Marina in Marigot

Yesterday visited the Marina in Marigot for lunch.
Was walking in front of Le Gallean restaurant and the boards on the ground were unsecured. I fell face first when a board sagged and caught my feet.

The people in the restaurant told me that someone fell there yesterday and broke a wrist on the the same boards. They made excuses for themselves as they do not own the walkway!
No remorse from them.I told them to rope off the area and they weren't interested.
Next on the way out of the Marina bruised and hurting I stopped in the Marina Port La Royalae office. They run the Marina.
I told the manager what happened, he told me that they were looking into the problem. I said to put a barrier around so nobody else would get hurt. They again said they would look into it.

These boards have been loose for along time and the timeshare people come to eat and shop there.
The French people there aren't really the nicest to Americans, and I recommend eating and shopping on the Dutch side where you will be welcomed.

Sorry about your incident in Marigot. We noticed a lot of things that need fixing there. They don't seem to care any more.

Very sad. It use to be such a great place.

I'm sorry for you injury and the way you were treated at the Marina. That said, I'm a little put off by your general statement regarding French people's attitude toward Americans. We meet and have met many very nice French folks over the years of our travel to SXM and, in fact, prefer the flavor of French St. Martin.

I agree with Chuck. We are from Canada & have made many friends in St martin.

See this thread:

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/s...e=1#Post1670808

The only rude people I have met on St Martin are the Americans. I have yet to meet a rude Frenchman, but I do give respect to get respect. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

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

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

I see nothing deserving of respect in that comment or the hand-clapping.

Post deleted by bdeeley

Enough with the emoticons. They serve no purpose and add nothing. If you have nothing to say or add there is no need for this nonsense.

Yes, they served the purpose of expressing displeasure with the referenced post. I could have typed something more unpleasant but wanted to express my displeasure without being nasty. Sometimes a response is necessary so as to not let an abhorrent comment stand uncontested.

Not necessarily directed at you but if you have something to say, say it.

emoticons are not to be used as a like/dislike button.

Posting only emoticons will result in posts being deleted.

"Posting only emoticons will result in posts being deleted"
So why aren't they deleted?

There, I policed my own posts and deleted or edited those posts that didn't conform to the forum standards.

Understood, thank you and I will abide by those rules. Those were my first posts ever using emoticons, and I agree with you, if I have something to say I just should say it.

A picture is worth a thousand words. That's what emoticons are for. What's the problem with them?

Thank you for your post. Your unfortunate experience may serve as a caution to others who visit the Marina.

Using ONLY emoticons in a post adds nothing to a discussion. A picture is vastly different than an emoticon. Using emoticons in conjunction with a statement pertaining to the topic are fine.

There used to be a "green dog" emoticon. A poster decided to abuse that particular emoticon and it disappeared.

Discussion needs to get back to the topic of the Marina in Marigot a this point.

I forgot about the green dog poster!!!!! Haha <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

I am sorry to hear that the marina is getting careworn. My first night ever in SXM I had dinner there. In fact it had been my first evening ever in the Caribbean. Having come from snow and ice the marina felt so exotic and tropical. Tripping and falling on your face could reduce the magic feeling somewhat.

There is renovation going on in front of le galeon
Could this be at that spot maybe?

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duel.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Now now!! I know you can talk about the Marina Port Royale area.

The restaurants remaining in that area have my support, it's not easy when the infrastructure and environment is not kept up, and some nice restaurants leaving that area doesn't help. But the best thing we can do is give the Marina Port Royale restaurants some of our tourist dollars and keep the foot traffic coming in. I have had many wonderful meals in that area over the years. I saw some grand drawings at one time of what the place would have looked like with a major update, but apparently the money wasn't there to support it.

We had a couple of favorites in various places in and around Marigot but they have all closed. I always enjoyed an evening there but once the issue with the parking lot and what you had to go through sometimes to park it became less desirable .

Hopefully that area can make some kind of resurgence.

Supposedly there are still plans in the works for revitalization of downtown Marigot, several million Euro, but the government hasn't even put the project out for bids yet, so by the time they get to it, they will be able to start with a clean slate, as there will be no businesses left there.

We miss dining in Marigot. La Vie en Rose as well as the places in the Marina. Even daytime parking is sketchy in Marigot. We hiked up to Ft. Louis last week and were concerned for our car the entire time. Two days earlier cars were broken into according to TA reviews of the fort.

There actually have been several recent reports of muggings, etc., at Ft. Louis during the day, so your car might not have been the only thing in danger. And some teenage kid was caught this week, I think, snatching someone's chain off their neck during the middle of the day at the Marina.

What restaurants are remaining in the Marina?
Is Cafe Paris still there?
Where is the best place for safety reasons to park?

