Week one - fun and sun done! - but what an unusual St. Maarten week it's been.
Thursday evening our car and driver - friends staying at another resort - picked us up at the front door of the Towers and we were surprised to see it had rained yet again while we were indoors getting dressed - and this of all nights, was the night we had chosen to go into P'berg for dinner at Chesterfields. Between the rain and the glare on the roads and the incredible amount of traffic, it was a considerably less than pleasant ride into town so thank goodness, dinner did not disappoint. Our menu choices were all over the place and all was very good and once again - dinner with apps, drinks and entrees was well under a hundred dollars a couple. It was a nice evening - we had a water side table and the service was excellent. And by the time we left the roads were dry and the traffic had thinned.
Friday dawned with a lovely sunrise and we enjoyed our breakfast on the balcony as we saw the morning come alive. We were heading to Grand Case Beach Club for the day and in no particular hurry to do so - wanted to leave time for bridge openings to be done and the A.M. work traffic to have thinned a bit before we picked up our friends at Ocean Club. We got to GCBC and after a little difficulty in figuring out how to get on to the property we settled in on the beach. Two chairs and an umbrella along with the infamous 'service flag' was $20.00 per couple and the beach attendent was so pleasant (ie - cute!!) the guys paid happily and enjoyed watching her do her job, all the while with a big smile on her face.
We wanted to check out the rooms since we're planning on staying here for a few days in April - always wanted to and after 40 years worth of trips I'll finally be able to say 'we stayed on the French side'...... The rooms are nice but OMGoodness - after staying at the Towers in a two bedroom and our only other recent SXM experience being the new Pasanggrahan where you could hold a small party in the shower alone, I was amazed at how tiny the rooms are. We looked at a studio, the studio with loft which we currently have booked and the one bedroom and after seeing all of them I think we're going to switch to a one bedroom if they have any available for our dates. So you see, size really does matter..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />
We hadn't been here since a minimum of 30+ years ago and that time we ate at the restaurant but it was called WAVES back then. Today we had lunch at the same place now named the Sunset Cafe and the food was very good. We had two chicken caesar salads and two fresh grouper burgers, desserts and drinks and our check was $98.00 US. It was worth every penny but the same typical BS that always takes place over service/tips etc., ensued. This was the only downside and I will make a point of clarifying this with the resort before we actually stay there. Anyway, that's an on-going issue for another discussion.
We headed back to our nicely cushioned beach chairs and had just settled in for an afternoon nap when we noted many of the other beach dwellers standing up and picking up their stuff. Not to be outdone we did likewise to see the hugest of huge black clouds coming over the treetops behind us. Before we could gather all our things and head off the beach and back to the car the heavens opened up and down came the rains which stayed with us even till after we were safely ensconced back in our room at the Towers. And then the sun came out...........oh well, that's getting to be the norm on this trip.
Dinner last night was Le Moulin Fou - excellent all around - and with no apps or desserts and only one round of drinks each and the Privilige discount, our meal ran $150. for four. The food was excellent and the service was impeccable so we left happy campers.
We stopped in at the casino for a bit - I lost my $20.00 - big-time gambler that I am - and on the penny slots no less, but my DH walked away almost $150. to the good so no complaints at all.
At this point we called it a night and headed back to the carpark - and we drove out of the garage shaking our collective heads once again at what they allow here in the name of construction. This was the first time our friends had parked in that particular garage and they couldn't believe it and likened it more to a carnival ride than a serious car park exit system.
Home, to bed tobe awoken at 4:20 a.m. by another incredible downpour - had to get up and shut the windows and by the time I closed them all and scaled Mt. Mattress and was actually back in bed again, the rain had passed and I had to get up and do it all over again but in reverse this time in order to enjoy the breezes up here. And DH? He slept....
This morning is more of the same - no particular sunrise and downpours off and on. Breakfast done, we're watching a few golfers out on the course as their umbrellas go up and then they go down again. I want to tell you - that's dedication to your sport.
And now we ponder what to do on a gloomy Saturday morning as we await the arrival and check-in of our friends from OC, but I'm willing to bet before the afternoon happens the sun will be out and it will be another beautiful St. Maarten day. OMGoodness!! - could that be thunder I hear in the distance?!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
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