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Thanks Carol for that tip, we started doing that at the Maho Market last trip. Will do my best on the pictures. Right now on our 1st day I feel rushed, need Island time to kick in. Or at least a couple of these.

jaxon--yes, that's my question. I don't know, can Holland put a tax on SXM? I don't know.

I have never been to Mardi Gras except for the celebration in Grand Case. I love parades! Hubby loves the skimpy costumes, of course.

Glad you arrived safely. Pictures look wonderful! Looking forward to seeing many more photos from 'home'.

By the way, I would be careful about doing a lot of shopping at Market Garden, as I have heard that the prices on the shelf are often not the price on your receipt.

Hi all,
We are looking to book a trip in early April to stay on Virgin Gorda. We also want to spend a few nights on Anegada so I'm trying to sort VG to Anegada. I've been to the Smith's and Fast Ferry site and there are no trips scheduled until late April. I thought they maintained the M-W-F schedule year round except during hurricane season???

Thanks!

Whoa Air France 446 heading to sxm suspected a fuel leak going over Atlantic & diverted to Gander Newfoundland in Canada. Landed safely where they were looked after & accommodated by airport staff. A new aircraft was sent from Paris CDG & carried passengers on to SXM. Reported by CBFM- Cape Breton. I wondered what the AF4080 flight was. Now I know. Good job Gander!!

The weather is beautiful here and wishing you a smooth flight and a quick trip through the airport. Looking forward to seeing you.

Photo of your car looks like our car did a few days ago.

If you are looking in the near future, that could be tough as many are already sold out. A friend said he was able to recently get a rental from Empress. The company I amusing is booked. You might find a last minute reatal at the airport but that might be extremely expensive also. Good luck.

I dropped the ball and forgot to rent a car in advance like usual…my usual is booked up, any recommendations would be appreciated!

Rosies charging $30.00 for a set of those beat up chairs??? Clarence still there!! Love his morning blessing!!! Shame about the her burger, it was always really good along with her ribs and I liked the hotdogs she cooked too! Her drink of the day are KILLER!!! Gotta say we love Mulett, nice and calm and great snorkeling!! Haven't been there in a while, must return!!

Enjoy. I am in ATL now, we got in 1 hour early. Hopefully into SXM on time or early. Looking forward to seeing you guys.

We're back on island and it feels so good. Not 1 snow flake to be found and I'm done shoveling for a month . Smooth flight from Toronto, left 30 minutes late and arrived 10 minutes early. We got the last jetway available and there were 2 planes parked off to the side of the terminal. The scan your passport line was big but went pretty quickly and waited for our luggage about 20 minutes. Out of the terminal in about 40 minutes then met Lesley and Shirley got our car and were on our way to Market Garden for liquor and beer and cream for coffee.
We are staying at SBR in the Beaumontia building up on the hill on the 4th floor with a great view. Very nice 1 bedroom unit, will take pictures later. After unpacking we went to the SBR beach bar and met up with friends from last year and then over to the Greenhouse for dinner then back to the room. It was a very long day, we were up at 1am for our ride to the airport. Slept for about 10 hours.
Today once we get moving we are going to SMYC for a Bloody Mary and breakfast then off to the Rendezvous for Sunday Jazz.
The yacht in the picture Kaos (361 foot) owned by the hier to Walmart.

I went with a friend of mine( not to long ago) who is a big beer connoisseur to LaGoonies where they sell many LOLO brewery's brands . He said every was very good!!! We had good time talking with the manager!!! We were told they have product for sale, both bottles and cans. I saw you mentioned cans, I do enjoy a Coors light on the beach and by the pool when at Beachside Villas!! https://www.facebook.com/Lagoonies/

Sounds like another way to scam us when we book our flights!!! As if so many people made out like bandits on that whole rebuild project of the airport!!! Now they want more!!! Give me a brake!! SMH!!!

OHHHH that's something out of a John Wick movie!!!!
Another reason why we travel early and early evenings!! I have no time to be Rambo on vacation!!

Glad to hear you are enjoying it Diane. My daughter has enjoyed many trips to Portimao, just along the coast from where you are (she has a Portuguese friend who is from there). Worth a visit I think as you have a car.

We are over on the east coast of Spain right now and, until the last couple of days the weather has been lovely, sunny and high 60's low 70's during the day but we need the wood burner in the evenings. Damp and high 50's today but can't complain (although I will).

Are you for real? I wouldn't be bragging about this, publicly OR privately.

I think Carol is correct. This is a tax from the government of the Netherlands, not Sint Maarten.

Wow, that is some good insight on SXM the other islands and Haiti. I went to Cap Haitien in July 1979 and so glad I did. Citadelle Laferriere 14 mile round trip donkey ride up the mountain. Hard to believe 46 years ago.

Tom, I’m a beer guy and up until this am, I only saw SXM IPA and I typically only drink rum punch when in SXM

But I saw 3 Brewdog IPAs being sold at Driftwood this AM before our flight out. If you’re still around, perhaps inquire there after ordering a few?

These were the UK based lower octane IPAs, not the Ohio ones.

The locals do it for themselves. I’m Haitian American and the stories of those Mardi Gras are insane!

They each (Guadeloupe, Martinique, etc) give in their unique flavor of their respective cultures. I’ve seen true Mardi Gras celebrated on St Maarten twice in 19 years. The first one was over a decade ago when we happened to be on backstreet near the old Heineken plane restaurant. We just got caught up in it and watched to go by over 20 minutes and it seemed to traverse a decent amount of streets. It was wild!

Then maybe three or four years ago, we knew it was gonna be going through Marigot and my brother flew in from Miami to watch it with us. It’s the closest we can come to feeling like we are in Port au Prince without getting killed. Again, it’s a real true celebration of local culture not geared towards tourists. We just happen to be in the way. 😂

The Grand Case MG that Carol was talking about is totally touristy.

Just walked back from Fat Tony’s. There is “something” running out of Starz in the parking lot. I’m super “stuffy” but my husband said it doesn’t smell right. Will still check with CBC management Monday.

Like I said, it's not clear that the fact I'd filled out the form made any difference to the guy in Road Town. He asked me where I was staying and what boat I was going to be on without looking at the QR/conformation stuff in the app. They were mostly concerned with getting their $20 tourism tax from each of us.