TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin memories of days gone by

The fan back chairs at the Paradise Cafe, and the pool that got all our dinner rolls one windy night!
And don't forget lunch at David's Pub in Marigot.

For our earliest visits, you checked in at Mullet Bay Resort inside the office and shop area of the general area you're speaking of. Can't remember now if it was in 1983 or 85, we checked in in the original indoor lobby and had to wander just outside amid the creative efforts of a crew of men building we weren't sure what. By the time we were leaving about ten days later, that beautiful outdoor lobby you spoke of was totally built and in use already. That was one time when island time made good time..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Cafe Juliana - main course was seafood lasagna and desert was coupe Denmark

After 30+ trips to SXM since the '80's, there are so many memories of the earlier days... Most of all, we miss the old, busy days of Cupecoy with Danny and his helpers (was it Fred and Destiny?)... we also miss Bruno, his dog and Francoise at the little restaurant, La Petite Auberge des Iles, in Marigot. First visit, we stayed at Mullet Bay Resort and gambled one night at their casino with Harry Belafonte.. we miss Lady C and the Halloween parties... so many good things... will be back in May..

See http://www.stmartin-sxm.com/sxm/pages/orient-beach-pre-1980.php

Read the article on this link. that says people staying at Le Galleon found the beach before the units were built. We were at Le Galleon when we first discovered Orient. Walked the "cow path" with the cows. Then Eden appeared at the end of the path.

We miss Brasserie des Isles... It had wonderful food at great prices. It was also a "Cop Bar" ...the "cops" were Gendarmes who ate their dinners there under contract...

Since my dad was both a Syracuse NY city cop and then a New York Central Railroad cop in the short 50 years he had on this big green marble (1915-1965) I really felt at home dining amongst the French "boys in blue"!

One of my fondest memories was one visit when our two (then mid-20s) daughters were with us and we took a Peggy & Paul around the island cruise and when we got to Happy Bay and there was an entire class of Gendarmes there celebrating the end of their tour on island with a BBQ. We ate at Danny's in swim suits but then noticed that a small group of nudists were sitting off to the right side of the beach as you faced inland...and the Gendarmes paid no attention.

So we joined that group and enjoyed ourselves c/o as well...

After their BBQ the Gendarmes noticed us...especially the girls..and started tossing around a football. Sooner than later the football wound up amongst us. Our older daughter who played Rugby at Syracuse, caught it in mid air and ran it back quite well until tackled.

Soon the Gendarmes were bringing over bottles of fine French wine to share and socialize with us. Some even got nude.

It was a wonderful experience!

Great restaurant and always a great experience to dine there. Mick-Mack was the dog's name.

And Pat, how about the 19th Hole Bar at Mullet! So long ago!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Pauline

I'd forgotten about that one......and did you know that for a very brief time they actually ran a small breakfast restaurant there, too?

We were there at Carnival time one year with friends and in the course of a very early morning walk we noticed people eating breakfast in the deck area there, so the next day we thought we'd give it a try.

Too funny - the greeter seated us and brought us coffee and menus and then disappeared for a bit. Pretty soon he came back and took our orders, too. Well this was certainly a different approach to breakfast. After what seemed like at least a half hour the same wait-person returned and served us more coffee and fresh pastries and told us our meal would be out shortly.

About five minutes later he returned once more and most graciously and apologetically explained that it was Carnival time and he was the only person who showed up to work that morning, hence the delay.

But after all was said he asked if he could bring us mimosas on the house for all our patience. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

The first dinner we had in SXM was at Poisson D'or. It was wonderful!

Many, many memories. Chickens running down the street in Marigot, no one on Orient etc.

But my absolute favorite is and will probably always be, Karin and Alabama in Grand Case.

Perhaps my favorite restaurant of all time.

Does anyone remember those old derelict cars on the side of the road just beyond Marigot proper but before you officially left town heading towards Cripple Gate? I don't think we ever drove by that "landmark" that there weren't at least three or four goats (or were they sheep?) climbing all over them.

One more great memory is Le Galion. Loved playing volleyball there, a beautiful boutique hotel, and the wonderful French vibe in such a beautiful setting. Does anyone know why this has not been redeveloped after all these years? Also miss Marigot when it was vibrant, with all the shops open and eating by the marina when it was the place to go for a romantic dinner.

Ah yes, I remember it well!!!

LOVED Alabama! It closed two years after we started going to the island. They had the best duck, and their prices were much more reasonable than other restaurants at that time.

Ditto on Alabama - Never had a below par meal - service was great and the hosts were always gracious. Anyone remember the Rhumerie, La Diva, Charolais in Marigot, trivia games at David's and Konka Cafe under the tree.

Discovered David's and the trivia contests on our first trip in 1991. Sadly it closed not long after and reopened for a short time as LePub. I have t-shirts from both...somewhere. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Doh.gif" alt="" />

John <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Speaking of goats and cars---remember "goat Grates" at Little Bay Racket Club to keep goats from coming inside property. And we remember asking for "Mountain View" at Great Bay Hotel not because it was cheaper than water view, but to sit on balcony and watch goats climb over car hoods and sleep on car roofs.

Also used to sit in the dark and listen to arguments from husbands who thought wives had spent too much on Front St. as they walked back to hotel.

