Chesterfields – Another usual stop each trip is Chesterfield's. Love their Grouper dinner. We were serve by our favorite waitress there, Patricia.

Skip Jacks - Our final meal was with John and Cyndi at Skip Jacks. We enjoyed their Grouper plate.



Activities, Notes, Extra Pics

There was at least one new experience this trip that hasn't occurred before. After a rain storm that included thunder and lightning(including bolts and full sky ), and that started Friday afternoon and continued through most of Saturday, we got word around noon on Saturday that the Government had imposed a curfew on all businesses starting at noon. All businesses were suppose to close by noon and people were to go home. No driving around. Only people on the roads were to be emergency, road crew, and people going to the airport. Really strange feeling. As mentioned earlier in my report, come dinner time, I needed to venture out a little. We drove over to Dinghy Dock (everything else in Captain Oliver complex was closed).[i216.photobucket.com] Thankfully Seth stayed opened.
We attended the first of Jeannie's Wine Tastings. A good crowd of probably 20 people gathered at Biblio's for wine and matched food samples. [i216.photobucket.com] Here's Jacob, owner of Biblio's , greeting the group. [i216.photobucket.com] It was a fun afternoon/evening. Thanks again Jeannie for organizing it.
On one of our trip to Phillipsburg we stopped by DK Gems to get Betty's studs and ring cleaned. Didn't buy anything this trip, but they still take care of their customers. This pic is for Deepti to show her Kamal works even without her whip. [i216.photobucket.com]
One of the most fun things we did this trip was going to Red Piano. Music starts around 8pm Another couple and us were the only people there at 8. Susan Erwin ( www.susanerwin.com ) was performing this night and all of November. She returns for the month of March also. [i216.photobucket.com] We return another night which we dubbed Tijon Night because of the number of people, including the owners of Tijon, being there. Come to find out that Susan on previous trips to SXM had taken Tijon's Perfume making class and has a couple scents that she is now carrying on her web site. I met her latter in the week while helping Cyndi install a new ceiling fan at Tijon and Susan was finalizing her fragrances. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]
Another favorite musical group is Category 5 with Bob singing. They started their season at La Bamba on Sunday nights. [i216.photobucket.com] There was a group of younger(than 72) people who came “well primed”. It was a fun evening. Band starts around 8pm.
We also enjoy going to the Casinos. This trip we made 8 trips to the Princess at Port d'Plaisance and one to Hollywood. All toll, Betty had wins on 5 nights, I had 4. Anyone who visits Princess knows the great voice of Melvin, their singer. Here he is with his wife. [i216.photobucket.com]
Made a few stops at Bernadine's at Paradise View to drop off some mail from Jim and Judy, see her feline friends, and pick out some rum gifts to take home. Bernadine was off island for the hurricane. Her stand and house made it ok but did have a few leaks. She has such a great view of Orient from her stand. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]
Speaking of Orient, major changes are coming to the beach. The French government is preparing to replace all the food shacks and huts with concrete stalls/buildings, build a sea wall to separate the beach, improve parking area,, and then lease the stalls back to the existing owners or to new people. Right now it's suppose to start summer of 2015.......course it's “island time”.
Here's a couple new places that opened that I did not get a chance to try. Artisan Bakery in Orleans at the corner of the main road and the cut off to Oyster Pond. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]
Another lunch or dinner place with a great view is Le Pavillon. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] These pics were taken in the morning before opening.
Here's a look at the menu. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] It's located in the Oyster Pond area on the road that goes in front of l'Oasis.
Of course we stopped several times for ice creams at Carousel in Simpson Bay on Welfare Rd. Makes a great end to any evening.
Gas was down to $1.27/liter at the Cadisco in Orient. It was $1.31/liter the first visit. Think it was dropping more the day after we left.
Here's some pics of Dawn Beach looking towards OBBR. You can see the pile of seaweed on the left.
[i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] Fence of The Grerat House took a beaten from Gonzola. [i216.photobucket.com]
One of the yachts to arive for the new season.
[i216.photobucket.com] Anyone recognize the flag?
Anyone interested in progress of the Indigo Hill development. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]
And some shots from Cole Bay Hill Rd. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]
And from Cake Hill Rd. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]
Another first for me, the Causeway bridge open. [i216.photobucket.com]
Finally, with the sun and a ship approaching, we fly home. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] With two ships approaching. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]
Sunset as we arrive home, knowing that in the not too distance, we will again visit Paradise.
[i216.photobucket.com]

Hope everyone finds a little good info in this report. Feel free to send any questions.

Thanks for all the great reports Norm. The Artisan Bakery has a very nice variety of pastries and sandwiches. Really is easier to get into that the bakery that was around the corner before it closed. How did you find out about shacks being torn down and replaced with concrete structures? Had read about it, but just assumed it wasn't going to happen since all the places seemed to have rebuilt their places already. And, that beyond 72 crowd will always be a be part of SXM.

Larry, It does seem somewhat strange that Orient businesses have or are rebuilding, but my info came from a French side Rotarian who knows the people, besides government , that are in control of this project. Also the lady who owns Chez Lendra(sp) also owns and cooks at Mom's in French quarter, confirmed the news. Afraid that Orient will losr a lot of it's charm(?) with the change.

Yes Norm is right... The parcel where all those Lolos on orient are built is owned by the "collectivitee Territoriale" (the Town). Those lolos are not in the legal limit of the "50 pas geometriques" (approximatly 50 meters from the wave breaking line) and are not built to the norms imposed by the French and European legislature. Those lolo's are not "owned" by individuals, but individuals are leasing the right to portion of the parcel, and they have built shacks (sometime better than shack) but without any permit being issued regarding safety at all level. Thus the state have decided to level down everything and to rebuilt new facilities up to the norms and lease them back to individual. Those building will be back further from where the shack are now, more on the middle of what is the parking lot, where they were originally before Luis in 95. It is what people call progress, and I am not against safety regulation and norms, I am just afraid that this will loose a huge Caribbean feeling and flair and will be over "commercial"

Kind Regards,
Philippe



[www.facebook.com]

I better eat in as many of them as I can when Carol and I return for 3 weeks in April-May. Have to try and get the few license plates back I gave Andy a few years ago that are hanging in the rafters of the restaurant. Where is Le Pavilion located? It looks rather interesting and the menu looks good. We only stopped at Carousel two years ago for the first time. Probably my favorite stop on a hot afternoon.

Le Pavillion is located in Oyster Pond, under the "over hang" of the old building were the reception lobby of Club Aquarius was...

Kind Regards,
Philippe



[www.facebook.com]

Thank you Philippe

Sounds like a great trip again Norm. Sorry we missed you and Betty!

Always a great trip to SXM, Elaine. Hope you and Bill will be at Annual SXM Lovers Get Together, Monday, Feb2. Iguana Bar.

Been waiting for the invite, but didn't see it yet! You know we're always the first to sign up!