TRIP REPORT Jan 30 – Feb 17, 2015 (part 2)

DINNERS:

St Maarten Yacht Club Restaurant & Bar - We stopped here more than any other place during this trip. Several times for Happy Hour, both to see the “boats” come and go, but also for the Happy Hour Appetizer and Bar Bites deals. From a list of nine or ten appetizers you get 3 for $25. or from a list of eight or so Bar Bites @3 for $15. you can make a very filling meal. Our favorite, hands down, are the Grouper Fingers on the appetizer side. [i216.photobucket.com] They're $10 a plate if you're not ordering on the Happy Hour Deal. We also had their ribs, and tomato and cheese on this deal
We also stopped for a Cheeseburger on one trip along with a soda and tea, $16.00. There is NO service charge at SMYC . Sorry no pic.

12 Meter Restaurant & Bar - Located in Phillipsburg, just off Bobby's Marina and a few steps from The Greenhouse. After a successful SXM Lovers Get Together a group came here. [i216.photobucket.com] Betty and I shared the Fish & Chips, @$15.00. [i216.photobucket.com] Others had the ribs. [i216.photobucket.com] There is NO service charge at 12 Meter.

Pineapple Pete's(2) – Always a favorite. Very consistant for quality and service. Tom had the Lobster Thermodore. [i216.photobucket.com] Betty and I shared the Fish & Chips, [i216.photobucket.com] @ $16.95. We might share meals but we each ordered our own Creme Brulee, $7.50, which we rate as our favorite on SXM. [i216.photobucket.com]
Judy had their Crab stuffed Grouper which she rated as “OMG.” [i216.photobucket.com] We went back another time for her to have more. [i216.photobucket.com]
The second trip Tom had Scallops [i216.photobucket.com] Betty and I shared a Grouper Burger. [i216.photobucket.com] plus an order of Coconut Shrimp, but only one Creme Brulee this time along with 2 teas for $46.00 which included service charge, but no tip.

Al Dente - Fairly new. Located by the circle going to Mt Vernon. [i216.photobucket.com] Italian food with a touch of French. Here's their menu. [i216.photobucket.com] Modern décor. [i216.photobucket.com] I tried their Lasagna. Seems like it was 14E. [i216.photobucket.com] Owner is son of owner of Le Marrakech.

Jimbo's – Tex Mex food. Taco salad. $14.95 [i216.photobucket.com] . Shreaded chicken in bottom. Also had cheese quesadillas. $6.95 and Mango Margrita. Betty had a cheeseburger. [i216.photobucket.com] There is service charge here.
Judy tried their Fish and Chips. [i216.photobucket.com]

Dinghy Dock – In the Captain Oliver complex of Oyster Pond. Business continues to grow. Owner Seth is thinking of expanding maybe down to the Simpson Bay area. Maybe as a water bagel shop.
Betty and I shared a Cheese Burger. [i216.photobucket.com] I had a Rum and Coke, Betty a Coke. With tip, $25.00 There is NO service charge at Dinghy Dock. Favorite waitress, Jacquline, works really hard and covers a lot of ground there. [i216.photobucket.com] Tom and Judy shared their Seafood pasta with a variety of sea critters in it. [i216.photobucket.com]

Lagoonie's – Hard to find, but great Fish & Chips on Friday night. [i216.photobucket.com] $14.00 Was told the place has changed owners. And the portions seem smaller than last visit, but they are still incredibilly good. There is service charge added to bill.

Buccaneer Beach Bar – Always a must stop for a Cheese Burger. We went on a Sunday evening and the place was packed. Still good as ever. No service charge.

SkipJack's – Another must stop for at least one meal. The place is starting run with the efficiency of service as Pineapple Pete's. Betty and I shared the Parmesean Crusted Grouper $21.95. [i216.photobucket.com] Tom had their version of Fish and Chips. [i216.photobucket.com]

Piazza Pascal – A wonderful place to eat on Harmony Night since the street crowd or band is not touching your table or starring at your food. [i216.photobucket.com] Here were their specials of the night. [i216.photobucket.com] This night Betty and I shared their Carbonna $14.00. Here's friends pausing for me before digging in.
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Soprano's – Armed with a Jeff Berger half off second pizza coupon we headed to Soprano's. They make a pretty good pizza. Thin crust, lots of cheese, although not Provel cheese like we're use to in St Louis. We had a Bacon Pizza. It was $15.00 normally. There is NO service charge at Soprano's.

