Notes – this was our third trip to the island in three years and our second in a row staying at Club Fantastico. The principal purpose of the trip is to have time for my wife and me to connect as a couple; that is why we leave the kids at home with her parents. Typically, we are an active couple, but this year, we were hampered by a stress fracture and tendonitis in my right knee. If there seems like a whole lot of nothing going on, that is on purpose.
We travel in September due to our work schedules and because of the lower cost. The general consensus on this board towards the month is rather negative, but we love it. The island is quiet and while some things are closed, even after three years, we still have lots of things we want to do. The weather was great, we are used to Southern heat so warmth doesn’t bother us, and other than a couple of spots in Marigot on market day that had no breeze, we had no reason for complaint.
The links after the dates are to picture folders, bests viewed if sorted by time taken. Doing it this way allows me to share my experience across multiple formats. If there is a particular photo that someone has a question about, please feel free to embed it in your reply. If there are any that aren’t appropriate for this forum, just let me know and I will hide it.

Sept 10 - https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2187
T-minus 48 and counting, the annual question – do we have enough sunblock?

Sept 11 - https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2194
T-minus 24 and counting, the annual how will it all fit exercise?

Sept 12 – https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2198
Up before the sun, but without complaint. We had the same taxi driver as last year to take us to RDU and we had a couple of laughs about how he has become part of the annual tradition for us now. The RDU > MIA leg was uneventful, as was our layover in MIA, but just as we were boarding, a thunderstorm passed through that delayed our takeoff by a few minutes. No big deal. We landed at SXM about 15 minutes late then breezed through customs. Chloe from Club F had given us pictures of the other couple (M & P) who would be staying there and coming in on the same flight so we could find them and give them a ride. They were going to take a taxi, but I figured we could all fit our rental. After getting our bags and a seamless pickup from Empress Rental car, we were on our way. M & P had to sit with their bags on their laps, but we were still very thankful. I did a quick tour of the Orient Bay area for them before arriving at Club F. Chloe and Thierry we as amazing as we remembered, which is to say as close to perfect as humanly possible. We cannot imagine staying anywhere else. They had a wonderful welcome plate of ribs, cheese and other finger food which sufficed for dinner, followed by cheesecake for my wife.

Sept 13 – https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2217
I woke up to see the sunrise over the ocean, which is one of my favorite things to do while on the island, before having some coffee and breakfast from what we had brought with us. M & P joined us for a trip to Simply for some groceries, then it was off to the beach in front of Club O. The wind was blowing, but it didn’t matter as it was simply divine. We went to Orange Fever for lunch; the wings were good but the kabobs were mediocre at best. After lunch, it was time for more sun and surf, then back to Club F for a homemade salad and an evening relaxing evening watching the sky change colors and doing as little as possible.

Sept 14 – https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2260
We got up early to do some exercises before a brief but intense morning rain shower. We decided that the four of us would head to Maho today to watch the big KLM come in and get some lunch at Sunset Bar and Grill. We wouldn’t want a steady diet of it, but the vibe at Maho and Sunset was a lot of fun last year and we figured it was worth doing again. Unfortunately, Maho beach was mostly washed away, but the planes were still coming and we got some good pictures. My wife loved her Mojito from Sunset and I enjoyed the BBQ chicken. We left very full, headed back to Club F to chill by the pool and eat a very light dinner.
That night we had scheduled a massage from Stacy at www.bodylovesxm.com. The massage was amazing by itself, but the truly remarkable part was the way that Stacy taught me massage and Reiki techniques I could use on my wife when we got home. My wife works 24 hour shifts in a NICU and often comes home physically and mentally tired beyond words. Stacy and I had spent time corresponding before I left the USA and she incorporate everything I asked for and more. It was so good, the session didn’t end until…
Sept 15 – https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2387
After saying good-bye to Stacy after midnight (who is therefore pictured in this album), there was no sunrise for me. M & P had talked about seeing Phillipsburg and so we decided to make the annual trip there as a foursome. I got a wonderful mug and my wife got something significantly more expensive from Kay Jewelers. We have shopped at Kay before and have always been very happy. We hit Blue Bitch Bar for lunch and had some amazing Haitian Voodoo Wings; plenty of spice, but not enough to mask the other amazing flavors. They need to sell this sauce! We also had a very good jerk chicken salad. We head back to base (Club F) and enjoyed a going away party for Chloe and Thierry’s friend, Eric, before calling it a night.

