Sorry about a trip report so late,but here goes. The days slip by so quickly once you return home, catching up with work and all that. I figure---better late than never! This will be in no particular order.<br><br>AIR---Flew AA, Newark to Sxm, via Miami. Arrived at Newark airport about 1 1/2 hr early. We have always brought our beachchairs with us, without any problems. Put them into garbage bags, tie them up, and into luggage they go. This time we are told that we couldn't check them in like that because they could scratch other luggage. We asked if they had those cardboard boxes to put them in. They told us that there was a cardboard embargo coming into St. Martin. So, we ask, what are we supposed to do with the chairs with only about 1 hr to go. They said we could put them into a duffel bag, and getting madder by the minute, we told them we didn't have a duffel bag. They proceeded to sell us one for $45.00. An unexpected expense to start the vacation off with, but we felt we had no other choice unless we wanted to abandon them at the airport. Other than that, trip down and back was very good. Flew home direct SXM to JFK without a hitch.<br><br>We stayed the 2 weeks at Pelican Resort Club. For those of you that are against timeshares, Pelican is probably the best timeshare for the buck on St. Martin. I would highly reccommend it. Not fancy or glitzy, but they've really made an effort to improve things over the years. We love it there. Feels very much like home to us. We've also met some of our best friends there, so it will always be special to us.<br><br>BEACHES<br>Orient-- Made 3 visits to Orient Beach. The 1st was very windy with the sand blowing in your face and covering everything. The next 2 were very nice with just enough wind to keep you comfortable. OBC beach was a lot more narrow than last year. No beach by Padro's at all. Got better as you walked north. Met up with Wendall at Baywatch and had a nice conversation for a few hours. Also ran into Don & Linda a couple times.<br><br> Baie Rouge---As beautiful as ever. We just love it here. It's gotten a lot more crowded here over the years, but it's still great. We enjoy Chez Raymond for happy hour----it can get VERY happy there! Went nude down a ways to the left.<br><br> Cupecoy---On the rough side this time. The c/o end was smaller than usual for this time of year. Found the perfect job for when we "retire" to SXM-----hawking timeshare sales in the nude! We met a lovely young French lady named Cheryl who was doing the time share thing right there on the beach, au natural----I still don't know where she kept the pencils! <br> <br> Plum Bay---This was a first for us. We were only going to stay for a couple hours, but stayed the whole day. What a beautiful beach. Calm water with wave action. As clear as Baie Rouge. If you want to go nude there, no problem. We don't know why it took so many years for us to try this beach. Worth the wait. <br><br><br>RESTAURANTS<br> Bavaria---Airport Road----Tried this restaurant for the 1st time. It was ok, but nothing special.<br><br>Poulet de Orleans--Probably the most fun that we've ever had in a restaurant. The father is the cook and three sons , 2 very young, were the waiters. When you pull into the parking lot, the young boy comes down and opens the door for the ladies. The whole time we were there, he stood by the table entertaining us with jokes and the story of his short life. The food was very good and reasonable.<br>La Petit Auberge de Isle---One of my fave's. $21.00 price fixe menu, and a lot to choose from. Very good food.<br><br>Tropicana---Everybody likes it here, but I 'm ready to try others. I'm personally not too fond of the menu, but my wife loves it. While we were eating there we met a couple who eats there every single night of their vacation---14 nights! With all the variety of restaurants on SXM, we can't figure out why you would eat at just one place, even if it is your favorite. Oh well, to each his own!<br><br>Chili's---Not too much mention about this place on this BB, but that's ok. Don't want it to get too crowded. If you like garlic shrimp, this is the place to go. You just sit there and lick your fingers when you're done. The setting is really pretty too. Picnic tables on the beach and a beautiful boardwalk with lights built out over the water. Just down the street from Mario's, which is closed at this time of year.<br><br>Brassere de la Gare---Great place on the marina for pizza. Their caribbean salad was the best. The desserts looked fantastic, but was too full to try one. Will make sure to try one next time.<br><br>Le Bar de la Mer---Ist time here. Located in Marigot, across from parking for the harbor. Large shrimp and great steak(probably the best this trip), cooked outside on sidewalk, right next to you. Will go back again.<br><br>La Vie en Rose---Marigot---This was our 1st anniversary dinner. We got married in St. Martin last year. Food was very good, atmosphere very nice, sat on the balcony, but we think the prices are a little high for us. Very romantic for an anniversary dinner.<br><br>La Alabama---Grand Case---What can I say that hasn't already been said. One of the best, certainly our favorite. <br><br>Roast Chicken a la Silliman---This was dinner in with very good friends at our resort. The price was right!<br><br>Chicks and Dicks---Dinner #2 in with our friends, this time at our place. Very special recipe!<br><br>Bananas---Simpson Bay---Ate there twice. Dinner on prime rib night was good. Lunch, the day we were leaving was better.