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Joined: Apr 2001
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The sun is shining through our windows - it makes you want to arise and greet the world and give thanks for your blessings, this trip being but one of so many.
Before you read any further, let me forewarn you, I’m feeling particularly long-winded today so I’m thinking this will be a lot of words used to probably say not too much of anything worth reading so feel free to skip today’s installment if you’re of a mind to and I promise, I won’t be offended.
Long ago I realized there are ‘planners’ and ‘wingers’ in this world, and I’ve always been a planner. This trip has shown me why. Usually I have lists of must-do, would like to-do, should-do and probably will never-do things but by prioritizing I usually manage to get through most of my lists. This trip? No lists and I’m having a hard time getting out of my own way and it’s okay. Really! We’ve been ‘winging it’ each day and still managing to have a great trip in every way. Just waking up here is the beginning of a great day and it keeps on getting better with every hour that passes.
So I don’t know where they’ve gone but Statia, St. Kitts and Nevis have completely faded out of sight this morning leaving the image of only Saba out there and it’s fading fast, too. Not a cruise ship to be seen but that beautiful yacht is still laying at anchor in our line of sight. I spoke too soon as I’m now seeing a cruise ship in the distance and a few sailboats, as well, but that makes sense since, if they’re doing trips, this would be about the time for them to prepare for their day. And the near islands have been fading in and out all day. Saba? She be back, too......
Funny skies and a funny morning. Did I mention that runaway party boat is still wedged into the cliffs at Beacon Hill? I wonder what the story is and while I know at least one attempt was made to move it, it’s still there. Hard to tell from here but it looks as though it may have been secured there for everyone’s safety but not totally sure about that. Can’t be the best view for the people in that area.
And now the bay is filled with sailboats. I can’t tell if they’re privately owned or part of the sailing school but thinking private since I think the sailing school stays mostly in the lagoon. They look so nice out there.
So we took a ride into P’berg - yes, we finally got off our butts and went somewhere other than our beach and our pool.
I have to say, with no disrespect intended to St.Maarten or her people, seeing the once vibrant town the way it is now was very sad to me. So many shops closed and the ones that are open are basically deadly quiet. If it weren’t for the Christmas season and the shoppers buying their gifts there would be virtually no shoppers at all and this on a Saturday in town when in the past we used to see mostly locals in town.
There were at least four cruise ships berthed there and the passengers were sorely missed by the townspeople. We spoke to a few shop keepers and they truly are happy to have guests returning but told us of reduced hours and reduced salaries and how they are trying to survive, many telling us the Covid situation has hurt them more than Irma did. At least with Irma they could create their plan for recovery but with Covid they have to hope and pray the vaccine comes on line fast. And works.
But more about P’Berg for those who choose to venture there for whatever your reasons. We wanted to visit our friends at Caribbean Gems whom we have done business with since they first opened their doors in 1983. They are operating on a somewhat more limited basis - open but with shorter hours and alternating the different stores to open but they are doing a great deal of digital sales and are still happy to accommodate their clientele, both faithful clients such as us and new ones as well. And basically, it’s the same with Zhaveri (sp?), who was closed and shuttered as we drove by.
After visiting with the CG folks we proceeded on to the French Touch on Old Street and had lunch there. The food, btw, is excellent and they’re open for breakfast and lunch most days. Jean Pierre is well and happy with the fact of his survival on Old Street and thankful for the support of other merchants as well as theIslanders shopping in town and the occasional tourist. He looks good and we caught up on the status of not only his kids but his grandkids, too. We got to compare notes on grand-parenting and he shared photos of his beautiful grand babies who had all recently been able to visit him on island. He also told us Antoine’s by the Sea is no more. We truly weren’t surprised as we didn’t feel the new owners were going to be able to carry on the 30 to 40 years of excellence Antoine’s was previously known for before it changed hands. So sad to see another place we loved become but a memory. But time marches on.....
We had hoped to take pictures of the cruise ships tied up but time just got away from us. Traffic was very light all the way in and out of town but there was still no ‘legal’ parking to be found on Front Street though this matter if legal or not doesn’t seem to deter too many islanders. And it was so much easier to get around town with the reduced traffic.
We had a nice day all things in consideration and I’m glad we went to see our long time friends and business acquaintances but I’m thinking it will most likely be our only trip into P’berg this trip. We also considered a trip into Marigot but thinking maybe not after all the traffic snafus we hit there the other day and I am really NOT much of a shopper. I can’t tell you how many things I’ve purchased here over the years that at the time I just had to have but gotten home with the same things and asked myself, ‘what was I thinking about when I bought this?’
So it feels like all we’ve done this trip is eat. Today we had breakfast in of coffee and. Lunch was penne with shrimp in a red sauce at The French Touch and come dinner neither one of us wanted a true meal so we grabbed a pizza at Fat Tony’s. So very good and guess what will be for lunch tomorrow. God knew what he was doing when he allowed for left-overs.
Bonne nuit, mes amis.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Thank you for your wonderful words. We all love our Island. You put into words what we can't.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Thanks for the report, very well done.
Regarding D'Boat, it is a lack of D'$$$ from the people who leased it or who own it. Got to be a real eyesore by now.
Glad you made it to town and got to see some familiar faces. We had a very nice lunch and conversation at French Touch back in March.
Looking forward to more installments.
J.D.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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We were in town yesterday also. Believe it or not, more people than we've seen since March! But yeah, very sad place to be for sure. On the bright side, the islands are back!
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Joined: Mar 2011
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Thank you for sharing your day with us Pat. I look forward to reading them every day your there, thinking, dreaming and hoping that our March/April trip will be a go. Enjoy!!!! It looks like you have been.
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We were in town yesterday also. Believe it or not, more people than we've seen since March! But yeah, very sad place to be for sure. On the bright side, the islands are back! I was sad yesterday seeing how sparse the crowds were but even sadder today if that was a busier day than usual.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Pat, Thank you for all your posts. Your posts have so much information. I feel like I'm reading a best selling book and want to just keep reading and reading. Your writing makes me feel like i'm actually on the island as I'm reading.
Last edited by bonsie; 12/06/2020 08:24 AM.
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Thank you all for your generous comments.
I think your enjoyment comes NOT from my words but for those words allowing you all to recall your best moments here and relive them through your own memories.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Thanks for the report. Irma did a number on downtown and covid has about finished it, with no ships at all. Sad to think about. Looking forward to the rest of the story!
Carol Hill
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Sailboats from Saturday morning.
Carol Hill
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That's the sailing school from the Yacht Club!
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Thanks, Elaine. It was about the right time of day for the sailing club but the boats looked a little larger than I’m used to seeing them use so I wasn’t certain. Or maybe in the past we’ve only seen the young ones in the very small boats and this is a more experienced group in bigger boats?
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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It's the big kids, they have bigger boats and more training. Little's stay in the lagoon. Love to watch them in the afternoons at the YC!
Elaine ********************************* God Bless the broken road....
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Thanks for another lovely report.
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