Well, we finally got back to SXM!
Our last trip was in June 2013 and before that December 2012. On both of those trips my husband was ill – in December with a cough and shortness of breath and in June with non-stop sneezing. The coughing/breathing problems were finally diagnosed as late-onset asthma and the sneezing was some type of allergy. We had planned to come back in late November/early December 2013 but, mid-November, my Mom fell and broke her ankle. At 92 years of age, she spent 8 weeks in hospital flat on her back with a plaster cast on. When they finally took the cast off, they told us to take her home and look after her there while we waited for a bed in long-term care. She had had no physio-therapy, no convalescent care, was not likely to be able to walk again, was catheterized and her mind was in total confusion due to medication and non-stop pain from bedsores. We looked after her round the clock for two weeks at home before a bed became available in a care facility. Sadly, after only a month there, she passed away in February. Once all the funeral and financial arrangements had been taken care of, we figured it was time to get some rest.
We left Toronto on Sunday, March 23rd at 6:00 a.m. The Sunwing, flight was full. It arrived on time. We quickly found Lesley Bruce from Kenny’s with our car. Excellent service as always.
We drove to the Sonesta Maho, parked the car, grabbed the luggage and headed in to start our long-awaited holiday.
There was a long, long line-up right out the front of the hotel. My husband went inside to see if he could figure out which line was ours. There are usually two – one for Sunwing guests and another for, I guess, non-package guests. Left with the suitcases I slowly made my way forward with the line of people checking in, wondering where my husband had gone.
Just then a security guard arrived with my husband by the arm. My husband’s forehead is red and swelling and cut, there are two cuts across the bridge of his noise and blood trickling down his face. Seems he had walked right into a plate glass wall. This vacation was starting with a bang!
He was still a bit stunned at that time, not sure what had happened. Two of the Bellmen came and took our suitcases. A lady who had seen this happen – it seemed like everyone but me had either seen or heard the impact - came to say that she had seen a little boy do just the same thing previous day. She warned me about possible concussion. Then she ran off and came back with ice in a napkin – so good of her, as this was just what was needed.
The Front Desk manager came to check on hubby, then went and checked on our room. The one we had requested (pool and ocean view) was not ready but he offered us another one right away. My husband opted to wait for the original. The Bellman came back with our wristbands, the Front Desk manager told us we were checked in and should come back around 3:00 o’clock to see if our room was ready. I told hubby if he didn’t want the other room, then at least come and sit down.
Another guy came by, a paramedic from our flight, and again warned about concussion symptoms. Another fellow told us the same thing had happened to him.
We sat for a while, had a cold drink and the swelling started to go down. We went and had lunch after which I checked on the room, figuring, really, any room will do. Ours happened to be ready so we grabbed the luggage and went on up.
After that we went to get distilled water for hubby’s CPAP – he said he was O.K. to drive. Then we went back to the room for a nap. I guess it must have been the combination of getting up at 1:00 a.m. and the flight and all the kerfuffle with the glass wall, but we both fell asleep right away.
When I woke up, it was very quiet, sort of light outside, and my watch said 5:30. It’s an analog watch and I really believed we had slept through to Monday morning!
Luckily my husband wears a fancy digital one showing date and day and time and barometric pressure and the Dow Jones Average and he convinced me it was still Sunday.
We unpacked, went to dinner at the buffet and went to bed, exhausted.
Next morning hubby has a black eye along with the cuts and minor swelling but says he feels O.K. – no headache, no nausea. We head down for breakfast.
Renovations are finished in Maho’s dining area. There are tables inside and out and the buffet tables are set out quite conveniently. Plenty of choice but for me, any breakfast (or any meal for that matter) that I didn’t have to cook is great for me. Several different kinds of eggs, omelettes, pancakes, waffles, meat, cheese, home fries, fruit, pastries, toast, bagels and, on this morning, a type of eggs Benedict made with smoked salmon instead of ham. Very nice.
We decided to just take a drive around the island and check things out. We ended up in Philipsburg and did some shopping. I bought a nice Fossil purse for my sister, who loves purses, a Fossil wallet and a new watch for me. Hubby was not much interested in buying anything, which is strange. I asked him if that bump to the head had affected his interest in electronics. Or maybe he already has every gadget known to man?
Tuesday was a beach day. We went to Le String, scored two beds in the front row and settled in. A beautiful day – sunny, warm, not too much breeze and about 100 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than where we came from. We met a nice couple, also there from Canada, who were escaping the same miserable winter we were.
We had lunch at Le string, being too lazy to get up and drive anywhere else. I had a burger, hubby had the mahi mahi. We both had the “Love on the Beach” cocktail but without alcohol.
Later that evening, we went out to try our luck at the Casino. I lost about $40.00 and decided it was time to go to bed.
The next day, Wednesday, was my birthday. We got a late start, as I was determined that I should get to sleep in on that day. We left Maho and drove over the new causeway – quite impressive. We expected to just zip through the traffic on the other side but not so. Traffic was backed up so we decided to take a shortcut over the Philipsburg via the Cakehouse Road. We had never done this before but had been told it was possible. Great road if you are a mountain goat. I’m still not sure if it was a one-way street as we saw no other traffic going in the same direction as us.
