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Joined: Aug 2000
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Anyone have some new "old" memories to share?
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Joined: Apr 2008
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So many good memories!
Staying at Treasure Island and Cupecoy Beach club and walking down to Mullet Beach---we were young.
The nights in Marigot for dinner and festivities! We had our favorites there and spent so much time talking with the owners of those restaurants and stores.
We have found many new places to stay, eat, swim and have met so many wonderful people!
There are always going to be the changes, but there will be the new things to discovery and enjoy.
Our last for quite a few years has been Beachside Villas!!!
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Joined: Aug 2012
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Back in the 90's the first thing we would do after getting off the plane is head for Mary's Boon to get on the list for dinner. It always filled up fast and they had a family style dinner different entrée each night...every night was great and fun. Honor Bar mixed your own drinks. They don't do that any more but still among my fav spots on SXM. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />
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Joined: Apr 2001
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OP
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We have so many SXM memories.......I could go on and on (as I so often do.......!) Along with all the other memories I've posted in this thread early on, in the evenings after dinner we used to enjoy leaving the unit where we stayed at Mullet Resort and walking the golf course, being mindful of the sprinkling system - and yes, they did have one back then - down to the beach at Mullet and perhaps taking a dip. Some nights we'd walk out to Maho Beach. This was before the Towers or Royal Islander was built and there was no Maho village or Cheri's and only the earliest stages of what is now the Sonesta Resort. There was no Boat Bar or Sunset Beach Bar at the other end of the beach. The original Caravanserai Resort - the one before all the different timeshare ventures came into being - was the only place I recall on other end of the beach before it became residential. It was a one and a half lane undivided road at that time and there were probably more walkers than cars. We would walk out and at about the point where the Boat Bar is today we'd sit in the sand and watch the last late landing plane come in over Maho Beach. On a good night we could spot the plane well out over the ocean and as it came closer, it's lights would become visible to us and shine on the waves and cause them to shimmer in the glow. As the plane finally soared overhead it almost felt as if it was pulling the surf up to the road. There was virtually NOTHING in this area at the time and it was clearly a favorite parking spot for island couples who I guess also enjoyed watching the late plane arrive. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
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Joined: Apr 2001
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And the waitstaff at the Boon dressed in those pretty plaid dresses......we used to enjoy the fixed menu and would usually try to go the evenings they served the veal dijonaise medallions. After cocktails in the self-serve bar, they would announce dinner and just start serving. The amazing part to me was they always came around with offerings of seconds and thirds if you could manage them. And the warm apple pie ala mode as dessert? Oh, the memories!!
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 772
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French Baggett Toast at Turtle Pier! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
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Joined: Jul 2011
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So, we've been coming to SXM since 2011, with a timeshare at LaPlage in Maho Bay. Sounds like we missed ALOT!!!! But what we like about the island in the six years we've been coming here is: long beach days at Orient Beach, and Club O in particular; Pinel; day trips to Anguilla; Maho village; Sunset Bar & Grill (even now with its touristy renovations !!!); shopping in Marigot; the Green Monkey bar; Cupecoy Beach(or what's left of it, anyway !!!); Happy Bay; and most of all, the people on the island, who have all been so friendly. And the staff at LaPlage's front desk have always been very efficient and professional. I can only imagine what it's like to hear the same questions over and over from people who walk up to that desk, including myself, over the years. The LaPlage staff take it all in stride and do a superb job.
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Certainly a different setting from Turtle Pier in its day, but equally nice IMO, is Tortuga at the Royal Islander and I'm almost positive I've had baguette style French toast there with Mimosas to wash it down. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 159
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Loved the Café Julianna at the old airport- especially the seafood lasagna and the coupe Denmark desert
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Joined: May 2005
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Turtle steak at Bistro Nu
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Turtle steak at Cas'Annie - before turtles were listed as endangered. Lots of stuff at Bistro Nu.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Please don't stop! I love the memories. Carol and I feel like newcomers after reading most of these posts. We only came for the first time in 2000. Would have loved to have found SXM when I could walk, hear, and see better. Not going to happen, so please keep adding more to this story.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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"If it's yellow, let is mellow; if it's brown flush it down". <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> Siesta time when the shops in P'burg closed for two hours. Shops closed on Sunday except if a cruise ship was in port. Pinel before the cruise ships discovered it. Maho Beach before the cruise ships discovered it. The hustle and bustle of nightlife at Marina Royale in Marigot - the Piano Bar. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> Fewer cars and no motor scooters. The old Pelican Resort and Casino (Simpson Bay Resort) with construction of the "B" buildings beginning at 0700am right behind us. More airline choices (especially from NY) American, United, Delta, Eastern, PanAm, charters - fares around $300 round trip. Most of this from the 1980's.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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The camaraderie of American visitors and Dutch and French visitors and residents huddling around shortwave radios listening to reports from the First Gulf War. The solar eclipse (97% totality over Sint Maarten - the sea turned a silvery color.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,562
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Wild Boar Sausage at Le Perokeet (sp)
Frigate in Mullet Bay Resort
Laguna
And yes you are right, the airfares were reasonable.
Rick and Grace
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 733 Likes: 1
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Nice tall drink in the shade at Scavenger's at the end of a hot day at the beach. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/drinking.gif" alt="" />
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Joined: Aug 2000
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SBB when it was a small round bar. Neil there.
