SXM November 2013 Trip Report

My twenty third trip to SXM since 1997, Betty's twenty first. We love this island. Still finding new places to enjoy.

TRAVEL - Found two tickets from St Louis via Miami on American for $576. back in February. A good price. Our flight from St Louis to Miami got away 30 or 40 minutes late. That made our arrival in Miami also late coupled with waiting for a gate made the connection so tight that American provided their DART cart service to literally highballed us and two other couples through the airport at “flank” speed to our waiting SXM flight. Have to give AA credit for actually being aware of our time line and doing something about it. It was almost a perfect, except that Tom's suitcase didn't make our flight. It was delivered to OBBR around 9:30 that night. All other flights were on time and uneventful.
Miami Immigration now has computers set up in arriving hall that process you and give you a ticket. Then it's a pretty fast walk pass the Immigration person. Waiting for luggage in Miami was incredibily long.

CAR – Once again we rented from Angela @ Horizon Car Rental(www.horizoncarrentals.com)
$300. for two weeks for a Toyota Corolla during this off season time. Ryan (with a sign) was waiting for us outside the airport. A short drive down the street to the old Royal Turtle lot. A check of the car, a credit card rubbing, and we were off.

PHONE – Sharon Harris, (www.QueenofSXM). Other than waiting for the couple ahead of me to decide how much time they wanted on their phone, it was a quick stop. Even better dropping off, since we were spending our second week at Royal Palm, which is where Sharon's office is.

ROOM – Since we were traveling with our friends Tom and Judy(now addicted to SXM, fourth trip),
I got a two bedroom unit at our home resort, Oyster Bay Beach Resort. Great view overlooking Dawn Beach. [www.flickr.com] Flowers at the resort are wonderful. [www.flickr.com]
The second week we traded through Interval International for a two bedroom unit at The Royal Palm. Betty and I have stayed there before and enjoy its convinence to many fun spots. A first time for Tom and Judy. Still wish RP would get some of that spare sand that's being dumped in the Salt Pond and add a little to their beach. [www.flickr.com] It's present sand is hard with shell fragments making it hard to walk on in bare feet.

SHOP n DROP GROCERY SXM - Since we were arriving on Sunday and Grand Marche closes at 2 on Sunday, it was a good time to use Jeannie and her wonderful service. shopndropgrocerysxm.com

EATING -

Breakfast – Many of our breakfasts were in the room or on balcony overlooking Dawn Beach or Simpson Bay with croissants from Pier Grocery in Oyster Pond or The Taste Factory in Simpson Bay.

Bagel House – (2) Sally is there with her wonderful greeting smile. My favorite is their French Toast which comes with surgically defatted whipped cream on each piece. [www.flickr.com] It's $6.00
2 eggs with toast, potatoes is $6.
They also know how to cook your egg order correctly.
Both visits we got to say hello to Patty who had just returned for her winter stay on SXM.

Mr Busby's – Next door to OBBR with a wonderful view.
They let you substitute a Johnny Cake for toast. [www.flickr.com] Here's a look at their breakfast menu. [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com]
As you can see on the menu, they don't add service charge nor do they accept credit cards.
There is a coupon for discount on Jeff Berger's Everything SXM site.

Sarafina's – (2) Went to the Marigot Market twice, so it was an easy decision to go a little early, and stop at Sarafina's [www.flickr.com] for breakfast. Standing in line, being a little hunger, it's a hard to keep your drool in your mouth. [www.flickr.com] And that pic was just about a third of the display.
Here's what we chose on two occasions. Cheese and Ham Quiche [www.flickr.com]
Mini Chocolate Croissants [www.flickr.com] Eggs over easy with bacon. Potatoes were really good. [www.flickr.com] Here's another morning pick. [www.flickr.com]

Cabana – Located on the grounds of the Royal Palm. Menu had omelets, [www.flickr.com] , but no individual egg orders. Here's their pancake plate. [www.flickr.com]
Nice setting. Good service. Can't charge to room at Royal Palm.

St Maarten Yacht Club –(2) Nice setting, especially if boats are coming and going. They take credit cards, but prefer cash for tips. I had the El Captain @$9.00 which was two eggs, potatoes, bacon, toast.

Lunches

Beau Beau's – (3) Since our first week we stayed at Oyster Bay Resort, Beau Beau's is very nice for a lunch overlooking Dawn Beach. Food is good, reasonable. There is service on the Beach. Service charge is added both on beach and in restaurant. Food can be charge to a credit card or to your room if you're staying there. Their Chicken Caesar Salad is wonderful. [www.flickr.com] It's $13.95 Their Cheeseburger, [www.flickr.com] . Their Special Club Sandwich, [www.flickr.com] It's $9.95.
Our smiling waitress, Terry, who also services the beach and provides instant weather forecasts. [www.flickr.com] Other items we tried,
their BLT - [www.flickr.com] is $9.00. Their MahiMahi Burger, [www.flickr.com] is $12.00.

