PeterLynn
Senior Insider
Sixth visit to the island and the fifth on Flamands. After a mad dash, sub-hour connection, in ATL and the tent city in SXM last year, decided to give Tradewind a try. Wonderful experience. Fortunately we have a direct flight from IAH to SJU, which eliminated one connection. Arrived around 3:45 and after an hour-ish wait in the lounge, were escorted out to an otherwise empty plane. Turns out we had our own private charter! Flight was smooth and in an hour we were arcing over saline with what turned out to be our first over water landing. Captured some great video. As the last flight of the day, everyone from the gendarme to Odile seemed anxious get us on our way so that they could head home. Who could blame them! While we love the sun, surf and evenings at some great restaurants, we always find dusk a special time with the warm hues and the hustle and bustle as activities and routines shift from day to night.
With the villa unavailable until Saturday, and no real reason to spend Friday in San Juan, we booked a single night in the Sunset in Gustavia. Nice place. Inexpensive and centrally located. Definitely consider them again when a single night is needed. Washed up and headed next door for a delicious meal of moules marinieres et frites at Le Repaire. Wonderful way to start the trip. Took a stroll along the quay to Le Select where a couple of hours were spent with a bottle of rose in the midst of what seemed like most of the island "millennials". Good fun.
This morning, we headed over to Le Creperie, which didn't open until 10:30, so we strolled over to Choisy for petite dejuner. Back to the hotel, we checked out and loaded up the Jimny (none of them seem to have spare tires on the back anymore???) and dropped our luggage off at SiBarth to take on to the villa. With the freed up space, we stopped at Segeco for our annual case of VC. 225 euros for 6! Headed up to Lurin and Santa Fe to check on the rumors of their summer closing. Turns out they are open until June 15, so lunch for next week is back on. Dropped down to gouverneurs, because the drive never gets old. After several more stops, we ended up in St Jean for some "leche-vitrine" and a first-time lunch at Kiki-e-mo. Very low key, nice friendly service and delicious durade burger all while watching the stream of taxis dropping off Nikki newbies across the road. With the clock ticking toward the magic 3:00 hour, stopped at Pearl Beach for Apperol Spritzers. About mid-way through Bikini Saturday, the text finally arrived that announced the villa was ready! Quick detour to the Marche for supplies (Rose, ice, coffee, rose, water and more rose) and we are soon "Home".
This evening we had our annual stroll down the beach to La Langouste for the official "First Meal". So looking forward to Benjamin, but alas, he left the island a week ago. While the service was every bit as good, his laugh and energy will be sorely missed. Based on forum recommendations, had the sole, which was absolutely wonderful. Can't believe I have never ordered it before! Wife had the delicious and incredibly rich Langouste Tagliatelles. With the restaurant filling up, we finished and made reservations for our "Last Meal". Shared Langouste Grilee??
Some initial thoughts. Lot's of villa and infrastructure construction everywhere, but less frantic than last year. Sort of strange, but the
With the villa unavailable until Saturday, and no real reason to spend Friday in San Juan, we booked a single night in the Sunset in Gustavia. Nice place. Inexpensive and centrally located. Definitely consider them again when a single night is needed. Washed up and headed next door for a delicious meal of moules marinieres et frites at Le Repaire. Wonderful way to start the trip. Took a stroll along the quay to Le Select where a couple of hours were spent with a bottle of rose in the midst of what seemed like most of the island "millennials". Good fun.
This morning, we headed over to Le Creperie, which didn't open until 10:30, so we strolled over to Choisy for petite dejuner. Back to the hotel, we checked out and loaded up the Jimny (none of them seem to have spare tires on the back anymore???) and dropped our luggage off at SiBarth to take on to the villa. With the freed up space, we stopped at Segeco for our annual case of VC. 225 euros for 6! Headed up to Lurin and Santa Fe to check on the rumors of their summer closing. Turns out they are open until June 15, so lunch for next week is back on. Dropped down to gouverneurs, because the drive never gets old. After several more stops, we ended up in St Jean for some "leche-vitrine" and a first-time lunch at Kiki-e-mo. Very low key, nice friendly service and delicious durade burger all while watching the stream of taxis dropping off Nikki newbies across the road. With the clock ticking toward the magic 3:00 hour, stopped at Pearl Beach for Apperol Spritzers. About mid-way through Bikini Saturday, the text finally arrived that announced the villa was ready! Quick detour to the Marche for supplies (Rose, ice, coffee, rose, water and more rose) and we are soon "Home".
This evening we had our annual stroll down the beach to La Langouste for the official "First Meal". So looking forward to Benjamin, but alas, he left the island a week ago. While the service was every bit as good, his laugh and energy will be sorely missed. Based on forum recommendations, had the sole, which was absolutely wonderful. Can't believe I have never ordered it before! Wife had the delicious and incredibly rich Langouste Tagliatelles. With the restaurant filling up, we finished and made reservations for our "Last Meal". Shared Langouste Grilee??
Some initial thoughts. Lot's of villa and infrastructure construction everywhere, but less frantic than last year. Sort of strange, but the
Island seemed very quiet. Not as much traffic nor activity at the airport. Maybe it's just me. What is quite obvious though is how brown everything is. Odile said it's been five months without significant rainfall. Forecast shows rain on Sunday. Being a "villa day", I'd love sun, but won't be sad if it pours. The place desperately needs it.
A few pictures:
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A few pictures:
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