Trip Report: January 31 – February 23

We’ve been back almost two weeks now, and are already dreaming about a return trip next February! We had a great time, just what we needed to get away from this cold and snow. Saw lots of friends from previous trips, and made some new friends that we look forward to seeing again.
I’ve been working on our trip report for a few days and it ended up longer than planned – oh well, here it goes.

Flights: American Airlines

DTW – MIA – SXM with a 6:40am flight out of Detroit.
You know how they say you must be at the airport at least two hours ahead on an international flight, and have been advising to allow even more time?? We got to the terminal at 4:15am to find at least an hour long line waiting for AA to open (they opened at 4:30am with one worker). Even the self check terminals were off. We tried curbside check-in – not available for international flights. As we pondered our options, the curbside attendant came in to warm up and I asked her if she could suggest anything. She said “I can help you if you need it”. Well, of course I said we needed lots of help. She spotted the AA worker getting ready, took our passports and walked us through the check-in, tagged our bags, handed us our boarding passes and said “there you go”. We gave her a very nice tip and off we went to security. The most pain free check-in ever.

No problems with the Miami connection, and we got through SXM immigration the fastest ever – only had to wait a few minutes for luggage.

Return flight:
SXM – MIA – ORD – DTW
We had an 8:15am flight, so were at the airport by 5:45 – the AA counter did not open until about 6:20. We were first in line so it didn’t take but a couple minutes to check our luggage and get boarding passes once they got going. It was humorous watching the three AA check-in clerks drag their bags full of tags, etc. down to their stations. Then they proceeded to take about 15 minutes to set things out, load up the luggage tag machines, straighten up their pens and things, etc, etc – a slow motion contest to see who would break first and wait on someone. Eventually one got tired of lining up the tags and waited on us – then the others got in the game too. Security was a breeze, and we all got a pat-down and carry-on search just before boarding.

We went through Miami and thought 2 hours 20 minutes may be cutting it close. We again had to walk about a mile to reach Passport Control, went far to the right and got right through. Then to collect our luggage – one bag was there and the other came in a few minutes. Picked the right line and got through customs in five minutes. We had to drag bags a little further than normal to recheck, then headed up the stairs to find the security checkpoint. A fairly long line, but they were running everyone through the fastest we’d ever seen.

It was the typical Miami mad-house, but less than an hour after landing we were having lunch near our departure gate. It was the quickest ever trip through Miami – maybe because we are getting used to the craziness?? To avoid a nine hour lay over, we flew to Chicago, then to Detroit, getting in about three hours earlier than the MIA – DTW flight. All flights were fine, but I don’t fit well in their 737 & 757 airplanes. The little CRJ from Chicago to Detroit actually had more room for me – but their seats are hard! We were a little late leaving Chicago because they had to glue a part back on?? It must have worked…

Car Rental:
We again used a sponsor – Panoramic/ACE and they were waiting for us outside the terminal. We were a little concerned as I had tried to confirm by email three times starting a couple weeks ahead, with no response. (They had been a no-show for us a couple years ago, but did make it right.) Went to their office and got a decent Hyundai Elantra. We returned one day to have a windshield wiper replaced – they washed the car for us too.

We were to return the car to their office at 6:15am on departure day (it was in the contract), but no one was there (for the second time in three years), so I waited until 6:30, parked it across the road and left the keys in their mailbox. I wasn’t too pleased that I had to walk back to the terminal again this year, especially when I re-injured a sore foot on the rough roadside. They have great prices, but dang it, I’m still limping around with a painful reminder of their customer service.

Phone:
Our Verizon phone had a roaming signal on the Dutch side at the airport, Philipsburg and Oyster Pond, but we did not use it because of the $1.99 per minute rate. We called back to the states from the French side using a BlaBla La Carte phone card for the France Tel Com pay phones. The 10 euro card ($14 US) was good for 369 minutes to the States. Works for us - we don’t feel the need to be constantly available like many do, so don’t rent a cell phone.

Room:
We normally stay in the mid Orient Beach area, but wanted to try something different, so ended up on Oyster Pond. We were lucky to find availability at a place that usually caters to French speaking guests, just down from Les Balcons. We had a very basic but clean room with a kitchenette, nice bathroom, and table on the small patio overlooking the pool and the sailboats on Oyster Pond. What you would call a million dollar view! There are a few stairs, so we got our daily exercise. We really enjoyed driving along Baie Lucas and through Orleans to and from Orient.

Food:
We took it easy this year and didn’t over-do at high price eateries.

