What a wonderful holiday just concluded.<br><br>In order to put this all in context, I need to go back to February 1989 when my parents, as a surprise anniversary<br>present for my wife and me, exchanged their timeshare week in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains for a week at the Pelican Resort and Casino on Pelican Cay (it taxes the mind too much to comprehend how they were able to broker any time in the Poconos for late February in the Caribbean, so I won’t.) At that time, the sum total of our foreign travel had been our honeymoon to Cancun five years prior (an experience that, while enjoyable enough, was not jaw dropping fabulous to the extent that we’d considered returning, although Wednesday was particularly pleasant as I recall.) After spending a week on SXM traveling from one gorgeous beach to the next, we decided that the timeshare concept appealed to us and that, if nothing else, we’d be “forced” into taking a nice vacation every once in awhile, should we make the commitment. We purchased a beachfront unit at the newly constructed Flamingo Beach Resort.<br><br>The following year, we returned to SXM with our daughter (then, 5 years old) and our parents. Bailey was a very<br>happy child who eagerly participated in all the activities the resort and the island had to offer, often dancing long into the evening to the sounds of reggae and steel pan music. She was particularly entranced by the bright lights and sounds of the casinos and equally dismayed at her inability to play or even enter the gaming area because of her age. When we explained to her that you had to 18 years old to go to the casino, with the sad eyes that only a child has, she asked if we could come back to SXM when she was 18. I tucked that request into my vault and had been counting the days ever since.<br><br>We’d returned to SXM many times but this trip was to be the fulfillment a promise made to that little girl 13 years<br>earlier. Early last year we began discussing with friends the prospect of having a birthday party in SXM. The families of two of Bailey’s best friends (Jill and parents Sandy & Doug, and Catherine, her sister Alexandra and their mom, Marina) were understandably receptive to the idea. We’d be more than happy to provide accommodations for everyone through some creative internal and RCI exchange contortions. All that was required on their part was transportation (nothing to be sneezed at either, as you’re all aware.) The dates were set, the plans were made and the airline tickets were purchased. Nothing to do but watch the calendar and seed everyone’s enthusiasm for an unforgettable week.<br><br>Fast forward to the present (or at least the recent past)...<br><br>Saturday April 12 -<br>The other members of our party were able to leave for SXM on direct flights out of PHL on Saturday. Due to a<br>prior scheduling conflict, Julie, Bailey & I would be unable to leave until Sunday AM. I found a website that gave real-time flight tracking so I was able to follow closely the progress of our friends. USAirways #1945 appeared to be pretty close to schedule so we set about finishing our packing. Imagine our surprise when the telephone rang at around 5:00 PM and at the other end was Sandy asking us to pack extra clothes because none of their luggage had arrived with them. Mechanical problems with the conveyor belt at the ticket desk in PHL resulted in very few, if any, checked bags making it on board. Apparently one of the cost cutting measures enacted by USAirways is to fly light, whenever possible. I assured Sandy that we’d do our best (our best meaning to pack as much as possible in our carry-on to avoid any similar problems.)<br><br>Sunday April 13 -<br>We had been warned by Sandy & Doug that the check in at PHL was a zoo on Saturday (probably in no small part due to the baggage problems already noted) so we got a much earlier start to the airport than I’d initially planned for a 9:40 AM departure. Prudence was rewarded as we were able to check in, get our boarding passes and clear security in about 45 minutes. We were able to eat a leisurely breakfast and read the Sunday Inquirer while we waited at our gate. We boarded at approximately 9:30 AM and then sat connected to the gangway for over an hour while they loaded two 757’s worth of luggage into the hold of our plane. The pilot blamed the delay on ground service cutbacks. It seemed we were the only people aware of the prior day’s problems. Once enroute, the flight was unremarkable, until we began our final descent and we were able make out islands and boats in the water below. Following touch down at Juliana, we taxied to our designated slot, deplaned and then were whisked to the terminal by bus. Nice to see efforts being made to move into the 20th century.