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My thoughts on returning.........
#225417
04/24/2020 10:38 AM
04/24/2020 10:38 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649
Brookfield, CT.
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We’re among the ever-growing numbers of would-have-been April visitors who were displaced due to Covid-19 and now we find ourselves looking at a planned November return and hoping that’s a wise move, and at the same time, hoping the trip will actually happen. Not suggesting anyone should agree or disagree but the last thing I would want to do in the next couple of months is get on an airplane to anywhere, including but not limited to St. Maarten. And in reading some of the comments of the realities of people who are currently there, both residents and visitors/property owners who opted to stay on despite the pandemic, I have to say I’m glad I’m here and safely ensconced in my own home. My first thought is I wouldn’t want to take the chance of catching the coronavirus anywhere but certainly not on island, and beyond that, I also wouldn’t want to add to the burden of the island’s already under-staffed and under-equipped medical situations and thereby possibly taking services from those who rightly belong there and might need them. Beyond all that, I can’t imagine being on island and not being able to plunk down on those soft white sands or enjoy the warm Caribbean ocean waters; I can’t imagine a trip where I wasn’t free to enjoy breakfasting on those wonderful island pastries on our patio or at the Yacht Club or other breakfast spots; and dining in general around the island from Rosie’s to Le Moulin Fou to Spiga and all places in between; I can’t imagine not having Jeannie Gee pre-stock my apartment or having to forage for groceries and once again, getting in the way of those who have no other options but to do so at this time. All the things we so enjoy, be they boat trips and activities, or evenings at our favorite watering holes - these things are not available right now, and as much as I want to help the people of the island recover from yet another disaster, what I don’t want to do is become a burden to them. I really want to be there but NOT at the expense of those who have no alternatives. I don’t know what the future will bring but I know in my heart there will have to be serious considerations made before I board that November flight I’m currently booked on. And if there is any doubt in my mind about the island being back to what I consider normal, this might just be the year with no St. Maarten on my radar screen.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Just my thoughts.....
[Re: pat]
#225425
04/24/2020 11:07 AM
04/24/2020 11:07 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583 St Maarten
BillandElaine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,583
St Maarten
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We're with you Pat. We've already had two trips cancelled and I expect our mid June trip will be cancelled, which I wouldn't want to be on anyway. We're thankful we got to spend quality time with most of the family in January.
We're comfortable enough here and I think it's probably more safe for Bill to go to the small Carrefour by us than a trip to Stop and Shop now that we can go out for groceries. And we have a family video chat at least once a week with lots of grandbaby pictures every day!
Stay safe, stay well
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Re: Just my thoughts.....
[Re: pat]
#225429
04/24/2020 11:22 AM
04/24/2020 11:22 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,056 PA
biglar
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,056
PA
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Dear Pat, Carol and I were supposed to travel to the island for 3 weeks beginning at the end of the first week of June. We too realize that's not going to happen and we talked about going at the end of October. Just talked,,,didn't do anything about it. But, after reading your post, have now changed out minds. You are right...the last thing we want to do is sit on a plane and have someone sneeze on us and worry our entire vacation if we will have to go to the hospital in St. Martin. It would not only put an extra burden on the hospital, but I would worry about the care we would get. Many years ago I suffered through a bout of shingles while on SXM. After a few days Carol told me she thought I had shingles so I went to a doctor in Philipsburg. Doctor had no idea what it was until Carol suggested to him it might be shingles, since she had it a few years before. He had to check his computer to see if she was right. Yep! That's what I had and I waited too long before coming to him to be helped by any medicine he told me. Not sure I would want to get the virus on SXM. We too will wait until next year before we return. Perhaps we will see you again at that time.
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Re: Just my thoughts.....
[Re: pat]
#225432
04/24/2020 11:41 AM
04/24/2020 11:41 AM
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 42 N42.8 W78.8
sxmParrotfish
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 42
N42.8 W78.8
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If and when SXM reopens itself to tourists, visiting will simply come down to personal choice. If restaurants and activities aren’t open, the island won’t be either so that’s no factor. One’s own risk factors will guide the decision. Personally, I hope to return as soon as I can after SXM declares itself open. My last visit was in early February. I went through JFK each way, so perhaps I’ve already been infected with Coronavirus . I’m going for an antibody test next week to find out. I’d like to go in November but would consider sooner , just not August-October.