They will get around fixing the marina as soon as they are done "fixing" Orient Beach and Grand Case.

I too feel bad for your experience. I had some great foie gras at Le Galeon this summer, waiting for a friend who was bathing-suit shopping. It was a great way to munch lunch... and then we hopped back on a water taxi back the SBRM..rats

So glad that I didn't know that! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Though we were hyper vigilant (thank you TTOL), wore our work out clothes for the hike, had nothing to snatch but a water bottle or camera.
Hubby is 6'2", military, and would kick someone's a**.
In fact he was becoming exasperated with my admonishments not to leave ANYTHING in the car.....even our beach towels, which would have cost us $25 a piece (as they made us sign for them) had they been taken. Yes, they are only towels darling, but I just don't want the hassle or argument!

We went to Marigot twice. Once on a Sunday, and then on a busy Thursday afternoon. I felt safe-ish on a church day and a business day. But we did make sure to avoid cruise ship days, as we wanted to get in/get out, and be assured of finding parking.

Yeah, it's bad to have to be so on guard, while you're supposed to be on vacation...

Do the Gendarmes patrol Ft Louis and the Marina and the parking lots or just take people's money for having more than one drink at the beaches? Beginning to sound like Pic Paradis.

You will get flamed for that but the reality is that there is no income involved in preventing assaults.

Yes, I realize no one should drink and drive but "Pay the fine and drive away" just doesn't confirm that it is the main focus of the stop

From the little we have seen in marigot. they patrol in pairs Now if they would break up, there would be more presence... the last time we were there was about 4 years ago. We wanted to eat at cugini in maragot. Sam is a friend, and so we went... That was the last time, as getting to the marina, meant going through dark ally ways, and the parking was scary. They now moved to simpson bay, for very good reason... Not many want to be there at night... Its risky at best... my thoughts.

I agree if you are stopped are over the limit, the gendarme should haul the person off to jail instead of just ticketing them. Makes perfect sense to me.

LINK

Bobcat...any idea how current that list is? We used to really enjoy La Petite Auberge des Iles. Not sure if they re still there or not as Bruno sold several years ago.

esk@SXM-Info.com

Erich tends to keep a neat ship and current on his information. We loved that place also , I believe it is still active under its new ownership but not the same place if you know what I mean.

La Croissanterie however is still the same old great place for crepes and croissants, if you're interested - ciao buddy

I think Chanteclair (sp) is still there also. We had a great breakfast at Le Crossanterie and then walked around the marina. In addition to the shock of seeing Le Belle Epoche closed we noticed how dangerous the wood planking looked around the marina. You have to watch you step. And this was in bright sunlight.

Perhaps I am mistaken but I thought Chanteclair (sp) was long gone.

Bobcat,

One of the best deals overall on the French side when Bruno and his wife ran it. Never forget MicMak the dog either.

We dined there every year with Ray Mann & Co. about a dozen or so and as you said Bruno and his wife, I forget her name, shame on me, worked their tails off night after night. Their chalk-board specials were great and that French onion soup - wow...

Great service, food and a pleasant experience. Bruno was about the ONLY person who was honest when asking about "service" being included in the price. I would often ask him if we were there with newbies so they could hear first-hand how the "service charge" was supposed to be handled.

Francoise was her name from what I recall. You could either order off the menu, the chalkboard or they also had a "prix fixe" option that was very attractive also.

Great memories of how things used to be.

Last I saw Bruno & Francoise they were looking over a small place in Grand Case that I won't say here. It was 2 years ago and they said they had a non compete with the new owners and that it was going to be over soon. Didn't see them last year and the place they were looking at is still run by he original owners.
I always loved when Bruno would say you are in luck tonight because the cook (Francoise)was in a good mood.

Every visit to SXM (8th time this Feb) the hubby and I would dine at the Marina at Le Belle Epoche. Last year I was so sad to see it was closed and even sadder the condition of the Marina. It was filthy, overflowing garbage cans and honestly it stunk. Crossed that off of our list and now have not reason to head to Marigot.

We felt pretty unsafe the entire time we walked the marina. When I am on vacation I see no need to stress myself out about my safety or security. There are plenty of other locations to have a wonderful dinner - we have been staying a bit closer to our resort in Oyster Pond and have found some wonderful dining that we had previously passed up to head to Marigot.

This past February, dined at the Tropicana in the Marina. We consider this a must do on our visits. Had a great meal and never noticed garbage or felt unsafe.

we got to la Petite Auberge on a Calypso dinner cruise 5 years ago.. The aquamania site still has the restaurant listed as their destination

If "aquamania" has not recently updated their info (which is not unusual on island), your information is 5 years old.

I'm still waiting for Mario's Bistro to update their website to say they moved from Sandy Ground to Porto Cupecoy.