Yesterday was a quietly lovely day. The kind of day vacations are supposed to be all about.

We woke up early and had our coffee in - it's been too hot to really enjoy mornings out on the porch the past few days, which is too bad since that's always pleasant. And it's been too hot for me to have the doors and windows open at all this week, and that's very unusual since we, well I that is, generally far prefer the cooling trade winds to the artificial pent up air conditioning but you do what you need to do.

Between the Sargasso seaweed and what people are telling me is the Sahara sands in the air - you can almost see it and feel it, and it's what I was earlier on in my trip referring to as haze - this has turned into a very different trip weather wise. I do feel great sympathy for the island as it desperately needs rain and they just aren't getting it. We've had one very heavy downpour n the middle of the night the first week we were here and that's it. The entire island desperately needs rain.........And I won't even go into the state of the golf course.

Okay then, yesterday morning I went to our timeshare orientation to see if there were any new offerings that might be of interest, but sadly nothing new. From our balcony, we could see the seaweed pooling on the water just off Mullet Beach and the waves were literally crashing on the beach so we chose not to bother with a beach day and stayed put at the pool for much of the day, sharing one of Natasha's yummy (and huge) burger plates and meeting and chatting with some great new acquaintances while we were there. I received a raffle prize at orientation of a BOGO for the Americas Cup Racing Boats and gave it to a couple who sounded really enthused about trying it. That was a very nice gift as a giveaway to us and an $80.00 savings if they actually decide to do the races. DH has done them several times over the years but we weren't interested this trip so I hope they enjoy them.

We got a late start on dinner and again, I couldn't make a dinner decision so we headed out to Maho and ended up at Bajatzu. We ordered off their three course Fixed Price Menu which was $42.00 pp with lots of choices to select from. I had a Cesar salad and DH had the escargot and for our entrees I had grilled chicken breast and he chose the NY Strip, but of which were delicious and beautifully served and half of which came home with us and will probably serve as reheats another night. Dessert was their home made apple tart. They were delicious, but huge and rich, served warm with vanilla ice cream and a whipped cream topping. John managed to finish him but sadly I couldn't, not that I didn't want to.....I don't know what it is about this particular restaurant - it's very upscale and glitzy with impeccable service and excellent food, but it's just not the Caribbean feeling I'm looking for, but then, most of Maho isn't and we keep returning. Once again we bumped into a waiter there named Anthony whom we met our first trip to the island in 1973, when he had just started working at Mullet Bay Resort and 42 years later, he's still going strong and looking great.

Dinner done, we headed over to the casino for a bit - I'm not much of a casino person but I finally discovered the penny slots and I love them. I find I can play a lot longer with my twenty dollar donation before saying goodbye to it but this time for a change, we actually walked out winners. This gal, for once, decided to take the money and run.

Another good SXM day done and now it's time to turn the coffee on and wake my DH from his slumber. And on another note, while I've been writing I've watched two ships head into town so far - a Disney Ship and a Royal Caribbean so it looks to me like it might be a busy day in town today.

Good so far----are you making any plans ahead? Have you tried Fig? Wondered if it was good. We liked Bajatzu a couple of years back but heard it has changed hands. Good to hear you enjoyed it.

Expected to reach the 70's here next week. So maybe all the snow will be gone when you return.

Keep the reports coming.

Rosemary

We've been to FIG already, twice in fact but....... I can see Somebody didn't read the earliest days of our trip..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> not that I can fault you because I do tend to get very long-winded now and then.....

Re Bajatzu changing hands, the food us still excellent as is the service and if you didn't 'know' the original owners most would never notice the change in ownership.

And lucky for us, our snow was finally gone (I think we got a lot less in CT than you did in RI this winter) and we could see green again all over the yard before we came down but my daughter has kept us up to date on the cold temps over the past few days so I'm glad it will be warming up by the time we get home. We still have another full week ahead of us so it should be nice by then.

thanks for the daily report and the good words regarding Bazatzu. I can't imagine going to Bajatzu and getting chicken though! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> It's been a while since we've been there, think we will have to get there next time.

Carol,

Funny you said that because I think this may have been the FIRST time I've ever ordered chicken in a restaurant. Anywhere! Ever! The FP choices were the chicken and steak plus a seafood (salmon, perhaps?) or a pasta entree.........but please know, the chicken was really good but just a lot of it and Js steak was an 8 oz NYStrip...... More reheats, for sure. And on another note, it was a good thing I brought a sweater because another thing that stands out was the airco was really crankin' and the sweater was well used in there.

Pat - is the prix fixe (sp?)dinner at Bajatzu offered every day/any time?

Thanks for the report. A winner at the casino, a raffle win, .....WOW! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Rory,

That I don't know.......we were there and it wasn't busy at all and I don't even know their hours or days but if I were to guess, I'm thinking they wouldn't offer this at all if they were busy - there would be no need to since the food is so good to begin with.....<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I don't know about the other special, as far as days and hours, but apparently Bajatzu has an early bird special also

Thanks for another great update. Glad Bajatzu was to your liking. I have not been there since the change in ownership/management.

Enjoy!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Pat,

I think you were a Caravanserai owner, correct? Any luck getting over to check the property out? thanks.

Pat I DID read your previous posts and that you'd eaten at Fig. It wasn't Fig I meant to ask you about but now---can't seem to remember where it was I wanted to ask you about. Geez it's tough to get old! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Maybe it'll come to me.

panman--I'm not pat, but no, she did not own at Caravanseri. She has a timeshare at the Towers.

[quote]RonDon said:
Pat I DID read your previous posts and that you'd eaten at Fig. It wasn't Fig I meant to ask you about but now---can't seem to remember where it was I wanted to ask you about. Geez it's tough to get old! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />]

Please do t feel bad, Rosemary. It happens to me too, all the time. So much so lately that I think it's totally the norm.

If you ever remember, please feel free to ask away.......

So, Pat, what's the plan for this evening? Are you in for the evening already or big plans yet??

We are most definitely in for the night and will share the 'why' later..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

OK, hope everything is ok with you guys.

Well that's very cryptic!!!