TravelTalkOnline Forums Trip Reports (Read Only) SXM Trip Reports and Photos Trip Report, June 5 -13; Week 1, Part B

Wednesday, June 11

Another slow start to the morning. I went by Sharon’s store as I was having trouble with my cell. Turns out the instruction book I was given was for a different model of phone. The nice lady in the office walked me through a few things and I left a satisfied customer.

Then it was on to Dreams. Bruno set me up with a lounger under a palm tree where I read for awhile. Then I went inside for lunch and again ordered steak tartare, which I had last year.



I then headed to Sandy Ground and the workshop/gallery of Jean-Pierre Straub. I have two of his pieces but wanted a third to complete a “look.” He’s going to reframe it for me to be compatible with the framing on my other two pieces. He doesn’t have a credit card machine so I will need to go back to pay cash before I leave, and he will send it to me via Fedex.

Upon returning to Divi, I spent time at the Infinity Pool until after sunset. I considered Mark’s Place for dinner but had Bavaria leftovers. So it was an evening in with computer time and reading.

Thursday, June 12

Divi now has a small jewelry store on the property, and I had ordered a couple of ankle bracelets a few days ago. I went by the store to pick them up. While they weren’t exactly what I was expecting, I took them anyway. Then it was off to Layla’s for a much-anticipated lunch with Bill and Elaine and others. I had never been there before (they were closed last year when I was on island), and it’s really a beautiful setting. Lots of fauna (some of which could stand a pruning) and a nice view of the water.



There were eight of us: Bill and Elaine, Gail and Joe, Nancy, Don and Linda, and moi. Lunch was delightful and delicious. While it didn’t last four hours, it was a very leisurely lunch. I had a seafood salad, but everyone else’s entrees looked yummy.

While walking back to my room after lunch, I noticed folks lounging by the Seabreeze Pool, and there was a reader board with menu specials. The pool and restaurant are back open! Yesss!

Computer time and reading on my deck; then it was time to leave for Lotterie Farm for dinner. I have been there several times for lunch, but never for dinner. I arrived early so hung out in the Tree Lounge with my Kindle and a very tasty peach colada. The pool area is picturesque.



Service was decidedly on island time, but the food was very good. I had pork tenderloin and brought at least half of it back for leftovers. I took the Galisbay route home, and there was something going on just before the West Indies Mall: tons of cars, very loud music, lots of spotlights and big screens. Looking forward to the half-day sail on the Passaat tomorrow.

Friday, June 13

Today was an absolutely perfect day on the Passat: sunny skies, calm waters, good company, planes taking off and landing.





There was a nice group of about ten of us sailing lazily toward La Samanna, where we stopped for about an hour for swimming and snorkeling. The water was so refreshing but not many fish to be seen. Mirian had cooked us a lunch with choice of mahi mahi or chicken; most had the former. More lazy sailing back to Simpson Bay, where dark clouds were forming. Wouldn’t you know: just as we got in the dinghy back to the dock, the skies opened up. Oh well, it was a short dinghy ride, but we definitely got wet.

I think it was Pat who asked me awhile back if I had to pick one of the Passaat’s three sailings (half day, sunset, dinner), which would I pick? I can now say definitively, after having been on the boat about six times, that it’s the half-day sail.

Upon return to SMYC, we noticed Bill and Elaine’s car in the lot. SMYC was packed with folks watching the World Cup. I went in to say hello/goodbye to them and headed back to Divi. I passed Marty’s Gyro on the way, which was also packed with a lot of loud folks wearing orange shirts.

By this time, the weather was back to normal so I enjoyed a glass of wine on my deck, pondering where to go to dinner. My first inclination was Fusion, but I hadn’t yet been to Crave so that’s where I headed. En route, at about the location of the Learning Center, at least six but possibly eight vehicles with their lights flashing and sirens blaring rushed by me toward Pburg. Some were police; others were ambulances. I don’t know what it was all about, but the force of so many vehicles was a bit frightening.

Crave wasn’t busy at all. There was a gentleman who wanted to explain nearly every dish on the menu to me, and proceeded to do so. I ended out picking the lamb shank with a side of spinach and yogurt. He explained that to get the full flavor, each bite should include lamb, rice, and the tomato/cucumber salad, followed by a bite of the yogurt spinach. Perhaps that’s the proper way to eat Mediterranean food, but I ate as I felt like eating. The lamb was truly fall-off-the-bone tender but there was enough for leftovers to bring back.

The remodeled Seabreeze pool now has lights in the pool at night.



I spent more time on my deck and attempted to do some photo resizing for this report. Everyone and his uncle must have been using the wifi as it was painfully slow; I finally gave up. Perhaps it will be better in the morning when folks are checking out; thankfully, I’m not one of them.