Dec. 4 and week one draws to a close......

Waiting for Jeannie of Shopndrop grocery service to arrive! Not a business call but strictly social - old friends planning to have coffee and visit. Traffic, maybe? No problem, mon. She’ll be here soon......

We ended up visiting over breakfast of sorts and catching up and we enjoyed every moment with her. I didn’t realize she had moved back to the Dawn Beach area but it’s so beautiful out there that I truly get it. One of our fondest SXM memories was many years ago along with other good island friends eating Indian cuisine on her porch and watching the full moon rise over the ocean. Special times, special friends and very special memories.

DH had to run to the grocery store because - OMG! - he ran out of both cookies and ice cream at the same time and he could almost do without real food than lack those two items in his personal food chain. And now he’s out watching the planes come and go. He never tires of this while I never tire of the waves crashing. To each his/her own. Whatever it takes, right?!

It’s been yet another beautiful day. At least one big cruise ship came on to our horizon before it moved on to greener pastures or perhaps I should say deeper waters? And now it or another one similar in nature has returned. And just one gorgeous big yacht anchored in the Simpson Bay area - no clue who owns it but methinks it’s one very wealthy owner, for sure, judging by the size and style of the boat.

Dinner tonight was at Mai Ti in Baie Nettle on the lagoon side and it was lovely. Over the years we had tried many times to go there in its old location and for one reason or another it just never quite worked out. We dined with old friends, MJ and Todd Benner and Georgia and David Langston whom we hadn’t seen in years, and Lora and Brad Mast whom we met for the first time this evening. We had such a good time. Our ‘driver’ picked us up here at BSV and what a treat that was. Left to our own devices I’m sure we would have ended up driving around forever and in the end we would probably not have found the place and gone elsewhere that was easier to find and more convenient for us. And thanks to our wonderful kids for a special treat. Who knew how sneaky they could be? What a nice surprise! As for the restaurant itself, it’s outdoor dining with tables under protective roofs, tiki torches burning, and a view of the lights over the lagoon where we could see all the way to the airport. Very comfortably elegant, for want of a better description. It was a lovely evening in every way and if we can find it again I’m sure we’ll return there someday.

Nice

Thanks for the reports. Living a vacation through you and John, thank you.

It was a lovely evening indeed; so glad we got to see you two again after so many years of our stars not aligning.

Thanks for joining us Pat and John, certainly a highlight of this trip and it had been too long since we were on island at the same time. Hope to see you two in the coming week but if not have a great rest of your time on island!

Wow, can't believe you've been on island for a full week already!! Time flies!!

When you said Mai Ti, I was surprised, but the driver definitely sounds like a good idea! Sounds like a lovely spot!

is it where la cigale used to be?

And a couple more pics.

I assume the first one is at the Yacht Club



and the second is another fabulous sunrise from Beachside.

MJ and I use the same driver, he is awesome, glad he could assist Pat and John.

He is all that and more but for want of any other adequate descriptions we’ll let “AWESOME” do the job. And he’s got a great sense of humor, too........

The first picture was at the Yacht Club, Carol - good call, and Mai Ti is on the lagoon side just inside the Nettle Bay Beach Club and while I’m not remembering exactly where Le Cigale was, I think it’s the same area. You turn into the property and go pass the Cadisco station and make a few turns - rights, I think - or maybe lefts? - which is part of why I don’t drive if I can avoid doing so. It’s a beautiful setting at night looking out over the water with all the lights reflecting off the lagoon. The service was excellent and friendly and the food ever so good.

Pat,

What a nice decription of a lovely evening.. I thought of the idea of having a driver at nigh twas a great idea. I don't mind driving on the Dutch side at night but, do not like driving on the French side after dark. We had to cancel two trips to the island in 2020 because of my health and just re- booked for two weeks in June. By any chance would you care to say who your driver was? If not I understand. I would like to use him on our next visit. Enjoy the weather because northern CT. is expecting lots of snow today but only rain down here in Milford.
Bob

I'm enjoying this so much.
You can't come home---it's awful here.

While you were mentioning the gas station in Nettle Bay, I remember going to their grocery
store, which was small, but so nice.
I think that is where we found the chocolate to take home. It might have been right after the hurricane
and there wasn't a lot to be found.

So, If you are in the area and need some of those cookies, give it a try.

Bob, we did see a couple of huge snowflakes, down here in S.W Ct., but heard the rain is stopping at about 3 PM.

No snow yet in Milford but, steady rain.

Hey Pat! Ma Ti Beach is on the lagoon somewhere in the Flamboyant Hotel complex. Last I checked, Nettle Bay Beach club is on the sea side. LOL So glad you have a driver! xxx

Bob, I understand. We had to cancel the last 2 years---first time since the early 80's.

Hopefully, things will be better soon, and we do thank Pat, and the others, that did so much to get there, for
sharing !!!

It is located beach side on the lagoon side of Le Flamboyant Village entrance. Source: Facebook

Thank you, Elaine and Joyce. I absolutely stand corrected but really, once upon a time I knew and REMEMBERED all this stuff. Honest, I did......

And Bob - the driver is a great idea for the older among us who might feel challenged with the night time driving, but I’m sorry to tell you, our driver will not be on island at that time of year. In fact, this was a bit of a joke since our ‘driver’ was a personal friend also visiting who volunteered to our kids to keep an eye on us older people. There is, however, a sponsor here, Mr. Brooks I believe, who does this for a living and gets good reviews and you might try hooking up with him.

All I know is I slept better knowing you had a “driver” to get you there and back!! 😂😂😂

Very nice of you kim. They may have taken their rental car off the island otherwise!

This has definitely been an entertaining thread. Ma Ti Beach is on my list for the next trip. Am I right in suspecting Todd is the "driver"? Thanks for another nice report, Pat.

Yes, Linda and you are welcome. He is so many things to so many of us beyond just being a friend. Call him Todd the Builder; Todd the chauffeur; Todd the raconteur; Todd the protector. Personally speaking, I just like to call him our friend Todd, as he is to so many others.

I have to say, I feel so very blessed to have met so many great people here, here being on St. Maarten and on the different chat forums relating to SXM as well as in all our trips and years of island experiences and each of you is so special to me in so very many ways.

Pat, We are in what you called the older group (lol). I have used Mr. Brooks in the past and he is a very nice man. I will probably give him a shout
when we get closer to going and thanks for replying.

I have been outed! I am for hire but my cost are pretty high! Besides Wilford Brooks who is excellent we had another Taxi driver Alfred AshtonGumbs who we liked when we arrived. World traveler, has even been to Portland and Seattle, it was an enjoyable ride and good conversation. Cell: 721-586-1961 or 721-581-2041

I am happy to be one of those friends Pat, and also marvel at how many great friends we have met on island from all walks of life. That is still what makes this island special, the people.
Cheers,
Todd

And another driver for those who may want or need one is:

Clement Bruney,Jr. aka Junior Bruney
721-553-6558

And while I’ve never used him personally we have good friends who know him well and swear by his services.

And people, these drivers really need your support. Between most of us renting cars and the fact of no cruise passengers at all at this time, they really do need our support, almost more so than any other group of people I can think of here at the moment. Their livelihood depends on our support.