Sept 16 – https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2417
Full day on Orient spent doing what we like to do best – nothing while wearing nothing. M & P were so impressed with our description of Stacy from www.bodylovesxm.com that they had scheduled a session of their own. When she was done, P was so relaxed she looked almost drugged! We had a nice night in, eating groceries and playing cards.

Sept 17 – https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2433
After a day doing nothing, we headed to Marigot to get some spices and a couple of new pareos. M & P made the climb to the top of Fort St. Louis and raved about the views. I tried to not be jealous, but there was no way my knee would make it up and down. We had lunch at Chabin’s and were amazed. I had the Colombo goat which was great, my wife had the shrimp and scallop salad, while M & P had the signature sugar cane smoked ribs and chicken. They were kind enough to share some and it was sensational. Living in NC we know a thing or two about smoked meat and this was sensational.
On the way back to Club F, we went to see Bernadine for our annual stock up of curry. I use it make turkey curry with Thanksgiving leftovers and it is such a nice reminder of our time on the island that she is now a mandatory part of the vacation. After some poolside relaxation, M & P treated is to dinner at Rancho del Sol and, as usual, the food was solid. My wife had the steak fajitas while I had the duck tournad, which we quickly named Ducknado! It was a great evening together.

Sept 18 – https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2500
After another early morning rain shower, we went our scheduled boat tour around the island with Robinson boat tours - http://www.boat-charter-stmartin.com/. I had told M & P that we would be doing this and they booked seats too, which made it all the more fun. After two years seeing the island from the inside, we had decided it would be great to see it from the outside too. We got a chance to snorkel for the first time, and while we had fun doing so, neither of us really have a burning desire to do it again. Overall, the tour was worth every penny and we would highly recommend it. Capt. Mike was great and gave us a great perspective on the island. Tintamarre was beautiful, as was Pinel, and the lunch we had on Grand Case (included in the price) was beyond our expectations. While it was a busy day and likely a one-time event for us, all four of us were thrilled with the experience.
The evening was spent relaxing Club F, passing the crossword back and forth and jogging our memories and watching lightning in the distance.

Sept 19 – https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2643
Week 2, and another morning of spectacular sunrises and fantastic Chloe made coffee. Her hospitality is a simply without compare. After some more quite time together, it was off to Simply for week 2 supplies and then Stacy from <a href="www.bodylovesxm.com" target="_blank">BodyLove</a> had invited us to spend the afternoon on the Dutch side with her at Mullet Bay. Thanks to TTOL supplied directions we found it easily. Only one end of the beach has chairs and we noticed that the closer to the middle that we got, the more women were topless, until the point where the chairs ended and the vast majority of women were without their tops. No signs, just people using common sense, and I quietly wondered why such things seem impossible back in the USA. We had a great afternoon hanging out with Stacy and really connected with her on many levels. She and my wife really have a lot in common and it was so kind of her to invite us to one of her favorite places.
The sunrise over Orient Bay is one of my favorite parts of vacationing in St. Martin and the sunset over Mullet was equally spectacular. As the tourists and the chairs packed up in the late afternoon, the other end of the beach started to fill with locals. It was a great place and a great afternoon. Back at Club F, we ate some of the fresh fruit and vegetables we had just bought.

Sept 20 – https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2694
We slept in and while playing some cards in the morning, got some bad news from home regarding one of our dogs at home. Nothing that would be a big deal were we there, but we had to remotely diagnose the problem which made things more stressful. Once that was sorted, we headed to Orient for some relaxation. We got to see some excitement that afternoon as security ran off a man holding a board with a nail in it! He left his wife/girlfriend alone and behind to be questioned which told me all I needed to know about the quality of his character! It was M & P’s last night on the island, so they headed into the village for a romantic evening together while we stayed in.

Sept 21 - https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2701
Up with the sun again and more crosswords to start the day. We took M & P to the airport, and then, at Stacy’s suggestion, headed to Karakter on Simpson Bay Beach. What a fun place! We enjoyed a good chicken Caesar salad and some amazing Indonesian chicken kabobs. Everything was lean and fresh, and while expensive, we were both happy with the experience. I really enjoyed the King Vitamin fruit smoothie and my wife was very pleased with her mango drink as well. I got a picture of M & P’s plane as it took off, and while all the loungers and umbrellas were taken, the good folks at Karakter pulled out a couple of chairs for us to use. The sand was hotter and coarser than we were used to on Orient, but we still enjoyed the beach. The only real negative was some glass at the water’s edge; something we are not used to.
We were starting to get a little too hot when Stacy showed up with her umbrella to cool us down! Great timing. She was soon joined by her boyfriend and the four of us began talking and were quickly watching the sun go down together. Having a local resident around really made the experience more enjoyable.

