Bonjour to everyone!
24 hours in and all is great! We made it down and the luggage karma all worked, as all the bags got here. Only had to pay one bag for the little Winair flight..I have NO idea how I will be getting home. It was a little cool and quite windy on the way in but still fine. There was a wedding reception on the beach last night so directly off our beautiful suite with 2 bathrooms, a living room, bedroom and huge deck with tables and chairs, we were welcomed by a big fireworks show and an all night DJ party music. All the benefits of a free party!! Some Lebanese/American/French guy with his new American wife and a bunch of friends and relatives. Very nice set up. If anybody needs to get married, that is the way to do it!
Everyone was so nice at Reception and it was like a homecoming. Our former Concierge, Yann, was still here, and another one we knew will be back later in the week. It was very nice!
When we arrived at the room, they had some gifts waiting for us. A golf hat for DD, pareo for me, a big bottle of champage, chocolates, nice note..this year, in the room with your robe, they give you a pair of Guanahani flipflops to keep..2 bathrooms, 2 pairs each! Very nice addition to the previous time when the footwear was slippers, which were nice, too. These are much more practical, and a great souvenir. They changed from Hermes bath products
but are now giving Clarins , so it is all good. Fekkai, too, for the hair.
Of course, the first night we were lucky to get a reservation at everybody's favorite pizza restaurant on the island, Andy's Hideaway. This is a great first night, informal, not too expensive (in the context of this stratospheric prices) and of course, the Saint Barth tradition at the end of the meal, Vanilla Rhum (Rhum Vanille). (They have maybe the best pizza anywhere, a good reason to travel this far. ) Rhum Vanille is reason enough to come to the island..fabulous after dinner drink that might kill you if you overindulge. Having slept 4 hrs. the night before (first time I could sleep on a plane, at least from SAN to ATL!), we did not overindulge, but it was hard not to..the stuff is to die for. So we went to bed normal time and got up and went to the great breakfast at L'Indigo, the Guanahani resto by the pool..always favorites..great French coffee, croissants, apple tarte (I ate it first; life is short), and a great fashion parade of people wearing very nice things that of course, you will never find in the US..lots of fun to see what people had on.
Then we sat on the beach a bit, and the weather, which apparently has been abominable for 2 weeks, cleared a little and we took a ride on a road down to Grand Fond and Toiny, which we hadn't been on and saw some goats. Water is quite rough down there, so some surfers, but really, no one goes to the beach there because of the current..no swimming.
You'd think we would not need to eat more, but yes..that is why you come and Sunday lunch is a very popular time to go out. So we headed over to a place on St. Jean Beach down from Eden Rock and had one of the most wonderful times at La Plage, the beach restaurant of Tom's Beach Hotel, a very simple hotel but a very cool beach restaurant. I had a great goat cheese salad artfully arranged with alternating slices of tomato and roasted apple, like in an apple tarte..fabulous combo you would never think of. DD had frites (what else) and Salade Nicoise. The cocktails were amazing: I had a passionfruit martini and I don't even drink Martinis, and DD had our very well liked Planteur's Punch cocktail..the best ones we have ever had, and much less expensive than the Guanahani! About 1/2 the price. The vibe was fabulous, great DJ, fashion show from their boutique, and I think this is DD's new "home away from home". Of course we talked to some people, met the owner of Black Swan boutique and got to play with their dogs. Lots of fun.
Then walked over the the Eden Rock to check out what was happening, looked in the boutique (OK, kind of expensive, but it is the end of the season), checked out the Time Share deal at the Eden Rock just for the info (don't barf MikeR..we know people who got one..), and checked out a friend's Villa SIB RFP, I think; one of the best one on St. Jean beach!! Very luxe..so maybe we will stay a few more days. I might have to get serious about extending the visit...I don't think it costs much to change tickets if there are free seats..and there probably aren't but we are totally IN for next year.
