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Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
#148032
11/04/2017 01:24 PM
11/04/2017 01:24 PM
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,145 Washington, DC/SXM
Angelface
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,145
Washington, DC/SXM
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Hi folks. Before I begin, a little about me for the new folks. My family goes back many generations on SXM on both sides (via my grandfathers. both grandmothers are from AXA). My parents currently live in Colombier on the French side, where they were both born (aww, cute, right?). My parents retired back to SXM in 2004 and I grew up spending summers there and return as often as my life allows. That said, a little about my quick trip to check on them:
Flights I flew from DCA to MIA, met by brother there a we flew together on American to SXM. Our plan was surprisingly full. I listened in on as many conversations as I could (i'm not a creeper, promise), and I'd say a good chunk of these folks were checking in on their properties. A few were in transit to AXA and St. Barths, and it looked like some were coming down for vacation.
Airport Landing at SXM, my heart broke for the first time of many, seeing the damaged buildings. Stepped off the plane old school style and waited for our bags under a tent. Put the bags on a short "ramp" thing, and walked to immigration. They do ask where you are staying. Picked up our bags and went to customs where they jokingly ribbed us for bringing down a bunch of frozen meat. We were on our way in about 20 minutes of landing...mind you all this was taking place under tents/temporary structures.
Right as we walked out, we say a man holding a sign with our names - one of Michael's employees at Unity. He took us to their temporary home - by the simpson bay police station. Filled out paperwork and were on our way in minutes, as usual. Michael said they like many others lost many cars, but they have some (ours was damaged, but it ran and had AC so who cares!) and they are open for business. I could have just driven my dad's car, but I wanted to give them some business.
Driving Home The drive to Colombier was mostly me and my brother saying "oh my God". I've seen the pictures, so I knew what had happened. But there is something about seeing it first hand that hits you in the gut. We go home via the causeway thru St. James and Marigot.
For those who've been to Cololmbier, you know that it is one of the greenest, most lush vegetation you'll find on the island. Driving thru, you could be deceived by the new greenery growing. But I know what was there, and it broke my heart again. Beautiful mature tree canopies stripped bare. Houses I never knew existed in the hills, exposed to the world. Homes missing roofs, homes destroyed. If I was looking for positives, I finally SAW the goats way up in the hills that I always heard from my parent's porch.
My parents were lucky. Their actual home received little damage - some messed up gutters. Their property had more damage - fencing, beautiful fruit trees gone. Everyone kept saying "you should have seen it after Irma. It looks great now". I can only imagine...
Driving Around This trip was spent running errands for my parents and seeing my relatives. We did drive up to paradise view - one of my favorite places on the island. Someone posted a picture of the restaurant earlier - the building is there but heavily damaged. Bernadine's is gone as are most of the little shacks on the left hand side.
Grand Case. I don't know what I can say about GC except that is currently doesn't exist save for Sky's The Limit. I read that La Villa is now open (it wasn't when we were there) and I saw them working on Talk of the Town. The beach side restaurants were all damaged or destroyed. When not with my family, this is where we would spend most of our time, so it was particularly hard to see this. My aunt who lives in GC on the main street lost her roof and everything in her house. But like the people of SXM, she is strong and already rebuilding. This time with a concrete roof.
Hope estate was a mess as well. Carrfour in Cole Bay was severely destroyed. I didn't realize half the roof had collapsed in. It made me realize how often we would stop here to shop. Super U in Marigot is open, tho my mom doesn't love their meat selection. Grand Marche in Great Bay was pretty well stocked. Thankful I missed the armed robbery that just happened.
Oh, a note about safety. I never once felt unsafe, but I only went out once at night. My parents claim that one of the reasons they don't want to come stay with us in the states is they don't want to leave their house unattended.
We took my parents out to eat dinner - their FIRST TIME eating out since the storm. We went to Pineapple Pete's - my first time. It was packed! Izi across the street was packed too. I remarked that if you looked at Pete's and right across to Izi, you could almost imagine that no hurricane had hit. Lee's, Toppers and a few other restaurants are open in Simpson Bay. I definitely felt like that section of the island was coming back to life faster than the French side. (my limited view of things, mind you)
Looks like most folks had power and water back (again, just what I've seen). No clue when they'll get phones/TV/internet back. How my parents haven't driven each other crazy yet is a miracle. EVERYONE I talked too is beyond traumatized from this storm. To hear my mom say that from 5am - 8am she thought they were going to die broke my heart. My uncle had to hold a door closed for 2 hours by himself, because he knew that if the wind knocked it open, his house would be severely damaged. I worry about the kids who lived thru this storm - I hope both sides are factoring in mental health healing in addition to physical rebuilding.
"So Should I Come Down?" My two cents on tourists coming back. My friend who has never been wants to come down. I told her to wait until next high season 18/19. I think for repeat visitors, you can come down sooner than that if you ADJUST YOUR EXPECTATIONS. I cannot say that enough. If you NEED 5 star treatment everywhere you go, if you need drink/chair service at the beach, if you need every restaurant option open to you, for the love of god DO NOT GO DOWN ANYTIME SOON.You will be disappointed. This island has been thru the worst imaginable hell times 20, and it desperately needs your tourism dollars. But it doesn't need your negativity, your demands, your out-sized expectations. If you are a more laid back person who can deal with island time on steroids, being creative with how you spend your time, and won't be freaked out by seeing damaged buildings and people trying to rebuild their homes and lives, then yes, book that trip in Feb. SXM needs you and will welcome you. That's my 4 cents, really.
