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Well, it's very hard to begin this report because we met so very, many wonderful people and they all contributed to making this my BEST EVER trip!<br>We were met at the airport by my wonderful other son 'Marius' as promised and my car ready and off to my vacation spot....Alizea!<br>The Alizea, for all of you who aren't familiar with it, is on the top of the hill on the road to Blue Bay...you can see the neon sign from Orient! The hotel is perfect....62 units with kitchenette on the deck, a beautiful pool an intimate bar....Glorious vistas...and the most wonderful owners and staff in the world...plus, their little mascot, Sushi, 3 month old mixed terrier/shitzu, whom would follow and play with everyone, no matter what language they spoke!<br>A gracious greeting from Cedric, who by the way, had the pleasure of getting a hernia from my suitcase! But he smiled any way ( I told him it was the family jewels!)....settled in then met up with Washonecar and the beautiful Cutonehair ( Chris)...for drinks at Alizea bar. The drinks were wonderfully prepared by the handsome, Phillipe ( owner ) and he invented a new drink called, "Contessapolitian"....only he knows the ingredients....but the "drunker I stayed the longer I got" hic.hic..! Then off to the Sol e Luna with the Washone's and Glitter Goddess, Principessa and Robin...we met ChuckieMo and his wife, the bouncy Aleta....funny thing...found we were brought up in the same town ( he's MUCH older than me!) and now I live around the corner from them! Had the most WONDERFUL food at Sole e Luna...my 1st time there! and not my last.<br>The next day at Orient, of course, just started my vaca...that darn TTOL flag sure does bring on the gang! Met several terrific people from TTOL. At night went to the SSBB TTOL party commandeered by Washonecar and Neil Rooney....what a cutie!!! Those blue eyes and twinkle ( Sword, who?)....I was a little late in arriving because I had to wait for my friends, Principessa and Robin to Air-brush their dresses on....the paint was wet and wouldn't dry due to humidity! I'm not kidding! Hey guys, help me out here!....then couldn't find my darn Tiara....that jewel case lock! So when I walked into SSBB everyone started to hoot and holler....they were just jealous that I had a Tiara and they didn't! And Neil put something to drink in front of me in a tiny glass, so I started to sip it and he said ' down the hatch'! I'd never done that before...it was delicious...then he came around with more...those teeny little drinks were delicious!...How about more? Im gettn' alittl'dizzy and my Tiara was gettin'tipsy an' I needed a nap, I think!....but those glasses are so small!<br>But my appetite was getting bigger...so off to Tutta Pasta for dinner...another wonderful meal thanks to Leon and Warren. Then who walked in but my buddy, Mickey Waa-yo' and his beautiful Camille ( sort of like Carmella )...Mickey and I have been friends for years and we met up on the Orient!....they too, appreciated the wonderful food at Tutta and will return often!<br>One day runs into another on vacation....but the memories linger on....<br>each day were met with new friends and new experiences....and finding more people who live near me or my friends! Wed.nite I had a dinner party with Phillipe, the gracious Francoise, Washonecar and Cutonehair, ChuckieMo, Aleta, Pincipessa, Glitter Goddess, the Foxy Robin...we decorated the deck with our pareos and lit candles and created a tropical ambiance...Oh, the view of Orient helped too! Made chicken l'orange/garlic-butter rice/caesar salad/dessert hand-selected by Washonecar ( good choices, Joe!)...and a good night was had by all!!! Next day brought left-overs to the beach for lunch to add to our buffet! Thurs. night went to L'Belle Epoque at Marina Royal...was a little disappointed in the entertainment on the Marina...it seemed a little quieted down but perhaps it was because of the goings on at Carnival Park! Food was not a disappointment, though...always good there! Well, the rest of the week was as eventful as the beginning...each day bringing new people, wonderful sunshine, great food and warm, turquoise waters....what could be bad? Some of our gang went shopping and brought their finds to the beach....but not Contessa! I was there for the beach and that's where my butt was planted!!!! I can buy anything I need at home...but this ambiance is only felt in SXM and on Orient!!!my home away from home. Got a call from the Sword about the snow back home<br>That's disgusting in April!!!<br>Orient was looking good.....clean and not as many blacksockers as usual? But....there was a group called ' S.C.U.M.' that was on the beach and had several signs depicting their annoyance with the gawkers etc....ie: if you want to talk to us you must pay $5.00!....TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF, NOW!....well, personally, I think they were going just a little too far[img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsdown.gif[/img]....it was a tasteless group. Each day they painted their private parts a different color/colors....I guess they thought they were clever and cool...but I thought they were [img]/images/icons/sick.gif[/img] and vulgar!<br>So, enough about them.......<br>On Sun. April 22nd another party was held at SSBB....now this was the piece d'resistance!!!! there had to be 500 people there...I thought the deck was going to crash!!! Never seen so many people there in my life!!![img]/images/icons/thumbsup.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsup.gif[/img]As usual, Neil 'set us up'....and a good time was had by all.....everyone recognized me! Was it my blonde hair or my Tiara? But, again, that darn Tiara was getting tipsy///I mean tipped////I mean...forget it! We had a blast, the music playing, everyone dancing...a super night...ended with Pete and Ann ( Pan) joining us at Talk of the Town....we closed the place up!