Flights
Took USAirways through Charlotte. No issues with delays whatsoever. We found out later that Jessica Alba and Nicole Richie were on our CLT-SXM flight, on their way down to St. Barth’s. I had noticed Ms. Richie in baggage claim as she was very oddly dressed, but didn’t realize who it was.
Definitely prefer mid-week travel. When we left, the passport check and security lines at PJIA were negligible. On our last trip (Saturday to Saturday), we waited over an hour to get through both lines. And for those of you who were wondering, the departure fee IS included in the USAirways ticket price. I don’t know why their website was providing such confusing information.
Immigration at CLT was slow. It took us about 45 minutes to get through the line. (The lane-jumping jerks who cut us off didn’t help.) We were able to make our connection, but it was very nerve-wracking.
Car Rental
Kenny’s as usual. Lesley was there and waiting for us as we emerged from the terminal, his partner pulled up in the car, and we were out of there quickly. We had a slightly dinged Toyota Corolla and never had a problem.
Accommodations
Our second stay at Bleu Emeraude in Grand Case. Love, love, love this place. It’s right on the beach (about two doors closer to the main part of town than Le Petit), quiet and lovely. Very modern décor, well-equipped kitchen, daily maid service and free continental breakfast (a recent development). They have several parking spaces out front, plus a (very tight) underground parking garage. We have absolutely no complaints about the place. The beach in that spot has eroded a bit, so it was a little steep for putting out chairs, but they managed to make it work. Comfy chaises and umbrellas are provided at no charge.
Dining
We ate in a couple of nights; dined out at Le Cottage, L’Auberge Gourmand, L’Escapade and L’Estaminet. None disappointed. L’Escapade was my birthday dinner and I couldn’t have asked for a better evening (try the escargot). L’Estaminet was a last minute choice during the final “Harmony Night” of the season. Because it’s on one of the quieter ends of the boulevard, it was easy to get a seat, and we were amazed by the creativity of the food and the warm service. Absolutely lovely.
Shopping
We didn’t do much shopping or exploring on this trip. On Sunday, we went to Marigot, but not much was open other than several open air market vendors and cafes. I picked up a little costume jewelry but nothing fancy.
Dogs
OK, I’m a dog person (I volunteer at our local SPCA) so I had to mention our Grand Case beach buddies. There were three that hung out together a bit; we named them Larry, Moe and Curly. Larry could be a pure-bred Border Collie; he definitely has the profile and the coat. He is mostly black with some brown markings. Moe, a shepherd mix, was my daily walk escort. It reached the point where, if he saw me from a distance, he would come running to greet me. He was an absolute sweetie. Curly is a brindle colored stocky little guy with prick ears and a curly tail. After a couple of days, he decided that my husband was The Greatest Person on the Face of the Earth and didn’t like it when the other dogs tried to get close to him. There were a few others in their pack as well. Almost all of them were wearing collars, so we assumed that meant that someone is caring for them in some way. None of them looked emaciated, but appreciated it when we brought them fresh water. If you happen to see them on Grand Case beach, give them a pat on the head and some fresh water if you can. These are all friendly dogs.
All in all, another fabulous trip to our favorite island. We hope to do it again next year!
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