<br><br>The steel drum band playing as we entered the immigration terminal was so cliché yet absolutely right for that moment. Clearing immigration was no big deal, probably because ours was the only plane arriving at that time. Waiting for luggage was another thing altogether. Baggage seems to make it to the claim area in no particular hurry. Some bags make it as far as the other side of the carousel wall and then sit there, with ground crew feeling no urgency to move it through the “doggie doors” to those passengers whose final destination is NOT baggage claim. In addition to our 3 checked bags, we were also on the lookout for 4 others from the prior day’s flight. We successfully found all of our bags plus 3 of the others before giving up on the 4th (although, as suspected, it was delivered to the Flamingo later that evening.) We exited the baggage claim area and were warmly greeted by Doug and Marina, who were kind enough to drag themselves off the beach and come get us.<br><br>Lodging arrangements back at Flamingo found the 4 young ladies in one studio unit, Doug & Sandy and Marina<br>in a one bedroom and Julie and I on the pull-out in my parents’ studio We quickly moved luggage to the appropriate<br>rooms, changed into our swimsuits and hit the beach. The Flamingo beach is actually quite nice, for what it is (a man-made oasis, replete with lounge chairs, palapas, umbrellas and a well stocked beach bar & grill with very attentive staff.) It was a pleasure to purchase the 1st of many rounds of beers and frozen drinks at happy hour prices. Certainly, if you never felt the need to wander far from Pelican Cay, most of what you could ask for in a tropical vacation could be had within a 5 minute walk.<br><br>Following our much needed swim in the azure waters of the Caribbean, we showered, dressed and headed out<br>to Lee’s Roadside Grille for dinner. They were completely out of tuna so most opted for mahimahi or red snapper. Bailey had shrimp, which turned out to be batter dipped and fried rather than grilled. She was unimpressed. The mahi, on the other hand, was quite good, as were the copious Caribs and coladas (English majors call that alliteration.) Julie played the role of cruise director and began to map out the week’s possibilities for the group. I don’t recall the name of the band (keys, bass, drum machine and trio of vocalists) but they set just the right mood, particularly for those at our table young enough to remember what fun was like. <br><br>The evening came to a close over coffee and Catherine’s birthday cookies back at the Flamingo (lovingly prepared by Bailey and Julie back in West Chester, PA and transported via carry-on to SXM.)<br><br>Monday April 14 -<br>Morning dawned, as it always does when I’m on vacation, at 6:00 AM. I’ve got a philosophy about taking advantage of as much daylight as possible while in the Caribbean. I can sleep at home, but my time in paradise is all too limited. Each morning begins with a early swim, followed by a relaxing read of the day’s headlines in the Daily Herald and the international edition of the Miami Herald over a cup coffee on the balcony. If only I could live like this the other 51 weeks of the year.<br><br>The Flamingo threw a poolside, continental breakfast, including mimosas, for the resort guests and owners. This is the sales staff’s initial opportunity to check the pulse of potential prospects while also engaging guests in the resort activities by raffling away some prizes. Bailey and Alex were winners, each returning to their suite with a bottle of champagne (not bad considering neither would be old enough to drink them back in the states.)<br><br>After breakfast, while the majority of our group hit the Flamingo beach, Julie, Bailey, Marina and I were off to the<br>Ram’s Food Market on Union Road between Philipsburg and Marigot. We stocked up on fruits, cheeses, water, rum, Carib, Ting, snacks and other consumables for back at Flamingo, as well as on whatever beach we’d hope to find ourselves. <br><br>The beach du jour, following the stowage of provisions, was Cupecoy. For most of our troupe, this was the first clothing optional beach ever visited. Any initial apprehension to the surroundings quickly disappeared once the overall “live and let live” atmosphere took hold. Still one of the most unspoiled and pristine beaches on the island, it remains a favorite. I’ve seen many negative postings on this site, though personally, I saw no aberrant behavior. If that’s been a concern of yours, don’t let it keep you from this gem.<br><br>Dinner was a poolside barbecue of chicken, ribs, seafood, rice and beans, salads and rum punch. The Caribbean party held at the Flamingo featured Dancing Diamond (hands down the most agile grandmother I’ve ever seen) and Manno & Flamingo Flamboyant. My Mom & Dad secured a poolside table for eleven so that we could dine and watch the show. Of particular note was the “dollar wine” dance contest. Bailey, Jill, Catherine and Alexandra all took to the stage. Let me say, some white people CAN dance, and these girls are 4 of them (Doug, on the other hand...well, he’s got a good heart.) Alex and Bailey took top honors in the contest (prizes being rum, casino vouchers, and assorted other coupons for free or discounted booty), although I’d be hard pressed to tell you which of the “triplets” was the best at shakin’ her moneymaker.