Short notes on a visit

So rather than a long trip report I thought it better just to print notes and observations as our two weeks progresses...and...have them all in this thread

Sunday: Ribs at BBB were great. Happy hour at 5pm. Family night with fireball so a lot of local families. Very comfortable experience and a great 1st Island meal. Also: they now print out the check and it says "includes 15% gratuity"..we left a bit more

Today...a bit wet for our 9am tennis group and only a tad over an hour of play before a 90 minute rainfall. Not a big deal since it takes a couple of days for me to acclimate to the humidity. Beautiful afternoon....

PJIA scanning survey....everyone looked at me like I had two heads so I guess it IS a random event.

Went shopping at both Super U and Carrefour...

Super U: Fantastic produce... decent meat selection..wine from France very cheap BUT selection not that great. Beer prices decent Dollar 1:1...huge parking area with carriages returned to the parking lot so very convenient

Carrefour:

...VERY decent meat selection....produce not up to SUPER U quality...soda and beer prices a bit cheaper but not as many international selections as in the past.. . MUCH bigger wine selection with respectable prices...

Conclusion: Both are great and each have their pluses but very few minuses.

Tomorrow MIGHT be Happy Bay if the weather cooperates...

Sounds great! Keep calm and carry on!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Kinda fuzzy long lens SBR upper B bldg. shot of the 536 ft. #2 in the world Eclipse that is hanging out in Simpson Bay.

For size comparison that is 160 foot Odessa passing in front

A few trips back we passed by another one of the very largest of private yachts while on a catamaran day sail and I remember looking up at it as we passed by at a relatively close encounter and suddenly feeling like our 66 pax cat was a little raft by comparison.

Those yachts are all incredible but this is one very awesome picture. Thanx for sharing it and keep on enjoying yourself (and up-dating us...) and have a great time. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Thanks! Great picture!

Beautiful morning yesterday but dark clouds started in after noon so Happy Bay was postponed and Simpson bay beach walk seemed more appropriate. I was amazed at how heavy the surf was. It was breaking right up to the the deck at Karacter and only a few beach chairs in use and they were far back...

We also tried to get a bit of sun and set up right against the airport wall..and got swamped twice.

Beach at BSV was maybe 30-35 feet of sand...BUT...the surf went right up to the walls.

Here is a dude trying to get OUT of the Bay almost front of Karacter...



...and one for your ugly boat collection:



We went back to Karacter in the evening and had a great time listening to a fine singer.

Wow, those are some rollers!! Stay safe, people!

Beautiful day today...not a hint of grey clouds so off to happy bay we went. Went our normal bumpy way and parked at the lot before Friar's (I forgot the name)...

Surf seems to be a bit quieter but still some rollers out there. The beach in front of Friar's has a huge drop down to rocks. No chairs in front of the restaurant due to encroaching surf. Walk over to HB uneventful..no cows.

Decent amount of people at HB. No raft excursions which was different. Very relaxing.

Seaweed report: i have not seen a fleck of seaweed on Simpson Bay, Friars or Happy Bay.

WiFi report for those SBR people out there. We are in the upper B building and they have installed access points in all the rooms. This has dramatically improved the free wifi.

Orient beach waves very high today. Lots of seaweed to get into the water but into the water I went. Can't see the fish now. Like someone said the perch is close to being a swim up bar. Very busy.

Boucharda, can you comment on the nude vs clothed use of Happy Bay? Also, was this Wednesday you went and there was no excursion that stopped by? Thanks.

We went yesterday (Wednesday) and went to the right after getting to the beach but kinda stayed just off the middle 'cuz the sure was a bit aggressive way to the right.

I would say 70/30 sans suits/suits for that side. I couldn't see to the left because of that tree that sticks out over the beach.

No visitors from excursions most likely due to rough seas which are supposed to settle down today

On another note Mr. Abramovich's 767 landed last night so i would assume his yacht Eclipse will be making a move later today.

WOW< I would have LOVEd to see that racooon 767.

Anyway, what are "SBR" people?

Can you suggest areas for free wifi? Is there a link somewhere for free wifi spots on the island?

Most of the restaurants on the island have free wifi for their patrons. Just ask for the password when you order your drink or food.

More and more are open without a password (e.g. 3 Amigos).

Regardless, I personally would never use it unless you are spending some money in the establishment.

They don't mind, they are smart people, they know that people will end up buying a drink !

Umm...my bad. Said plane has the similar tail colors but it's a 737 not his 767..so maybe Eclipse will be around for a bit longer...(there are two private 737's hanging out at PJIA)

Great meal as usual at Lee's..did my best to keep the tarpon fed with my remaining french fries..$1.50 Carib all day today...$2.50 wine at happy hour

Nice evening weather after a rather cloudy day. Downpour at 7am but not much after that.

