It would be hard to top yesterday but we’re gonna’ give it our best shot.

And speaking of yesterday…… We had a pleasant breakfast at El Zafiro - nothing special beyond fresh squeezed oj with bacon and eggs served in a lovely setting, but oh, so very convenient when staying here. We enjoyed our pool much of the day until it was cocktail hour at which point we made our piña coladas and lazed around and watched the world go by from the vantage point of our lanai (porch, patio, deck or whatever you want to call it) while we contemplated the issues involved with going home on Thursday.

Next year, assuming we make the trip here (and we have every reason to think we will…..) it will mark fifty years since our first visit in 1973 with a return at least once a year for every one of those many years since. If we missed a year along the way I don’t remember it and so many years we’ve made multiple trips. So it seems to me if there’s anything we wanted to see or do we’ve already seen or done it, right? Activities? Other island visits? Places to see and people to meet? You’d think that would have been the case.

Wrong!

Yesterday evening we met Kim and Ken at Dany’s Cupecoy Bar for a sundowner and what we had hoped would be a beautiful sunset. Well, that latter didn’t happen since the sunset itself was lost in the clouds but the colors were lovely and the company? Excellent!! We reconnected with people we met years ago and enjoyed reminiscing over St. Maarten as we first knew her and about the changes we’ve all seen. And the thing is, I think this was our first ever visit to Dany’s ever. How’d we manage to miss it?

Headed home at closing and tried to decide on a dinner venue but we were unable to reach a decision. So many places - so hard to decide - so in the end we stayed in and grazed on the contents of our kitchen. Hard to believe tuna salad on a baguette could taste so good. But it did……

Another SXM day well spent and thoroughly enjoyed.

Pat--you know, I'm pretty sure we've never been to Dany's either. I know we have been to the Cliffhanger, but that's been gone for years and years. Since you made it there, I'm guessing the walk from the parking lot isn't bad? And I believe he charges for parking? Or not? It does seem like a wonderful venue for a sunset drink.

Can't believe you're going home tomorrow!! Time flies!!

Cliffhanger was an altogether different place and a far more formal venue. Dany’s is a cool and rough hewn island type bar which reminds me a little of an earlier version of Rosie’s on Mullet. Very informal but so much fun. The kids parked our car up the hill so we didn’t have to walk at all. That, too, was nice. If there is paid parking we didn’t know it…….

Yes, I knew that Cliffhanger was a 'real' bar. So, I'm kind of confused, you can drive all the way to the bar, but you just can't park there? Regarding the paid parking, I thought he used to charge for parking f you spent the day there.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think he only charges for the parking if you don't rent chairs or buy a drink. We typically get chairs and an umbrella for $20 or get a few rounds of drinks and he's never charged us the $5 parking - at least that I can remember. He has fantastic lobster lunches (that I think Pat recommended and we tried last time) and we have had many enjoyable conversations with travelers at the bar.

Pat, I am sad you're leaving - I look forward to reading your posts each day.... they sound very much like our days on SXM.... perfect!

Laura

He has a concrete driveway now and parking available, and it says he charges $5 for parking, but we have never had it charged to us. Coldest beers ever here. Rum punches are lethal -- they remind me of Scily Cay (Anguilla spelling??) rum punches.

Enjoyed all your daily updates. Safe travels tomorrow.

Wow Pat next year will mark 50 years since your first visit. Now that's quite the record to have.We're so jealous. Since next year will be your Golden Anniversary visit are you planning a special celebration of this accomplishment and if so should we be booking accommodation and flights???

We've been to Dany's many times, but never for sunset. We ordered drinks and ribs and they brought them to our chairs, No charge for parking.

So Dany's is a good place to see the sunset? Thinking that might be a nice first stop to relax and have a cocktail after arriving and getting settled on our first day. We will have some first timers with us and we are anxious to show them as much as possible of Island Life on SXM.

I've never spent the day at Dany's but have gone several times for a rum punch and to take pictures of the sunset. Have never been charged for parking.

Dany's is a truly Caribbean style experience. Good food, good drinks and fun in a friendly atmosphere. There is often not a lot of sand on the main beach, but we have even placed our chairs on the flat rocks and enjoyed the day there. The sunsets there are usually amazing.

PAT!! Now you need to write a real experience book about St. Martin!! FIFTY YEARS! That is so amazing!! I keep telling people that we are still newbies at 20 plus!!Thanks for the update on the Dany's. I've heard many good things, but the walk I think was a deal breaker. We will have to look back into this in October-Nov. We hope to see you over the summer, it's always good to talk with you and John! Safe travels home! David

Safe travels, I hope it is a smooth and uneventful trip home.

Because Dany pays to lease the land, he charges beach goers who do not rent chairs or buy a drink $5 to park. There is no charge to park if one is drinking at the bar. There are 2 parking areas; one above the bar, and the other to the side of it.