<br><br>To be fair, Doug was a terrific sport (and not that bad a dancer) but he felt the only way to erase this particular<br>memory from his RAM would be beaucoup Caribs and cigars on the balcony So, while the women went off to the<br>Hollywood Casino to find fortune (they did not) Doug and I waxed philosophical in the warm evening trades and enjoyed some of Trinidad’s and the Dominican Republic’s finest exports.<br><br>Tuesday April 15 -<br>Up at dawn for an early swim, the newspaper and coffee. Julie and Doug had decided the prior evening to rise early as well and get in some tennis. I took the opportunity to get in a run through the hillside villas that outline Pelican Cay.<br> <br>At around 8:00 AM we were able to rouse everyone (no small feat, coordinating the movement of 9 people) and went into Philipsburg for a morning of obligatory shopping. We took the new bypass just beyond the crest of the Cole Bay Hill (well, it was new to me, having been away since August 2000.) What a terrific alternate route onto Front Street. Very picturesque, especially when there are 4 cruise ships at dock (I know, only a fool would venture into Philipsburg with even 1 visiting ship.) It’s really worth the price of admission just to see the varying colors of the water in the shallows of Great Bay. For the week, we had rented two Suzuki Jimny ragtops (from Alain Arnell at AAA; top notch service at a fair price. highly recommended.) As we slowly drove down Front Street, a local passerby, noticing the 4x4 with four strikingly beautiful young ladies and one out of place middle aged chauffeur, cried out “Hey, Charlie’s Angels!” For the rest of the week, I became “Charlie” and the girls were MY angels. Ah, to be young again. <br><br>For breakfast, we went to Chesterfield’s near the cruise ship dock. I don’t see much reference given to this spot on TTOL but it does deserve recognition. Good food at a good price equals an excellent value in my travel guide. Basic American fare (eggs, omelets, pancakes, french toast, etc.) with a wonderful panoramic view of Great Bay Beach. <br><br>Following breakfast, we returned to the maelstrom of cruise ship passengers, in search of the perfect souvenir/camera/jewelry bargain along Front Street (or, if nothing else, a cold beverage to stave the increasing morning heat.) We roamed from shop to shop for an hour or two. Having parked in the library lot at the east end of Back Street, I hadn’t noticed the sign indicating that the lot would be locked between noon and 2:00 PM. Fortunately, “locked” was a loose term, as was the loop of chain retaining the closed gate. It was easily opened and we were able to extricate the Angel-mobile. <br><br>We spent the remainder of the afternoon back at the Flamingo beach. At around 5:00 P.M. we left the beach,<br>showered and regrouped in Doug & Sandy and Marina’s unit for pre-happy hour drinks and snacks. Marina had been diligently working with an alchemist’s precision turning fermented sugar cane juice, mango, banana and crushed ice into a heavenly slurpee. A block of Gouda and some fresh baguettes added for snacking and we were soon ready to move on.<br><br>First stop was the Sunset Beach Bar to catch the setting sun and watch a few incoming planes. Clouds on the horizon limited our view of the former but we were not disappointed with the latter, enjoying a number of smaller short hop turboprops arriving from neighboring islands. This will definitely be on our list of things to do on future visits.<br><br>For dinner, we went to Uncle Harry’s. Absolutely the best meal we’d have all week. Grilled lobster tail with drawn<br>herbed butter and a choice of sides for around $20 plus drinks is an excellent value. Seating at a long picnic table at the end of a pier under a clear night sky is just one more reason you gotta love this island.<br><br>Back at the Flamingo, we decided to have a grown-ups sleepover. Julie tends to suffer when sleeping on a convertible mattress, so Doug offered to inflate the AeroBed he’d packed in his checked bag. It also gave my parents some peace and quiet, as I’m certain my 6:00 AM rustling was never quite as stealth as I’d want to believe.<br><br>Wednesday April 16 -<br>Today’s itinerary was a completely French one. We started the day with breakfast at Zee Best. Saddened to learn that Roger (Danny’s father) had passed away. A real island original. If you never had the opportunity to meet the man who started it all, how sorry I am for you. Originally called “La Mastedana” this quaint little sidewalk cafe came to be known as “Zee Best” because of Roger’s gregarious way of attracting business. He would, in his unmistakable French Canadian accent, promise each passerby “I have zee best brrreakfast for yoou!” Roger moved back to Montreal in the mid 90’s, returning to SXM to visit Danny once or twice a year (and to see how well the business and his family were thriving.) I’ve got some old photographs as well as some video of Roger from days gone by that I’ll treasure. Note that Danny has since expanded operations and now has a second cafe in the Simpson Bay area (for those of you who find it difficult to venture to Marigot.)