<br><br>Rick's Place---Simpson Bay----Probably our worst experiance ever in St. Martin. Maryann had ordered a Marguarita and the taste was off. We sent it back, explaining that she couldn't drink it. When we got the bill, the charge hadn't been removed. We asked about it and Rick came over and asked what was wrong with the drink. We told him we didn't know, but it didn't taste right. He proceeded to get very loud, saying he makes hundreds of marguaritas a day and never had a complaint. He insisted that we tell him SPECIFICALLY what was wrong with the drink. My wife got embarrassed and told him we would pay for it. He could have been more gracious about it and just replaced the drink, offer his aplogies, or take it off the bill. He finally did remove it from the bill, but by then the damage was done. We've always enjoyed going there when he was on Front Street and his wife Kathy has always been very nice, but who needs that kind of treatment on vacation, especially when there's lots of competition around. That's the last time we'll visit there.<br><br>La Almondier----Very romantic setting and good food. You can look out over the lights of Anguilla and just relax on their deck. They have the best profiterole's on the island.<br><br>Texas Bar-B-Q-----On the road to Marigot------Very casual setting for ribs and chicken. We had both along with fries, cole slaw and a couple of sodas. MaryAnn had the fries with peanut sauce and loved them. Total bill was $19. This helped offset some of the pricier restaurants. <br> <br>Zee Best-----Marigot marina-----Simply stated, still the best!! We also tried La Croissanterie which was fine but just isn't the same as Danny's. MaryAnn got her usual large bag of croissants packed up by Danny for the trip home. She freezes them as soon as we get home, and then reheats them in the toaster oven. Not quite the same as SXM, but still better than ANYTHING you can get at home!<br><br><br>EXCURSIONS<br>Prickley Pear---Very nice day. Fun boat ride on the catamaran Lambada. Lunch there was good and the snorkeling was OK (I think). Had a lot of fun on the way back, racing another catamaran, having a water balloon fight, and mooning contest.<br><br>St. Bart's---Flew out of Grand Case airport. The best way to go. Total cost is $66.00, round trip. No getting seasick and you are there in 8 minutes. Maryann hates flying, asked many questions before booking flight, and when we arrived at airport, they referred to her as my little chicken, and put her right behind the pilot. The plane only holds 10 people, including the pilot. The width of the plane is as wide as two people. The flight is very smooth and the landing is a little scary as you need the entire strip -plus- to come to a stop. Within 15 minutes from takeoff, we were in our rental car ($29 from Hertz) and off to Saline Beach (this is a c/o beach). We also went to Anse de Governeur, (a very beautiful beach). We had lunch at Le Select (this is where Jimmy Buffet wrote "Cheeseburger In Paradise"). We also did a little shopping in Gustavia, the capital. Very beautiful Harbor. St. Bart's is very hilly, has very winding roads which are also very narrow, and the people drive very fast. All in all, a very nice trip, but once is enough.<br><br><br>CASINO'S<br>15 nights at the casino at Pelican. Maryann hit on the slots for over $300.00 one night, and she hit smaller amounts a couple other times. I won 3 out of 15 nights at blackjack for allmost $800.00. Came home with $300.00 in my pocket which is unusual. We managed to get over to Dolphin Casino one night and I won $50. Not too bad.<br><br>SHOPPING<br>Did the usual damage at Touch of Gold. They've consolodated their stores, and have converted Touch of Gold II into Touch of Silver. We upgraded our wedding rings (already!) and bought a few more things. My wife had the diamond in an old ring re-set into a necklace for her daughter and it turned out beautiful, and quite a large savings over what they wanted to charge here at home. Other than that we picked up the usual cigarettes, vodka, etc. for the folks at home. We also collect the oil drum art and we picked up a nice piece to add to our collection. As far as I'm concerned I don't go to SXM to shop, but it ALWAYS finds it's way into our schedule!!<br>Finally found the Madoudou factory and had a fabulous time spending some money there. It's a little off the beaten path in the Cul de Sac, but definitely worth the trip. You can find Madoudou in the supermarkets, but it's definitely cheaper in the little house. We spent $40 and got 2 large bottles, 8 small ones, a bottle of vanilla, a bottle each of shampoo and conditioner and a free pint "for your pocket". Can't beat that and sure brings back memories of SXM on those cold winter nights! <br><br><br>Met a lot of new friends this time, along with our usual group of great SXM regulars. Our friends Gladys and Dave were down our second week, but we didn't get a chance to spend too much time with them as they had their kids and grandkids down and were doing the grand tour thing. We did manage to have one dinner with them their first night down and enjoyed that. The weather was perfect, although a little windy the first week. The best part was that I got to spend 15 days with the person I love on this island of paradise. What more could I ask for??????<br><br>Well, I hope this wasn't too long or boring, and again sorry for being so late. If you have any questions, feel free to ask or e-mail us...................Paul & MaryAnn<br><br><br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 8/27/01 04:31 PM.</EM></FONT></P>