Driving is still a crap shoot, but DD is the perfect person to handle the roads, having made simulators. Wish I had thought about that before..should have made many "business trips" for research. If you can drive here, you can drive anywhere, for sure.
Dinner at Barto at the Guanahani 'cause it was included in the Romance Package, and got to know the very kind piano player..one conversation down here and everyone is like family. They offered us another round of champagne for DD's birthday. My appetizer of truffle risotto was really to kill for, the main dish I had, veal, was very boring, but I was already stuffed. Mostly I fed the veal to the cats who come around at the Guanahani..they are pets here and are very well cared for, with vet. services, etc..and I love animals, so got lots of pets in tonight. I really think they loved me more for my gazillion dollar veal..glad it was included. The dessert, however, was another extraordinary very foo foo red berries tart with a passionfruit crust..DD was swooning. His main course was much better than mine, a pasta with manila clam thing, but honestly, we had to send back the clams because they had not opened. I would just recommend the appetizers and desserts; the main dishes were honestly not interesting, although they sounded like they might be. If it weren't included, I would not have had dinner here, in all honesty, but it was an enjoyable experience with the staff..very nice staff!
Well, this is not very elaborate, because some of it was part of a letter to our family, and I did take a few photos with my old Canon SD 870 as I did not have time to buy a new one, but I sure thought of Amy with her fab food pix..I have some as soon as I figure out how to post them. They currently sit in the My Pictures file.
Will try to write more as time goes on...it is late..oh yeah, went by L'Oasis, picked up a few little French bath/shampoo product goodies (I am a confirmed junkie..don't even ask how anything gets home..) and more importantly, found a bottle of Rhum Vanille from Albert! Haven't tried it yet..did I say that they gave us Rhum Vanille at La Plage?? Oh, I just loved those people there..DD might end up having lunch again tomorrow there..the Manager David (not really sure if that is his position, but he seemed in charge) told me to call him and he would arrange a bday celebration..did I say that the drinks were amazing?? Better go to bed..I haven't had that many drinks in a year..
Oh, and best wishes to all who are on their way..14 hours of flying/sitting were worth it!!
Safe travels..I am sending the luggage karma to you. Oh, and the weather got a bit better today..still windy but lovely temp and warm but not hot..DD saw a mosquito on the deck and came in but the Guanahani has provided everything you can think of: Cutter advanced sport, Baygon, converter plugs, umbrellas (don't need it!), beach umbrellas (will need it)..hairdryers (good thing because my very heavy, rather expensive converter wouldn't make my T3 hairdryer go..found out that it can't be used for any 3 prong (grounded) plug..hope I don't have to buy a new one..those T3s are pricey..
Bonne nuit, tout le monde!!
A mercredi,
DM
24 hours in and all is great! We made it down and the luggage karma all worked, as all the bags got here. Only had to pay one bag for the little Winair flight..I have NO idea how I will be getting home. It was a little cool and quite windy on the way in but still fine. There was a wedding reception on the beach last night so directly off our beautiful suite with 2 bathrooms, a living room, bedroom and huge deck with tables and chairs, we were welcomed by a big fireworks show and an all night DJ party music. All the benefits of a free party!! Some Lebanese/American/French guy with his new American wife and a bunch of friends and relatives. Very nice set up. If anybody needs to get married, that is the way to do it!
Everyone was so nice at Reception and it was like a homecoming. Our former Concierge, Yann, was still here, and another one we knew will be back later in the week. It was very nice!