<br><br>After gorging ourselves on croissants and pastries, we waddled our way over to the market at the Marigot waterfront. For my Dad, who is recovering from a significant stroke he had in October, I found a colorful walking stick which he just loves. Julie and Bailey found some locally handcrafted jewelry. I had an opportunity to sample some delicious passion fruit rum liqueur (hey, I’m on vacation...nobody knows me and nobody cares.) Doug & Sandy were approached by a young man (of Viking lineage, given his blonde, blonde crop of closely shorn hair) with some scratch off prize cards, to be redeemed following a timeshare presentation for the Tradewinds Cruise Club near the Atrium Resort on Pelican Cay. Imagine everyone’s surprise when their card turned out to be a grand prize winner (I was less impressed, having attended more than my share of presentations, until I scratched 2 cards of my own and came up with zip.) Julie & I were interested in finding out about the Tradewinds program (it’s a timeshare on a crewed catamaran that we’d seen in recent editions of our RCI resort guide) so we thought, weather permitting, this might be our opportunity to ask some questions, get some information and perhaps receive enough casino money to salve a portion of the girl’s Monday night losses. We tentatively scheduled a tour for the next morning. <br><br>We then took the 4x4’s up the hill past the Marigot hospital and climbed the steps (on foot) to Fort Louis. Say what you will about Pic Paradise but I find the view from the fort equally, if not more striking. From the upper parapets you can see Pelican Cay, Simpson Bay Lagoon, Mullet Bay, Baie Nettle, Anguilla and Marigot in almost its entirety. Plus, when was the last time you heard of someone getting mugged at Fort Louis? <br><br>Next stop on our tour de Caribe was Orient Beach. We parked in the Club Orient day visitor lot (a friendly gesture <br>provided by Club Orient management, somewhat gated and within the watchful eyes of resort security) and took the visitors path leading to the “perch”. Not sure whether it was because this was the Easter week in the states or because the beach is much narrower than in previous visits, but the beach was more crowded than I’ve ever seen. Umbrellas and lounges were 3 and 4 rows deep on the east end of the beach (didn’t venture any further than Pedro’s but it looked even more densely populated to the west.) Having already crossed the naked people Maginot line at Cupecoy, not a one in our party gave any notice to the abundance of tanned skin. We set up camp in front of the beach bar, one row of lounge chairs off the water. I recognized Contessa nearby with her TTOL pennant pinned to her parasol, though I didn’t feel comfortable enough to say hello. I’m never sure what to say after the initial introductions. How does one fill those uncomfortable moments of silence? That gene my parents have, the one that allows them to talk with anyone at anytime about anything, regrettably skipped my generation. Though my friends will tell you that, once started, they can’t shut me up. For us, the draw to this location is the availability of just about anything you could ask for on a beach. Food, beverage, watersports, shopping. All are here. And, you might as well strike from your vocabulary, the phrase “I can’t, I’m not dressed for it!” We swam and lounged and snorkeled and lolled away the afternoon. The Angels all rented waverunners and had a blast skimming across Orient Baie.<br><br>I’d really hoped we could stay longer, however dinner plans for the evening had already been set. At about 4:30 PM we made our exit. On the way to the cars, Marina stopped and purchased some fresh water pearls at L’Orientique.<br><br>Because the SXM Department of Transportation was resurfacing a ½ mile section of eastbound Union Road between Marigot and the border monument, our return trip took a bit longer than anticipated. Once back at Flamingo, we quickly showered, assembled and returned to Talk of the Town for dinner. The conch, ribs, chicken and seafood entrees were very good. A heaping helping of food for around $8 a plate seems so contradictory to the majority of restaurants in Grand Case though I’ll guarantee that nobody paying 10 times as much could possibly have enjoyed their meal any more. Marina took an interest in a hungrily resourceful retriever mix snatching bones and bits of meat from amongst the embers beneath the TOTT’s grill. Ever the humanitarian, she collected our table’s scraps and rib bones (apparently this pooch was uninterested in the grilled shrimp) and saw to his sustenance for the evening. After dinner we took a short walk to the waterfront and enjoyed the lights of Anguilla in the distance.