Formerly " Parrotfish" approx join date .. sometime in 2001 SXM lover since 1999...
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Re: Just my thoughts.....
[Re: pat]
#225443
04/24/2020 12:34 PM
04/24/2020 12:34 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 731
bran
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 731
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Good Post Pat,
Given this a lot of thought. Provided that we give it a few months of SXM being open to ascertain how things are improving or not and that stores and restaurants are open again and provided we take precautions, wearing masks when appropriate, not going to crowded places etc... I see no reason why we should miss out if healthy able and willing. I have a feeling that Airports will be less crowded than normal, planes will have safety factors in place as in plexi glass between passengers with some seats removed and TSA hopefully will monitor health testing procedures. Lots of hurdles, without a doubt. Why bother you say? Could be another suggested mass breakout of Covid-19 in the fall? Ok, stay at home, and wait and wait and rot and not go out for another 6 months and then go to a food store and some idiot coughs and you get it. if, If, if. It may never happen, or you might get ill, or flu, or in my wife’s case lose most of her sight. Getting old now and provided as I say they open up, try sensibly to control matters, might as well take a calculated risk and enjoy what we can where we can and it would be SXM and Anguilla plus London which we cancelled this coming June and that is far more daunting for obvious reasons but considering we rent a villa in St. Martin and see nobody, and basically go to restaurants(always eat outside)and normally pick our favs anyway, do little food shopping as mostly eat out, and hand pick the beaches as we all do, we can cut down the risk factor. The most people will be at the Airports, that’s our main concern, nothing else. Life is just too short and I always say it may never happen unless you make it happen. Reckless, maybe..who knows?
Last edited by ruralcarrier; 04/25/2020 01:17 PM.
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Re: My thoughts on returning.........
[Re: pat]
#225467
04/24/2020 07:10 PM
04/24/2020 07:10 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649
Brookfield, CT.
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To all here who have responded favorably to my thoughts and comments on up-coming visits, thank you. It wasn’t my intention to cast aspersions on those who might have alternate opinions and it sure as heck wasn’t meant to be in any way political. I can’t believe anyone would be foolish enough to consider ingesting bleach, regardless of what may have been said by whom or how it was meant to be taken. Just my personal thoughts and feelings about the disappointments so many of us have shared this year. I’m not alone and I feel the pain of all who have been effected. This was intended purely as a way for me to let off a little steam considering in another reality I might have started my day with the sun rising over the waters of Simpson Bay and the sounds of the waves breaking on the beach; coffee on our patio followed eventually by breakfast at the yacht Club while watching the boats come and go through the lagoon; followed by time spent on our beach or in our pool at BSV and sundowners on our patio and finally, ending the day with a wonderful dinner somewhere. And instead, my realities - a gray, raw and rainy day here in CT. And since it’s Friday, probably a pizza for dinner. Somehow there’s just no comparison. But in the end, que sera, sera. We will return as soon as common sense works for us. Hopefully November but if not, I’ll look forward to seeing our island friends in April.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: My thoughts on returning.........
[Re: bobbarb]
#225468
04/24/2020 07:22 PM
04/24/2020 07:22 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
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And the next political reference will result in this ending. Read the post at the top of this page! This goes for everybody!
J.D.
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Re: My thoughts on returning.........
