Well today started correctly. We got up a little bit early and went for a very long walk on Orient Beach - taking our time, enjoying the surf on our toes. It felt from first minutes that this was going to be a good hot day – the sun was strong.

After our walk we stopped in at Yellow Sub in the Village for a coffee and a pastry – you may have noticed that pastry has been a recurring theme in these reports. In a strange mood, I got more pastries to go, several more than the family could eat for breakfast, but they’re so good.

We got back to the Villa thinking that we might just spend our last hours on the beautiful patio beside the pool. Then a last-minute change – we had wanted to visit le Galion, and it’s right around the corner. We got the louts out of bed, threw some coffee and pastries down them, and piled into the Jeep – another recurring theme.

As you all know Le Galion is a mellower beach experience. I was actually pretty happy to have had a chance to swim in the gentler conditions. The water was so still that near the shore the sun heated the water till it was like a bathtub. We only had a couple of hours, but we swam a little sunned a little, and just enjoyed our last moments. I ended up having a cannonball contest with a fellow who was enjoying the diving platform with his two young kids. He won in the end, but I am putting it down to the bias of the 5 and 8 year-old judges. My own boys, less adept at doing very little rented a kayak, and according to Matthew the elder “stared into the eye of the sea.” Good for you son. Good for you.

On the way out to the main road we had to make an emergency stop. Turns out my boys are not so old yet that iguanas can be easily passed by. Jacob the younger, a mighty hunter of raccoons when they’re on the roof of the garage (I have film) made a futile attempt to get close to this large old fella. Now I have film of that as well.

And now back to the Villa for showers and a quick tidy, and packing up. The owners showed up right on time at 2 pm, and we thanked them for their lovely place. We ended up leaving behind rather a lot of booze that we early on thought we might need, but each night we’d get back to the place so whipped that nobody wanted much in the way of drinks.

We head off to Simpson Bay to pick up a few take-home bottles, then we thought we’d stop for lunch, until I realized how late we were getting to check in to the flight. I seem to remember that this airport is not the most efficient operation in the whole wide world. We dropped the Jeep off, I have a nice moment with Alain – one of the nicest guys ever – and they drop us over at the airport.

My psychic insight into the airport turned out to be correct. We arrived two hours prior to the departure time of the flight, and didn’t even have enough time for a peek at the duty free. The check-in lineup took forever, the single lady at the bottom of the stairs that checks what? Boarding passes? wanted to chat with everybody, as did the single lady in passport clearances upstairs. And of course security was slow.

I am only grouchy because I am leaving this lovely place for what greeted me in Toronto when we touched down. I’m not even going to talk about it.

Thanks for reading, and for answering all my pre-vacay questions.

Thanks for taking us along on your trip! I've enjoyed reading all of your reports. Great job!!!
Have a safe trip home. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the reports and safe travels.

All great amusing reports. Can't wait for your next trip.

so happy you had a good time. and your sons too !

Thanks so much for taking us along! Sounds like you're already home. Looking forward to seeing some pictures!

Carol, how to post pictures?

They have to be online on the internet somewhere first and then you can post a link to an album, or use the IMAGE tag in a post.

Right, thought so. I'll put a few on photobucket.

Looking forward to it!

Enjoyed your reports-thanks for taking the time every day.

Very interesting and entertaining reports. Thanks for taking the time!

Thanks again for your enjoyable reports.Now that you are home, you can start planning your next SXM adventure!

Thank you for your reports! They were very entertaining, and we all appreciate the time you took to post them.

Great reports, thank you so much for sharing your trip with us.

Who could ever stay on the French side of the island and not have a bag of croissants every day for breakfast. That is probably the thing we miss the most after we return home. That and not having to worry about getting sand in a bathing suit!

Thanks for you frequent updates. Love your writing style. Glad your sons experienced SXM, hope they will return.

Ritchard, great reports! My wife has been laughing outloud this morning reading them. Photo's? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

My hubby and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of your trip reports!! You had us laughing out loud several times!

We are booked to go in April. Haven't been since 2000.