Our morning began with a Zee Best Bakery Lollapalooza. I was like a kid in a candy store, “I’ll have one of those and one of those…” and $41 USD later they were being devoured at the beach. If the almond croissant looks a little smaller than usual, you’re not wrong. It didn’t even make it back to the beach before being targeted and partially eaten. To add a little nutritional value, I added some mandarins I had found at Carrefour. Perfect!
We enjoyed some beach time and then decided to hit the road. We packed a few sandwiches and drove over to Dawn Beach because we hadn’t been to that side of the island in years. As we made our way along Welfare Road toward Cole Bay, we came across a motorcycle accident. It looked bad but the driver seemed to be okay standing alongside the road calling the police. He didn’t look hurt, but they sent an ambulance anyway. It’s hard enough to drive a car on the roads of St. Maarten these days, I can’t imagine driving a motorcycle or scooter.
Let’s move on – and we did, traveling the back way along Sucker Garden Road and then onto Melford Hazel Road. That route isn’t for the faint of heart because it’s long and twisty and goes up and down some very large hills/mountains. But once we crested the top we could see the ocean with St. Barths in the distance – stunning. The road then got even worse (if that’s possible) as we picked our way along towards the Westin/Marriot. Suddenly we both yelled, “It’s a monkey!” And there it was before it scampered up into the dense brush and we couldn’t see it anymore. The wildlife show continued with some very large and plentiful iguanas and several very photogenic goats.
We were welcomed in at the gate of the new Marriott by a very friendly security guard who asked us to park across the street with the iguanas and then walk in. The old Westin is a total gut from Irma, and it looks like they’re just starting to work on it now because we could see and hear the new studs being put in to rebuild the walls. The Dawn Beach Club was in full swing with people enjoying themselves in the pool and at the bar. The Bartender told us the Timeshare was operational, but the hotel wouldn’t be finished until this time next year. They looked very hopeful.
We continued through Oyster Bay along the ocean towards Galion Bay. We arrived in Orient and got out again to enjoy a picnic on the beach. It looked pretty busy, and people didn’t seem too worried about the Sargassum lining the beach. It was now late in the day, so we didn’t stay long but all the umbrellas were up and waving in the wind. For everyone that loves Orient, I’m happy to say it looks fantastic and is waiting for you!
Our road trip continued through Grand Case and towards Marigot which was uneventful and lightly travelled for once because there were so few cars out and about. We thought we’d head back to Maho to watch the sunset but changed our minds and hit the beach at Mary’s Boon for a well-earned Pina Colada made with real pineapple, which was super-duper awesome. Sunset was spectacular and I finally got a picture of two of the played-out resort puppies who had actually stopped for once after many zoomies on the beach.
It was a quiet night of leftovers and listening to the waves crash on the shore then we tucked in for the night in preparation for a big day ahead because we’re off to Anguilla!
Great report and pics. Never seen a monkey on this island before but have heard they are around. Will look forward to your report on your visit to Anguilla and have a great day.
Hi Elizabeth! Thanks for the good wishes about my eye. It responded to the meds brilliantly and I seem to be totally healed. I stopped talking about it because my trip reports should be focussed on St. Maarten. But it sure was a "slap on the side of the head for me". My doctor retired during Covid and now I'm trying to catch up on my vaccinations. I'm hearing horror stories about Shingles from other people and I'm counting my lucky stars that it didn't escalate. I've been loving your sunrise and sunset pictures - they've been so beautiful!
Thanks so much for the report and the lovely pictures! We usually try to do a circumnavigation of the island once per year and it's always good to see areas that we don't get to often. That road going to the former Westin is definitely one for the record books!
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