Marigot was hopping with all the boat people being dropped off. . Lot's of stalls were closing down because of the wind and impending weather that never came.

As I am typing this I am looking at FOUR cruise ships making their way to wherever (3 to FL and one to St. Thomas)

I like the warm... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

I'm guessing that SBR refers to Simpson Bay Resort

Another fine day at Happy Bay. Surf is markedly decreased at both Friar's and HB and previously visible rocks are covered. Textiles vs. non at HB was just about even today.

One four raft expedition arrived abut as we were leaving a tad after 4p a 10 raft job was pulling up and on the walk over the hill I counted 13 rafts in the next one.

A warning about Cole Bay traffic:

Something major is going on with the road that goes by Carrefour. Every day the traffic is backed up to the causeway roundabout and today it was really bad. No traffic at all through Marigot but it was backed up past the rasta veggie place and coming over the causeway into Cole Bay it was backed up just about all the way to the airport roundabout. No bridge opening involved. No way was I going to investigate but maybe on the w/e I will give it a go.

Fireball and family night at BBB tonight...

Oh, I almost forgot...Le Sucriere on Welfare Rd...MAJOR increase in quantity and different kinds of pastries on display. It gave me Paris flashbacks (good ones)...and I caught the bakers on a break ..they have SIX of them working there. Great place... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the update on Le Sucriere! Looking forward to some pastries from there in March!!!

Our mouths are watering thinking about La Sucriere. We alternate between Zee Best and La Sucriere all week.

La Suciere sounds amazing! Last time in SXM, we frequented Zee as the owners kids were the same age and they played together. Gotta check out welfare Rd!

I much prefer La Suciere over most other places and no "recycled" pastries in the basket.

Great time at BBB and the place was packed. Local families having a great time with plenty for the kids to do from a bouncy castle to movies and music. Every table was occupied .

Fireball pic is a bit misleading since it shows only one dude hanging out but everyone else was kinda ignoring the fire.



OOPS...wrong pic...here's the fireball:



While the fireball was misleading in regards to the amount of people present this one is not. This is a true representation of the patrons at La Bamba...guess it will take a while for the word to get out...

That place is awesome. I love going over and sitting out on the dock with a latte and just enjoying the view.

thanks for the pics!

it was a cloudy start to what turned out to be a beautiful day. A tad humid but no issues with being cold. We decided to do the Sunset Beach thing since Sunday afternoon has a bunch of landings between 1-3p.

It was busy as expected but cleared out a bit after big blue (KLM) landed. I love those 747's and it will be sad not to be able to fly it to France anymore.

The expansion at Sunset looks huge and they were working at it on Sunday. I think the new back deck will be interesting. There was much more beach sand than last Sunday so things are getting back to "normal"

Here's an attempt to show the available sand:

Thanks for the picture! Glad to see some sand returning.

Thank you for the notes and pictures. Any idea when Sunset will be complete?

Was there music at LaBamba?

Very nice photo and update. Enjoy the remainder of your trip!

So far just recorded stuff BUT I saw a chalk board on the street announcing a group to play on Fri. or Sat. (I forgot which) so it is coming back.



Still a shell so it will take a bit....deck cement is ready though

Ok...another beautiful, albeit humid, day in paradise. Had lunch at Talk of the Town in Grand Case and it was fine as usual. Ribs and two sides for $10 (x2) and 2 Carib, Perrier and a glass of white wine for $10 more. Perfect....

Water was crystal clear but not much sand behind the lolo's



Then we headed over to Orient for a short beach walk which got a bit long but it was great (Pedro's to Mt. Vernon. and back). The beach was active and the water was clear. Checked out the new buildings and there was quite a bit of activity going on. Stalls being stocked; internal work going on...and there seemed to a decent amount of beach in front of the wooded decks. Here are a few pice that show activity and beach...





Sand in front of new buildings:

Wow! Thanks for those pictures! So GREAT to see some action there, finally!!!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Wow, looks great!

Another Happy Bay day...no zodiac excursions, plenty of sun, textiles outnumbered the non's by 70/30.

A brain burp comment. After walking over the hill from HB across Friar's I always take off my water sandals for the beach walk to the lot after Friar's. We put our stuff in the car and drove back to SBR with a planned stop at Carrefour for some adult beverages. When we parked at the market I noticed I didn't have my sandals...probably left them on the ground at BB

SOooo...back to HB we go since those are my daily wear...and...when we go a few hundred feet (to the causeway roundabout) lo and behold there they were...in the middle of the roundabout..lonely and scared.

