Traveltalkonline.com Forums


SXM Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors SXM Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics39,382
Posts319,346
Members26,666
Most Online3,755
Sep 23rd, 2024
Top Posters(30 Days)
bdeeley 83
jazzgal 40
RonDon 36
jomarc 33
GaKaye 33
fabila 32
Todd 27
erb923 25
Member Spotlight
DanS
DanS
New Jersey, USA
Posts: 1,430
Joined: November 2003
Today's Birthdays
CDJ
Who's Online Now
22 members (SXMScubaman, NumberCruncher, BillDauterive, deliveryskipper, George1234, extreme, Phiaman42, Jerry_R, JohnW, Todd, IWIWSE, Kennys, polaris, GeorgeC1, 8 invisible), 1,045 guests, and 201 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#318584 04/26/2024 01:51 AM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 722
Likes: 3
C
cruzer Offline OP
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 722
Likes: 3
Our day started Tuesday with the 1:30am arrival of our car to deliver us to DFW. We arrived at 3 for our 5 am flight and I had the opportunity to scarf down a plate or two of bacon in the Admirals Club before boarding our flight. Mrs. Cruzer, who developed a blood pressure issue during our last trip to SXM and so was off caffeine, had what she declared to be an excellent cup of decaf. A good start.

The trip was uneventful, even the meals served on board. The decaf seemed to be instant. We arrived around 1:15, were the only line outside immigration though the inside lines wound back to the door. The walk to immigration, threading our way through the line, and collecting our bags took about an hour—a normal amount of time prior to Irma.

Getting our rental car from Safari, driving to Grand Case, picking up essentials at the market—Presidente, mineral water, and cat food-- took another hour. But we arrived at Grand Case Beach Club around 3:15—our home for the next 23 nights.
The town is busy and it seems to me that we’re still in high season. The hotel’s parking lot is full, and they now give us placards to keep on the dash indicating we’re guests. The public parking lot in town was full last night, as was the “overflow” lot, and plenty of cars parked on the road back to the airport road. I’m glad we walked from GCBC.

Wednesday, we picked up supplies at SuperU, and some great cheeses at Bacchus. Lunched at Le Taitu. I had the veal Milanese which had a nice sized cutlet. I forgot what Mrs. C had and it’s unhealthy for me to ask her at 2:00 am as I’m writing this. We filled up another 10-punch card so one of our lunches was free.

Tonight, we ate at Le Bistronome. We started with their complimentary champagne, an appetizer of the excellent carpaccio of tuna and wahoo in a Tahitian dressing, followed by the mains of a nicely sauced shrimp and rigatoni and a lobster in a puff pastry shell. Dessert was a chocolate and pistachio fudge and 2 cups of decaf cappuccino, finishing with the infused rum. This was one of the better meals we’ve had on the island, and put me in the proper frame of mind to enjoy the next three weeks.
The water is warm for this time of the year 82/83 degrees. Yesterday afternoon the pool was way up there, perhaps 88 or so (I didn’t have my nerdy Thermo-pen with me at the pool). We had a bit of Sahara dust upon arrival and on Wednesday, but it seems to have dissipated a bit. Still, sunsets are a bust so far.

The cats are fine, the hotel staff is great, and the bar staff is taking good care of me. I’m still sleeping in shifts, but really enjoying sitting out by the water in the wee hours of the morning when the hotel is quiet.

I haven’t taken too many pictures so far, and so the selection is limited. Among them: a sunset off our deck prior to our flight; a great looking in-flight breakfast whose flavor didn’t match; a sunrise from 30k+ feet somewhere between DFW and CLT; Picasso and Pablo; my lobster in a pastry shell at Bistronome.

Life is good.

Attached Images
IMG_2738.jpg IMG_2741.jpg IMG_2744.jpg IMG_2751.jpg IMG_2752.jpg IMG_2757.jpg
SXM Sponsors
cruzer #318592 04/26/2024 07:46 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,848
Likes: 3
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,848
Likes: 3
Wow, you have an amazing view at home! Congratulations on arriving in paradise! Looking forward to seeing all those culinary masterpieces for the next three weeks or so! Enjoy.


Carol Hill
cruzer #318606 04/26/2024 11:47 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 196
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 196
Beautiful pictures! Le Bistronome is probably my husband's favorite island restaurant and currently the only one we are sure to hit on every trip!


Laura
cruzer #318613 04/26/2024 12:48 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 233
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 233
Looks spectacular! I'm going to enjoy your reports over the next few weeks.

cruzer #318620 04/26/2024 03:14 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,557
Likes: 2
Traveler
Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,557
Likes: 2
Without reading your report first, I knew you were staying ay GCBC by the photo of the resident cat. Have you bought her any treats

RonDon #318627 04/26/2024 06:05 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 722
Likes: 3
C
cruzer Offline OP
Traveler
OP Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 722
Likes: 3

Our first stop was for cat food. Next day we bought regular state-side whole milk--not the shelf stale stuff, high quality kibble, and some inexpensive SuperU house brands of pate and sauced meals. Also, the cats have a standing invite with the French couple, the Lamoles, at 4 pm for another snack session. They have no shame about convincing other hotel guests that they haven't eaten for weeks. BTW, Picasso is the "she" and Pablo is her son.


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5