Breakfast was always on our patio watching butterflies, hummingbirds, and sugar birds. Couldn’t be better!

Lunch –
We ate at several places along Orient Beach including Papagyos, Orange, and Andy & Cheryl’s – all were very good. – especially liked Andy’s grouper sandwich, the best we’ve had since the old Scavengers Beach Bar.
In Grand Case we enjoyed our favorite lunch at Calmos Café – the mixed plate, with our feet in the sand and the surge coming all the way up under our table.
We had great ribs from the roadside grill on the road from Philipsburg to Oyster Pond. Don’t know the name of the place but it is always busy. Ribs, salad, rice & beans, and potato salad for $9.
In Marigot we had lunch at Enoch’s, one of the lunch spots under the Heineken canopy, near the Anguilla ferry. I had the whole fish plate and it was great, something I always look forward to, while my wife had the garlic shrimp plate and loved it as usual.
On another trip into Marigot we had great salads at O Plongeoir by Marina Fort Louis. I enjoyed a goat cheese salad and my wife had a fantastic shrimp & fruit salad.

Dinner –
Talk of the Town a few times with friends and enjoyed the ribs, fish & shrimp.
We had a good meal at Big Fish; however I was a little disappointed with the Oprah Special. It had a lot of seafood that I like, but it was all dumped together in a bowl and covered with a spicy sauce so it all tasted the same – whether lobster, shrimp, scallops, or fish. I expected it to be served with sauce on the side. I did talk to someone who really liked it, so maybe it’s just me… My wife liked her coconut shrimp.
We visited the Westin casino a few times and ate at Oceans, their casual restaurant a couple times. We were happy with our meals & the service, and will return.
Mama’s Pizza at Oyster Pond was good, but we weren’t really into pizza this trip and only had pizza once.
In our opinion one of the best places for fun, reasonable priced food and drink is the Dinghy Dock Bar (you were right Bruce!). We had the fish & chips – a very large fillet of red snapper, fries and a small salad for $12 – one of the best we’ve ever had. I also enjoyed a tuna steak cooked rare with rice and salad. Maybe not the best overall tuna I’ve ever had, but it was the very best $14 tuna dinner I’ve ever found!! Asked the bartender for a ginger ale & brandy – said he didn’t have brandy, how about cognac – so I said why not – he filled a beer glass about ¾ full of Hennessy, splashed a little ginger ale on the top and said here you go mate. That one lasted me for a while…good thing we were walking…

Beaches:
Orient Beach almost every day, either at La Playa where several friends like to sit, or “down the beach”. Seemed like the most sand we’ve seen in a long time and it was good walking along the water because of the easy slope. In past years it has been steep at times and hard on the ankles to walk the whole beach.

We had a difficult time finding untagged chairs at Club Orient a couple times, even starting at 9:00. I don’t get the tag system – we passed up tagged chairs only to see the beach boy come along later and rip the tags off. Oh well, we got by okay. Lots of sand at Club O and the water was the warmest I ever remember – with a lot of swimmers this year.

Activities:
TTOL party organized by SXMNorm on February 2 – what a great turn-out. Good to see old friends and make new ones.
TTOL party on February 18 in Philipsburg at the Greenhouse sponsored by the Canadians (can’t remember names!). A nice group of folks!

Tijon – A highlight of the trip for my wife was meeting John Berglund at the Feb. 2 party. We had read about John & Cyndi’s Parfumerie in Destinations magazine on the plane from Miami. She signed up for their class on designing your own fragrance and had the best time ever. We made several stops at their Grand Case store during our trip and enjoyed the friendship of John & Cyndi. A “must do” for those who are into fragrances. I do know their after sun lotion works great – I have first hand experience after burning my face one day!

We went on sunset cruise on Celine sponsored by JMB. Even though the sun was a no-show, we had a great time. I didn’t realize just how big the lagoon is and how many vessels are moored there. It gives you a completely different perspective of the island.

No trip would be complete without shopping trips even though we tried not to spend too much this time. In Marigot we found some nice inexpensive handmade jewelry and other fun things at the market. In Philipsburg we visited a Pandora store so my wife could complete her bracelet (as if you can ever complete one), then went on the great t-shirt hunt for just the right one for family & friends. We always enjoy visiting with Haresh at his Front Street “Look Me Up” beachwear store and had the pleasure of meeting his wife. Rima’s was visited, but we got out of there with minimal damage.

Over-all this was one of our best trips to the island, and I hope we will be back next winter. We still have some things to do & see from a to-do list we had from our first trip several years ago, but hey, there’s always next year.

Lynn & Glenda