Sept 22 - https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2785
This was probably the best day of our vacation. We planned this to be our full Orient Beach day which is usually enough to ensure a wonderful time, but upon Thierry’s recommendation, we tried Sun Beach Clubber. In a word – WOW! We have them a card from Thierry and we got two glasses of champagne. The appetizer plate of jalapeno poppers, ribs, wings, salad and fish was sensational, while the main course of steak and chicken kabobs was beyond words and perfectly complemented by garlic potatoes. There was some hard rain in the middle of our meal and the crew scrambled and got everyone inside and kept all customers happy. SBC is more expensive than the other places on Orient we have tried, but as a treat, is worth it. Really an A+ all around.
The afternoon was cloudy but we got to do another of our annual traditions – see a rainbow. Some of my favorite pictures are from this day. The rain also lead to some beautiful clouds and amazing colors at sunset. As if that weren’t enough, we busted the budget and brought Stacy back for another session. Once again, she exceeded every possible expectation, reasonable and otherwise, providing not only sensational massage but giving me some really valuable techniques to use at home. If every day were like this one, I’d be broke but happy beyond words. I think I slept like the dead that night!

Sept 23 - https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2892
Cognizant of the number of days left, we planned another day on Orient. After showing us the Dutch side, Stacy agreed to spend the afternoon with us on the French side. We played Top 5 – a game where you come up with a category (e.g. ice cream flavors, movie characters, cities, etc.) and go around giving your top 5. It is a great way to get to know someone, an easy conversation started and a way in which my wife and I reconnect each year. We got soaked by another 10 minute cloud burst, but that didn’t dampen the day.
After saying farewell to Stacy, I headed to the grocery store, picked up some chicken and ice cream from Simply for dinner, then my wife and watched the Big Bang Theory and played a game called Bananagrams, which is like free form speed Scrabble.

Sept 24 - https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2909
Up with sun, fresh pineapple for breakfast and while checking email, found and invitation from Stacy to for lunch at Dreams on Baie Nettle. After a circuitous path there, we found it closed and headed instead to Laylas. While I cannot comment on Dreams, Laylas was a ton of fun. My wife and I immediately started talking about spending a full day there next year. I had the Colombo goat, which was very good, if not quite as good as Chabin’s, however, my wife’s Creole chicken was fantastic. Stacy had a salad far too large for one. The highlight of the meal was the fried plantains which were quite honestly perfect. Stacy had to pick up someone at the airport, so we hung out at Laylas for a while, drove the island for some pictures, then met her at Mullet for our good byes and another unspeakably beautiful sunset.
We made our way back to Club F and we treated to another plate of ribs as there were new guests that day.

Sept 25 - https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2978
We had previously asked Thierry if he could only cook once more in his life, what he would cook. His answer – breakfast. We decided to see what that would be like and were thrilled with the huge omelets he prepared. As this was our last day on the island, it was a full beach day, spent soaking in as much of the sun as possible. We brought leftovers with us, but our day was cut short by some very black clouds and high winds. No matter, we headed back to Club F and enjoyed some relaxation there.

Sept 26 - https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!3013
Last day. Up with the sun, but the sun was nowhere to be found due to the rain clouds. A brief break allowed us a chance for our annual tradition of photos by the “No nudity beyond this point” sign (most of which cannot be shared) then packing the bag, getting a last few minutes in the sun, playing games, doing crosswords and just taking it easy. Returning the car to Empress was super quick and easy, as was everything in the airport. Flights were uneventful for us, but our gate for the MIA > RDU leg was moved when a flight to JFK was held due to a mechanical issue. The contrast of a load of stressed out New Yorkers vs. what we had been experiencing the island was pretty stark. We ate a place called Ku-va in terminal D and were very happy with it. We got home after midnight and by morning we were thinking about when we could come back. You know, the usual.

Following what we do on the island TOP 5 in alphabetical order:
Club Fantastico
Laylas
Orient Beach
Stacy from BodyLoveSXM
Sunset over Mullet Bay Beach

TL;DR – Had a great time, looking forward to coming back.
Full picture album, each day has its own folder, sort the pics by time - https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E7113BECB37CB023!2136

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