TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Day 4 -- Escape from the Dreaded Seaweed

Day 4

I hope to keep this shorter if not sweeter. Dinner at Sol e Luna was a wonderful experience. We were quite surprised to see the transformation it has undergone sometime in the last seven years. What once was a parking lot out front is now a swimming pool flanked by chairs, decks, and cabana-like structures. Beautiful!! The front porch has expanded into a wide veranda overlooking the pool deck. The indoor area is sumptuous. This has to be the best looking hotel/restaurant on the east end including Grand Case. We had a perfect table overlooking the pool. The atmosphere is just as romantic as can be. The 1940's music, yes, 40's, playing in the background adds to the special ambience. And the food is right up there with Astrolabe and Le Cottage from earlier nights. Another east-end must-see and must-eat.

Thursday morning brought with it a total infestation of Orient Beach with seaweed, and La Playa seemed to be ground zero. The water was thick with it, and big equipment was being used to rake and plow. Looks like we will be in search of an alternative beach. We packed up and headed off. We planned a combination of Friar Bay and shopping in Marigot.

First, however, out of curiosity, we went in the opposite direction to peek at Galion Beach on the south side of the salt pond below Orient Beach. What a cute little beach. We had read that it is perfect for families with kids since it so calm and shallow. It fit that description to a T. In fact, it looked like a vast kiddie pool. No seaweed there at all. Well, families and kids are not our thing, so off we went to Friar. Glad we gave Galion a look, though. Nice alternative to Orient on a seaweed day.

Friar was just perfect. No seaweed there either. No wind. It was the adults-pool version of Galion. Much bigger of course. We went to the right, got chairs for ten dollars, and settled in for the morning. We had been there before, particularly after visits to Happy Bay. We weren't the only ones from La Playa to go there. We saw our German comrades from the previous day's battle of the beach (see Day 3). Great lunch there. Huge BLT for me and salad for Abby. Forgive me, I forget the restaurant's -- maybe Ici. Two thumbs way up.

After lunch, it was off the Marigot for shopping. I won't bore you with the details, but I can say that we will be checking one of our carry-on bags on the way home in order to accommodate our purchases in a new carry-on tote bag full of said purchases.

Thanks! I was worried about where today's installment was!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Carry on!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

Give Mullet try. Was there all day today and not a strand of sea weed.

I had suggested this earlier---beautiful beach!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

You will never bore us---what did you buy?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

We were on Orient today and no seeweed. A perfectly gorgeous day we had. Best day ever. Slight breeze. No seaweed.