Nothing on Billy Folly/Welfare corner. Maria's Deli. Walk to Kim Sha from Welfare Rd. across lot.
Le Petit Auberge in Marigot! The gourmet grocery shop in Marigot.
Nothing in Cupecoy but CCBC and Tradewinds. No Cliffs, no Rainbow.
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Joined: Aug 2000
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H*ll, even Buccaneer when Neil was there! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Neil was a character! ...I assume he still is, wherever he is!!
Carol Hill
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Vince's Konga Kafe on road to French Cul de Sac (road to Pinel)initially under the trees and then across the road in his living room (bar on his porch). <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Our first visit back in 1997? When we took our first cruise and the last port before returning to San Juan was Phillipsburg. We signed up for the America's Cup 12 Metre Regatta and had a blast crewing Stars and Stripes in a race against Canada 2...
We had lunch on the wharf near the Regatta's office and walked down to Front Street...and the jewelry stores... When Linda asked me whether she should get a small saphire ring or a small ruby ring, I just said "Why not get both, Sweetheart?"
At that point she looked at me like she had on our wedding day two decades before, and suggested we go check out what this "Club Orient beach" was all about (and which she had said "no way in hell" to the previous evening onboard the ship)!
By the time we were on the tender headed back to the ship that afternoon
we were planning the first of our now many week(s) long stays at Club Orient.
Never did take another cruise...
Bill
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Oh, for sure!! I remember when his daughter was on the front cover of the AA magazine. Anyone know, is Julie still the chef at Loterie Farm?
Carol Hill
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Not sure if it was already mentioned but we loved our dinners around the pool at Paradise Cafe along with the ornate wicker chairs my girls thought of as thrones, and those beautiful parrots on the porch outside the restaurant who seemed to spend as much time on top of their cages as they spent in them. Memories, memories..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
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Joined: May 2005
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Hanging with my sons at Don Carlos
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We are still building our memories since 2012. Chairs, umbrella's with free drink at Pedro's off the cruise ship. Wandered down to Perch to try their drinks. They were very good. After that our first swim out to The Club O float. Been twice since on a stay vacation. 8 months 3 weeks till the next. Seems to me the road we took into orient beach by taxi, was a lot more dirt, even in 2012. I think they dropped us off somewhere on the north end of the beach.
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Joined: Aug 2000
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I wasn't that fond of hauling my carry on bags up that staircase to get there, but the view and the food at Cafe Juliana were worth it!!
Carol Hill
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Every year when we stopped in to see Neil either at SBB or BBB he would yell at me for still having a watch on. Watch was a must when I was still working and a hard habit to break even on vacation. Now, retired, I never have one on.
Rick and Grace
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Joined: Apr 2001
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I remember Narcissa from Don Carlos. She was a sweet lady. We actually ran into her brother randomly on our only Aruba vacation in 1999. Small world. Wonder what became of her.
Rick and Grace
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Our first vacation trip to the Caribbean was in 1994 to the old Dawn Beach hotel. We loved it , planned to return. Then Hurricane Luis came along and changed Dawn beach forever.
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pat said:Aanother great find for us was LePavillion Restaurant in Simpson Bay back in the early 80's. Simpson Bay then was nothing like it is today and I think this was the only restaurant along the beach with the exception of Mary's Boon Guesthouse. There used to be some sort of construction plant, perhaps a cement plant? - and you turned in by it on the right just before the old bridge, and eventually as you snaked around back there you would come across the restaurant. The food was wonderful as was the service and it was definitely a favorite. We think it was destroyed in a hurricane but I'm not sure if that. So much of what we first knew on the island has been lost and so much new has taken its place. The Food Center Portofinos on Front St. Pinocchio's also on Front St. The original restaurant at Mary's Boon The Frigate along with all the other Mullet Restaurants Marks in Cul de Sac Bobbys Marina in P'berg and the Seafood Galley Restaurant there All of Dawn Beach Resort and Mullet Bay Resort Midass Muffler at the foot of the hill heading to P'berg Risdons take out stand and Risdons Ice Cream Shop by the pier in P'berg The Parrott place Some of the earlier radio personalities The Philipsberg Rib Place - in P'berg and in Simpson Bay Bertines up in the French Hills of LaSavanne And the phone company in P'berg where you went to place a call home.... Lynettes in Simpson Bay Along with so much more whose names and specifics I can't remember...... Those were the good old days on SXM that a few of us here were fortunate enough to have been a part of. And I can only imagine what my kids and Grands will recall as their "good old days" memories some day down the road...... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> ![[Linked Image]](https://s18.postimg.org/5yccdukop/foodcenter.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](https://s11.postimg.org/525zdybyb/DBScavengers.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](https://s23.postimg.org/brp93z1ez/market5.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](https://s9.postimg.org/kqzxvcnvj/papagayo.jpg)
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Wendy--thanks for the pics! Is the second one Pedro's and the last one Papagayo?
Carol Hill
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Spent many a night at David's playing trivial per suit and drinking austrialian beer ,and all the rerturants in the harbor great times
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Wendy,
Thanks for sharing the photos - and in particular the ones of the Marigot Marketplace pre-Speed. We spent many an hour there 'back in the day'....
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
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Carol_Hill said:
Wendy--thanks for the pics! Is the second one Pedro's and the last one Papagayo? 1st pic Food Center, 2nd pic Scavengers. Dawn Beach, 3rd pic Marigot Market and 4th pic Papagayo, Club Orient 1982
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Carol Hill
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