I wasn't going to post a report, but felt I had to. We had a bunch of plans to do a lot of stuff, but ended up doing nothing, but eating, drinking and laying around too much. <br>Left Philly on the 21st through SJ and into SXM about a half hour behind schedule via AA. Not bad. They didn't have any customs slips on the plane, but my prepaired spouse had some extras in her travel pouch, walla right through customs.<br>To Hertz and off to the Royal Islander where we checked in a day early. Picked up staples like vodka, rum, heinnies, champagne & OJ, and oh yah - some food stuff.<br>First full day we went to Cupacoy to see if there was a beach. It was perfect . That did it, the rest of the schedule went down the tubes. Every day started as "a trip to the beach" about 9:30am ending at about 1:30pm. Break for lunch and to the pool and Maho beach til 5:30pm. <br>Plans for a trip to Anguilla, Pinel Is., 12 Metre race, Zoo, Butterfly Farm, Carnival etc... out the window.<br>We did happen to make the Marigot market on Wednesday and brunch on crepes at Le Germain. Also did end up at the factory for 3 large bottles to take back. <br>Also got over to Oreint that day. Met some folkes from TTOL, as I had my shirt on. Didn't stay long as it was a bid windy. Was going to go over toward the end of the week for the afternoon, but met Bob A at Cupacoy and he said it was like being sand blasted. So we stayed at Cupacoy.<br>Tried Le Germain for dinner after hearing it was good. My meal of sea bass was good, but Rita's snapper was pretty bad. The snapper was actually tough and had what looked like cartlidge through it. First bad meal on SXM in over 30 trips. They didn't charge for the meal. We still love the place for crepe's <br>Other places were Boat House, Sabastianos, Le Parequette (haven't been there in years, but after the bad snapper, figured I'd make it up to her), Marios, Lee's, Saratoga, and somewhere else I forget. I had duck at Marios and Le Parequette. Both were excellent and it would be hard to pick a winner. There is only one other place that I've had better, and that is a place on the access road to Stratton Ski area, Vermont. Name is Mistrals. We usually take a couple of meals down with us (Rita's into cooking). Last Nov we made only one meal, and gave the Res Manger the big NY strip. This time we brought one meal down. We were so laid back we didn't want to cook in. Took the meal back with us. This Nov. no more carting food down.<br>General observations:<br>Dutch side is cleaner than French. Way to go SXM Pride. <br>Trafffic wasn't as bad as November<br>Casino Royal was friendlier this time<br>Water was calmer<br>Breeze was constant (last Nov it stopped for 3 days, 10 minutes in the sun and you had to submerge)<br>Can't say anything about P'burge - we didn't go to town. <br>We did make contact with Rollin. He came over to Cupacoy the first day to see if we were there. Dropped over to their house that evening to see the kids. Had some stuff for them. He and Norma went to Marios with us on Thursday. Got an e-mail from Norma this AM. Rollin is back at his jet ski business by Pedro's. Good people.<br>About the most exciting thing we did on this trip was to make the party at SSBB on the 22nd. Met a bunch of neat TTOLers. Stopped in a few more evenings, it is the happening place. Going to be interesting to see what happens to the Bay Watch operation. <br>Left on Sunday the 29th, dang empty seats on the plane, no bumps<br>Pool cover comes off this week end, heater goes on, potted palm trees come out to the patio and guess who will be sitting with a and squinteng through sun glasses trying to pretend<br>About 150 days [img]/images/icons/umbrella.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/umbrella.gif[/img]<br>Jack_S [img]/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]<br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 5/11/01 02:34 PM.</EM></FONT></P>