TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin May 2018 Trip Report part #5 - The End

In addition to a big birthday being celebrated, a large reason for this trip was to escort two kitties back to the US. We are connected to SXM Paws and they reached out to us for help in relocating Felix and Benji, as their owners no longer have employment and must return to Europe. Felix is 11, and Benji (the white one) is two. Both male, neutered.
We fostered the kitties for four days until they could be taken to the Fredericksburg, VA SPCA, a no-kill shelter with a 99% adoption rate. I would have LOVED to keep Benji, but already have cats of my own…and Benji tested positive on-island for feline HIV. He must be adopted by someone with no other cats. Even though Felix is negative, and they have been living together. We have made donations to the SPCA and are hoping to have a better more conclusive HIV test conducted on Benji. If he is negative we will go and pick him up. Otherwise…. does anyone in that area want to adopt a kitty? He is gorgeous, and a real lover boy. So white and fluffy!



Benji is most definitely my cat’s cousin or brother. My kitty came from behind Kakao, and Benji is from Orient as well.


After checking out of our room, we decided to spend our remaining hours at Mary’s Boon. They have really improved their menu offerings, and I rather wished we had spend a day there earlier in the week.









This is going to be a screen saver for me soon! Of course, right-side-up. Mary’s Boon has been completely redone and is gorgeous in the dining room.


Hubby had the conch fritters appetizer and then red snapper with white wine caper sauce!
I went with a cheeseburger and fries. All were excellent.







On the road leaving Mary’s Boon was the obligatory goat sighting!



Stopped at Zee Best bakery to get sandwiches for the plane. Ran into Dominic who was hustling to get an order out to Cuisinart on Anguilla, whom he supplies daily. Even his truck was patched up.


Airport departure was certainly a different experience, but manageable. We met the two kitties with their owners, and after very tearful goodbyes we were sitting in the departure area awaiting our flight home.





Welcome to the U.S. Felix!



Such a wonderful and rewarding trip. Too short. We are already planning our return….just trying to decide between July or October (we used to do both…but now that we’ve done May, and airfares are ridonkulous we won’t). Also praying that no hurricane comes to SXM, as I fear that would be the worst possibility ever.

Nice post but now I have a crick in my neck. I'll need a rum to straighten it out.

Leona,

Anytime on SXM is a good time to go if you can! So as they used to say on an old tv show, “Book it, Danno!”

Another absolutely lovely trip report. Thank you.

Hey Carol, I have a crick in my neck, I’m with scubaman on this, but a beer or two! Just kidding! Great report, looks y’all did a lot and had a ton of fun! See that Apple stuff doesn’t play fair with PC, just saying. It’s all good! Thanks again!

Yeah, and I’m just not feeling like taking the time to strip all the metadata.

Thanks for the reports and helping out with the cats. Very nice of you.

Thanks for the update on our favorite island.

Thanks for giving the cats a chance. BTW, we have two rescue cats, and one is FIV+. He is 9 years old and perfectly healthy, except for some congestion which recurs occasionally. He requires no special medication and co-exists with our 5 YO - problems. Thanks also for your nice reports. We're going back in Dec., first visit in 3 years.

Yes I understand, I feel your pain! Lol!

Thanks for being kitty escorts!

Thanks everyone for their thoughts and concern for the kitties.

The only thing that the US cares about is rabies, and that is non-existent on the island.

I’m hoping they are able to live out their lives in a happy and loving place. Snow is going to be a real shocker to these beach cats! Lol

They came with the CUTEST little French kitty passports……

OMGoodness! I’ve enjoyed each installment of your trip report, and I know how much time and effort it takes to do them and with photos no less.

But those kitty passports are absolutely priceless! TY for sharing and I hope the little fur babies find good and loving homes here in the U.S. of A.

Pretty sweet to have those momentos.

I had to look the disease up for the cats. You said HIV and should have said FIV. Now I understand! Glad you are helping the cats

What is the verdict on Benji? Are you going to be able to adopt him?

I had the seared tuna salad at Mary's Boon, and it was excellent. A really hopping place on weekends!

Thanks for all your reports. I know how time-consuming they are, and they were all very enjoyable reads.

Thanks Linda.

Still awaiting work on little Benji. Last I heard the two were still being kept together separate from Gen Pop...ha ha.
There had been something lost in translation at check-in as to which test was being requested.
Now wait.

You haven't mentioned the Divi kitties in your reports yet. Were you able to find them?

For several days, I saw only one. I did put food out, and he comes by occasionally. Since then I have seen two more, and they all have been on my deck at one time or another. However, I think someone else must be feeding them something better as they aren't coming around all that frequently. That said, the original one is currently reclining under the lounger on my deck.