<br><br>**Note that the main drag in Grand Case does not subscribe to any apparent parking rules and is barely wide enough for a single vehicle to pass. Where the road splits near the center of town (with a sign indicating said split north and south) you’d expect each direction to be one way. This isn’t the case, at least northbound. Forewarned is forearmed.<br><br>On the ride home from Grand Case, the Angels noticed that Doug’s Fallen Angels cruiser appeared to be leaking some kind of liquid from its undercarriage. When they arrived at the Flamingo’s underground lot, they determined it to be gasoline. This was definitely NOT a problem that could wait until morning. We called Alain on his cellular and he had someone there within 30 minutes. They took one look at the situation and exchanged the Nissan Maxima they arrived in, for our 4x4 of mass destruction (as they were completely out of replacement Jimny’s.) As you’ll come to see, having a hardtop vehicle would prove fortuitous the next evening.<br><br>Thursday April 17 -<br>Thursday morning dawned cloudy. The day began innocently enough over breakfast at Indiana’s near the Atrium. Breakfast took longer than we’d planned for, so we were running about 30 minutes behind schedule for our Tradewinds presentation (turned out to be a drop in the bucket considering it took almost 4 hours from the time we first met Steve until all questions had been asked and satisfactorily answered, and we “enlisted”.) Anyone interested in add’l information regarding the Tradewinds Cruise Club program, please send me a PM. Be happy to tell you what I know (or think I know.)<br><br>When we finally did return to the Flamingo beach, we found Doug, Jill, Alex and two new acquaintances involved in a spirited 2 on 3 volleyball match. Julie & I had some frustrations to work out so we joined them. Hadn’t played any volleyball in a number of years so the first few sets were not up to Karch Karaly standards (or even his seconds) but, we eventually stopped embarrassing ourselves and started to look like we’d played the game before.<br><br>After a refreshing and rejuvenating swim in the Caribbean, we decided we’d have dinner at the Turtle Pier, but first, we needed to shower and have some beverages in unit 7224. Our Marina was becoming some kind of mixologist. We finally remembered to bring along one of Jeff Berger’s internet coupons for a complimentary bottle of wine with dinner. Pleased to say it was a pretty darn good French merlot. If you’re headed that way, don’t forget to bring along whatever coupons you can find. No sooner had we been seated when the heavens opened and the rains came down. I assured everyone that these downpours happen regularly and, though drenching, are brief in duration. Well, this was a different type of squall. It rained, and it rained and it rained (news stories the next day told of flooding and mudslides in Puerto Rico to the east, following 14 inches of rain that fell in a span of 4 or 5 hours.) It rained so much that it actually seemed as though the water level in the Simpson Bay Lagoon would rise above the floor boards on the Turtle Pier’s docks. Did I mention that my blackened swordfish, though not blackened as requested, was nevertheless grilled quite nicely. For dessert I had to try their key lime pie. It was about the only thing I ate the entire week that I would not recommend to others. Just not worth the calories.<br><br>We thought we’d easily wait this storm out, however, after about 2½ hours, we were the only patrons keeping the restaurant staff from locking the doors and going home. We decided to make a dash for the vehicles. It was at that moment I remembered I had left the top down on the Jimny (this is where the good fortune of having the Maxima comes in.) Doug ran shuttle service between the Turtle Pier and Flamingo for all Angels (Charlie’s and Fallen.) It was a moist and lonely trip for yours truly. What was the name of that Bill Maher book, “When You Ride With Charlie, You Ride Alone?” Not uncomfortable, just soggy solitude. And the flooding along the airport road as well as Billy Folly Road heading into Pelican Cay was substantial. Next day we’d see men with shovels and some in those small bobcat bucket loaders clearing mud and debris from the roadways.<br><br>Friday April 18 -<br>Earlier in the week we’d reserved a Friday morning RhinoRiders expedition. They are located on the water at Simpson Bay Lagoon, near the Peg Leg Pub, almost across the street from the Lightning Casino. Chart and boat briefing was scheduled for 9:30 AM with departure at 10:00 AM. We thought 90 minutes at Richard’s Crepes would be sufficient for breakfast. We were wrong. Apparently island time comes to a screeching halt on the high holy days, like Good Friday and Easter. Our orders were taken by Richard promptly at 8:00 AM and our check was paid at 9:50 AM (don’t let that dissuade anyone from giving Richard’s a try. The crepes were very good and I can only assume that the service is better on non-holidays.)<br><br>Joe, our Canadian born guide explained the route we’d be taking; through the lagoon, under the bridge at Marigot, north along the coast past Marigot, Concordia, Friar’s Baie, Happy Baie and Grand Case to Creole Rock where we would do some snorkeling before doing the whole route in reverse. In theory, a 2½ hour tour. With 9 of us, we rented 5 RhinoRiders @ $78 each. Doug would ride solo on the outgoing passage and then he and I would switch coming back. We were given the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the crafts, scooting about the boats at anchor in the lagoon. After about 5 minutes of this, Joe gave us the signal to follow him out of the lagoon. The Rhino that Julie & I had was taking on water almost immediately and could not get up on a plane. Joe circled back, saw the problem and decided to switch Rhinos with us. OK, so we’re adaptable. We were on the go again. <br>We made it under the bridge before Joe again had to circle back because Sandy & Marina’s Rhino was stalling out. He was able to get it going and we were on our way again. Somewhere between Marigot and Friar’s Baie they again stalled. Joe came back and got them going once again. This time they made it another 200 feet and then stalled out for good. Joe called back to the corral and ordered up a replacement Rhino then proceeded to tow them the rest of the way to Creole Rock. What was to have been about a 45 minute ride had taken twice as long.<br><br>We tied off on a mooring ball at Creole Rock and did some snorkeling. I’d purchased an EWA underwater housing for my digital camera and was snapping away at groupers, trigger fish, parrot fish, sergeant majors and the occasional tang. This was definitely a learning experience as far as underwater use of this particular camera, as only about 20% if the shots I thought I was taking actually contained any fish. The Agfa ePhoto CL50 has a very slow shutter lag so by the time the lens actually opened, my quarry had often swam out of frame. I’ll have to compensate better the next time. <br><br>After about 45 minutes of snorkeling, the Rhino chase boat arrived with a replacement. Turns out this Rhino had a throttle linkage problem which resulted in other problems. Three attempts at jury rigging the linkage and we were on our way. Long story short (OK, maybe not too short) we were unable to stop off at Happy Baie for a cold beverage due to the length or our equipment related delays (overall trip was 3½ hours.) Me thinks the Rhinos need some serious maintenance. Upon our return, when asked about the ride, we expressed our displeasure with the equipment even though Joe did his best to keep us moving, one way or another. While we did not come right out and request even a partial refund, an offer should have been made by the owner, given the equipment problems. We tipped Joe quite handsomely and purchased quite a few t-shirts in the gift shop. I’d be interested in anyone else’s experience with the Rhinos. just curious whether ours was an isolated incident.<br><br>On the way back to Flamingo, Julie stopped off at Zee Best East to buy some croissants for a late lunch. She just happened to catch them as they were closing and was able to purchase a box of about 15 for $10. Just the ticket after a long morning of getting our butts and guts shaken up on the Rhinos. <br><br>Back to our vehicles to hit one last beach. We went to Guana Bay because Doug was jonesing to see some waves. 7 trips to SXM and this was my first visit to this area. The beach was virtually deserted. We had the south end all to ourselves. The waves were pretty large and there was a bit of rip current so we had to keep moving to the north to avoid being swept out along the rocks. It was also quite windy and we found ourselves being coated with sand to the point where some of us looked like cinnamon crullers. Some of us are still swabbing sand from our nooks and crannies. I had brought a couple Cuban Romeo y Juliet coronas purchased during our shopping trip Monday. Doug and I enjoyed a final smoke while discussing the capital required to live in one of the hillside villas. You are only as great as the dreams you dare dream. Marina strolled the beach looking for the perfect coral paperweight for her desk back in West Chester.