Update From The New Horny Toad

We arrived on Delta yesterday, after a week of something seemingly going wrong every day leading up to departure, including a delayed flight out of DAY. Both legs of the flight were totally full and we arrived SXM about 10 minutes early. Delta was the only plane at the time and from being the last passengers off the plane, we were through the airport, retrieved luggage that was waiting on us and met Lesley with the car in about 15 minutes total. We had a 2 hour layover in ATL and was surprised to have arrived at the "E" terminal as that is the same terminal the flight to SXM departed from.

This is my first stay at Horny Toad since the reconstruction after Irma and my wife's first trip back to the island in 8 years. The new version of HT is really nice and modern but still has the uniqueness we have known from the older version. Sitting on the balcony now and watching a somewhat rough surf with some rock exposure in the water

After a little social hour here, we headed to The Hideaway at LaVista to see our long time friend and server, Jean Marie. While we have enjoyed dining there in the past and hope to this trip as well, the place was totally without diners. Hopefully some came in later but it was rather sad to see.

Off to Mark's Place for some ribs and a burger and to meet our taxi driver friend of 28 years, Junior Bruney. He had a very large serving of fish and we all enjoyed our meals.

My wife did the driving coming back and some how we ended up taking a partial island tour but all ended well with a good nights sleep.

Up early this morning to watch the sun come up and a pretty hard shower just hit.

Welcome to de ilon! Sounds like a good start to me.........

Had a tour of the Toad earlier this year. So very nice and homely. Enjoy your stay!

Thanks. I checked it out in March. We have been staying here for close to 20 years and it still has the same ambiance with a more modern flair now.

Hopefully we cross paths this trip.

Welcome back to the island. Enjoy your stay. You're streak of bad things happening is about to change in paradise.

Glad you got through the travel day with not too much hassle. Hope you and Ronalee have a great vacation. Say Hi ti Jr. for me.

Wendell

Thanks. Junior asked about you last night.

Sounds like a good start to your trip! Glad that so far, anyway, the troubles of the past week haven't surfaced there. I guess since it had been such a long time since Ronalee had been on island, she had not seen Junior for a long time? I guess I will have to wait until Jazzgal gets there to see some pictures of the new Horny Toad.

Good start. Marks is always good.

Nice report and start to your trip. Perhaps this year we will actually get to meet. I arrive next Tuesday.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Toad; I arrive Wednesday. What room number are you in?

We are in unit #4 but unlike the old HT, the new units are all pretty similar. I do miss the outdoor shower that used to go with this unit. Very nice place as you know.

I'd like to try #4. I was in #1 this summer. The one thing I didn't like about it was the placement of the shower. I think they were trying to emulate the outdoor shower, but it didn't work for me. The front door separated the shower from the rest of the bathroom so there was no place to hang towels, etc. Very awkward. I looked at all the units that were unoccupied when I was there in July, and #1 appeared to be the only one set up that way. Debbie said she *might* be able to move me to an upstairs unit during my stay, but I'm starting out on the ground level, much to my disappointment.

They had 2 units open up yesterday so not sure what the status will be when you arrive as one of them was upstairs.

We do like the new accommodations with just a couple of minor things we would like to see improved on. There needs to be a shelf or cabinet of some kind on the bathroom as the small vanity/sink cabinet and toilet lid is the only place to place anything. A shelf or corner storage unit within the shower would be nice also. There is a large drying rack in our unit but I get the towel hanging thing also.

I have looked into several of the units and they are all a little different but all somewhat similar and nice.

Hopefully you will get an upstairs unit.