<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />[/b][b]Three-Year Absence:[b] After a three-year absence we just returned home from 10 great days in St. Martin, making this our 5th visit to the Friendly Island. Our first visit to SXM was in 1996, one year after Hurricane Luis savaged the island. In 1996 the whole island was pretty bedraggled, with some mountainsides more or less stripped of their foliage. It's wonderful to see how nature heals itself, and we both agreed that in the ten years since we have been coming to SXM that the island has never looked better.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />[b]Weather: Forget spring time in Paris, as far as I'm concerned I'll take spring time in St. Martin any day! This was our first spring visit to the island, and the weather was much better than it has been during our previous visits that ranged from early November to early March. This year was really perfect--light breezes, warm water, lots of sun, and beautiful wildflowers. We're planning on coming to SXM about the same time next year only staying a week longer.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />Orient Beach: We were thrilled to see the wonderful condition of Orient Beach. Our last visit in February 2003 Orient Beach was about half the size it is now. The water was almost up to the patio at Papagayo's and you could not walk on the beach in front of Pedro's--the ocean came right to the sea wall below the restaurant. needless to say, we loved the expansive beach this year, and enjoyed long walks every day we were on Orient Beach. Also, three years ago Club O did not restrict the use of cell phones on the beach. I am really glad for the present no-cell-phone-use policy; part of the reason we come to SXM beaches is to leave all that behind!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />Tiko Tiko Cruise: This was our first time for the Tiko Tiko experience, but will definitely not be our last. The captain of the Tiko Tiko has been providing this cruise for 10 years and he has it down to a science. The whole day was perfectly organized and the captain and first mate were quietly busy the whole time were were there, but as a guest the time on Tintimarre was effortless--fun in the sun, our own beach umbrellas, mattresses and noodles, an open bar, a wonderful meal on-board with linen table cloths, champagne and wine, great food, and the captian and first mate in formal attire (bow ties and nothing but bow ties!). Lyle and I agreed that from now on the Tiko Tiko cruise is a tradition. The catamarand holds twelve people, and to repeat the advice I have read on TTOL--sign up for the cruise early in your visit as you will definitely meet new friends that you will want to hang out with afterwards.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />Friends Old and New: Speaking of friends, it was great meeting up again with Contessa, and Lee Lee and Tom--THEY are a part of the SXM experience for those lucky enough to have met them. We also enjoyed the company of Mike and Ronny who were also staying at our condominium, the Flamingo. On the beach we got to know Don and Laurie and Ken and Stacy, who were really a fun group to hang out with and like so many of us are SXM regulars. We also met Dave and Sue on the beach and enjoyed walks on Orient Beach with them, shared meals, Saturday night dancing at Papagayo's, and a drive around the island (Dave and Sue if you're reading this, keep in touch!), and, of course, hanging out with fellow beach buddies Don, Laurie, Ken and Stacy.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />Happy Bay: Finally we took the hike from Friar's Bay over the hill to Happy Bay, supposedly a very secluded beach; i.e., no road to the beach and no services. There were services, sort of, however. An enterprising local had spread a small table with a red-checkered cloth under the shade of a palm tree, had a well-stocked cooler/bar, and offered grilled meals at the informal picnic site. We didn't eat there but might have if we had known about it in advance. The beach is lovely and like all SXM Beaches has a character all its own. The rock formations on one end of the beach make for very good photo "ops." This is a beach where you can definitely stake out a place for yourselves and enjoy some privacy if that's what you're in the mood for.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />Lodgings:[b] We spent 7 days at the Flamingo on the Dutch side, arranged through our time share. The Flamingo was nice and our condominium (a studio) was very roomy and comfortable. No complaints about the Flamingo except that it's not at Orient Beach which is where we prefer to spend most of our beach time. The last three days of our vacation we spent at Club O, which was our first time staying there. We love Club O and plan to book our entire vacation there next year.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />[b]Car Broken Into:Yes, we are the one's Contessa referred to who should have "known better" (she's absolutely right) to leave our beach bags in our locked car while we checked out the beach at Baie Longe. This was late in the day and we were not gone from the car more than 15 minutes, but that was long enough for opportunists to punch out the wing window of the back seat door and steal our cameras and watches. The thieves must have been interrupted because they missed some cash and a credit card. Lyle reported the theft to the gendarmes and we took the police report to our insurance company when we got home. We were reimbursed for nearly the replacement costs of the stolen items, so all in all we felt like we got off pretty easy. Botton line--we will not leave anything in the car either on the seat or in the trunk unattended again.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />Head's-Up, Credit Cards:[b] We found that most places do not accept American Express cards, and quite a few do not take Discover.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />[b]Dining and Cuisine: This is my last subject, not because we don't enjoy eating, but because dining is not our priority when we go to SXM. Nevertheless, I must mention the great meal we had on Pinel Island. I had grilled trunk fish (local) stuffed with spiced roe (fabulous) and Lyle had ribs, which he said were first-rate. In past years our tradition has been to have lobster on Pinel Island. We were going to share a lobster this year, but it would have cost $140.00 for one lobster! (Gasp!). I'm glad the price was too high, or I wouldn't have tried the trunk fish. Also, we had a super meal at the Greenhouse. We have found the Greenhouse to be consistently good, and the Friday night Saba lobster special really is a good deal.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/newyears.gif" alt="" />How Many Days and Counting? For those of you who are counting the days until your first visit, or your next visit to SXM, have a wonderful time in paradise.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />Robogirl