12 Meter Bar – Still owned and run by Matt and Flo from Dinghy Dock, they're on the dock in Bobby's Marina and only steps from one of the pickup/dropoff points of cruise ship water taxis. They share a building with the folks from America's Cup Race. They recently added a porch to the front of their building so you can eat in shade. [www.flickr.com]
Here's most of their menu. [www.flickr.com]
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We also tried their Chef Salad [www.flickr.com]
Their Fish and Chips [www.flickr.com]
Their rib plate [www.flickr.com]

BZH Creperie – Located in Oyster Pond are across street from L'Oasis. Nice, pleasant place with wonderful crepes and salads. They do not accept credit cards and price in euros with a daily exchange rate. We love their Compnarde salad. @13 E. Here's the salad page of their menu.
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Orange Fever – Located on Orient Beach. Like many of the restaurants at that end of Orient, they were lacking sand and only had a few rows of chairs. [www.flickr.com] Their food is good. Reasonable., other than their Nacho's [www.flickr.com] which left a lot to be desired. Cost $6.00 This is their French Cheeseburger, $12.50, [www.flickr.com] We also like Orange Fever because of their free bathroom. They do $1=1E for cash. Owner is related to La Villa in Grand Case. Chairs are $7. including a free drink. Great view. [www.flickr.com]

SMYC – (4) St Maarten Yacht Club Bar and Restaurant is located on the passage from Simpson Bay to Simpson Lagoon, right next to the drawbridge. Good, reasonable food and drink. Owner Brian has a great memory for what you like. Credit cards are accepted, but prefer tips in cash. There is no service charge. Their Caesar Salad is good. This is their Chicken Caesar Wrap [www.flickr.com] . With two fresh brewed Ice Teas, $16.00
You never know who might be coming through the entrance to Simpson Bay Lagoon.
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During Happy Hour SMYC has a 3 for $25. appetizer menu which includes these excellent Grouper Fingers, [www.flickr.com] . Also at Happy Hour they have Bar Bites 3/$15. which includes these Tomatoes and Mozzerella [www.flickr.com] We did this for a meal one evening and ordered two grouper fingers, one ribs, for $25. and onion rings and tomatoes and cheese, and cheese sticks for $15.

Buccaneer Beach Bar – Great Cheeseburgers @$11. Relaxing view of Simpson Bay. No Credit Cards.
Here's a couple pages of their menu. [www.flickr.com]
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Rosie's - Located on Mullet Beach. Serves beach food [www.flickr.com] We enjoyed her rib bowl for $5.00
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Caribbean Blend - Located on the Boardwalk, at the end of the Straw Lady's row connecting Front St w/ Boardwalk. [www.flickr.com] Have visited many times. Owner and Chef Romaine, always friendly. [www.flickr.com] Suzette tends bar and makes the best Mango Coladas. [www.flickr.com] The place has grown over the years. A lot of names have signed the walls and ceiling but you can still find our name on the original “ Friends” section. This day we had their Grilled Grouper Sandwich, $12.00. [www.flickr.com]

Sugar Cane Cafe – Had our final lunch here before boarding the plane home. Betty and I split their French Dip. [www.flickr.com]

Dinners

We hit the ground running on arrival day. After signing out on our Toyota, a trip from the airport past Sharon's Phone Office, and on to Oyster Bay Beach Resort for checkin. With luck, our room was ready when we arrived. We changed clothes, freshened up, and we were off, back to Simpson Bay Greenhouse to attend SXMSammy's Party. It was nice of Bruce to use his party to raise a little money for the I CAN Foundation.
Dinner that evening was a cheese burger at the Buccaneer Beach Bar , followed by a stop for dessert at The Carousel. I enjoyed the Carmel/Brownie ice cream. Betty had the Creme Brulee favor. This was only our first stop at The Carousel.

Island Pizza - After an afternoon of wine tasting, thanks to Jeannie, we stopped by Island Pizza which is located next to Mr Busby's in Oyster Pond and next door to our room. Betty and I had a large Cheese Pizza for $14.75.

