TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin 11/16/2021- and so it begins……

Definitely on the downside of our two weeks now.

Breakfasted, such as it was, on our balcony as we watched a cruise ship heading into port and a couple of huge yachts lining up to go into the lagoon. The season looks to be a better one this year if the return of the big boys is any indication. And Lord only knows, the people of the island deserve a good one.

So I didn’t see it leave, but the cruise ship that’s been anchored off Simpson Bay almost the whole time we’ve been here is gone. And with it gone again we can see Saba through the haze. The other near islands are lost to us still though they were very visible the first few days here. And as I say this, my Cabana Boy and DH is busily engrossed in making us lunch. Ah, life is good…….and lunch was yummy!😊😊

Not doing very much walking again this trip but I am consistently in awe of the beautiful plantings and full gardens around Beachside. Everywhere you look there are gorgeous shrubs and plantings and if you look around there’s almost always a staff member raking and tidying up the gardens.

Dinner was shared with friends who, like us, owned timeshare weeks at The Towers and lost them in the latest debacle post Irma. I’m not sure but I think we introduced them to Beachside Villas as so many had done for us. It was love at first stay for them, too.

Anyhoo, we had a lovely dinner at Le Moulin Fou, a long time favorite of all of us. It was a beautiful evening for dining al fresco on their patio. We ‘heard’ that the former Cheri’s property has just been sold as of last week but that’s as much as anyone could tell us. No clue what might be going in there but I just hope it isn’t a place with clappers. Dinners were all delicious as always……filet, lobster pasta and two rack of lamb dinners plus the guys had desserts which were both incredible. Thanks to old friends for another lovely island evening.

And now to lalaland.

Almost forgot - returned from dinner to discover our resident cruise ship is back and once again, beautifully lighted.

Thanks for keeping us up to date. I still feel like I’m there.

Sounds like another good day and night.

I wish I had your knack for making doing nothing sound exciting!

Linda,

Thank you. I guess when you’ve made as many trips as we have made, spent as many weeks as we have spent, and done as many activities as we’ve done - doing not much of anything can be a pleasant change of pace.

My glass is usually half full and I make awesome lemonade when necessary.

After reading your and Louise’s write-ups, and seeing how beautifully done they are, I’m almost embarrassed - note I said almost - to submit mine.

thanks for the report! I really enjoy Le Moulin Fou. I am with you, I surely hope someplace loud doesn't come in where Cheri's was!

I knocked, no one was home! 😜

Did you really stop by, bdeeley?
We went to have our COVID tests done and then to breakfast. If you’re not just messin’ with my mind - what little of it is left - I am so sorry we missed you.

I really did, you had neighbors up at the pool, I asked them to let you know that a visitor stopped by, he was white haired with a bushy mustache, she looked younger, was brunette in a pony tail. When do you head home? I might try and make the walk again..

Pat, you probably didn't know, but there is someone at BSV whose wife is a nurse and works at the clinic that performs the testing. She will come to your room. We had dinner with he and Drew at Sale e Pepe one evening.

And BTW...those beautiful plantings? 40K after Irma.

Leona,

I wasn’t aware of the person here at BSV until I had already booked the appointments at Medworks but now I know for next year.

I know they spent a ton of $$ on the replacement plantings but once you buy and plant you still need to tend to them and they do a beautiful job just like everything else here. Funny aside - yesterday I took a few photos of the grounds and thought to self - hmmmm, they’re going to need to do some trimming soon on some of the shrubbery. We came home this morning and they had already trimmed all the bushes on the airport side of the driveway.

Well, that's just a bunch of baloney! Your reports are lovely just as they are!

Thank you, Linda. 😊😊

Pat, you have a great way of writing which I thoroughly enjoy and look forward too. No need to be embarrassed.