Saturday beginning our 2nd week. Our new friends from MN were headed home so we took them to Hilma’s for a going away breakfast. We were moving to our TS at OBBR but picking up friends at the airport so just kind of hung out for a few hours at Kimsha, another 1st. Had planned to watch them land from Sunset but they were in early so rushed to meet them with cold ones in hand and then off to the other side of the island. Took the ‘back way’ around the island; quick stop at US Imports, one of my favorite stops, for some cheese and baquettes Had made reservations at Captain Olivers for the sat. evening buffet both because we knew our friends would be tired and hungry from long day of travel and it is around the corner from OBBR plus we wanted to try it. The buffet was very good and we enjoyed. Sunday, made an early morning run to the store for those liquid essentials we like to pack in our softside coolers then it was off to Orient again. Both for our friends to experience and me to pick up the new suit. Funny thing was that my friend was so impressed, she ordered one also! Mussels again at Baywatch and pics with Adrian hanging our license plate and with Andy. It was a good day. Things start to get fuzzy for me from here on in. So busy trying to give our friends a good first time experience I didn’t make any more notes. So in no particular order, had pizza at Mama’s in Oyster Pond, actually twice, we loved it so. TTOL party at Dingy Dock was quite fun and it was great to put faces to names. Thanks to Wendy for arranging it. (We made at least 2 more stops there for Happy Hour during the week.) For those of you that had planned but didn’t make it, you missed a good time with new/old friends. Made it to Pinel this year, it had been a while. It was a beautiful day; I really enjoy laying there in the sun and watching the showers cross Orient. Since we arrived early for the ferry, finally got the big guy talked into driving up and around the mountain to Anse Marcel. Saw the new Radisson, wow quite a place. Also hit the MauDouDou factory and loaded up for another year. Other beaches for this week were Friar’s. Had more small pebbles at the water line than I remember, but still like that beach. More trips to both Mullet and Bay Rouge. Another short trip to Phillipsburg so my friend could experience Rima’s (I had to keep holding her back on the beach, but she was happy I did). Drinks at Greenhouse. Took the OBBR taxi to Harmony Nights on Tuesday, good choice unlike last year when we drove ourselves over and met the traffic nightmare. We really enjoyed our evening, dinner at Sky’s the Limit then to Spicy for coffee and dessert which was awesome! We will definitely have to hit it for dinner next trip. Headed to Maho one evening for dinner, ended up at the Italian place next to Sopranos. Food ok, wouldn’t say anything outstanding, especially for the price. Was there at the right time to enjoy street show. Another evening had dinner at the old Toppers, very good, I had to have my blue cheeseburger fix! Also made our yearly trip to Yvette’s. Still good food at good price. We really enjoy seeing them all; now they have a sign out at the main road so will be easier to find and busier. A group of us from OBBR try to spend one day doing something special together. This year it was a day trip on the Random Wind. It was fun to be with old and new friends. Our 1st week we spent most every evening with at least a brief stop at a casino and luck was in our favor. 2nd week, a few nights, my luck had run out. Fortunately everyone else still did well. Spent our last partial day at BBB and Topper’s.

It was an outstanding trip. I was resistant to the 2 week plan, but the big guy was right and now I’m sure I will never be able to go back to 1 week again. I had feared we would get on each other’s nerves for 2 weeks, but we didn’t. In our regular lives, we are both so busy we don’t get a lot of alone time.
In fact we are already planning the next trip.

Random thoughts, I’m blond you know: I thought the number of visitors seemed down. Traffic was still hectic but some things never change. As far as the crime question, not one problem or concern. The weather was just gorgeous, only had one morning that it actually rained more than a few minutes and chose that time to do laundry so it worked great. Plus, I got an absolutely awesome pic of a rainbow across the marina over the airport terminal to hang on my wall (hope my pic link works and you will see). We received bad weather updates by email everyday from the boys at home that added to our pleasure!

Recap: Yvettes still a favorite, Wharf & Uncle Harry’s dropped from that list. Will have to try Boathouse again. Hilma’s! Missing her Johnny cake sandwiches as I type! Buffet at Captain Oliver’s was a good choice as was Mama’s Pizza. Need to check out some of the other places in Oyster Pond that you all recommend. Unfortunately did not make Big Fish, one our very favorites, Zee Best, nor did we make a stop in Marigot other than US Imports for cheese. Splitting our home base between both sides of the island, good idea. Each has its own flavor to enjoy. Where does the time go? Been back a couple of weeks now and still missing my afternoon on-the-beach nap! Thanks again to all of you that provide such good information on such an outstanding place.

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