Chesterfield's – Located in Phillipsburg by Bobby's Marina, this has become one of our favorite places for Grilled Grouper. [www.flickr.com] $18.50.
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Pineapple Pete's(2) - First visit Betty and I shared a Caesar Salad and Coconut Shrimp [www.flickr.com] .Tom had a Lobster Thermadore, [www.flickr.com] Of course we also had a Creme Brulee. [www.flickr.com] We used our SXM Privilege card for a 10% discount.
The second trip we had dinner with fellow St Louisian Doug, [www.flickr.com] who had just returned from a sailing adventure around several Islands on the S/V Sagitta. That night we had PP's Fish and Chips @$16.95.
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Dinghy Dock - After a late lunch, we decided for a light dinner at Dinghy Dock, which is located in the Captain Oliver complex across from Oyster Bay Beach Resort. Cheese sticks(8) - $8.00 They still the unique “pour your own” Happy Hour. They added no service charge to our bill. Of course, the owner was tending tables.

Pizza Galley – next to Lee's on Welfare Rd. Pizza Galley has been in this location for years. Good pizza with a fairly thin crust. A Cheese pizza with two cokes is $17.00 plus service charge. Cash only. No credit cards. We visited with in a group that included Luci(from SXM Cooks), Barbara and Phil who we had met at Jeannie's wine tasting a couple nights early. [www.flickr.com]

Harbor Queen – Again in restaurant row next to Lee's. Probably our favorite ribs. They come in three serving sizes. A side order size, [www.flickr.com] for $4. when you order another meal. The regular meal size,
[www.flickr.com] , which is$13.95 and comes with two sides. Love their baked beans. They also have “all you can eat” for $20.95. The ribs are not quite “fall off the bone”, but close. This is their Shrimp Caesar Salad. [www.flickr.com] and their Shrimp Alfredo, [www.flickr.com]

The Palms - Another personal favorite is The Palms. Owner Greg and waitress Jo do a wonderful job. Here they are with the special plate I made for them. [www.flickr.com]
That night Tom and Judy split one of the specials which was Red Snapper. [www.flickr.com]
Betty had their Mahi Mahi, [www.flickr.com] for $18.
I, of course, love their Lasagna. [www.flickr.com] It's also $18.
This is a cash only, no credit cards. No service charge.

SkipJacks - We attempted to go to Peg Leg Pub, but they were closed because of dishwasher/water problems. Skipjacks turned out to be a great choice for the evening. Betty and I had their pan friend Grouper with Panko/Parmesan coating. With two teas, and service charge - $29.84. [www.flickr.com] Tom had their Ribeye Steak [www.flickr.com] It was $39.00.
Judy had the Shrimp Alfredo [www.flickr.com] .

Byblo's – A first visit for us. We met up with John and Cyndi of Tijon as well as Carter from Turquoise Shell Inn. Byblo's is located right next to Jimbo's. www.flickr.com/photos/11945697@N05/with/11094713483/
Here's a look at their menu. [www.flickr.com]
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We started out with some Meat/Cheese Pies. [www.flickr.com] Could have made a meal out of these alone.
Someone at the table order the Humas and chips. [www.flickr.com]
Carter had their Greek Salad. [www.flickr.com] He cleaned his plate.
Several people ordered the Chicken Kabob. [www.flickr.com] I had the Chicken Shawarma. [www.flickr.com]
Complimentary Baklava arrived before the evening ended. It was a fun night. [www.flickr.com]
[www.flickr.com] The official entertainer for the night was a Dutch/Portuguese lady MieKei MieKei. Plays sax/ sings and is very entertaining.
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The owner of Byblo's is Jacob and they have been in business for little over a year..
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Caribbean Flavors – Again one of those places you walk by all the time, we decided to stop. Located along restaurant row in Simpson Bay. [www.flickr.com]
They had a good price on Lobster, $22./#, which was not the cheapest, but they had 2-2/12# Lobsters, instead of the 3plus# ones. Here's their menu. [www.flickr.com]
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Here's Tom picking out his dinner. [www.flickr.com]
And our waitress getting it out. [www.flickr.com]
I had the rib plate. [www.flickr.com] $12.95.
Betty a Grouper Sandwich @$7.50. [www.flickr.com]
Judy the Garlic Shrimp [www.flickr.com]
And Tom the 2 ¼ # Lobster. [www.flickr.com].
Everyone enjoyed their meal.

Peg Leg Pub – After a couple aborted attempts PLP opened. Manager is Danno. Our waitress, on her first night serving, was Raleigh. Owner Linda was in checking too.
Tom had the Ribeye Steak. [www.flickr.com]
Judy the 7oz KC Strip - [www.flickr.com]
Betty and I had the large filet [www.flickr.com] . It still is as good as ever.
This was actually PLP's opening night. Service was attentive, but Raleigh, forgot the rolls and butter for our table and someone didn't prepare the baked potatoes, so fries or mashed potatoes were the only option. I'm sure those little glitches have been fixed. Looking forward to Cover 2 Cover and “the old” PLP when we return in February.

