TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Day 4 (4/23)

Where to start about yesterday?? Woke like usual and took my walk. The views in the morning on the beach make it all better. As I was on my walk there was perfect example of 2 different mornings on the beach. Headed toward Mont Vernon I spotted a gentleman sitting on a bucket enjoying the solitude of surfcasting as the sun came up through the clouds only to hear the sound of a motor coming up behind us as a couple on a atv came tearing by. Different strokes for different folks, makes the world go round.
Continued my walk down to the orient side to take my obligatory morning swim. As I was enjoying the water, I felt a couple raindrops only to be caught in seconds later a torrential downpour that lasted maybe a few minutes. Hey I was already wet from swimming, what's a little more rain. When the storm passed and I made my way back up the beach I looked up the hill to see what may be the best rainbow of my life. You could see it on both sides perfectly going over the hill, postcard worthy if I had brought my phone to take a pic. Made my way, slightly soggy, to Good Morning for the pastry run. Just some plain croissants and a couple ham/cheese quiche. Got back, grabbed my coffee and took a swim in the pool and waited for the gang to wake.

As everyone started eventually stir I noticed a theme, burnt. Everyone was physically and mentally burnt from trying to shove 10lbs of (bleep) into a 5lb bag, as the saying goes. After a cup of coffee the general consensus was to take a down day. Peeps needed to recharge, and trust me I know what that sounds like when you're on a vacation. But like I said before different strokes for different folks, and not everyone vacations the same. So I ran to Super U as the ladies took downtime to get ready to do nothing. Grabbed a bunch of water, seltzer, and a container of Macarons. Got back to the villa and laid about at the pool for the better part of the day. It was somewhere around 11am when the Irish Cannonball finally woke. Apparently he of all people needed the recharge, the 12 year old vacation life is exhausting. Around noonish I made a plate of fresh mango and charcuterie, perfect pool lunch. The day was overcast on this side of the island and was a great vibe for a lazy pool day.

We regrouped around 3ish to head to the village for a cocktail and a snack at Yellow Sub. Our fellow vacationers, J&T had done a similar day over at palm court and met up with us for that cocktail. They had gone to LaPlaya for a late lunch, attached is the sushi plate they ordered and the fresh rolls in the same pic. They were raving about the meal. And apparently the sushi plate was only 38 euros, they are insisting that they are "dragging" us over this week. Not gonna take a lot of convincing for me to go eat sushi on the beach. At Yellow Sub I grabbed a negroni (my weakness), the missus got the "Pornstar martini", Andie opted for a frozen drink (can't remember), some more calamari and accras. After a few Heinekens, and watching football and the NBA playoffs in the background we strolled through the village. Stopped off at "On Dirait Le Sud", this is a very dangerous store for me. OH MY GOD! It's the kind of place that I chose to purchase nothing for myself until I made a game plan to go back. That being said, the crew did some damage there. We left with 3 different slices of homemade lasagna and what I can only describe as a haul of cannolis. The Irish Cannonball is a lasagna aficionado and declared that he loves eggplant. If you are in Orient I can't express how amazing that shop is. I'll be headed back to stock the charcuterie for the fridge.

We strolled through and looked at a few menus as the restaurants were starting to open. The ladies stopped off at Beach Life to peruse as the boy and I headed back to the villa. We all made our way through the lasagnas and cannolis, cut up a pineapple for some freshness, and ended the evening with some late night swims and lots of laughs. We made light plans for the next day and headed to bed knowing that we would all be ready for a full Sunday beach day.

My goodness, that third picture looks amazing!! I will have to try to get by there sometime next trip.

Enjoy your day !

Another perfect day. Good for you and your crew. Memories last forever.

Thanks Pat!! Just read your Saturday post. Love the report from the other side of the island!!! We are somehow gonna get to that Dutch side this week, I promised the missus a jewelry run in Pburg and we will be hitting Caribbean Gems for sure!!

Love your posts, cant believe it when some people visit SXM and dont visit the french grocery stores, seems like a sin to me!
Do you know if they are offering a better exchange rate when paying with USD?

Current 1.08 rate isn't bad if they do indeed use that.

Another nice post. On Dirait le Sud (it's just like the South) is a great store and the gentleman there couldn't be nicer. Lasagna and a bottle of red on the patio was perfect.

Never been but now it's on the list! Dirait le Sud sounds like my kind of place! Thanks for sharing--

Another wonderful report. Love the pix! Yummy!!!

Oh I so feel you. I could spend more in a well appointed grocery type store than anywhere.. cold cuts and cheese are my (credit card's) downfall.

"So I ran to Super U as the ladies took downtime to get ready to do nothing." Poetry. 👍

Where is it in relation to Good Morning or Petit Casino?

We saw you at the restaurant next to Le Ptit bistro tonight.

Mbrott

Same plaza as Good Morning, about 2/3rds along towards BO Pizza

I've been reading your daily posts, enjoying every minute of them! It's been a while since we've stayed in the Orient village area. You've brought me back! We need to book that again soon! We love the beaches and the vibe in the courtyard at night!! Thanks for sharing your photo's too!! Have fun, and safe travels! Yes, there is nothing like just diving right in the ocean without turning blue like the NE! Or Jones beach! LOL!!!

Mbrott hopefully we didn't look like too much of a mess of people at dinner!!! I was riding on endorphins during the whole experience!!