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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: GaKaye]
#38733
02/08/2015 07:45 PM
02/08/2015 07:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,412 Rhode Island
RonDon
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GaKaye said: ... The Pic Paradise experience was out of ignorance, and we were lucky, as we left our beach bag in the back of our unlocked Jeep while we walked the trails and took photos.
The first trip memory that I miss most is dining on the upstairs balcony at La Vie en Rose. Oh I'd forgotten La Vie en Rose. That was our 2nd trip---so romantic. Climbed PIC in 1979, had trouble finding the road to it. Hubby didn't want to cross the fence, said it was private property. Then another couple arrived and we all jumped over the fence. Ran into a group of donkeys. What a great view from there.
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: gd1147]
#38734
02/08/2015 07:48 PM
02/08/2015 07:48 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,412 Rhode Island
RonDon
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gd1147 said: So is it no longer safe to hike to Pic Paradise based on these fond memories? I wouldn't climb it today---not because I'd probably break bones at my age, but because some "unsavory" people hang around up there.
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: RonDon]
#38736
02/08/2015 08:43 PM
02/08/2015 08:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,631 Oyster Pond St. Martin
soualigacapt
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RonDon said: Watching snow I started thinking about 1st trip to SXM.
Traffic mirror on Front Street Able to walk the beach from Great Bay Hotel to the Dock West Indies Tavern "Yellowman" known by all the locals and helpful with island info Being able to climb Pic Paradise without fear Back Street was a dirt road Not much in Simpson Bay Maho Golf Course actually had players on it Le Galion Hotel Horrible road to Dawn Beach Spartico restaurant Le Bec Fin was on Front St Pinocchio's beachfront restaurant. Little Bay Beach & Racket Club Birds of Prey show on the Lagoon (near Summit) El Tigre cruise to St Barts L'Habitation in Anse Marcel Walking tarmac at airport Rosemary's in Marigot was a walk-up window for take-out Buying French lingerie in Marigot and not knowing the exchange rate for Francs.
to name a few things
Rosemary Saw "yellow man" in the census office on Friday.
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: RonDon]
#38737
02/08/2015 09:02 PM
02/08/2015 09:02 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,654 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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Brookfield, CT.
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Rosemary,
Memories, memories. So many memories.......
We never paid that much attention to Pinocchios until we brought our two daughters for the first time in 1983. They fell in love with the freshly baked warm croissants there when we'd make the big trip into Philipsberg for our souvenir hunts.
And as early as our first trip, we loved to walk the Mullet Bay Golf Course in the evenings after dinner but just so you know, lots of people still play Mullet on a regular basis and even though it's not what most are used to back home, they still find it challenging, picturesque and fun.
We fell in love with Antoine's on that very first trip and we've been returning every year since. We fondly remember the Captain and Madame, at a time when the current owner was but a young waiter there. Today I can say he and we have watched each other's children and in our case our grandchildren grow up.
One of the things we loved to do in the evenings with our daughters was take the walk from our friends MB villa along the golf course and out past the entranceway to the beach at Maho to watch the last big plane of the day come in. There was no Royal Islander, no Boat Bar and no Sunset Beach Bar in those days and it used to be a spot where the romantic young island lovers used to exchange a few kisses as they, too, watched the planes' lights glisten on the waters at Maho Bay as they came in for their landing. No street lights and not much vehicle traffic back then but it was a wonderful spot to savor the beauty that was St. Maarten.
Most of my earliest island memories are primarily centered on Mullet Bay because back in those days, even though we rented cars, we were very content to spend the vast majority of our island time right there. And why wouldn't we since it boasted two swimming pools, never less than five dinner venues, two or three breakfast and lunch spots, a few very upscale shops, an icecream shop called The Sweet Tooth that both my dear husband and two daughters loved. And then there was the beach - that beautiful island beach - we used to get to the beach most mornings before the beach attendants and we'd hang there all day till they just about tossed us off the beach.
All those wonderful memories...........TY, Rosemary, for starting this thread.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: GaKaye]
#38741
02/08/2015 10:34 PM
02/08/2015 10:34 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,671
LBI2SXM
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[b]GaKaye said:[
The first trip memory that I miss most is dining on the upstairs balcony at La Vie en Rose. That has to be our most memorable dining experience in St. Martin also. Oh how I wish it was still there!!
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: LBI2SXM]
#38742
02/08/2015 11:18 PM
02/08/2015 11:18 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,654 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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Posts: 14,654
Brookfield, CT.
