The Insiders' Guide to St. Barths: Trip report SXM Feb. 2002

Recently spent a week in SXM at villa turquoise rented through Carimo. Beautiful hillside villa with spectacular view of Baie Rouge. Highlights of trip were peaceful surf and great shade in grotto below La Samana where we spent several days and the peaceful lapping water on the now very narrow beach at Isle de Pinel. Bummers were the rough surf at Plum beach and Baie Rouge. Meals at Pinel were super as always; 3 lb lobster for two with bottle of rose, two chairs and umbrella for the day about $100. Also had great meals at the Fish Pot in Grande Case and at Il Netuno where Matteo from Calabria entertains nightly with love songs on his guitar. Mini Club in Marigot has great lobster salad with whole ripe avacado for $17.00. Mini club also makes great lemon souffle at $16.00 for two (order as you begin ordering meal, it takes 20-30 minutes). People very friendly, but car 1 and 2 had popped trunk locks. Casinos and clubs were nearly empty on the nights we went, maybe the armed guards we saw everywhere after 6 pm kept people close to home. Great pictures at butterfly farm, $10 admission good for the week. Great riding on the beach from ok-corral stables. Large sea turtles swam under us while we had a delightful lunch at Capt. Oliver's in Oyster Pond. All in all a nice week.