Day 7 started out as another bright sunny day with a light breeze. We were out the door by 9 AM to head over the hill to Orient Beach. Took us 30 minutes after the usual hang up thru the construction zone. Coming down the hill into Simpson Bay as we were going up the hill, the traffic was already backed up to Kooyman. And there were no ships in port so no big busses stopping to show the views,

Orient was very quiet – Club O was pretty busy but not many chairs taken down the rest of the beach. We went to Andy & Cheryl’s for lunch – fish & chips for me & beer battered shrimp for Don. Both very good. There were quite empty too – Cheryl said it had been that way the whole day. We lucked out – while we were eating there was a pretty intense, 20 minute rain blow thru. Of course when we got back to our chair all our stuff was soaked – there was not a hint of a shower when we left to walk down the beach.

We left the beach around 3 and came back to the Flamingo thru Marigot, where we ran into major traffic – they were working on the Sandy Ground Bridge so only 1 lane was open – and a school had just let out. Took us 1 ¼ hours to get back. After a quick shower I ran down to Endless Summer in Simpson Bay to pick up a bathing suit they sent up from their P’burg store. Big mistake – from Endless Summer to Market Garden it took 45 minutes. Cars were driving the wrong way in the other lane or they were driving down to the right of me & cutting in when a parked car got in their way. I felt like I was in a demolition derby.

No real plans for dinner – we’ll figure it out when the mood strikes us. I do know I want to play some blackjack tonight so we’ll head up to the Hollywood Casino – traffic wasn’t kind to us today so maybe the cards will be!

Day 8 turned out to be a spectacular day! Not a cloud in the sky and a light breeze. Don & I spent the day at the Flamingo beach. After all the traffic yesterday we didn’t feel up to the challenge today. We started the day with once again – pastries from Le Sucriere. The baguette was so fresh from the oven she had to use tongs to put it in the sleeve and then I couldn’t touch it either - OMG was it good!

After spending the day watching all the planes land – I have a high powered binocular with a stabilizer so I get a great view from the small Flamingo beach – we came back to our unit to find them finishing up the refurb. They didn’t hook up the dryer vent which I found out when I opened the door to pull the clothes out of the dryer and got greeted by lint flying around! Now, did they tell me they forgot to buy the vents and not to use the dryer – no!

We dined at Temptations and have mixed reviews. The service as always was excellent and the ambiance is quiet & elegant – and for a Saturday night they were very busy. We shared an appetizer of mixed bruschetta which was excellent – there was one each of portabella mushroom, yellow heirloom tomatoes with shaved parmesan, brie with green apples & pecans, and chickpeas. Now each one had more of a description but you get the idea. I had the tempura snapper with oriental rice which was totally excellent. Don had the short ribs which he just didn’t care for at all – they were fall off the bone tender, but he said they left a funny taste in his mouth. We then were pigs and each of us had our own dessert – the warm chocolate cobbler, which is a meal in itself. It was kind of funny – we’re having a Christmas party and I already bought the wine – and many of the bottles I selected I bought on the advice of the wine advisor at the wine store – so I see I can buy a glass of one of the bottles I bought that I had never heard of – Hob Nob (believe it or not that is a French wine) pinot noir. And I really enjoyed it so I know at least that is a pretty good bottle for the party.

We tried to gamble at the Atlantis after dinner but the tables were full and no one was moving. So we left and were going to stop at Hollywood, but then exhaustion set in & we decided to bag it. Driving back to Simpson Bay we saw the traffic coming down the 2 hills backed up all the way to the top of both of the hills. And this was at 11 PM! But we made it back in one piece so all is well.

Only rain really has been at night except for 20 minutes when we were at Orient, and it has rained every night. Looked like there was a hard rain when we at dinner, there were the usual huge puddles going up Billy Folly so deep I was afraid the brakes might not work. Can you tell I know nothing about cars? They were fine.

Day 9 is starting out as another spectacular day – and I’m getting the pleading looks to go and get the morning pastries….