The Palm's – One of my personal favorite places for both food, friendship, and relaxing dining. Greg and Joelle now display the logo “Palm's” plate I made for him a couple trips ago. [i216.photobucket.com]
I had my usual, Lasagna. [i216.photobucket.com] Betty had the Tropical Chicken Kabob appetizer. [i216.photobucket.com] Tom had the House Specialty, Drunken Ribs. [i216.photobucket.com] We all shared the home made appetizer, Accra with Mango Chutney. Luckily I was able to get a picture before the last one was gone. [i216.photobucket.com]

Greenhouse(Phillipsburg) – We stayed around after Contessa's Party and had dinner there. Betty and I just shared appetizers of Potato Skins and Cheese Quesadillas. Service charge added. No pictures.


ACTIVITIES :

Beaches –

Dawn Beach - Obvisously since we own at OBBR and stayed there two weeks, many of our days were spent here. This year, as like many of the SXM Beaches, there was more the usual seaweed. We like it here. Fine, white sand. Good facilities for food, and bathroom, especially at Beau Beau's.

Orient – We have a standing meeting at Orange Fever on Orient with friends on the first Sunday back on SXM. Orient was in much better shape than when we saw it in November. Good sand, some seaweed, lots of activity. Certainly many eating places and well as bathroom facilities.

Friar's Beach – First time here in a long time. Good sand. [i216.photobucket.com] Beautiful view. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] You do have to watch that step down an couple feet off shore. [i216.photobucket.com]

Cuperoy Beach – One Sunday, we decided to try Cuperoy Beach. After giving the guy in the cart guarding the opening in the boulders by Ocean Club $5.00 we drove down to where Dany's place was. Kind of surprised that we were the only car in lot. That should have been our clue. After parking and making our way down the path towards the ocean we saw one chair set up on the beach rocks. Really no sand beach in one direction and waves rolling in over the small sand beach the other way. [i216.photobucket.com] Certainly a pictureques view with incredible water color. [i216.photobucket.com]

Baie Longue – So back in the car and a short drive past Blue Mall to Baie Longue. The gate guard gave us the rules and time to drive to beach. Winding our way past the many gated mansions we finally came to the beach access sign. Lots of cars and a hand lettered sign announcing a surf board contest today. We found a parking place and walked into the beach area. Nice sandy beach, pretty water, but no bathroom facilities, food, chairs. [i216.photobucket.com] Certainly some surfers out by the point. [i216.photobucket.com]

Baie Rouge – So it was back in the car again and further down the road to Baie Rouge. Perfect! Lots of sand. Chairs and umbrellas from our “chair man” Venus. [i216.photobucket.com] Pretty water, two beach bars, Chez Raymond and Gus', and bathroom facilities. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] Although quiet in this picture the rolling waves and undertow provided much amusement watching others play in the surf. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]

Simpson Bay Beach - Just steps across the road from Turquoise Shell Inn, the sand at this end was really washed down. It grew thick and more abundant as it came to Mary Boon's and Karacter's.

Non Beach Stops -

Bernadine's - One of our favorite stops is Bernadine's in the Paradise View Shopping Center overlooking Orient Beach. Always an incredible view of Orient area. [i216.photobucket.com] A worthwhile stop for some take-home Ma Dou Dou which helps support the ever growing number of abandoned cats and dogs that she takes care of. [i216.photobucket.com] I hope you'll find time to stop by and make a donation.

Art In The Park – The second Sunday of February is Art In The Park at Emieo Wilson Park. From the Grand Marche store take the exit in the circle opposite the store parking lot entrance. It's a large group of local artist and some food booths.

L'Embouchure Point – On the road from Oyster Pond to French Quarter is an area where the water is only ankle deep. You can walk way out to little islands. Tom and I took a walk this year. [i216.photobucket.com] View from little Island. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]

Loterie Farm – Surprisingly, this year was the first time I had ever visited this place. It's located off the road you take to get to Pic Paradis. There's only one little sign viewable only when coming from Marigot to Grand case, so just watch for the Pic Paradis sign which is much easier to see.
Here's their pool area. Someone said it's $20/day to use.
[i216.photobucket.com] The place is very well manicured. Divided off with little stone walls.
Here's our table for lunch. [i216.photobucket.com]
btw, Topper was also eating there with his brother and fam.

Trip To Phillipsburg - Wanted to stop by DK Gems and say Hello to “the Boys”. Tom and Judy wanted to pick up some gifts. Stopped by Caribbean Blend which is located next to Burger Madness on the Boardwalk. Suzanne was just opening up. Seems they have a DJ party on Friday and Sunday evenings. The Sunday one lasted to about 3am. Was going to be a long day for her.