Sorry for the long report. SXM (and AXA) is more than a vacation destination to me. It IS my home.
Thanks for reading. And thanks to Carol and Eric for this site. During normal times it kept me connected to home. Post Irma it was often the ONLY information I was getting about SXM.
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: Angelface]
#148038
11/04/2017 02:41 PM
11/04/2017 02:41 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,671 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,671
Brookfield, CT.
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Angel,
I can’t thank you enough for taking the time and writing a clear-eyed first hand description of how things really are. It about broke my heart to see the first round of post-Irma photos and I could almost feel myself sinking into a depressed state. And I’m just another tourist with no familial or birth ties to the Island so I can only start to imagine what you went through being so far away and having family there. My Dad lived through Hugo in SC years back and told of stories similar to your Dad’s. Heartbreaking to hear but terrifying to live through.
We stay in touch with friends and as optimistic as they are about their Island, their suggestions so far regarding coming down are NOT YET!. They talk about the garbage situation (which has improved, I know), the damaged buildings not touched as of yet, of the now derelict vehicles and the dark streets at night and the opinions are all too often, even if you think you know what’s in store, you will still be upset at what you see.
Hearing it from someone young and as optimistic as you are with strong ties to the island makes it all the more real and helps to reaffirm the fact we made the right move in cancelling our November and March trips. We hope to be back in November of 2018 and in the meantime we will keep the Island and her people in our thoughts and prayers and will continue to support so many of the Island financial causes as we’re able.
Again, thank you for this report. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: PelicanPirate]
#148040
11/04/2017 04:00 PM
11/04/2017 04:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,562 Long Island, NY
RICKnGRACE_LI_NY
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,562
Long Island, NY
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Thank you for your open and honest report. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and all of the Islanders as they put their lives back together.
Rick and Grace
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: jeepers]
#148042
11/04/2017 04:13 PM
11/04/2017 04:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,552 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,552
Central Florida!
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For clothes in particular, where do they normally shop? My understanding is that most everything on BACK Street in P'burg is open.
Carol Hill
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: Angelface]
#148045
11/04/2017 04:25 PM
11/04/2017 04:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,160 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,160
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Thank you for posting your report of the island after Irma. It will be a long recovery, but with the strength and dedication of the island people SXM will rise again. Thoughts and prayers continue for your family and all others who have the tremendous task of rebuilding their lives.
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: Angelface]
#148046
11/04/2017 04:28 PM
11/04/2017 04:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 520 Eastern Caribbean
Ritchard
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 520
Eastern Caribbean
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Angelface said:
If you are a more laid back person who can deal with island time on steroids, being creative with how you spend your time, and won't be freaked out by seeing damaged buildings and people trying to rebuild their homes and lives, then yes, book that trip in Feb. SXM needs you and will welcome you. This is my thinking - I just want to chill like the old days. A cooler of beer, some rented chairs and umbrella, some sun and breeze on Orient, I'm easy to please. Now that it appears that Talk of the Town and Sky's the Limit, as well as a handful of the fabulous GC restos will be open, I'm good. Thanks so much for the trip report.
_______________________
Working hard to be the best yacht bum I can be.
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: Bahston]
#148048
11/04/2017 05:23 PM
11/04/2017 05:23 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 210 North Carolina
Cats2
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 210
North Carolina
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Thanks so much for taking the time to share your trip back home. Glad that your parents are ok and I have faith that the island will rebound to be better than ever.
Sorry this post should have been directed to re: Angelface
Last edited by Cats2; 11/04/2017 05:28 PM.
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: Angelface]
#148049
11/04/2017 05:35 PM
11/04/2017 05:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081 Clearwater, FL
Biturbo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,081
Clearwater, FL
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Thanks for the nicely-written report. Your paragraph "should I come down" sums it up succinctly. Hearing that the places that have reopened were packed is good news, indeed.
I'm going where the weather suits my clothes.
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: jeepers]
#148050
11/04/2017 06:30 PM
11/04/2017 06:30 PM
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,145 Washington, DC/SXM
Angelface
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,145
Washington, DC/SXM
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jeepers said: Great report. We can only go January so we are. We are going to help some people there if we give money can they get clothes for instance or should we buy & take with us on Plane? Thanks I made a quick trip to Phillipsburg to take my uncle to the bank. It seemed like a lot of stores were open. I also saw many clothing stores open in Marigot when I was driving my mom around. Unless there is something super specific they need, I say give them money so they can spend it on the island.
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: PelicanPirate]
#148051
11/04/2017 06:32 PM
11/04/2017 06:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,145 Washington, DC/SXM
Angelface
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,145
Washington, DC/SXM
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PelicanPirate said: Thanks for the report.
What more can you say about the restaurants such as ocean 82, le cottahe, taste a vin, ...... is there reconstruction going on?
I read where bistrot caraibes was opening on the 7th. I didn't see any, but that doesn't mean that it's not happening. Could be that they just weren't there when I was.
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: Angelface]
#148056
11/05/2017 10:11 AM
11/05/2017 10:11 AM
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132 St Louis, MO
SXMNorm
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,132
St Louis, MO
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First, NO report is too long when talking about SXM. We who follow this Board and others about SXM never get enough info. Thanks especially for your recommendations and thoughts.
Next SXM visit -November 2023. Also January 2024.
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Re: Trip Report - 10/25 - 10/29
[Re: marcy]
#148061
11/05/2017 09:05 PM
11/05/2017 09:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,552 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,552
Central Florida!
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I don't know about restaurants in general, but Grand Marche has been advertising that they accept credit cards
Carol Hill
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