<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> This is a newbie trip report so please bear with me. Imagine you're looking through my eyes at the wonder of your first visit to "The Island".
We booked the air and hotel as a package from cheapcaribbean.com. Everything went very well.
The airline was Delta. Providence to Atlanta, Atlanta to SXM. The return was the same in reverse. The flight to SXM was very turbulent. The captain stopped all services on the flight for awhile and had the flight attendants sit down and buckle in. The storm we flew through hit the island and stayed for the first 3 days of our visit. Some rain, but always a very strong wind.
Upon arriving the first blast of tropical air warms you much more than you thought possible. After de-planeing imagration and customs was a breeze. We were advised to try and have carry-on luggage only, and it worked out well.
Some friends of ours suggested that we rent our car from Marius at St. Louis car rental. We did and are very glad we did. Marius is a true gentleman, and our car rental went without a hitch despite my determined efforts to screw it up. Marius says he will soon be renting more than just cars. Thanks again Marius.
When we arrived at Esmeralda, after a fun drive up "goat dodge highway", we were supposed to hook up with Wi_Couple (Paul & Rayna). There was a note on our door that their room was next door to ours and that they were down at Boo-Boo Jams. Found Boo-Boo Jams, found Paul & Rayna, found more than my share of Caribs, found myself in a limbo contest with the locals. There were so many locals standing around laughing their collective axx's off, my wife couldn't get a picture. I have arrived!
St.Barts and Islandwannab were having a ttol party at Pigano's Bistro in Phillipsburg on our first full day on the island. We had already arranged that we would drive Paul & Rayna down to the party. (Paul, remember the LA lane change?) We had a ball there. Met StBarts, Islandwannab, 159 and many others I can't remember. Thanks StBarts and Islandwannab, it was a great way to get introduced to the island lifestyle. Stopped by DK Gems on the way to the party and bought a gold bracelet from Deepti. More on that later. Somehow, the 4 hubcaps on the rented car disappeared in Phillipsburg. Must have been hungry goats, they'll eat anything you know. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />
Because I grew up in Boston, I'll have to compare the roads and driving for you.
On the one hand you have very narrow cobblestone streets, with shops in abundance. Anyone can, and will walk out in front of you at any time. Cars cut you off from every possible angle. Everyone is constantly tooting their horns.
On the other hand you have a tropical island paradise.
The food:
A usual gourmet meal for me while on vacation would mean no ashes in your beans from the campfire and a trout cooked on at least one side. Even a sophisticated palate such as this could tell there was something special about the French side fare.
We ate dinners at L'astrolab, Coco's, La California, La plantation and Sol e Luna. The food at all these places was beyond superb. The service was excellent.
In Grand Case, La California will accept $ for Euro at par if you are paying cash. Any other places that do this will have a sign out front stating their policy. So, make sure you look.
Mid week we decided to go back to DK Gems in Phillipsburg. After an exhaustive search of the phone book, I couldn't find who out who to call so I could tell them where I was going so they could release the goats. No call was needed however, they were there. Made great friends with Deepti. Traded the first bracelet up and bought a ton of more "stuff". I think it was a shopping first for Deepti. My wife saying no, and me saying oh yeah throw that in too, and one of those, and one of those.
We met mmartin fan on our 2nd visit to DK Gems. Good person. My wife and I walked the new boardwalk with him. Then Later we met at happy hour at the Perch in club o. Walking the boardwalk is great, the beach on one side and all the shops and hotels on the other.
The Heineken Regatta was in full force during our stay. Try as I might to get some decent pictures, the camera I brought wouldn't do the sailing ships justice. The viewing from Orient beach of the ships passing at full sale is quite nice. We took the road down past the butterfly farm. Near the end of the road is an old French department of defense site. The roofs have all fallen in. Through the old gate there is a nice beach on the right. Straight ahead there is an old lava flow beach. This beach is outside the breakers for Orient Bay and has some very large waves breaking on it. With the waves breaking and the sailing ships in the background we were treated to a very impressive show.
There was a bicycle race on the road from Marigot to Grand case the day we were leaving that caused some anxiety. We wound up taking the long route to the airport, out by cupecoy and back to the airport.
After checking our luggage in at the airport (we had so much stuff going home, we had to), we walked down to Turtle Pier for one final meal. The owner saw my Red Sox hat and came over to say hello. He told me he had gone to college in New England and he to was a Red Sox fan. We both agreed "This is the year".
Without this site and all the information we obtained from it, our trip would have been no where near as pleasant as it was. So thanks to our friends Dick & Paula, all our new frinds Paul & Rayna, StBarts, Islanwannab, mmartinfan, 159, and all the rest whose posts helped us out.
Am I off the hook contessa?
Jarhead <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/usflag.gif" alt="" />
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