For many years, we had been going to SXM twice a year, never considering going elsewhere. Then we had a rather unpleasant experience in the Lowlands one dark night back in November 2007 and said we would not return. But we went back anyway, after trying Aruba and Jamaica as possible alternatives to SXM. Obviously, neither of those islands felt quite right.

In the past, we usually stayed on the French side, at Flamboyant or Mercur Simson but, since I am now terrified of traveling along the road through the Lowlands after dark, we stayed at Maho.

We got quite a good deal for air fare, hotel for 7 nights, all inclusive. Our flight on Canjet was due to leave Toronto at 6:05 a.m. on Friday, July 10th. Not sure why they schedule the flight this way, as we sat out on the runway for quite some time, after being told by the pilot that noise abatement laws in Toronto don’t permit any planes to take off before 6:30 a.m. Hmmm!

Canjet is a very bare-bones charter. On an early morning flight they give you a small muffin and a tiny container of yogurt plus all the water you can drink. Later, they came around selling snacks – red licorice, cookies, chips, etc. And I used to like airline food. They sold head sets for folks to watch the movie but the video system wouldn’t work. A fairly unhappy bunch of passengers after a while. BUT - they did get to SXM ahead of scheduled arrival time.

When we walked out of the airport building, Lesley Bruce was waiting for us with our car. (Thank you, Lesley, always a pleasure to deal with you!) A few minutes of paper work and we were on our way, dropping Lesley home on the way to Maho.

At Maho, we were among the lucky few whose rooms were ready, a re-furbished room on the 7th floor. The newly re-done rooms are very nice.

After unpacking, we grabbed lunch at the Palms Grill at Maho. I had the Cobb Salad, cuz I stupidly came to SXM on a diet. Hubby had the catch of the day. Not bad, but not great.

We drove into Phillipsburg to attend to some business and to check out the shopping. I have never seen the place so quiet. When we went back the next day, Saturday, hoping to get our phone set up, the place was even quieter, streets virtually deserted, some stores not bothering to open. We drove around the island, stopping to see our friends at Le String (Jean et al) on Orient Beach but they, too, were not open on the Saturday. One of the beach vendors told us that things are pretty quite so some establishments take the day off.

Next day, Sunday, we went back to Orient and spent part of the day there. Things were busier, Le String was open. On the way back to Maho, we stopped for lunch at Talk of the Town, in Grand Case. The new parking lot is great, close to the lolo’s, lots of space and free!
The lolo’s were very busy and TOTT was excellent, as usual. A good plate of food (mahi-mahi and 3 sides) plus drinks for two for $31.00 U.S. Oh, and extra for 3 servings (between two of us) of the cocoanut ice cream. Fabulous!
Monday we went back into town again. My husband was looking for a camera and I was looking to buy myself some glittery little souvenir. He got his camera a Klassen and I found a nice little, 1- carat diamond eternity pendant.
We stopped for a late lunch at Lee’s Grill on the way back. More mahi-mahi. In fact, I ate so much fish while we were there I was afraid I was going to grow fins and gills. Washed Lee’s mahi-mahi down with a margarita. Perfect.
Tuesday we set out again for the beach. In Marigot, since it was Bastille Day, we found several of the roads blocked by a parade. We managed to get ahead of it by driving over the parking lot near the cemetery but really had to hustle, as the police were closing roads in front of us. Finally made it to Le String and spent the day/had lunch there. One of the owners from the U.S. was onsite, saying that he still enjoys the time he spends in SXM. Can’t blame him really. Jean was as accommodating as ever, offering free sample drinks to encourage folks to use their free drink tokens.
On the way back, passing through Marigot again, lo and behold, another parade, similar to those we see at Caribana here in Toronto. Bands on trucks, folks dancing in the streets and, oh, yes, road closures. We had to back-track and go down some of the back streets of Marigot, along with a lot of other folks. Some of those little alleyways are really not meant for a vehicle, let alone two that have to pass, especially with cars parked on the side. Quite an experience but we saw parts of Marigot we would never have seen otherwise.

Wednesday, we did a bit more shopping and then headed out to Grand Case, for another lunch at TOTT. More mahi-mahi and more cocoanut ice cream. So much for this diet!!

Thursday was another (our final) beach day. Back to Le String for most of the day with a late lunch at Cheri’s when we got back to Maho.

Friday was our departure day. We picked up Lesley and he drove us to the airport and took back the car. Canjet was on time and we got back to Toronto ahead of schedule.

Other items of note: On the Friday and Saturday, we had no problem with the traffic around the airport and through Simpson Bay. However, on Monday, by mid morning, the traffic was backed up all the way from the airport to where they are building the new roundabout at the foot of Cole Bay Hill. It took us two hours to travel that distance. Traffic was also a bit squirrelly in Marigot as some roads seemed to have been closed off with cement bollards. And is it my imagination or are there a lot more one-way streets everywhere?

Lots of police/gendarme presence on the French side while I did not see a single police officer the entire time on the Dutch side and only saw a police vehicle parked outside the police station in P’burg. The gendarmes - someone told us that they brought in some 160 additional personnel - were to be seen everywhere, riding around in groups of 4 and 6 to a jeep or van. We had to stop one of them to ask for directions one day. He was very polite, spoke good English. Overall, I’m impressed.

We did not go out at night, other than in the Maho area. We went to the Casino several times. Maho had a promo on for Casino Royale – you got a $10.00 game money ticket every night. I guess this would encourage folks to go to the Casino, play the $10.00 from the Casino and then stay and play their own money. It seemed to work, as people were lined up every night to get their $10.00. I won $12.50 on their $10.00 one night and $200.00 on it another, so I can’t complain. I did play with my own money, too, but probably broke even overall.

We ended each evening in the bar at Maho, having a drink and doing some people-watching. We have decided that we are definitely getting old as we no longer understand the dynamic between young men and women in a bar setting. The young women seemed determined to get absolutely blotto on the free drinks, while ignoring the young guys who were interested in them, then the girls wobbled out together and the guys each left on their own. What am I missing here?

Although we had the AI plan at Maho, we really only ate breakfast there, plus one lunch. Breakfast was a buffet out on the Ocean Terrace which is great as you have a view of the sea and any planes that come in early. The food was acceptable, enough variety to suit us, and the omelette guy was very obliging, in making egg-white omelettes. Did I mention that I did this trip on a diet? Only gained two pounds as opposed to the 7 I usually pack on!!

The golf course at Mullet is horrendous – brown grass, worn-out fairways. If I had not seen the flag at 18 I likely would not have remembered that it was a golf course at all. But there were people playing it every day that we passed by.

The weather was good, warm and sunny most days. We had a bit of rain one day at the beach that sent everyone scurrying into the bars and restaurants, and one morning there was quite a heavy downpour but nothing that lasted a long time. Orient was quite windy on two days that we were there but a day on Orient is still just about the best way to spend your time.

We enjoyed our trip and…. We’re talking about going back. Seems like old times. Cheers!