We flew down Nov 4th on US Air out of Albany to Philly to SXM. Arrived 45 minutes early and were able to meet our friends waiting for us on the beach at Cupecoy. The beach was almost full of sand at the time. Had my first beer in a year on the beach and it tasted great. For anyone reading this who was on the island at the time, I was the one with the new odd looking scar on my stomach (almost like a “Peace Sign”). I gave 60% of my liver to my sister May 2nd in NYC, and now I could finally have an ice cold Carib. Yippee!!<br><br>The restaurants and Casinos were pretty empty the first week. The marina was not busy at all. The first couple of days at Orient, the waves were coming over and formed a pond which forced everyone to move away from the water. It got quite big. Jerry (the white haired regular who closes the umbrellas) got in trouble for making an outlet for the water to go back into the ocean. The erosion is amazing along Orient. There is no room right now for chairs at Andy and Cheryls, and right down to Kon Tiki. Then it gets better.<br><br>Restaurants: We ate at Paris Bistro, LaRosas II, Marios, LeCottage, Tutta Pasta, Saratoga, Ric’s Place (great for watching Sunday football) and Pizzas at the Marina. I like Le Cottage the best, but they were all Soooo GOOD. Even Marios had empty tables when we were there.<br><br>The second week things started to pick up on the island. Restaurants and Casinos were much fuller. Hopefully it will continue. Cupecoy’s sand was mostly gone at the north end and continued thru the week.<br><br>The construction is going full force across from Royal Islander. Also when UsAir lands at the airport, you have to get on the shuttle busses to get to immigration. American Airlines doesn’t use the Shuttle.<br><br>Our first week we stayed at a Villa at the Ocean Club. That was great. I like having a washer and dryer right in my place. The also have a computer room available for $3 per half hour. Second week was our week at Royal Islander. The noise wasn’t bad from the construction. We were on the airport side too.<br><br>Another year passed and we still haven’t gone to any other island for a day trip. We keep saying next year, but the sand gravity is really something there.<br><br>Pauline & Gary Snyder<br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Administrator on 12/10/01 01:48 PM.</EM></FONT></P>