Yup! It's still cloudy and hazy this morning, and Saba - where does that proud and beautiful island go? She's been missing for most of our trip this time around.

The air here is so thick and so heavy that breathing is almost a chore. In honesty, this is about our 43rd consecutive April in St. Maarten and I don't think I've ever experienced a trip with weather patterns quite like we've seen this year. I'm not complaining because the weather forecasters were predicting some serious and heavy rainfall for the past week - and I do mean the entire week, and yet we saw virtually nothing beyond one night of solid rain. But it sure has been a different trip weather-wise.

Tomorrow is our departure day or as I think of it, our reality check day, and there's so much to do to get there, the worse of which is to squeeze all these unworn and unnecessary clothes we brought down back into those big black suitcases. When will I ever learn? In terms of packing for SXM, less really is best. Next year, I swear - a carry-on roll aboard each and that's it!

Decision time - Mullet Beach or EZ Beach. And the winner is - EZ Beach by a length. Again! We enjoyed a late breakfast washed down with fresh mimosas and then 3-4 hours on their beach. Don't know what it is with bananas and beach bars but this is the third time since we've been here we've ordered BBCs and the different establishments had to run out to the store for bananas. But purchase done and drinks made - so delicious and worth waiting for.

But as always, good things have to draw to a close so the packing is better than halfway finished with just a little more cramming in to be done. The beach towels are surrendered. The chariot is all gassed up and ready to return, and we're all showered and ready to go to dinner. The bill is paid at the front desk and we're as checked in as we can be with JB.

And the last supper will be enjoyed at ANTOINES by the Sea for the last time under the ownership,of Pierre et Jean Pierre. It has been personally confirmed by them the business has been sold and the new owners will take over next month and the old owners will be moving on to other endeavors. This place has been a staple for us in our island repertoire for well over thirty years so we will miss them terribly but wish them happiness in wherever their next adventures take them, and at the same time we will wish the new owners much success, too.

Our dinner tonight was excellent - J had a grilled scallop app and tonight he had the rack of lamb while I had one last crock of their onion soup au gratin and a veal and mushroom special and we shared one last grand mariner souffle and all of the above was delicious. With drinks and service dinner was about $132.00 and worth every penny. It was hard to say goodbye to all of them.........

And now we prepare to spend one last night of peace and quiet before we end this delightful vacation and travel back in time to the real world.

Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."