[Re: pat]
#225471
04/24/2020 07:55 PM
04/24/2020 07:55 PM
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 933
SammyM
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 933
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My thoughts surrounding a November visit remain about the same. That would be the earliest I would shoot for, and by all means have travel insurance in place for a number of reasons. Things will eventually return to normal. They key is not pushing the peddle too soon. Infections worldwide should begin to decrease steadily over the summer months. Will COVID-19 simply disappear by the end of summer? Probably not, because not enough people will be infected to create herd immunity. But, there are a number of positive signs on the threshold. Oxford's Jenner Institute has a vaccine which started initial human trials yesterday. This first phase of human trials will attempt to identify immediate side effects from the vaccine. If all goes well, it's possible that double-blind placebo trails could begin as early as June. Of course, this is wishful thinking, but the scientists in England who are working on this have a high level of confidence that this vaccine will be ready on a limited basis by September. Initial doses will be reserved for medical professionals and other health care workers who are on the front lines. The hope is that by Christmas (if all goes as planned) worldwide distribution of their vaccine will be ready. This would require partnering with large pharmaceutical companies that can produce billions of doses of the vaccine. In addition, other vaccines that use different scientific methods are being fast-tracked. In China earlier this week, non-human primates (monkeys) were injected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus after receiving a vaccine and none of the subjects developed a COVID-19 infection. The sample size was small, but encouraging nonetheless. Of course, any vaccine that arrives this fall will require FDA approval. So we all must be diligent and ride out the storm, but there is light at the end of this tunnel.
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Re: My thoughts on returning.........
[Re: pat]
#225478
04/25/2020 06:51 AM
04/25/2020 06:51 AM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 178 New Hampshire
Hdrdr911
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 178
New Hampshire
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Bravo Pat Well stated. My only add would be the primary thing we have enjoyed about the island besides all the obvious charms of the place is the people we have met both visitors and locals. Some of each have become lifelong friends. As social interaction is severly limited and appears to be for the foreseeable future we are not returning to the island until this crisis is well and truely over.
If the phone doesn't ring .... it's me
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Re: Just my thoughts.....
[Re: Tom]
#225483
04/25/2020 07:33 AM
04/25/2020 07:33 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
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I suppose "wait and see" is the plan most appropriate at this point. In reality, I think that pretty much sums it up for everyone, regardless of any specific group we might fall into. Nothing is a given at this point, other than the uncertainty of if/when we can travel and if/when SXM may be open to us and what the restrictions may be to enter and return home. There will likely be a lot of things to ponder when that time does come. As always, well stated by pat.
J.D.
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Re: My thoughts on returning.........
[Re: pat]
#225484
04/25/2020 07:34 AM
04/25/2020 07:34 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 391 East Haven, CT
Wingman
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 391
East Haven, CT
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Pat, I'll join the chorus and say what a great way of looking at things. IF the island is accepting tourists, I think it will all still come down to personal a choice as to when someone returns to the island. As you know, my March/April trip was canceled and the next trip scheduled is Oct/Nov. Optimistically, we're going but I honestly can't say it's a slam dunk. I think this is where everyone's personal choice comes in. I don't think anyone really knows, including the scientists, what conditions of this virus are going to be like then, nor knowing what, if any, vaccines will exist. I will be making my reservations for March/April soon as per usual and like you, I just can't imagine not getting there in the fall. But if that happens, it happens. It would be the 1st time in 50 years going over a year without getting to the island. I know if I were in my 30's-40's, I'd have a different, bolder attitude about getting there. I just keep on hoping and keeping fingers crossed that soon this will be over and more manageable. But I don't think anyone really knows.
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Re: My thoughts on returning.........
[Re: chazo]
#225512
04/26/2020 06:11 AM
04/26/2020 06:11 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
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As always, read the fine print.
J.D.
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Re: Just my thoughts.....
[Re: pat]
#225584
04/27/2020 11:30 AM
04/27/2020 11:30 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 234 TOTOWA NJ
lina
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 234
TOTOWA NJ
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I remember when Irma hit. my husband said "ooo it's gonna be years before we can go back" I looked at him and shook my head...I went to St Martin January after Irma hit, on a cruise. It was in pretty bad shape,but, we took a cab to Orient. I swam in the glorious water. Came back home, and, as soon as the flights became available, I booked 2 tickets for June . Sure,the island was not the same..but the people, our friends, the beaches, the water was outstanding. And yes, the French side was a lot worse than the Dutch, but our resort at Simpson bay villas, was exactly the same way we left it in June b4 Irma.. We have been going every year since 1985. We cannot wait to return. I know I will. I hope to go back later this year, and sooner is better than later.
lina and piggy
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