Well, here goes. First of all, let me introduce you to our traveling party which consisted of Linda, Anne and myself Danielle. This will be my third time to SXM, and first for my friends.<br>We all live in Montreal and are between the ages of 35-45.<br><br>Now on to business. Flew AA, on July 19th, from Montreal to Miami, Miami to SXM. Uneventful. Landed, got our WHITE car from Thrifty and on to SSBB at aroung 3pm for a few refreshments. Alas, no Neil to greet us, so on to the US Import for supplies, then to our home for the next 7 days, The Grand Case Beach Club. A quick change in to our bathing suits and into the ocean we went. The Girlies were happy. After a quick shower and change of clothes, I thought I should take my newbie friends for dinner on the water so off to Rainbow we went, much to their delight. Dinner was perfect. Then off home for some much needed rest.<br><br>Friday, july 20<br><br>Since the newbies had heard so much about Orient, we made it our first destination. Again, much to their delight. Plonked our butts on the north end of the Club O section and rented chairs and umbrella from our friend Nikko. Almost immediately, the security guard was over to greet us. His name is Alex and he turned out to be quite a pal.<br>Newbie Linda, a Jamaica fan, was already making plans to return, after just a day and a half! Lunch at Pedro's was great. After a full day of sunning, it was back to our room for naps, drinks and showers then off to Bistro Caraibes for dinner. Again wonderful. Then back to our room for a night cap and bed.<br><br>Saturday, july 21<br><br>Today I thought the newbies should see more of SXM so off to the market in Marigot which they both loved and vowed to return on wednesday to buy more goods. Then made our way to Baie Rouge (one of my favorites). Did some snorkling, swimming and sunning, then time for lunch. Ate at Raymond's,<br>love their fresh baguette sandwiches but watch out for Sam with that happy hour conch shell!<br>After another full sunning day, I decided to go home the long way so they could see the rest of the island and P'burgh. Oooh's and aah's all around then back to our room for naps drinks and showers.<br><br>That evening we decided we would check out the annual "fête" going on in Grand Case so shorts sandles and tee's were the evening wear of choice for the walk down to the center of town. We realized once we got there that this was a "fête" for locals, not that we were made to feel unwelcome but just got the general impression that this was not for us. No problem, off to Calmos Cafe we went and had another great dinner with our feet in the sand and got treated to fireworks that were being put on for the celebrations, without leaving our seats! We were sure there was no way to improve on this, I mean FIREWORKS, right on the BEACH! and a very nice waiter named Philippe to keep our thirst at bay(also met our Orient beach chair guy Nikko there) Sand gravity can get you at night too! Finally dragged ourselves home only to find Linda thought it would be amusing to bring some water guns from home. But only 2! Well you can imagine the war that ensued. Needless to say, we all went to bed soaked and all laughed out<br><br>Sunday, july 22<br><br>Headed out to Dawn Beach. Snorkled, swam and sunned then time for all important lunch again. We all had Mrs. B's ribs, yummy! (yes, we are led by our stomachs). More sunning then off home for naps, drinks and showers. Dinner this night was at Testavin (just can't beat that view)and all was great, again. Left there to go to the Sun Set Cafe for a night cap and ended up meeting a local woman named Sunshine and two brothers who also live on the island with the last name Perignon (they claimed to be from the DOM Perignon family) and left wondering if they were all full of baloney. But you never know...<br><br>Monday, july 23<br><br>This day we spent half the day on Pinel (bought some great stuff from Tom the "king" of Pinel) and the other half on Orient. Had lunch at Baywatch where Andy Showed us his remote controled fart machine and asked us if we had met Jillo yet. He told us Jillo is a security guard hired by all the restauranteurs in Grand Case and we were surprised not to have met him yet. Oh well, back to our chairs rented from Nikko and more conversation with Alex then back to our room for naps drinks and showers. Tonight was the the managers cocktail party so we headed down for that then made our way down to the Piccolo for dinner. It was hotter that h--- on that terasse but the food and service was great. After dinner we headed out to a dance club that Sunshine had recomended right in Grand Case, the Coco Club. Lots of new friends made there including George, Christian and yes Jillo! After much dancing Jillo escorted us home, and on the way he introduced us to a friend of his, Mike, who owns the Picollo! He recognized us from dinner and he is a fellow Montrealer! Very nice guy. Then off for another water gun fight and to a wet bed.<br><br>Tuesday july 24<br><br>I should mention at this point that the weather was hot and sunny with 10 minute rain showers daily. Except for this day. The weather really reflected the way we felt after all the fun the night before , yucky, so we went for a drive up to Pic Paradis and then on to Orient to just relax and hope for the sun to come out. Today, Nikko let us have the chairs for free, since we were there almost every day. Had lunch at KonTiki and after naps on the beach went home to shower and off to Sol e Luna for dinner. What a spectacular setting, another great dinner. Believe it or not, we still had energy to go to the Coco Club (it WAS only just down the street)and met our waiter from Calmos, Philippe, then were once again escorted home by Jillo.<br><br><br>Wednesday july 25<br><br>By now the girls were getting to know SXM pretty well so i gave them the option of trying a new beach, doing a day trip to another island or revisiting a same beach. Without skipping a beat AND in unison they said ORIENT. So we first went to the butterfly farm which we all greatly enjoyed then on to our last day on Orient. Our friend Alex was not there as he had told us he was going in for eye surgery. Hope all went well. If anybody sees him please report back. Had lunch at Pedro's again and stayed as long as we could before saying goodbye to Orient. Then home for the usual naps.... Dinner this night was at Il Nettuno. Again great food followed by sambuca's on the house which was followed by a coffee bean fight and a game of hide and go seek which Linda had the waiters in on. Lots of laughs.<br>And since we had to walk by it to get home, we went into the Coco Club but not before meeting Jillo who was eating at Talk of the Town! So he decided to join us for some dancing then to escort us home. What a great guy, everybody we met in Grand Case just sings his praises. Then off to bed.<br><br>Thursday july 26<br><br>Our last day. Went for one last walk along the beach then packed up and checked out for our 2pm flight. All went well and I am very tired of writting and will finish off by saying that a GREAT time was had by all and I have created 2 new HUGE SXM fans! Anybody with any specific questions can e-mail me directly.<br><br>Sad in Montreal<br>Danielle<br><br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 8/8/01 02:52 PM.</EM></FONT></P>