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We took friends there with us in 1984 and I remember the evening like it was last night. It was that restaurant that caused me to fall in love with and purchase my everyday Villeroy and Bach porcelain dinnerware - the Basket Pattern. Loved it then and love it today, and I still remember the roses they presented the ladies with at the end of our evening. Sitting on that balcony enjoying the sights and sounds of Marigot was unforgettable, for sure.
My daughters and their Dad preferred the Patisserie downstairs. What's a Mother to do?!
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: VGerfo]
#38744
02/08/2015 11:48 PM
02/08/2015 11:48 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,654 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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Brookfield, CT.
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Vivian,
How very sad but at least the end result was good. My first thought was why would anyone be in the water with a small child in those conditions but we can all have mental lapses and do some silly stuff when our guard is down. So thank goodness the child and the senior were both okay.
Three beaches I have always been doubly cautious with are Mullet, Cupecoy and Rouge. Rough surfs and rogue waves can and do happen without warning almost anywhere but these three in particular have always been on my caution list. And yet, each of them can turn around within hours when the prevailing seas and wind conditions change. We've seen Mullet waveless and the surf so gentle you could pull your chaise lounge into the water and let the water lap at your toes. And in the same trip we've watched breakers cascade over the cliffs and rocks at either end of the beach and surfers on their boards commandeering the beach. It's the ocean and she can be wild......
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: RonDon]
#38745
02/09/2015 02:03 AM
02/09/2015 02:03 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
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Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
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Marina Royale Hotel. La Belle Creole. Restaurant Row in Grand Case was the main road. Hevea restaurant. Mark's Place in Cul de Sac. Nothing above Pedro's on Orient. Renting Mini Mokes.
We were younger, not realizing how many times we would return. Change is inevitable - some good, some not so.
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: jrr1148]
#38747
02/09/2015 09:17 AM
02/09/2015 09:17 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Not sure if they're still doing them there, but we were in crab races at Mullet maybe 3 years ago..
Mark's Place in cul de sac As has been stated here before, Cafe Juliana is the ONLY thing I personally miss about the old airport.
Carol Hill
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: yanque6]
#38749
02/09/2015 09:19 AM
02/09/2015 09:19 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,976
Central Florida!
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Dawn Beach, pre Westin. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />
Carol Hill
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: RonDon]
#38750
02/09/2015 09:20 AM
02/09/2015 09:20 AM
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 880 Boston, MA
marge
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Posts: 880
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we had dinner at Spartico on our first trip in 1989. I loved the stone house. Is it still there?
marge
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#38751
02/09/2015 09:30 AM
02/09/2015 09:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518 Eastern Caribbean
Ritchard
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My memories do not reach back nearly as far as you true veterans, but I thought the old airport was a hoot. The first time I arrived to the new airport I hardly knew where I was.
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: Mpant]
#38753
02/09/2015 10:25 AM
02/09/2015 10:25 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,412 Rhode Island
RonDon
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Mpant said: Have you been here lately? Love this island BUT it is getting way too crowded Most due to cruise ships I guess Great for business but will make me rethink my next trip... Actually, this is the 1st year since 1979 that we will NOT be coming to SXM---of course that could change at any moment. Yes a little too crowded now but more exciting things to see and more places to eat great food.
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: RonDon]
#38756
02/09/2015 11:59 AM
02/09/2015 11:59 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,654 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 14,654
Brookfield, CT.
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Rosemary,
Forgive me, please. I guess my age is showing, but I do so enjoy these reminiscing posts....
One thing that always stuck out in my mind back in those early days and early trips was you almost never saw the local ladies out and about in slacks or shorts but almost always in longer skirts, and it was very normal and typical to see them out and about with their hair in those big pink fluffy hair rollers and carrying their umbrella to use as a parosol to keep the sun off their heads. My, how times have changed.
And how did we ever find all these wonderful island offerings and options and locations without benefit of road maps, GPS, street signs and the internet? Exploring was a big part of the fun back in those days although my daughters and their friends didn’t always enjoy it nearly as much as we did.
Driving up the winding and narrow road to Paradise Peak the first time was an experience of a lifetime - I think it was our 1983 trip and the first time we brought our daughters to SXM. You can't imagine our concern at seeing the only other car on the road careening down it in the distance at a good clip and knowing you were ultimately going to have to pass each other on what was then little more than a one lane path. But we did it and survived to laugh over the ride. Yikes!
