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St. Martin, Part 2 #271292
12/15/2021 09:35 AM
12/15/2021 09:35 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
East Tennessee
lhbsurf Offline OP
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lhbsurf  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
East Tennessee
After a bit of worrying about the protests on the French side, we have arrived and things are lovely. The Winair Flight to St. Eustatius (where we were visiting with my cousin) was a little late arriving so I thought we'd be delayed, but no, they landed at noon, we took back off for SXM at 12:07 so we only arrived 5 minutes late. There were 4 of us on the flight, by the time we cleared customs and immigrations, our bags were waiting for us - whole process from stepping off the plane maybe 15 minutes.

We were pretty early, so some other car rental guys called Lesley for us and he was right there in a few minutes. He advised we might want to stay away from Sandy Ground, but otherwise we should be fine. We did and so far things seem quite normal.

Yesterday we went down to Happy Bay and had a chicken lunch with Dany and enjoyed talking with him. The gendarmes had a boat and about 50 people... we were curious... Dany said a ceremony and pictures... some of them have been there for 5 years and such. It was quite interesting to watch the fanfare. Monday evening we went to Le Bistronome in Grand Case and I must say we both thought it was the best meal we've had since we've been on the islands (we've been here about 14 days at this point). He had the scallops and I had the lobster and we shared a lovely chocolate dessert. We each had a glass of French chardonnay and the bill was less than $100.... we highly recommend... and might go again haha!! (sorry, I'm terrible at remembering to take photos of my food - I'm so excited to dig in!). There were several tables full, but still plenty empty. We haven't found any restaurants to be overflowing except Big C's one night. Tonight we are going to Bistro Caraibes and trying to decide on where else to try for our last few nights here.

A few pics.... first look at SXM, Sunset from the Villa, and Rainbow over Anguilla this morning. The wind was blowing so it never rained on me... pushed it down more towards the other end of the island! I never get tired of this view!

Attached Files IMG_4510.jpegIMG_4541.jpegIMG_4571.jpeg

Laura
SXM Sponsors
Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: lhbsurf] #271314
12/15/2021 01:03 PM
12/15/2021 01:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 393
Greer SC
B
bostonbob Online content
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bostonbob  Online Content
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Greer SC
Enjoying your reports. Glad you were able to make plan work out. I would have to add Spiga to my must visit restaurants. Enjoy the rest of your trip.


Lived most of my life in Massachusetts
Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: lhbsurf] #271316
12/15/2021 01:29 PM
12/15/2021 01:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,476
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
OK, well, I think I recognize where you are staying! smile I thought you were staying at Orient area? Perhaps I got you confused with another poster? Anyway, that is a lovely view. Jules is pretty clued in with French side goings' on, so hopefully he or his daughter will let you know if something is up.

Last edited by Carol_Hill; 12/15/2021 01:37 PM.

Carol Hill
Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: lhbsurf] #271342
12/15/2021 08:18 PM
12/15/2021 08:18 PM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3
P
pointofview Offline
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I too would give an evening to Spiga for very delicious Italian in a relaxed setting. I agree with you about Bistronome being great.

Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: Carol_Hill] #271354
12/16/2021 02:34 AM
12/16/2021 02:34 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
East Tennessee
lhbsurf Offline OP
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lhbsurf  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
East Tennessee
Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
OK, well, I think I recognize where you are staying! smile I thought you were staying at Orient area? Perhaps I got you confused with another poster? Anyway, that is a lovely view. Jules is pretty clued in with French side goings' on, so hopefully he or his daughter will let you know if something is up.


Ha! I'd say you probably do..... I found it from reading reviews on here! I was a little concerned because I booked with Verne, then he retired before we got here. But Jules' daughter Cindy seems to have taken over and has been wonderful and very helpful to us so far.

It appears I need to add Spiga to my short list! I don't think we've had Italian since we've been down here, so that might be a great choice! Thanks for the recommendations.

One other question.... Dany mentioned a "festival" happening in Grand Case, we thought on Sunday evening. But now, we're wondering if it is Saturday evening. Does anyone know anything about an event happening in Grand Case this weekend? We can't find any information on it, but are thinking we don't want to be stuck in Grand Case or in traffic.


Laura
Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: lhbsurf] #271356
12/16/2021 08:18 AM
12/16/2021 08:18 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Offline
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RonDon  Offline
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Rhode Island
Glad you're having great time. Where is Bistronome in Grand Case?

Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: RonDon] #271358
12/16/2021 08:22 AM
12/16/2021 08:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
East Tennessee
lhbsurf Offline OP
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lhbsurf  Offline OP
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Posts: 179
East Tennessee
Originally Posted by RonDon
Glad you're having great time. Where is Bistronome in Grand Case?


It's right across from the big public parking lot. Near Le Pressoir.


Laura
Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: lhbsurf] #271359
12/16/2021 08:30 AM
12/16/2021 08:30 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Offline
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RonDon  Offline
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Rhode Island
Is this where a restaurant named NICE was located? Or is NICE still there?

Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: lhbsurf] #271368
12/16/2021 09:39 AM
12/16/2021 09:39 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,476
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,476
Central Florida!
You must have booked quite a while ago, if you booked with Verne, as I think he has been retired for a while. So, Jules' daughter is handling everything now? Jules is really quite a lovely man and an interesting person. Hope you get to meet him. Presuming you have an email address for his daughter? Perhaps she knows about the festival in Grande Case.

Enjoy!


Carol Hill
Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: lhbsurf] #271404
12/16/2021 05:54 PM
12/16/2021 05:54 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 574
mahokid Offline
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mahokid  Offline
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Although we had a great meal at Spiga this past August / September our best meal of out two weeks was at Le Pressoir.
Excellent refined service. creative menu on the more expensive side but worth the culinary experience.
They make their own butter which is special as I usually don't eat the bread to refrain from filling up
Usually other kitchen techniques, not used by most other restaurants
Had their sous vide chicken at lunch and was incredible

Enjoy the remaining time

Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: RonDon] #271506
12/18/2021 01:59 AM
12/18/2021 01:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
East Tennessee
lhbsurf Offline OP
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lhbsurf  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
East Tennessee
Originally Posted by RonDon
Is this where a restaurant named NICE was located? Or is NICE still there?


I'm not sure, idk where NICE was located.... we have been to Le Bistronome earlier and Le Pressoir last night (it was excellent) they are right together. I didn't notice a restaurant called NICE, but wasn't looking for it.


And I checked with Cindy on the "festival" and she didn't know. A shop owner told us she thought they were having a Christmas parade on Sunday, so that sounds like what he must have been talking about.


Laura
Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: lhbsurf] #271519
12/18/2021 11:09 AM
12/18/2021 11:09 AM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,827
Galena, IL
indi Offline
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indi  Offline
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Galena, IL
May I ask the name of the villa? Wonderful view!


Joyce M-C
[Linked Image]
Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: indi] #271524
12/18/2021 01:44 PM
12/18/2021 01:44 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,476
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,476
Central Florida!
indi--since she's still there, she may not want to post the name. Sending you a PM.


Carol Hill
Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: Carol_Hill] #271529
12/18/2021 02:22 PM
12/18/2021 02:22 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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GaKaye  Offline
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Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
Carol, I would be interested as well.

Re: St. Martin, Part 2 [Re: GaKaye] #271533
12/18/2021 04:08 PM
12/18/2021 04:08 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,476
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,476
Central Florida!
Georgia--I responded on your thread.


Carol Hill

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