Greetings, an update on our stay at BSV. Sunday 9/17

As expected the weather has been very hot with little wind, about 8 mph varying from SE to ENE. Simpson Bay is quite calm this morning with the current ENE breeze. Yesterday with the SE wind a load of sargassum blew in which was too much for the one man cleaning up to handle. We provided him with moral support and cold waters which he did appreciate. Sitting out on the back porch at night is a delight. The only downside is a large ship out in the Bay with bright spotlights that shine in at us, depending on how the ship is swinging in the wind/current.

We did go to Orient Beach one day for a wonderful day. The water was very calm and warm, plus there was very little sargassum. Only about 10 yellow umbrellas with chairs were occupied with almost everyone swimming. When we were there a number of times in Jan/Feb it was the totally opposite scene with wind blasting, relatively cool water, no swimmers and the beach full.

The first night we had grilled a Mahi platter at Buchaneers which was excellent considering neither one of us can eat fish that is the least bit strong tasting.

We did the Bamboo House Thursday night which was fantastic with two female singers and a guitar player doing a mix of current pop and jazz. Bamboo has happy hour (bar only) from 5 to 7 every night with two for one drinks and $10 apps which are very good. We had a drink at the bar and then moved to a table and shared the mixed appitizer plater with ribs, wings, beef dumplings, edamame which was very good.

Friday night we listened to Alfredo do his music magic at the Rendevous Lounge in Puorto Cupecoy. The music was great, the service was good and the appetizers and pizza were just ok.

On a recommendation, last night we went to Johnny B's at the lolos next to the Simpson Bay drawbridge. We shared a 2 lb lobster for $45 which was very good. It came with rice and bean, potato salad, plantain and salad which they split on to two plates which was a nice presentation. We had a glass of wine each which was supposed to be Rose but turned out to be some form of white Zin which was not good. The food was good, and a good value but the atmosphere was not good with bright fluorescent lighting. Music that started blasting from the next door neighbor sealed the deal. We will not return.

Last night we also stopped for a nightcap at Sublime in Maho. We sat at the bar with Greta, a very nice and experienced bartender. We did not eat but will be back since they have a great happy hour rom 5 to 7 every night, like Bamboo with two for one drinks and 30% off all appitizers.

A trip to Philipsburg on Saturday for some shopping was in order but it was brutally hot and basically uninhabited. We did get to visit with our friends Juggie and Depti at DK Gems.

We are meeting some expat island friends at Rembrandt Cafe tonight for the live music that they do about twice a month.

Cheers,
Jim & Laraine

Thanks for the report and the pictures. Hopefully they will be able to get the beach cleaned up soon. I have to say that I personally will not eat at Rendezvous Lounge again. What we had there was also not good. Plenty of other good places to eat in that plaza, so just go eat somewhere else, and still listen to the music or get a drink at Rendezvous and still eat somewhere else. I actually did not know that one could eat at Johnny B's. I would have gotten carry out there and taken it back to BSV to eat. Hopefully next trip we will get to Bamboo House. We had intended to get there last trip and it just didn't happen.

Enjoy your trip!