Sooo..they were placed on my trunk at while I washed off my feet..stayed on during that bumpy road ride and speed bumps...hung on through the turns of Marigot..and slid off going around the roundabout. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Previously i mentioned the pastries at Le Sucriere and I thought it deserved a pic:

that's pretty funny, re the sandals! Glad you found them though!!

Thanks for sharing all your notes, but particularly your sandal story. DH did that with a cell phone one time but the results weren't as good.

It rode about ten miles over good roads before it fell off and was crushed by another vehicle but at least it was found and returned, albeit sadly in need of replacement. Repair was out of the question! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I thought La Bamba was closed. This is great news.

What nights are they open?

Thanks for sharing your adventures with us.Glad to hear your sandals survived the road trip! Placing things are car roof tops don't always turn out so well.

LaBamba very recently reopened. They had an ad in the paper a couple of days ago, but can't find it now. Hopefully they will be much more considerate of their neighbors this time.

It is strange they closed in the first place. I think there is much more to the story than meets the eye.It will be interesting to see just how long they stay open this time.

Latin party on Friday night at La Bamba...same night as the BBB family and fireball night. The beach should be hopping

Last night we went for the 5pm bridge opening and then to Lee's where we were treated to the offloading of a days catch of Wahoo caught on one of Lee's charters.

Pictured is a 86 lb beast next to Lee and another showing the remaining 20 Wahoo....that would be over a half ton of fish

Wahoo has become very popular on restaurant menus there, where we never saw it in the past. On the opposite side of that, red snapper isn't as easy to find on a menu as it once was. Was the snapper over-fished?

I prefer the snapper's milder flavor.

Strong surf was back at friar's and Happy Bay yesterday. At Friar's the sand that returned to cover the rocks had departed and black rocks were back.

Happy Bay was very rough but it didn't stop the Zodiacs from arriving (four groups 12, 12, 4 and 8).

There was a potentially ugly event when an elderly large woman from a Zodiac got into trouble trying to get back to the waiting boats. Her legs kept getting smashed out from under her and she did MANY triple 360 rolls in and under the water and sand being sucked back out and in by the surf.

The leader raft couldn't come in too close because it would have swamped. After many attempts she built the courage to try again and was towed out to the raft.

I hope that was a check mark on her bucket list and NOT to be repeated.

Scary stuff!! Remind me not to take one of those deals!!

Oop...forgot a pic of the neighborhood girls out for their morning walk...

How fun! Thanks for the pic!

Our rental car driver identified the 737s as being owned by Russian billionaire, one for him, one for wife and children. He claimed that security, not opulence was reason for two planes.

So we postponed our Simpson Bay Beach walk for aride to the Oyster Bay/Westin area. Note: if you haven't fulfilled your requirement for iguana viewing you can get it all done in one place. Go to the Westin and instead of turning left at the guard gate take a right into a dirt lot with an old house foundation.

Pond to the right, Mangrove-like tree FILLED with iguana of all sizes. If I said we saw 40-50 I probably wouldn't be exaggerating much. ALL sizes..small to HUGE. Jumping from the branches and swimming back....

Here are a couple:

wow, those are some ugly beasts!! Good pictures though!

Hmmm...Big Blue (KLM) was ready for takeoff at SS Beach and started and then aborted its takeoff...never really got up to any decent speed. Back at the gate now....

Must have had an engine light or something. Hopefully everything is ok.

Grab a couple of the big ones. Gut them and put them on a grill, pull the charred skin off and enjoy the flesh.
Tastes just like chicken as they say. I learned this in Mexico and a little hot sauce helps.

KLM getting ready to give it another try....

Edit: Update (over Mary's Boon):

Great picture!!

Where was that KLM picture taken from? It looks like an airborne platform of some kind out over the water.

Kinda...5th floor balcony at Simpson Bay Resort...(and a decent Canon 70-300 zoom helped a bit)

Well we had a great two weeks. This last week rain was totally absent and was replaced by sun, winds and high surf. Not a bad trade.

It looks like our JB flight to BOS will be fine as it already left BOS. No clue what is gong to happen with the NY, NJ, Phily and DC people as their flights home are cancelled again today. BOS got a bit more than predicted (8 in) but nothing like the above areas.

I will have some random pics to post tomorrow but now I am just going to enjoy our last hour on the balcony watching the yachts come in. Eclipse has kept us company for just about our entire two week stay. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for taking us along on your holiday. Safe travels home and looking forward to seeing a few more pictures.

Enjoy your last few hours on the balcony and safe travels home.

Thank you so much for taking us along on your trip and for sharing your thoughts and findings with all of us. If we can't all be there in real time, it's nice to at least be able to enjoy the shared second hand experience. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />