Stop by local grocery for beer, water and cat food. Pop a beer at the registration desk of GCBC and exhale loudly. Find and feed cats. Look for old friends/acquaintances, but refrain from feeding them. Enjoy a local meal in town, ideally Villa Royale. Probably not this year, though.
Last few trips it has been "punch" at Dany's before going even to where we are staying but it is always changing. Usually it is drop off the bags and head for a bar, unpacking can be done at a later time or the next day. This next trip it will probably be a cab to Le Petit where we have a few extra nights before our normal stay begins, drop off the bags and well.....find a bar!
Quick stop for half & half for morning coffee and some Carib and wine for the evening...Drop the bags in the room...open them up just to get appropriate attire (tee & shorts)....wander from SBR down to BBB for ribs and Caribs....main shopping is for day 2
Hope to do the same thing we do every year, this time scheduled for December. Pickup the rental car at the airport, stop at Pineapple Pete's for a grouper burger and a beer, stop at the grocery store, then "home" to Belair.
Yep it seems like we are all ready to get back as soon as possible, us included! Let’s put this stuff behind us, see what the future brings, and just have fun, so with that in mind. THE REMAINS OF THE DAY! This is the title of this particular photo, sitting up in a villa overlooking Dawn Beach, enjoy! Sure wish I had R69 back then!
First stop on way from airport in rental car is usually to Buccaneer BB for attitude adjustment hour. After 10 to 12 hours in travel status it we now understand it is a necessary procedure after not eating enough on the plane and a short night of sleep. Everything seems a little better after two baby Heinekens and a cheeseburger.
We have stayed at numerous places over the 24 years we have been traveling to St. Maarten and our routine has changed some over the years. Back in the day, we would stop at Cheri's for a late lunch (we were friends with Chester who worked there) before heading to Sapphire to check in. We have stayed at the old Pelican, Sapphire, Royal Islander Club La Plage and La Terrasse, Atrium, La Vista, Rainbow Beach Club, Grand Case Beach Club, and numerous private rentals. Our routine now includes my grocery shopping while the wife unpacks. Upon my return, I make rum punches (recipe given upon request) which we enjoy while we take in the view from our balcony. Then on to dinner--restaurant is determined depending on how much energy we still have left. We were supposed to be on the island right now with over two weeks left of our vacation. Booked for next May and desperately hoping we make it.
We always stay at Oyster Bay so there is always a mandatory stop for groceries upon arrival so that we have our Caribs and limes to get us started along with some breakfast foods. Hit the pool and listen to the waves. I have never actually gone to the beach on my arrival day. Always seems to late in the day after the airport and checking in at the resort. Really hope to be there in August, but our numbers in the states don't look to promising.