Just returned to St Mar. after a 3 year break. Had a great time.
What I found differant: Cupecoy area is really built up, Cliff Side Bar is closed, Seem's the Cliff, the Rainbow and Cupecoy Apts have made that beach all but inaccessible to anyone but owners.
Traffic did not seem to be bad at all.
Islanders say the economy is very slow and they are hurting(so they say)
Bar's & Restaurants: Topper's (Simpson Bay area) was great. A new Restaurant by Soprano's in Maho (Bagoto or something like that) was excellent, very nice.
French Restaurant at Atlantis Casino (TBone soon to be The Manhattan) was fantastic but expensive! Oliver was our waiter he was great. The Frau Gua was to die for (excuse my spelling)
Sun Set Beach Bar is open under new owners (can just imagine what happened there). More expensive than the boat on the other side of the beach.
Police: French police are getting nasty, They will stop you and give you a Breathalyzer test (yup even tourists) If you are over the limit they haul you in (don't know what happens then) Seat Belts, $700 fine for no seat belt, $35 speeding, Pay it on the spot or they confiscate your jewelry for co lateral!(just what I've been told) I know they were all over the place on the French side.
Jewelry: My Favorite is Ballerina's. Have been dealing with Robbie for years as he treats us well. Told us other place's pay huge fee's to the cruise ships for a recommendation, They depend on word of mouth, keeping price's lower. So there is my word of mouth. Tell Robbie Dave and Connie sent you.
The Sapphire: My Pet Peeve, It was good but they really need to stay on top of repairing the little things that add up to overall appearance.
All in all a great trip but to short. Go and enjoy.

Thanks for the trip report. I assume you had a good time despite the few negative notes. I believe the restaurant is called Bajatzu and I agree that the food is very good there. It probably had just opened after your last trip because it has been there for a few years now. And I assume the French restaurant you ate at was Montmatre (sp). And I as well enjoyed Toppers for the first time this past trip. We went to Topper by the Sea as we enjoy a nice view whenever possible.

Thanks again.

[www.vrbo.com]

Life is not a child's game of follow the Leader. Instead, life is more about finding one's own purpose in life....your life's plan, and then making a positive difference on earth.

glad you had a good time
thanks for the report
I think the restaurant you are talking about in Maho is Bajatzu isn't it?
[www.bajatzu.com]

[barcann.livejournal.com]

Hey!

Thanks for reporting! From some reports in the papers and blogs over the last 2 months it seems the Police controls on both sides have been finding some people who may be responsible for crimes during their stops.

Police here in APOPKA Florida have been stopping tourists/locals as well, and giving them the breathalyser and fining for no seat belts. They also are fining for cell phone use whle driving. DUI fines are in the thousands!

Glad you had a good week. Cupecoy is becoming a concrete jungle and the roads need replacing soon. Perhaps it will all come together before your next =trip.

Denis

Barbara, I heard the owner of Bajatzu was the owner/operator of the old Airport restaurant. Would you know, thanks.

Thanks for taking time to post your report. Thanks also for reminder about driving in SXM on both sides. Three years?,...alot of changes in the past 3 years.

Thanks for the trip report.
Surely you must have seen a change in the cupecoye area regarding developpement, but the beach is still accessible by everyone, not only the appartements owner since nothing had changed about access...before the building of the rainbow, there was a vaccant lot with no public access to the beach, idem for the Cliff, and Cupecoye beach club always had (and still have...) a public access to the beach. Otherwise access can be made from the parking lot located next to the Ocean Club.
That's good that the gendarmes are stepping in in checking and giving fine since the some of the problems regarding DUI, actually, concern the tourism population who came down to party and "have a good time" as well as the youth... and also...: nobody is exhonerate to abide by and follow the law.

Kind Regards,
Philippe



[www.facebook.com]

Yes Bob that is correct.
Cheers
irina

yep, he owned the old airport restaurant. and Bob, do you remember Callalou Restaurant on front Street? Back in the day it was THE place!
He used to own that too.

[barcann.livejournal.com]

Barbara,

Wasn't the owner of Bajatzu also the manager of either the Gourmet Restaurant at MBR&C or the head of their convention catering department once upon a time?

The first time we went there right after it opened, we recognized one of the waiters but were unable to place him, so after pondering the question throughout the meal we finally asked and if I'm remembering correctly, that's what he told us.

Respectfully,

pat

Hi Pat!
He was in charge of Food and Beverage back in the days at Mullet Bay Resort !
Brings alot of pain to even mention that Company!

Man, you guys have some seriously good memories.. That's going way back.
I had forgotten that!
That's like in another lifetime!

[barcann.livejournal.com]

I always wear mine anyway but is it a law that you have to wear seat belts in SXM? Passengers too or just driver? And what about talking on a cell phone (never use one in SXM but my kids are going soon and I am sure they will bring theirs)

yes, it is a law on both sides of the island. you must wear seat belts. and talking on cell phones while driving is not allowed.

[barcann.livejournal.com]

$700 fine for no seatbelt?

but $35 fine for speeding?

Is this correct?