January 31, 2016

After Breakfast Eric went off to the airport (SXM) to meet Doretta coming in on LIAT 310 from St Lucia via Antigua and the rest of us (Betty, Eileen, Al, and me) jumped in a taxi for Maho Beach where our two parties met for lunch under the landing planes.

Betty Bond  -  Sunset Bar & Grill

Al & Eileen

Doretta & Betty

The Sunset Bar & Grill

Readying for take-off

Doretta on the Philipsburg Boardwalk

We taxied back to Philipsburg with plans to meet for dinner at Chesterfields.  

Dinner was ok and I wish I could say the same for the service.  Our server was abrupt and most times nowhere to be seen.  I had to get out of my seat and tell her to bring the wine we ordered for the table.
It was a good thing we had such good company for dinner.  We will not be back.

The power has been restored back home.

January 30, 2016

We were up at a more civilized time and were able to make it to the breakfast table before Betty had left.

The Boardwalk

Front Street

Look who I found on my stroll.  There are 2 chocolate labs on the island.  Meet Echo.  Nice Puppy

Echo

Echo

As I came back to the hotel I noticed Betty sitting in the shade sporting her new hat.  So I invited myself to join her.

Jeanette, a bartender at Pasanggrahan Inn
Whats that she is making?
Might they be for us?

Betty and Server admiring her knitting.
Yes they are the same drinks.

Al & Eileen arrived just in time to join us for pre-dinner cocktails.  We walked back to the Holland House for another amazing dinner that started of with a very nice Brunello and ended with snifters of Eldorado for a night cap.   We made reservations to return on Monday night.

Still no power at home in Grand Narrows.

Friday January 29, 2016

Thats me

With a will deserved 'sleep in' we were up promptly seeking breakfast at 11:30.  Afterwards, we went for a Eric, Betty, and I went for a stroll through the many many shops in and around front street.

With a private function planned in our hotels bar/restaurant we opted to go to the Holland House for dinner.  Lesson #1 make reservations.  The place was packed however, the mite's put us on a 30 minute wait list.  I think Betty had something to do with that.  We sat in the trendy lounge area and enjoyed a nice bottle of wine while we waited.  "Your table is ready, please follow me"

The service and meal fit the profile of the restaurant.

We made reservation for the following night.  This time there will be 5 of us as Eileen and Al will be flying in tomorrow on a 5:pm flight.

Got word from back home that a snow storm hit and there is wide power outage.

January 27 - 28 Travel

I left home before noon on Wednesday on a beautiful somewhat warm day.  As I was driving to Halifax I couldn't help but notice the outside temperature and immediately think last years drive to Halifax in 4x4 most of the way.  A trip that should have been 3.5 hours took 7.  Not today.  Dry clear pavement.

Upon checking into the hotel, I did my usual routine of separating winter-ware for summer reducing my foot ware to sandals.  

January 28 - 3:15AM  Rise and Shine

Being a bit of a night owl I was unable to sleep the night before even though lights were out at 9:PM. I was still awake when my alarm sounded and was standing in Delta line at the airport in less then an hour.

DL3881

Departure:	YHZ HALIFAX NS, CANADA 5:55A
Arrival:	JFK NEW YORK JFK, NY 7:20AM

DL0461

Departure:	JFK NEW YORK JFK, NY 8:35AM
Arrival:	SXM ST MAARTEN, SINT MAARTEN 1:55PM

I arrived 30 minutes before Eric and his mom Betty.

We took the short, but scenic, taxi to Philipsburg and checked into the Pasanggrahan ideally located on the Great Bay boardwalk.

Balcony View - Left

Balcony View Right

Balcony View
The Closest Beach Bar

After a couple of cocktails followed by dinner it was time to settle in for the night.  I was very tired from the early start and a day of flying. 

January 25, 2016

Last year, upon finishing our sailing excursion to the BVI's we decided to spend a couple of days on the island of St Maarten/Sint Maarten and determined that it needed further exploration.

This years winter escape will begin on this French/Dutch island on Thursday January 28 and finish up in St Thomas (USVI) on February 19.

Over the first few days friends and crew will be arriving at SXM, where planes fly just meters above your head on Maho Beach as they approach the short landing strip.  

While on land we will stay at the beachfront Pasanggrahan Hotel along the boardwalk in Philipsburg.

On February 03 we will board RS CAPE and join Capt Scott and Chef Renee Sawyer.  From there we will visit some of the neighbouring islands before sailing to the Virgin Islands.

RS CAPE