The Brasserie de Marigot on Rue de Gaulle was great. It was the place where all the French people hung out. The owners Solonge and her husband along with their daughter, Oceania were wonderful people and the food was authentic French, delicious, and quite reasonable. It didn't hurt to know a little French because except for Oceania no one spoke English. However, you could just point to what you wanted on the menu and every thing would work out. Boy, I miss that place. Oh I forgot. We found the place before our first trip to St. Martin by getting a Fromer's guide which highly recommended the place. We had our then 19 year old daughter with us and there was a young waiter who tried to impress her. He did semi-acrobatic maneuvers with trays as the walked, more like pranced, across the floor. On one occasion, he was carrying a two foot in diameter tray full of salt and pepper shakers when he lost control and the went flying all over the place. The whole restaurant erupted in laughter and his face turned bright red. I'll never forget that.

What was Scavangers like? I went past it, but did not drop in.
Mullet Bay Beach Resort was a great memory. It was destroyed before we had a chance to stay there. We did go the the beach and enjoy the shop there before the hurricane.

Scavengers was a great beach bar and went there for lunch many times. You could always have the standard burgers, ribs etc. but they always had tasty specials cooked by a lady whose name I can't remember. The only time it got over crowded was when the showers passed by and some on the beach would run for cover.
On our honeymoon back in 1982 we took a cab to the Dawn Beach Hotel and remember the driver pointing out the hotel from the top of the back road which looked to be straight down. Stayed in one of the units on the beach. Rented a car driving around the island stopping at many of the beaches. Went to Orient parked next to the fence and walked down a path to the beach. To the left I don't remember any buildings just the grape bushes and only a few people. To the right there was a small beach bar with a few people crowded around. Road from Dawn Beach to Orient was half paved half pot holes. At time the OBBR was a single building that had a joint agreement with Dawn Beach to eat dinner there. Had the meal plan back then at the suggestion of Liberty Travel because that area was pretty remote. You didn't want to be driving those "roads" after dark.
On later trips to island and renting a car from AAA remember being picked up by Roberta. Big guy would pick up our big suitcases (wife had to have multiple outfit choices with of course a selection of shoes to match) like they were a laptop bag.

Our first timeshare on St Maarten was at The Dawn Beach Hotel. Thanks to Luis, our timeshare room became Scavenger's. Loved the Dawn Beach Hotel and their wonderful restaurant!
The old days (pre 1992) were great!
How about The St Maarten Beach Club on Front St and their restaurant Fandango? Fandango was also the cute cockatiel who was always prancing on the bar.

Remember walking up the steps to the bar? Sometimes they would have the 1 man band set up there. Also the Mon. night buffet around the pool.

SXM??? Wendell

Beyond the main dock, heading in direction of Paasangraha (sp?) there was a small place that served Full American Breakfast for 1.99. Can't remember the name. We'd walk the beach from Great Bay Hotel early morning for that.

Also there was a little bar in that area that used to have a note board for people looking for a place to stay, and a collection jar you could dip into should you be short on cash. It had a note " be generous for those who needed help."

Almost sounds like you're talking about Ric's Place. I know they used to do a big breakfast business there.

That must be it Carol ...if it was there in 1979

I'm not sure on 1979, it was definitely there in the 80's when we started going to SXM.

Ric's wasn't there in '79.

SXM??? Wendell

OK.

Marks in Cul de sac and l'Alabama were favorites of ours for years. Many New Years Eves at l'Alabama. Does anyone remember Le Pavillon on Simpson Beach? It was a small French restaurant. Loved that one, too.

Le Pavillion was one of our favorite restaurants back then. We used to go there with our daughters in the mid and late 80s. How did we ever find those hidden and out of the way places? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the memories of Scavengers...I'm Marla who was the "grill queen" there!! We miss it too!! My history goes back to the days of Dawn Beach Hotel when I lived on "the pond" in the early '80s!! I first visited SXM in 1964 when my parents bought a home on Plum Bay!!

And oh the changes you have to have witnessed. We made our first trip in 73 and St Maarten is a different world today from what we first experienced and you've got almost ten years on us. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Should have mentioned Scavengers, but I was thinking of earlier times. But I remember Marla not only from Scavengers but even earlier from the shop at GCBC. Good to hear from you, Marla.

Arriving on our first trip with friends and pulling into the Mecure Simpson resort and pulling over the speed bump and having the car get stuck on the bump. Had to unload all the luggage and everyone in the car except me in order to get the car off the bump. Then, only a dishwasher in their restaurant could speak English so they had to get him to take our order. A few days later we visited the nearby MaTi Restaurant at Baie Nettle for our evening meal. I made reservations for 2 nights later to celebrate my wife's birthday. Asked the waiter if they could supply a birthday cake. He said they don't bake anything like that, but he would have his wife make one and bring it in. Sure enough he did and when he brought the cake in for dessert and lit the candles, our table and a few waiters began singing Happy Birthday. All of a sudden, most everyone else did also ...... but in French. Neatest evening that we will remember the rest of our lives. Also during that trip my wife and I took the ferry to Pinel. What an experience that was. And it seemed that most of the women were topless and Carol felt out place so she lost her top. Then two young topless women, who were right in front of me, decided to play paddle ball. I'll never forget that!! We have visited just about every year since, adding new memories every year.

Does anyone have any pictures of St. Martin passed. I know some were posted in the past. Would be great to see them again.