Chesterfields – Another usual stop each trip is Chesterfield's. Love their Grouper dinner. We were serve by our favorite waitress there, Patricia.

Skip Jacks - Our final meal was with John and Cyndi at Skip Jacks. We enjoyed their Grouper plate.



Activities, Notes, Extra Pics

There was at least one new experience this trip that hasn't occurred before. After a rain storm that included thunder and lightning(including bolts and full sky ), and that started Friday afternoon and continued through most of Saturday, we got word around noon on Saturday that the Government had imposed a curfew on all businesses starting at noon. All businesses were suppose to close by noon and people were to go home. No driving around. Only people on the roads were to be emergency, road crew, and people going to the airport. Really strange feeling. As mentioned earlier in my report, come dinner time, I needed to venture out a little. We drove over to Dinghy Dock (everything else in Captain Oliver complex was closed).http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2344_zpsb85159db.jpg Thankfully Seth stayed opened.
We attended the first of Jeannie's Wine Tastings. A good crowd of probably 20 people gathered at Biblio's for wine and matched food samples. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2333_zps0fed6f81.jpg Here's Jacob, owner of Biblio's , greeting the group. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2334_zps312e4f53.jpg It was a fun afternoon/evening. Thanks again Jeannie for organizing it.
On one of our trip to Phillipsburg we stopped by DK Gems to get Betty's studs and ring cleaned. Didn't buy anything this trip, but they still take care of their customers. This pic is for Deepti to show her Kamal works even without her whip.:) http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2381_zps476866fa.jpg
One of the most fun things we did this trip was going to Red Piano. Music starts around 8pm Another couple and us were the only people there at 8. Susan Erwin ( www.susanerwin.com ) was performing this night and all of November. She returns for the month of March also. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2383_zps40dd5f84.jpg We return another night which we dubbed Tijon Night because of the number of people, including the owners of Tijon, being there. Come to find out that Susan on previous trips to SXM had taken Tijon's Perfume making class and has a couple scents that she is now carrying on her web site. I met her latter in the week while helping Cyndi install a new ceiling fan at Tijon and Susan was finalizing her fragrances. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2400_zps65af0f0e.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2401_zpsa065eba1.jpg
Another favorite musical group is Category 5 with Bob singing. They started their season at La Bamba on Sunday nights. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2415_zps5157f84d.jpg There was a group of younger(than 72) people who came “well primed”. It was a fun evening. Band starts around 8pm.
We also enjoy going to the Casinos. This trip we made 8 trips to the Princess at Port d'Plaisance and one to Hollywood. All toll, Betty had wins on 5 nights, I had 4. Anyone who visits Princess knows the great voice of Melvin, their singer. Here he is with his wife. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2335_zpsd5594bf8.jpg
Made a few stops at Bernadine's at Paradise View to drop off some mail from Jim and Judy, see her feline friends, and pick out some rum gifts to take home. Bernadine was off island for the hurricane. Her stand and house made it ok but did have a few leaks. She has such a great view of Orient from her stand. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2404_zps3bd6a205.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2405_zps5172f4ba.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2406_zpsbaf40750.jpg
Speaking of Orient, major changes are coming to the beach. The French government is preparing to replace all the food shacks and huts with concrete stalls/buildings, build a sea wall to separate the beach, improve parking area,, and then lease the stalls back to the existing owners or to new people. Right now it's suppose to start summer of 2015.......course it's “island time”.
Here's a couple new places that opened that I did not get a chance to try. Artisan Bakery in Orleans at the corner of the main road and the cut off to Oyster Pond. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2320_zpsd74b7e96.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2319_zpsca5710bd.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2318_zps0f0565c3.jpg
Another lunch or dinner place with a great view is Le Pavillon. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2368_zps480200b8.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2369_zps10855a54.jpg These pics were taken in the morning before opening.
Here's a look at the menu. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2365_zps33a450ec.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2367_zps557ca339.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2366_zps4dde3b34.jpg It's located in the Oyster Pond area on the road that goes in front of l'Oasis.
Of course we stopped several times for ice creams at Carousel in Simpson Bay on Welfare Rd. Makes a great end to any evening.
Gas was down to $1.27/liter at the Cadisco in Orient. It was $1.31/liter the first visit. Think it was dropping more the day after we left.
Here's some pics of Dawn Beach looking towards OBBR. You can see the pile of seaweed on the left.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2324-001_zps8ddd638e.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2325_zpsc213f0ff.jpg Fence of The Grerat House took a beaten from Gonzola. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2339_zpsd62a23bb.jpg
One of the yachts to arive for the new season.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2417_zps1c24cfaa.jpg Anyone recognize the flag?
Anyone interested in progress of the Indigo Hill development. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2423_zps74c8d410.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2424_zpsfd2e0fab.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2425_zpsc552cc24.jpg
And some shots from Cole Bay Hill Rd. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2427_zps6302316d.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2428_zps56c3317a.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2429_zps4fd32c6e.jpg
And from Cake Hill Rd. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2431_zps458d7520.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2432_zps0aeb566e.jpg
Another first for me, the Causeway bridge open. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2380_zpse67b8f55.jpg
Finally, with the sun and a ship approaching, we fly home. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2434_zpsd027fc93.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2435_zpsdeea65c2.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2436_zps11e0507b.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2437_zps77d14746.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2438_zpse4fcd75e.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2439_zps41cdcd6c.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2440_zpsdcd63bc5.jpg With two ships approaching. http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2442_zps6ef89d05.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2444_zps7f2e8b50.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2445_zps0160f99d.jpg http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2446_zpsa435e373.jpg
Sunset as we arrive home, knowing that in the not too distance, we will again visit Paradise.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc2/sxmnorm/SXM%20Nov%202014/IMGP2451_zps96c6432d.jpg

Hope everyone finds a little good info in this report. Feel free to send any questions.

Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.