TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin June 12th report

Woke up again around 9am. Same routine pretty much. I made pour over coffee which we had over ice. My wife made eggs with Parmesan cheese in a tortilla and we had a bowl of watermelon and enjoyed breakfast on our balcony.

I made a quick stop down to the Petit Casino for a few groceries. I picked up a baguette for dinner tonight, more ice, water, cheese and a bottle of body wash. You can pretty much get most everything you need right here in the village. We’ve found if Petit Casino doesn’t have something it’s worth walking down to Caribbean Star market to see if they have it. On a few occasions this has been the case.

After breakfast we packed up essentials for the beach and headed out to Friar’s Beach. As I’ve said, we haven’t been there in quite awhile and we’re anticipating what might have changed since Irma. It was an easy drive, traffic was fine, but that road leading into the bay!!?! The only way to avoid a pothole is to drive into the least threatening pothole. We found a parking spot, quite a few cars here, and as we approach the beach area were greeted by a beach waiter who set us up in two chairs and umbrella for $20. We had a second row seat but there was a very adequate breeze blowing which made our stay very pleasant. The sand was quite hot however. We’re not noticing this at Orient but I made a short walk up to the bar area at one point and wasn’t sure the soles of my feet weren’t burning up. Soon after arriving we ordered two drinks. A pain killer for me and frozen margarita for my wife. Both were very good. Only don’t try your wife’s margarita after taking a sip of your pain killer. Pucker!

The beach at Friars is beautiful. The water is so very calm and warm. It’s like swimming in a pool. So far we’ve only taken a dip once each day but we made four trips out into the water at Friars. It was so pleasant and the hills surrounding the beach are beautiful to gaze at from a sea level view. During the day we watched an array of sailing vessels cruising by in the distance and further out toward the horizon we could see our destination for tomorrow, Anguilla.

We decided to have lunch on the beach rather than up by the bar area. I had taken that brief stroll up earlier to get more ice for my pain killer and wasn’t that impressed with the seating area. Nothing wrong with it, but first impression was to just have lunch at our beach location. I did notice there was a building toward the back that housed the cooking area. Friars beach bar has definitely changed since we were here years ago. I remember the bar and restaurant seating area was very colorful and had many locations for both small and larger parties to sit.

The service at Friars was more than friendly and attentive. Our beach waiter was so nice, took our order and arrived back after a very brief wait with my wife’s Mahi Mahi sandwich and my cheese burger (in paradise). She had a Corona and I had a Carib. We asked our waiter to bring glasses with ice as we liked our beer with ice. He went above and beyond the call of duty. Somehow a wedge of lime and a maraschino cherry found their way in our glass, filled with ice. A first for us. We wondered what a beer infused maraschino cherry would taste like. It taste like a maraschino cherry

As we sat there enjoying our dinner the sailing school next to the beach bar was launching at least 12 sailboats piloted by young kids. It was all very colorful and fun to watch. One poor student spent most of the time righting herself after tipping the sailboat into the water. Poor thing did that five or six times before finally steadying and heading out into the sea with the others.

I was curious about what was on the other side of the beach bar. It looked almost like it could be some kind of residence with multiple rentals. There were people eating outside and there was what looked like a restaurant window where you could order food. Maybe someone on TTOL could clarify. You couldn’t walk between this location and the beach bar we were at. So I wondered if it was a more exclusive place to dine and actually stay??

Further down the beach was another location that was obviously closed (for the season?) called Friars Bay Beach Cafe. I wondered what the scoop is on this place.

We decided we had enough sun for the day as we were going to spend all of tomorrow on a catamaran and in the water in Anguilla. We told our waiter the same and he agreed that in light of that, leaving now made sense. We walked up to the bar and paid our bill in cash. Our two drinks, two beers, two food platters came to $75 US before the tip.

The drive back to our studio was uneventful. We talked about what a wonderful experience we had at Friars. It was really a nice day and my wife said, “It was good to get out of town” to which we both laughed.

(The following is anticipatory as none of it has happened yet but I need to get this report posted and photos loaded up because I want to try not to be up late)

We decided since we need to go to bed early in order to get up around 6pm for a drive over to our catamaran sail from the Dutch side, we would do sundowners in our studio on the balcony and have dinner here also. Pasta with mussels, baguette, wine and a cucumber and tomato salad will be the fare this evening. We’ll most probably watch another episode of our show tonight before again having a rum on ice night cap.

It’s been a very good day and we’re looking forward to our sail tomorrow. We’ve never been to Anguilla and it’s been years since our last catamaran sail. Reading the online information, we’re in store for what sounds like bottomless drinks, great food, and time at a beach or noodling in the water.

Thanks again for the helpful advice about leaving early for our drive over and locations for coffee and/or breakfast if we happen to arrive too early.

Lancer

Edit: Added two photos from tonight’s dinner at home.

I just can't imagine beer on ice. My wife sometimes puts ice in her wine and I just shake my head but to each their own. Glad your having a great time.

Your trip reports are great. Enjoy tomorrow but please a picture of the two of you together in Anguilla. Thanks!

Thanks for your report. You are doing a much better job than I am. I personally always just go up to the restaurant to eat, as I prefer no sand in my food. Glad you enjoyed your day.

Scubaman, LOL. We don’t always do that but usually if we’re eating outside and it’s very hot. We prefer cold over quality I suppose We were on a cruise and had a couple beers out on the deck with only another couple sitting near us. We got up to leave and she said, “May I ask what is the thing with ice in beer? I’ve seen other people doing that and I’m trying to understand.”

Sxm martini, thanks so much. We are excited about tomorrow and will aim to get some photos of us posted.

Carol, haha. Those are our sentiments also, but we were determined to eat on the beach and other than balancing food on paper plates while pouring beer from bottles to cup, it worked out fine. No sand got in the way.

I understand the want to keep beer and Rose cold. That's why we travel with Yeti tumblers and Yeti wine cups. They work amazingly well. Many other manufacturers work equally as well too.

Enjoying your reports! You MUST go to FBBC when open...fabulous food. Friars is one of my favorite beaches, for sure. I'm not a huge beer drinker, but when I do imbibe, it must be icy cold on a hot day...and always get a cup of ice on the side as well to add some cubes to chill.. Whatever makes you happy! keep on enjoying!!😎

What Shelby said. I seem to recall that Friar's Bay Beach Club is closed one or two days during the week. Looks as though you were at Sanctorum. FBBC has MUCH better food and will be worth your making another trip.

Have fun on the catamaran. On what boat are you going?

I was totally confused by your description until I realized you weren't at FBBC! They used to be closed on Monday and Tuesday, but finding their schedule online is a challenge.

Thanks for the detailed report!! It's been YEARS since we've been to Friars bay. One of the reasons that we haven't been is that road is shot!!! I don't feel like paying for a flat or worse getting stuck in those "foxholes"!!! What I don't understand. Why can't the people that own the restaurants get together and have them filled in with gravel!!!???

Nice report and pictures, Lancer.

Enjoy your catamaran trip and time in beautiful Anguilla!

FBBC is currently closed for the month of June.