TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Sort of trip report...

Carol,
Here you go. Not on topic, but hoping for a pass since I'm highjacking my own thread. It's been a fantastic stay! The weather has been absolutely perfect, and the water in front of the BSV has been almost flat which means it's also incredibly clear so we're getting that Caribbean blue. I could really get used to this SXM in April stuff. The couple that came with us both scuba, and also brought some snorkel stuff so we stopped at the scuba shop in Simpson Bay and bought my wife a full faced mask, which she loved. They all flipped over to that wreck that's been on the rocks to the right of the BSV. Water is very clear and they saw many fish, and also quite a bit of debris from Irma on the bottom around those rocks.

BSV was fully occupied when we arrived, with also the owners and their family here but as we got farther away from Easter Sunday, both the villas and the island have really gotten quiet. That said, the BSV have two new fans, as the friends we brought along just love it. Three out of the four of us are in medicine, and have been dealing with the pandemic without a break since it started. Quite a bit of early nights and sleeping in just so you can go snooze some more in your beach chair. Just what the doctor ordered so to speak..as all will be headed back to Michigan shortly where the beast has unfortunately surged yet again.

Nice thing about the calm seas is that there has been almost zero sea weed on this side of the island. Quite the opposite on the north end of the island..we went to Pinel last Tuesday, and the stench from the rotting weed by the ferry parking area was overwhelming. It burned your eyes and lungs even with a pretty good breeze to help disperse it. Those poor folks with those nice condos at the back of that lot..it must be brutal. Once we got past that and got over to Pinel, we had a fine time. Great lobster lunch and a bottle of suds at one of those tables in the water. Stopped by to see John at Cupecoy on the way back to get a rum punch..we've all grown old together so it's always good to see him. No sand at the beach bar end, but a couple of very nice spots around both sets of stairs and also down by what's left of the Ocean Club.

Typical for us, breakfasts and dinners out, and lunch at the villa. Croissant Royal in Marigot, Rendezvous in Porto Cupecoy, El Zafiro, Zee best and Yacht Club for breakfasts, fine dinners at Emilio's, La Rosa, Bamboo, Sale & Pepe, Pizza Italy and Spaghetti House. La Rosa really stood out this trip..both the food and service were exceptional! One of our friends had a craving and described what he was looking for to our server, who relayed the info to the chef. He built an off-menu dish that was a real work of art. My friend sat there for a good 15 minutes after finishing just oozing satisfaction. The island worked it's magic for our friends just as it has for us for over 30 years. It was so gratifying to watch them slowly let go of the stress the last year has brought to their practices and patients, all the loss. Exactly the reason I put together the onsite testing service. I wanted to keep them out of a clinical setting and and reminders, and it worked like a charm.

OK! I'm off to my chair..our friends leave today and us tomorrow. We'll let them enjoy as much time as possible here at BSV before we drop them off, and then watch them go at the Sunset.

Cheers!

gomer--I made this it's own thread, so it's not off topic at all!

Sounds like an absolutely lovely time! I didn't realize you and your friends were all in the medical field, so I definitely understand why you did the testing thing at the unit. Very thoughtful of you to arrange that!

Enjoy your last days in paradise!!

I am finally getting excited about this trip and to hear that the water at BSV was almost flat really added to the excitement.!
I'm saying prayers that it stays like that until we arrive---LOL
I'm too fragile (old) for those SXM waves!!!

It sounds like you spent most days at the beach there at BSV, it is beautiful--and being calm is an added feature.

Hope There are not too many problems at home....
Enjoy the day!!

Thanks for turning us onto this place Carol! Absolute paradise.

We can surely relate Lurker..we really miss Cupecoy, but most days it's really tough to get in and out of the water there anymore. We can't risk getting busted up this far from home.

gomer--you're welcome! Beachside Villas isn't for everyone, but for ME, and a lot of others also, it is paradise on earth.

So glad you liked BSV. We love it there and wouldn't think of staying anywhere else when on the Dutch side. Drew and family were there during our timeframe but we departed on Easter Sunday and it was a full house the 10 days we were there.

We return in late October and are already counting down.

So glad you liked BSV. We love it there and wouldn't think of staying anywhere else when on the Dutch side. Drew and family were there during our timeframe but we departed on Easter Sunday and it was a full house the 10 days we were there.

We return in late October and are already counting down.

Gomer, thanks for the Report! Always good to hear from another Metro Detroiter!!

Quite welcome Leagle49..surely a topic I enjoy talking about. Sitting here soaking up the view for our last few hours. The wife is getting an aloe massage. Hoping our flights aren't caught up in the mess in Miami, but then again..I can't think of a better place to get stuck. Downside would be tracking down another covid test.

We were sitting outside at The Pub last night, a real bit of irony. I could look straight ahead and see the vacant Tutta Pasta..and look back over my shoulder and across the street and see what was once Bavaria. Sigh.

Sounds like a wonderful fun filled vacation. Glad your friends enjoyed too. Nothing better than turning on friends to the place we have all loved for so long. You did quite a few of the same restaurants we did over our vactaion. Did you go to Rendevous during that Sunday jazz jam? Enjoy your last day. I am already in withdrawal and my countdown for next year is started.