<br>Next night at Bikini Beach....a new crew of TTOL'rs....more Cosmo's please!!!<br>Just as we were leaving to go to LeP'it Pizzeria...a little boy was having a birthday party and with his cake in front of him...just about to blow out his candle...I stopped to wish him a happy birthday...he asked if it was my birthday too? I said, no...he said, he thought it was because I was wearing a crown and he wanted one too.....so I did what every good Contessa would do and I gave him mine....and watch him grow 2 inches in his seat! I crowned him "Viscount Chad "...now I have a REAL following! He was as pleased as could be!...so cute!<br>Went off to Le P'it Pizzeria with my gang and Paul Z and his wonderful wife, Deb and FunCouple who live up to their name! We were enjoying our pizza and having a grand old time, when I made a comment to a family nearby that their little boy looked so adorable sleeping....when all of a sudden the man started screaming at me and the group for being loud obnxious Americans and blah,blah,blah.....it caused a stir amoung the diners and Annabelle ( waitress extraordinaire) came over and tried to calm him down....and my gang had to hold me down from pulling his hair out![img]/images/icons/devil.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img], shortly thereafter, he left and waved goodbye to us....and I did also, but my hand was tired, so I just used my finger [img]/images/icons/blush.gif[/img] oops![img]/images/icons/devil.gif[/img]<br>Next day, Mr. St.Martin ( Jack Rinaldi) came to the beach with ' you name it and he had it'steamer-trunk cooler...what a Hoot! The Parties began! That evening we all went to Sole e Luna again! A great night was re-had!<br>Last day on the beach...clean out the fridge day....we packed enough for a herd of buffalo...then low and behold...here comes Mr.StMartin with another steamer-trunk cooler PLUS another steamer-trunk with Ribs/chicken/salad/breads/everything you could think of! What a fun time we had!<br>A real terrific group!!!<br>Departure day.....same ole! Get to the airport and you guessed it!!! Mr SXM with his steamer-trunk of drinks! What a way to go, Jack!!! You are the greatest! By the time we got to the plane, we didn't care if we were delayed or not!!![img]/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] It was quite the departure!!!![img]/images/icons/devil.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/sad.gif[/img]<br>Only kink was in Philly....our flight was delayed and the connection time being so short caused us quite the nerves!!!! Then we whisked through Customs then we had to DRAG our luggage to the plane!!! What's that all about???? And through security, no less......now here's where I get pissed!!! Security was USELESS! I was in a wheelchair ( leg injury ) and they expected me to get up and lift my huge suitcase ( jewelry box ) thru and only ONE security section was working with at least 10 security people watching ( doing NOTHING).....It was a mess! We barely made the plane...only to sit on the tarmac for 1 hour!!! Our friends didn't make it and had to overnight in Philly! Not a good situation....the letters are flying!!!!<br>A million thanks for everyone who made this an especially GREAT trip: beginning with WASHONECAR and the lovely Cutonehair..Hank & Aleta ( ChuckieMo )..YBrynner and the beautiful, Paula ( I hope your knees are better![img]/images/icons/crazy.gif[/img])..PaulZ & the wonderful, Deb..Pete & Ann (Pan)..Walema_Jeff ( thanks for the trophy!)and his wife....JimmyZ..Pierre & his wife...Bob! & Charlene...JackS & wife..'Bill Clinton and Monica' from Pittsburg ( Hi, Alvin!)..Bill from WI..Stevethepainter and Cathy...Ctrman & Gina ( hope you're feeling better!)..Lynned from Buffalo..FunCouple..Dale & Bob Bananas ( they really are!)..Solange Apon and Jadira ( too bad there's no photo-vision...they are 2 beautiful ladies!!)..BeaconHillAndrea ( terrific lady!)...Neil, you cutie!!!....and cannot forget Mr.St.Martin!!! Jack you're a HOOT!! I hope I didn't leave anyone out...if I did...It'll come to me and I'll do a P.S. Remember, my Tiara got tipsy!!![img]/images/icons/devil.gif[/img]<br>Rating: 1 - 4 Tiara's<br>HOTEL: Alizea....4 Tiaras<br>FOOD: Sol e Luna....4 Tiaras<br> L'Isle Flottant ( end of Grand Case Blvd.)<br> worlds best croissant&quiches....4 Tiaras<br> La Belle Epoque....3 1/2 Tiaras<br> Talk of the Town...3 Tiaras<br> Le P'it Pizzeria...3 1/2 Tiaras<br> Le Bistro Caribes..4 Tiaras<br> Tutta Pasta........3 1/3 Tiaras<br> Chez Contessa......4 + Tiaras<br>CAR SERVICE:<br> St. Louis Car Rental....4 + Tiaras<br><br>OVERALL EXPERIENCE:<br>The island seemed greener than in January....noticed more trash on Orient..due to tourists/locals inconsideration. Should have someone clean-up at the end of day...lots of beer bottles etc. More noise on Grand Case Blvd...loud music from cars..drag-racing...a deterent while 'fine dining'. [img]/images/icons/king.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/king.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/king.gif[/img] 1/2<br><br><br>Just gotta luv this place and all the people that make it even better!!![img]/images/icons/thumbsup.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/thumbsup.gif[/img]It's the TTOL'rs strikes again! And many locals are beginning to notice!!! Had many comments from restaurateurs and hotel personell....I hope we make a difference! LUV YOU GUYS![img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img][img]/images/icons/kiss.gif[/img]<br>[img]/images/icons/love.gif[/img] contessa<br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 4/30/01 03:50 PM.</EM></FONT></P>