Just a few notes from our trip last week.

Arrived on Saturday the 23rd at 11 a.m. from Toronto to be greeted 1. by heavy rain and 2. by Marius with our car for the week. Marius took our suitcase, carried it to the parking lot, showed me our car and gave me the key. He asked where we were staying I told him Esmeralda and he said: "Call me in the morning, we'll do the paperwork then." This, after we were the first people through immigration and the second or third to get our luggage. I bet we were on our way whithin 10 minutes of de-planing. One big thank you to Marius <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

There was recently a lot of talk about the horrendous traffic on the island. Among others there was a lot of talk about the best way from the airport to Orient. After 16 years of taking the old route that our first taxi driver took (towards Philipsburg, over the hill and through Orleans) we also owe a big thanks to Bobcat who suggested in a posting to go through the lowlands, turn left at Marina Royale, follow along the harbour, turn left at the Mall of the West Indies and on to Orient. Despite a big tour bus between Marigot and Grand Case, it took us only 28 minutes from the airport to the reception of the Esmeralda. Thanks Bobcat, excellent advice.
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Had dinner at Le Tastevin, L'escapade, Il Nettuno in Grand Case, L'Astrolabe at Esmeralda, Le Plantation and Planet Orient.

Best meals: Veal Scalloppine in a caper, prosciutto sauce at Il Nettuno, a phantastic steak tartar at Planet Orient and an evenly tasty tuna tartar for lunch at Coco's.

Thanks for all the good information you guys provide. After 16 years going to sxm, we are still learning good stuff here.

Can't wait to go back in November. Cheers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

Bernd