Harmony Night – A good crowd with a lot of vendors and locals selling crafts and food . Got there early around 6:15 so we could easily make our dinner reservations at Piazza Pascal. Here's Tom and our favorite waitress, [i216.photobucket.com]
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Red Piano(2) – Stopped by twice during this trip. First time we weren't that impressed with the piano player, but did pick up that he was in his last couple days. So we went back our second week and enjoyed an Austrialian, Martyn Lucas. Couldn't get any good pics of him., but did catch Tom playing with Judy's knee and Betty. [i216.photobucket.com] People going to SXM in March should make it a point to stop by and hear a really good performer, Susan Erwin. We heard her in November. She's back for the month of March.

Casinos(too many stops) – One of our and our traveling friends enjoyments is going to the casinos. The closest full size Casino to us when staying at OBBR is the Princess at Port de Plaisance. We also played at Starz(old Atlantis). Starz is undergoing to huge revamping and upgrading. Still takes our money, but looks nice. There were no big winners this trip,... not even close. We stopped once at the casino at the end olf the runway. Great place to watch for friends arriving and deplanning. [i216.photobucket.com]

La Bamba – One of my favorite places is La Bamba on Sunday evening when Category 5 band plays rock and roll and various other tunes. They always have drink specials. [i216.photobucket.com] Even if you don't dance, it's a fun place. Always good-looking women shaking their....... [i216.photobucket.com]

Public Parties- Of course, most know that I host a large SXM Lovers Get Together in early February. Again this year it was at Iguana Bar at the far end of Captain Oliver's Restaurant. With drink specials and a table full of appetizers provided by Philippe and Captain Oliver's, we had around 60 in attendance year. Some new faces, some returnees. [sxmnormspics.shutterfly.com]

We also attended Contessa's Party at The Greenhouse in Phillipsburg. Our friend, Tomas, former bartender at Beau Beau's, now tends bar at The Greenhouse. Finally meet Sue D after maybe tens years of passing.

Private Party - We were fortunate enough to be invited to the Dawn Beach Estate home of Barbara and Neil. Neil was making his famous Shrimp and Sausage Pasta. [i216.photobucket.com] Also enjoyed a vertical Caesar Salad brought by Lucy of SXM Cooks.

Carousel – One of our favorite stops is the ice cream place known as The Carousel. First of all it is squeeky clean. Second, there are too many choices of flavors, which requires going back again and again to try. And third, it's a fun place whether just watching others make their selection, watching the kids on the real Carousel, or walking around the outside looking at all the photos of people eating ice cream.

Boats- One of our favorite activities is enjoying a drink, meal, at St Maarten Yacht Club Restaurant and Bar, especially when the mega yachts come or go out.
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L' epicerie Gourmande – Located in Oyster Pond area across the street from L'Oasis and BZH Creperie and next to the old Tabba Khady(for you oldtimers). [i216.photobucket.com] It's owned and operated by Carole, formerly of L'Estaminte. It's only been open since October, right after the Hurricane. It's a little more than a regular deli. Carole has a great knowledge of wines and great plans for the place. [i216.photobucket.com] Stop by and see her. [i216.photobucket.com]


Other Info-

Shop N Drop SXM – A fabulous service provided by my friend Jeannie at www.shopndropgrocerysxm.com Despite the extended clean up of previous guests in our room at OBBR and also the fact that she had 31 deliveries to make that Saturday, we found our frig stocked with cold soda, beer, water and all the snacks we wanted upon returning from airport with travel friends, Tom and Judy. Thank you Jeannie for all your efforts.

GAS – Gassed up at two places this trip. The Delta Station, next to McDonald's in the Dutch Quarter. Gas there was 1.14 / liter.
Gas at the Cadisco station near Orient was 1.10/liter with them doing $1=1E. Their new pumping stations are now working.

New Restaurant – Hoping to open by early March, Melange will replace the now shuttered Peg Leg Pub space at Port De Plaisance. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] Food will be grilled kabob style over real coals at your table. [i216.photobucket.com] A mixture of Lebonnese, Iraqi, India, Greek,Turkey foods including some fusion with sauces and spices.

Various and Flyaway Pics-
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Bob and Cover 2 Cover performing at Beau Beau's for a few more weeks. [i216.photobucket.com]
Cruse Ship off our balcony at OBBR. [i216.photobucket.com]
Off we go. Another Outstanding trip!!!
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Look at all those boats. Very few open slips. [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com] [i216.photobucket.com]
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Hope you find something in this report to help you enjoy your next vacation in SXM. Feel free to send any questions.

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[barcann.livejournal.com]

Good job Norm. I will be in touch soon to find out how to get to your place above the cruise terminal. Would love to see the ships leaving in the evening.

Sounds good Larry.