Activities, Random Notes, Passing Thoughts

One of the goals as “tour director” for this trip was to introduce our travel mates Tom and Judy to beaches other than Dawn, which is, of course, right next to Oyster Bay Beach Resort. So here's Tom and Judy on Dawn Beach. [www.flickr.com] Tom's in the Cardinal hat, Judy next to him in a black suit.
They've been to Orient before, but it's close to OBBR, so one day was a visit there. [www.flickr.com]
After moving to the Royal Palm, we introduced them to KimSha Beach. [www.flickr.com] Got our least favorite vote because of the course sand with many shell fragments and small rocks plus rocks in the water.
Mullet beach was new to them. [www.flickr.com]
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It's big with lots of sand. [www.flickr.com]
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Rosie's is the best known of the beach bars there. [www.flickr.com]
The February trip will introduce them to more.

We visited Tijon Perfumery and actually found both John and Cyndi there. They've been splitting time between their Grand Case shop and their LaJolla, CA store, where their daughter was in charge until the recent birth of John and Cyndi's first granddaughter, Solana. Judy wanted to visit Tijon to get an autographed copy of John's book, A Beach Less Travel. [www.flickr.com] Betty wanted some of John's Moisturizer.

We took a trip downtown for gifts and lunch. [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com]
Next door to our favorite Caribbean Blend eatery, is a new place called Burger Madness.
[www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com] Didn't get a chance to try it out though.

November 11th is St Maarten Day. Most things were closed including the Atlantis Casino. The Princess was opened for our enjoyment, or least Tom's enjoyment. At the Royal Palm there were having their own little celebration. [www.flickr.com]
Carousel was also open . My favor that night was Fio de Panna. Don't know what it meant, but had a very rich vanilla favor.

We were also on SXM when the new King and Queen came for a visit. The police were having fun closing roads and shuffling the Royal couple around the Island. At one point they closed Welfare and
Airport Roads. [www.flickr.com]
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I was very fortunate to have a light breakfast with SXM Artist and Poet Ruby Bute. I had to pick up a painting of hers to carry back to the States and deliver to my friend Jeff at My Island Art . ( [www.myislandart.com] ) Ruby had attended the dinner reception the night before for the King and Queen and actually got to talk to the Queen about the painting she made for them. It was great hearing her reaction to the Couple including the Queen's dress and shoes. I, also got to meet Ruby's dog and white cat with blue eyes.
Speaking of animals, I stopped by Paradise View to purchase some Rhum gifts from Bernadine and also make a small donation towards the upkeep on her homeless friends. [www.flickr.com] The view from her stand is worth the stop. [www.flickr.com]
One of the entertainment stops we made this year was at LaBamba Beach Bar on Sunday evening. That's when Bob joins the Catelogy 5 band for classic rock and roll. This was their first night of the new season. [www.flickr.com] and of course, Band singers always attract “the ladies”. [www.flickr.com] This year Bob will be singing 80's stuff every other week. Another vocalist will be on the other Sundays doing 90's music. I don't have a name . Here's their new menu. [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com]
It's been several years, but we returned to The Red Piano for a wonderful evening of music and song featuring Sandy Elliott(think that's right) on the piano. [www.flickr.com] It was a great night. Surprising, there were maybe only two smokers in the audience.
Because of our room assignment at Oyster Bay Beach Resort ,we had a birdseye view of most entertainment at Beau Beau's for the week. [www.flickr.com]
Jeannie's Wine Tasting was our second day back on SXM. [www.flickr.com] It was very well done, as you would expect from Jeannie. Good wines and info. Great snacks. Good music provided by Connis [www.flickr.com] Interesting people. [www.flickr.com] Here's where met Barbara and Phil., who have a home in the Dawn Beach Estates. They also have a car with a bullet hole in it. [www.flickr.com] This was the result of a robbery at their SXM home while they were back in States and the capture of the robber and return of their car and TV. Tom and I visited their place. What a view! [www.flickr.com]
Was treated to a display of wind surfing . First time we've seen this on Dawn Beach. [www.flickr.com]
While staying at The Royal Palm, I had access to sunsets that we don't get at OBBR. Here are my entries for the Elaine and Bill SXM Sunsets Coffee Table Book. [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com]
Probably won't make “the Book” with those entries, but I got some yacht entries while sitting at SMYC. [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com] [www.flickr.com]

I apologize for the great lapse of time between our trip and this report. Hope it will be of help to some of you on your future trips to SXM.

Here's some “fly away” pics. [www.flickr.com]
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Nice report. Well worth the wait.