The Insiders' Guide to St. Barths: "Friendly" Island?

I got to the SBH airport at 11AM to drop off my rental car, check my bag, and get ready for my 12:15PM flight to SXM. I was going to have a beer or two at the airport bar but ended up getting put on an 11:15AM flight to SXM instead.
So upon landing on SXM, I go thru immigration where my "Good morning" is met with silence. I went to the Delta counter to get my boarding passes...no line...no problems...no personality here either. It's like 11:30 so I know everyone hasn't just woken up.
Determined not to be brought down by the moods of those I've just previously encountered, I'm off to the Aqua restaurant across from the airport that I've heard positive things about. When I get there I'm told the electricity had just gone out so the kitchen won't be open any time soon. No problem...these things happen. I decided to have a beer while I mull over my other options. The beer is as cold as the service...the bartender is in a bad mood because the chef is not helping her although she didn't look that busy to me, but she clearly did not want to be there. I'm not even asked if I would like another one(which any one who knows me knows I can't say no to another)...I couldn't even ask for another beer as the bartender was standing outside of the restaurant leaving what few customers she had inside unattended. She was clearly not having a good day and wasn't afraid to let everyone know this. I would have liked to have witnessed the interview process when this hire was made...I shudder to think about who got turned down & what they must have been like. Unbelieveable really.
So I went back to the airport to catch a cab to the Sunset Beach Bar. Cab driver was OK...not much of a conversationalist though...good thing it's a short ride.
When I got to the Sunset Beach Bar things were looking up...so were the drink prices. It doesn't look like much of the extra revenue being acquired is being put back into the place though. It seemed pretty worn around the edges. The food was passable...the service was OK...but still more public bickering amongst the employees...fighting over tips.
I did meet one good guy on SXM (Phil from Long Island) who offered to give me a ride back to the airport so I bought him a drink as a thank you.
Sadly, SXM has seen the last of me for a while. It's really too bad because I keep holding out hope that the next impression I get while be a good one, but it keeps getting worse. After a week on SBH...SXM has a really tough act to follow though.
Eric

--------------------