel in a very nice setting. (Kisses #247 through #255 - romantic and amazingly private).<br><br>Surprisingly good snorkeling reef and since it was so calm with little chance of having privates meet coral, were able to dispense with the suits. Thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing time.<br><br>Hiked back over the hill to the front side restaurant where we enjoyed a couple of pina coladas while waiting for the taxi boat. (Kisses #256 through #259 - quite a busy little place).<br><br>Dinner - Last island dinner so we wanted to make it a good one. Boy, did we succeed!! Went to Le Testavin in Grand Case. Beautiful table looking out over the beach watching the sun set over Grand Case Bay. Even better with a 1er Cru Chablis.<br><br>Extraordinary meal. Salmon roll appetizer that melted in one's mouth. Brenda had the encrusted tuna while Mike savoured the prawn and scallop in a delicate white wine sauce. Beautiful presentation. Had an outstanding raspberry mint sauce dessert. Would have to rank this as our #1 or #2 favorite meal (along with L'Alabama). This would probably take top spot due to the very romantic beach side setting and the distant sparkling lights of Anguilla. (Kisses #260 through #268[img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img] - it really doesn't get any better than this). Cost was about average for the gourmet restaurants 1040FF or $150US.<br><br>We lingered, not wanting it to end. Finally we got up to leave at 9 (almost 3 hours after we sat down). To top it all off, as we were leaving, there was Barbara (yes, Zoo Barbara) and her delightful husband Dee along with their visiting guests. It gave us a final chance to say goodbye to, what was by now, one of our very favorite people!!<br><br>Another romantic walk along Grand Case Beach (just how long could we string this out).<br>(Kisses #269 through #276[img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img] - very romantic, but sad that our holiday was coming to an end).<br><br>Back to the cabin about 10 to pack and to sleep (Kiss #277).[img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img]<br><br>Day 15 (April 15)<br><br>Mike got up at 6:30 to go snorkeling out front of the cabin one last time (talk about drawing every last minute out of a vacation).<br><br>Last tropical fruity breakfast and checked out of Little Key vowing to be back.<br><br>Last drive in the, by now, very familiar Toyota (with the delivery windshield stickers still there).<br><br>Advice - do check in as early as possible at the airport. We just beat 2 busloads and, as it was hot, we would have spent another 45 sizzling minutes in line if we'd been 2 minutes later!!<br><br>Tropicana rep came & picked up the car & accidentally charged us for 1 week only (got a call in Toronto 3 days later so, although we could have beaten him for the 2nd week, that is not the way we are). Besides, we want to go back next year!!!!<br><br>(Kiss #278-#280[img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img] - last ones on St Martin for awhile).<br><br>Canada 3000 flight took off on time and, as the plane turned down the runway, there was the Skull & Crossbones over the Sunset Beach Bar!!<br><br>4 ½ cramped hours later we landed in Toronto - to a cold, grey day and 5C (about 40F). <br><br>However, we have some of the most fantastic memories, our new friends, great experiences, and 14 rolls of film, and the TTOL Board to keep it alive until next year. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS<br><br>1. Most Favorite Restaurant - Mike - Le Testavin<br>- Brenda - L'Alabama<br><br>2. Most Favorite Memory - Mike - 12 Meter Zoo Race<br>- Brenda - 12 Meter Zoo Race<br><br>3. Don't Miss Highlights - 12 Meter Sailing<br>- Prickly Pear Snorkeling Trip<br>- Pic Paradis<br>- Zoo Visit<br><br>4. Best Memories - New Friends<br>- Sun, warmth, sand, warm waters<br><br>5. Best Place To Kiss - After 280 attempts to reach a conclusion, ANYWHERE WE WANTED. Strolling along Grand Case Beach after a memorable meal would be very high on the list.<br>[img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/love.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/hairy.gif[/img]<br><br>Mike M.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 4/30/01 03:56 PM.</EM></FONT></P>