Just back from a two week trip and had a wonderful time as always. We stayed at La Tropiezenne (a villa in Terres Basse). It was wonderful. Had birthday dinners at at Rainbow Cafe and Chez Martine. Both places were outstanding. Rainbow Cafe is a little more up scale, but the food was great at Chez Martine and they provided a birthday cake and a gift with the meal. I racked up on some nice jewelery gifts for my birthday. <br><br>It rained practically every day that we were there, but it did not stop us from having a great time. Visited Sunset Beach bar and had a great fresh banana drink--don't know the name.<br><br>Orient Beach seems to really have shifted since last year??? Must have been the storm. I witnessed for myself that there is no beach in front of Pedros. <br><br>In fourteen years, we visited Dawn Beach for the first time and loved it. I think it is one of my new favorite beaches. I of course had to look at Mr. Busby and Ms. B's. I had a drink at Ms B's and talk to her shortly about the publicity on TTOL and the Message Board, but was not able to make it back for lunch.<br><br>Of course, I had to have fish, lobster and Ribs at Talk of the Town and as usually the food was great.<br><br>Had a great lunch at the Greenhouse in Phillipsburg. Great grilled snapper.<br><br>By the Way, I found Under the Tree. It is exactly what the name states: Under the Tree.<br><br>We had a fantastic Sunday Champagne brunch at Port De Plasance. The food was outstanding and they even had a cook that made omelets as you like it and sang as well. If anyone was there on Sunday, you met Maranjo. Two of my girlfriends and I danced with the singer as we had just had the over the top glass of champagne. I thought that I did pretty well on the dollar dollar song. <br><br>Pinel Island was great. Apparently the storms shifted the beach and made dune that cause opposing waves to crash together. The water is for lack of a better description like bath water.<br><br>Of course spent time at Baie Rouge and I think that in most spots (especially the far end) the storms made the beach better. Also visited Cupecoy. It is still beautiful, but a lot of the beach has disappeared. <br><br>I donated my fair share of $$$ to the Casino. Princess really liked my $$$$<br> <br><br>Finally, I did my share of shopping/browsing in Marigot. It provides me with the opportunity to speak the little (un peu) French that I know. I had lunch at La Main a Pate as I always do. I looked for the Peter, a waiter there, but was told that he was very ill. They would not state the nature of the illness--only that it was severe. I was sadden by this. On my very first visit to this restaurant, he literally gave me the shirt off his back, because they were out of the souvenir Tees. <br><br>Spent even more time relaxing and drinking at the villa. Wonderful. <br><br>Only one point of caution, they will tow you from Front Street in Phillipsburg. But, they also towed my friends from a side street (two over from front street), because they stated that all four tires were not off the road. This was the only adverse incident on our entire trip. <br><br>I can't wait until we return. I am counting the days already <br><br><br><br>P.S. regarding the villa--The villa gated entrance was just before the guard gated entrance to La Samanna hotel. Incidentally, we had massages and facials done at La Samanna. Also, took in a couple lunches there as the dining area provides a gorgeous view. The accommodations were exquisite. The villa has outstanding landscaping with beautiful foliage and flowers as you enters and opens to a full view of Long Beach, a fantastic olympic pool (great for skinny dipping), and a wonderfully refreshing whirlpool. Every conceivable ammenity was there except the private tennis court which they were in the process of building. The maid and caretaker seemed to be always there when you needed them and out of sight when you didn't . You can nude sun bathe around the pool or use a private sunning deck on top of the house. The place was huge with wonderful foliage.<br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 8/8/01 02:47 PM.</EM></FONT></P>