And after our initial surprise at finding it in the first place, I remember driving up the hill to L’Habitation for the first time and thinking out loud, “I don’t know where this came from or how they got it here, but it had better be good when we get to the top….” And it was. And speaking of hairy scary drives, how about approaching Dawn Beach from the back or French side of the island? The roads were all dirt and had ruts big enough to swallow whole cars. Oh Lesley, if you only knew where we took some of those Holiday Rental Cars back in the day.....you'd never rent from us today but honest, the roads are much better now and we don't wander too much off the well traveled roads these days. Yikes!
You can’t imagine our surprise in going to Marigot one day after a couple of year’s hiatus and seeing the area all filled in and the remains of the movie set still in place. Yet another island surprise – and so many of our old favorite restaurants which were once upon a time at waters edge were either gone altogether or now a block or two removed from the water.
And thinking of Marigot, the Saturday morning marketplace ‘back in the day’ before it became the tourist trap it is today was an absolutely amazing sight to see. No fancy stalls or vendors hawking their goodies.
The small fishing boats would come in early in the morning with their bellies full of all the beautiful colored fish to offer up to the local restaurants and residents alike, along with small boats of produce from other parts of the island or other near islands with better growing climates. These were all a sight to behold tied up at what was then the waters edge.
Occasionally, if you were really lucky, you might spot one or two of the local ladies walking away from the stalls with their baskets balanced on their heads while they carried off what was, just moments before, a live chicken and what we assumed was to be their Sunday dinner.
We once encountered a butcher stall – just a big old wooden table – where the proprietor was using a big old machete and had butchered an even bigger old pig and was lopping off hunks of meat to eager buyers, wrapping it in newsprint for want of anything better or more sanitary…..the head of the pig was still sitting on the table next to it and someone there told me that was a special delicacy but I didn’t believe it then and still don’t today.
Okay, so there are a few memories that weren’t so terrific, but they were interesting nonetheless. This was all long before they started with the tee shirt and souvenir stalls though you could find a few if you hunted around.
These were all great insights into things we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to comprehend through merely hearing or reading about them. So lucky were we to have had these experiences and today these wonderful memories. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Last edited by pat; 02/09/2015 12:07 PM.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: pat]
#38757
02/09/2015 12:17 PM
02/09/2015 12:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 234 TOTOWA NJ
lina
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Posts: 234
TOTOWA NJ
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1st time was 1985 we stayed at the old westin it was called "dawn beach" resort....the roads were rough..lol had to stop for cows, and get momentum at the bottom of the hill in order to get to the top of the hill...only missed 1 year since...
lina and piggy
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: Snorkeller]
#38759
02/09/2015 01:43 PM
02/09/2015 01:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 234 TOTOWA NJ
lina
Traveler
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TOTOWA NJ
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I FORGOT LOBSTER CREPES FROM LYNETTS...OMG !!
lina and piggy
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: marge]
#38760
02/09/2015 01:46 PM
02/09/2015 01:46 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,303 NJ
RoryS
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,303
NJ
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marge said: we had dinner at Spartico on our first trip in 1989. I loved the stone house. Is it still there? We loved Spartaco's. Went there every visit. Do you remember the toucan they had in the entryway? The first time we ever had tiramisu was at Spartaco's and we liked it so much we ordered another one!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> Another of my old memories is of Paradise Café - another place for birds - my husband and I just love birds!! I also loved the old Zee Best location in Marigot - nothing like croissants and gasoline fumes with your coffee. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: RoryS]
#38763
02/09/2015 01:58 PM
02/09/2015 01:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,654 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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Brookfield, CT.
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Regarding Paradise Cafe........every once in a while you'd actually see the birds INSIDE their cages as opposed to on top of them walking about.
And while we, too, loved the lobster crepes and table-side preparation of Caesar Salad at Lynette's, we also loved the seafood appetizer baked and served in the huge pastry 'shell' and dressed with hibiscus and other flora from the nearby trees that we came to enjoy poolside at Paradise and which we've never found anywhere else on the island to this day.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: Rbailey]
#38764
02/09/2015 02:05 PM
02/09/2015 02:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518 Eastern Caribbean
Ritchard
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 518
Eastern Caribbean
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Rbailey said:
Walking the length of Orient Beach at mid-day and seeing exactly 2 other people For us relative newcomers this is impossible to imagine.
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Working hard to be the best yacht bum I can be.
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Re: memories of days gone by
[Re: mmk]
#38767
02/09/2015 02:39 PM
02/09/2015 02:39 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,976
Central Florida!
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I don't know, as long as I have been going to SXM, we have ALWAYS been warned to never leave anything in the car.. As far back as 94 or 95, our travel agent, Jim Ruos of Caribbean Islands Travel Service, had a standard letter that said 'petty crime is too common to ignore. Don't leave anything in the car, etc... '
Carol Hill
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