Here’s our trip report, this was our first time to St. Martin.
3-24: Left ORD 5:45 AM arrived in PHL we were supposed to depart 9:35 AM left 10:30 AM arrived in SXM, transport picked us up took to GCBC, checked in 5:00 PM when finished, walked into Grand Case dinner @ TOT I had rib plate wife had shrimp plate couple drinks $27.00 1 to 1
3-25: swimming, lunch, swimming, walk into town 6:00 PM dinner @ Spicys no reservations, I had sea bass glass of wine, wife had seafood linguini glass of wine $86.00 + tip 1 to 1, however Sophie stated that this week would be going to 1 to 1.15. Wandered around town as it was Harmony Night, crowded, much security music alright.
3-26: Rented car from Evan @ Prestige, front desk GCBC, drove clockwise around island to Oyster Bay wandered around, then to Philipsburg for shopping, parked by Salt Pond wife purchased a couple of hook bracelets. Drove to Orient beach was crowded windy and wavy, couple of youths milling around our car walked towards them they left, we left back to GCBC. Dinner @ Sunset Café I had Grouper 2 glasses of wine, wife had Mahi Mahi 2 glasses of wine, $94.50 + tip 1 to 1.35
3-27: Drove to Marigot wandered around marina, back to GCBC returned car, snorkeling at Creole Rock saw a rainbow of different colored fish and a sea turtle, way cool <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> as this was my first time snorkeling. Dinner @ Sunset Café not that hungry so I had snail fritters and glass of wine, wife had seafood appetizer (shrimp and calamari) glass of wine $47.50 + tip.
3-28: Swimming, then packing, transport picked us up @ 11:00 AM. Driver Abraham and I were conversing when I spoke French (the little I knew) he was excited at this and for the rest of the drive attempted to teach me French while we discussed the island and everyone’s favorite American politics. Left SXM ½ hour late arrived in PHL sat on tarmac for ½ hour waiting for a gate to open to park plane. Left at 11:00 PM arrived in ORD, transport to car then 2.5 hour drive to home and 21 degrees with snow on ground in Allenton, WI. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />
Conclusion: This trip was to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We had a great time. While St. Martin is a beautiful island and the food was excellent, the garbage everywhere and abandoned buildings tainted it. While we had no problems, the potential was there and evident, plenty of gang sign and tagging. A woman I spoke to at GCBC stated she and her friend where mugged just outside the gate to GCBC.
The club itself is very nice, and secure, the employees except, for 1 or 2, were friendly and helpful, and we met interesting people from around the world.
I don’t know if it is a lack of pride or despair, that the people won’t clean up their island, but cleaning up the garbage and tearing down the abandoned buildings would go a long way to help the island shine.
Eric