This was our first real trip to St. Martin - I had spent a day there years ago when I visited Anguilla. Flew USAir from BWI to CLT then on to St. Martin. Flights went smoothly and all arrived earlier than planned. Customs went quickly. We were met by Kevin from AAA who took us to our Corolla and sent us on our way. I wasnt' sure I would ever find my way back there, but leave it to my teenage daughter to remember that we turn at a wall graced by a graffitti expletive. Stopped by Royal Palm to pick up phone from Sharon Harris. Only glitch there was that we were given the wrong phone so we had a different number than I had expected - no big deal to me but I guess it could have been for some people. I only used it to call out. We had trouble getting a signal at Grand Case but I had been warned. Sharon says her carrier is putting in a new tower so that should improve. The phone is a great deal. I was amazed at the traffic each time we ventured out - it was worse that I ever imagined - thank goodness the Corolla had good AC. We settled in at Grand Case Beach Club and set out for food. One of the groundskeepers recommended Le Ti Coin Creole right up the road. We were the only people there because it was early and we were treated very very well. Carl is great - giving us little local extras with our choices - great food and very reasonble. We walked by a market to get breakfast items and headed home. I never tired of sitting out by the ocean behind our condo at GCBC. We were there for hours each evening after dinner. Friday, we hung at GCBC, getting acquainted with people and planning the week. We had lunch at the Sunset Cafe and were pleased with the goat cheese salad. During the week, we did the Creole Rock snorkeling trip - Damian took us out and we had a great time - he is very good at what he does - I think he is part fish. My teenage daughter came home with a big crush. Our best meal was at Tropicana in Marigot - I love the location, the service was great and the food was wonderful. The desserts were spectacular. It was recommended by Laurent at the watersport desk - I always get good recommendations from staff. We shopped in Phillipsburg - I made a purchase I was happy with at Ballerina - dealt with Nick. We liked the shopping in Grand Case - Sexy Fruits and the other little boutiques. We bought prepared foods, fresh eggs, etc. at Le Bounty - great little deli. My friend wanted to go to the flea market in Marigot so I went but I was miserable - way too hot and the stuff is the same that you see everywhere in the Caribbean - I did buy some Laramar jewelry as gifts. The only other beaches we made it to were Baie Longue and Baie Rouge. We didn't stay long at Baie Longue because it was quite windy. We settled in at Baie Rouge but the wind kept uprooting our umbrellas there too. I missed our calm water at GCBC. We had lunch at MaTi Beach Bar - beautiful location with a view of Marigot. Good lunch too. We also had a good lunch at Kalmos in Grand Case - great place - they had a live band a couple of nights too. We enjoyed Talk of the Town also. We had a great trip - I really loved GCBC - it is easy to settle in there and not leave - many of the guests there have been coming for years and don't go anywhere else except walk into town for food. It is quiet, intimate and the grounds are lovely. My friend, who has only been to Bermuda, was surprised at the rundown look of the village, but that didn't bother me. My favorite island is Jamaica so I recognize poverty and this was not it. I would like to see some attention given to the beach between GCBC and the town. My only complaint was the traffic - it kept us from venturing out more. The construction is also alarming - there is construction of two large villas next to GCBC. I kept wondering how beautiful the hills and beaches would be had there been a little restraint years ago.
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