<br><br>As the sun began its usual descent behind Naked Boy Hill, we gathered the remnants of our sand blasted day and made the journey back to the Flamingo to prepare for our farewell island dinner. Bananas had been on the Angels list of places to eat so Bananas it would be. I remember Bananas before they built the multiplex, movie ark right on top of it. Interesting way they now have of ordering your meal. You first place your order at the kitchen with owner Bob Oakes and then proceed to your table. For appetizers, we ordered a few servings of garlic mussels and conch fritters for the table. My entree was the spicy calamari. I don’t recall what they called it on the menu. If it’s available the next time you visit, I highly recommend it. Doug and Julie split an order of bananas flambé for dessert (in terms of presentation, you just can’t beat tropical fruits engulfed in flaming brandy.)<br><br>After dinner, it was back to the Hollywood Casino to try and recover some of the money the ladies left there on Monday (sad to say, they did not.) Actually wound up leaving it some additional company. As they say, don’t bet any more than you can afford to part with (and parting is such sweet sorrow.) Sadly, we eventually returned to our rooms to pack for home.<br><br>Saturday April 19 -<br>The day that we’d dreaded had arrived. We had to coordinate the troop movements in fine detail because we needed to check out of our 2 units before 10:00 AM (my parents were staying on for an additional week so they graciously offered their unit in which to bivouac until we left for the airport at 12:30 PM.<br><br>Bob Barron of Pack Light Rentals (a TTOL sponsor I recommend as an economical alternative to daily chair rentals) arranged to meet us in the Flamingo parking lot at around 8:30 AM to collect the 6 chairs and 3 umbrellas we’d rented for the week. We moved all luggage packed for check-in to the cars and took our carry-ons to my parents unit. We checked out at the Flamingo front desk and then went to the Hideaway Restaurant at La Vista for breakfast. Poolside setting with a nice view of the Caribbean (not quite as nice as its pre-beachside construction past, but still nice) with typical breakfast fare.<br><br>Following breakfast, the Angels made a final trip to the Lord & Hunter shop at the Pelican Resort to purchase those last minute t-shirts and postcards. Back to the Flamingo beach for our final dips in the warm, blue waters of the “Charibbee”. We sat in the shade of a small palm tree and remarked at how we’d each been moved in various ways, at various times, at various locations. The one thing we all agreed on was that the week had been a success and that, one way or another, we’d all return one day. One by one we made our way to my folks room to prepare for our flight home. We took three cars full of people and luggage to the airport, dropped everything at the curb, bid farewell to my parents, and then made our way to the Unity car rental lot near the Pizza Hut to return the Suzuki and Maxima. Alain drove Doug and me back to the airport, commenting that, had he had the opportunity, he’d have enjoyed partying with us on Sunday at Boo Boo Jam’s (we’ll have to remember that for the next time.)<br><br>When arrived back at the airport, we saw the rest of our party standing around at the curb, in exactly the same place where we’d left them. Turns out, they were able to do check-in and get boarding passes immediately after we’d dropped them off (even though Doug and I were not there.) This is further proof that, if you’re able to do so, by all means you should take advantage of the opportunity to check-in early (meaning as soon as your particular airline’s desk opens in the AM, and avoid the last minute rush.) We paid our departure tariff and then went to the airport restaurant for lunch. When the realization set in that this was going to be our absolute last meal on SXM, ALL Angels ordered frozen rum drinks of one form or another (Marina still says that the best mango daiquiris were at the Flamingo beach bar. I contend that ANY drink tastes better with sand between your toes.) In my mind, I can still taste the tuna burger (a broiled fillet served with lemon herbed butter on a kaiser roll, with fries) and that next to last Carib. Try to leave yourself enough time to grab a quick bite before heading stateside. This is a damn fine restaurant.<br><br>After eating, we made one last loop through the concessions (never know what souvenirs you might have forgotten to bring back home) before joining about 4 planes worth of frowns making their forced march through airport security.<br><br>In Conclusion -<br>I’m always saddened when vacation ends. This time, it’s bittersweet. I’m thankful that my parents are still able to return here to recharge their spirits. Julie and I are so fortunate they shared this place with us. That little girl from so many years ago is all grown up now and heading off to college in the fall. Who knows whether we’ll ever get back to SXM again as a family. I’m grateful that Bailey shares our love of the islands. I hope she looks back fondly at all the things we’ve done and all the places we’ve been.<br><br>If you stayed around this long, hope I didn’t put you to sleep. My apologies for being so long winded. See you on the beach....<br><br><br>

bcwave