And speaking of one-way streets…… after driving around and checking out photo-ops, we decided to have lunch in Grand Case. It has been a long time since we visited the lolo’s and I thought it would be nice for my birthday. We entered Grand Case as we always did and headed for the main street. However, we were not aware that the main street is now one-way, seemingly all the way. We turned right, which was wrong, apparently, but, truly, I could not see any sign saying so. Never mind, we were in the wrong and an old fellow walking by politely told us so. We were looking for someplace to turn around when a woman came out of a restaurant (I won’t name the restaurant) screaming “Wrong way! Wrong Way! Turn around!” She then proceeded to pound on the trunk of our car with her fist. O.K., lady, I get it and we’re looking for some space to turn in. We finally turned in a parking area.
My husband wanted to go back and have a few words with her. I told him not to bother and that I no longer felt like lunch in Grand Case. So instead we went to Layla’s. It was nice, the place is very pretty, beside the sea, under the trees. The food was good but not great. I had the pasta of the day – spaghetti Bolognese – and hubby had the ribs which were tasty but dry. The service was good, considering there was only one fellow there to serve.
Thursday we went back to Le String. There were no chairs in the front row so we settled in the back row, quite close to the bar. Just as we got organized, two young women came and took the two beds beside us, on my husband’s side. They were very, very attractive, slim and tanned and proceeded to shed their bikini tops to sunbathe. Shortly thereafter there began a parade of men ranging in age from about 8 to 80 who suddenly needed to go to the bar or the toilet or just stretch their legs. Next came the masseur. He stopped and asked if I wanted a massage, told me it was very relaxing, showed me a reflexology chart of the feet and offered a sample. He told us he was from Argentina. I declined the massage, telling him (truthfully) that I am so ticklish it would be impossible. He moved on to the two girls beside us. The first girl tried the sample – feet only – then opted for the works. At this point, the parade has stopped and a crowd is gathering, watching as the masseur moves past her feet, spreading oil up her legs, across her belly, breasts, arms. Such a sigh of disappointment when he tells her to rollover onto her tummy. There he works on her back, shoulders, butt, back down her legs and – done. She is very pleased and pays him the $40 Euros. Now her friend decides to have the massage and the crowd settles in for another – er – performance. Legs, thighs, belly, breasts, arms, turn over, shoulders, back, butt and legs, all generously slathered in oil. And …it’s over. She pays up, the masseur moves on and the crowd drifts away. One guy at the bar remarked very loudly that her breasts must have been very dry as the masseur had to go over them four, five times. Another guy stopped and asked the girls how much the masseur had paid them for their time. The girls just laughed.
Another lunch at Le String – I had the smoked salmon and shrimp salad, hubby had the burger and several “Love on the Beach” but no alcohol. I’m terrified of getting stopped by the gendarmes.
Friday, we went back to P’burg but couldn’t find parking in the usual, central lot. We finally parked on the back road and walked back. We bought gifts for the granddaughters and my step-daughter, and a few other odds and ends. Hubby is still not buying anything for himself and I’m really starting to worry about that bump on the head.
Saturday was another beach day. I have really enjoyed the beach time this trip. The weather was always good and I got a lot of reading done. At Le String for lunch, I had the calamari and hubby had the BLT.
That night we had dinner at Maho, in the buffet and then went to the Casino. I found a good machine and came out ahead $170.00.
Later we had drinks at the bar in Maho – actually we had a drink there most nights. One suggestion I would make to the hotel is that they get a quiet bar somewhere. I don’t mind bustle but sometimes I don’t want to watch sports and listen to slot machines or the soundtrack from the movie playing just next door.
Sunday, we are heading home early. We meet Lesley at the airport at 9:00 a.m. to return the car. Again, thanks for such good service.
We have no problem checking in or with security. However, we had just sat down in the departure lounge when a notice came over the PA system: “Emergency. Please proceed to nearest exit” over and over and over. My, we’re all so complacent. No one moved, not even airport staff. They tried to call to see what was happening but got no answer. After about 15 minutes, they corralled everyone outside into the parking lot and held us there for about 10 minutes before they let us back in. We did not have to go back through the security check. Turned out this was a drill, unannounced to anyone, to test response. Not too good, I’d have to say.
I noticed that a lot of stores at the airport were closed. I guess business there is not too good – perhaps travelers have spent all their money by the time they are going home.
Anyway, it’s time to go home. Had a good rest, even after the glass wall incident. Got back home and all the snow gone. Hallelujah!
One more comment: I only saw one mosquito the whole week. It was in the hotel bathroom and I zapped it with hairspray. Hubby and I wore patches to keep mosquitoes away. The patch is Deet free, made by OmeZone in the USA and is called the insect defend patch. I have used this at the cottage up on Black Fly Lake in Mosquito County, Ontario and it works a treat.