When we arrived at the room, they had some gifts waiting for us. A golf hat for DD, pareo for me, a big bottle of champage, chocolates, nice note..this year, in the room with your robe, they give you a pair of Guanahani flipflops to keep..2 bathrooms, 2 pairs each! Very nice addition to the previous time when the footwear was slippers, which were nice, too. These are much more practical, and a great souvenir. They changed from Hermes bath products
but are now giving Clarins , so it is all good. Fekkai, too, for the hair.Of course, the first night we were lucky to get a reservation at everybody's favorite pizza restaurant on the island, Andy's Hideaway. This is a great first night, informal, not too expensive (in the context of this stratospheric prices) and of course, the Saint Barth tradition at the end of the meal, Vanilla Rhum (Rhum Vanille). (They have maybe the best pizza anywhere, a good reason to travel this far. ) Rhum Vanille is reason enough to come to the island..fabulous after dinner drink that might kill you if you overindulge. Having slept 4 hrs. the night before (first time I could sleep on a plane, at least from SAN to ATL!), we did not overindulge, but it was hard not to..the stuff is to die for. So we went to bed normal time and got up and went to the great breakfast at L'Indigo, the Guanahani resto by the pool..always favorites..great French coffee, croissants, apple tarte (I ate it first; life is short), and a great fashion parade of people wearing very nice things that of course, you will never find in the US..lots of fun to see what people had on.
Then we sat on the beach a bit, and the weather, which apparently has been abominable for 2 weeks, cleared a little and we took a ride on a road down to Grand Fond and Toiny, which we hadn't been on and saw some goats. Water is quite rough down there, so some surfers, but really, no one goes to the beach there because of the current..no swimming.
You'd think we would not need to eat more, but yes..that is why you come and Sunday lunch is a very popular time to go out. So we headed over to a place on St. Jean Beach down from Eden Rock and had one of the most wonderful times at La Plage, the beach restaurant of Tom's Beach Hotel, a very simple hotel but a very cool beach restaurant. I had a great goat cheese salad artfully arranged with alternating slices of tomato and roasted apple, like in an apple tarte..fabulous combo you would never think of. DD had frites (what else) and Salade Nicoise. The cocktails were amazing: I had a passionfruit martini and I don't even drink Martinis, and DD had our very well liked Planteur's Punch cocktail..the best ones we have ever had, and much less expensive than the Guanahani! About 1/2 the price. The vibe was fabulous, great DJ, fashion show from their boutique, and I think this is DD's new "home away from home". Of course we talked to some people, met the owner of Black Swan boutique and got to play with their dogs. Lots of fun.
Then walked over the the Eden Rock to check out what was happening, looked in the boutique (OK, kind of expensive, but it is the end of the season), checked out the Time Share deal at the Eden Rock just for the info (don't barf MikeR..we know people who got one..), and checked out a friend's Villa SIB RFP, I think; one of the best one on St. Jean beach!! Very luxe..so maybe we will stay a few more days. I might have to get serious about extending the visit...I don't think it costs much to change tickets if there are free seats..and there probably aren't but we are totally IN for next year.
Driving is still a crap shoot, but DD is the perfect person to handle the roads, having made simulators. Wish I had thought about that before..should have made many "business trips" for research. If you can drive here, you can drive anywhere, for sure.
Dinner at Barto at the Guanahani 'cause it was included in the Romance Package, and got to know the very kind piano player..one conversation down here and everyone is like family. They offered us another round of champagne for DD's birthday. My appetizer of truffle risotto was really to kill for, the main dish I had, veal, was very boring, but I was already stuffed. Mostly I fed the veal to the cats who come around at the Guanahani..they are pets here and are very well cared for, with vet. services, etc..and I love animals, so got lots of pets in tonight. I really think they loved me more for my gazillion dollar veal..glad it was included. The dessert, however, was another extraordinary very foo foo red berries tart with a passionfruit crust..DD was swooning. His main course was much better than mine, a pasta with manila clam thing, but honestly, we had to send back the clams because they had not opened. I would just recommend the appetizers and desserts; the main dishes were honestly not interesting, although they sounded like they might be. If it weren't included, I would not have had dinner here, in all honesty, but it was an enjoyable experience with the staff..very nice staff!
Well, this is not very elaborate, because some of it was part of a letter to our family, and I did take a few photos with my old Canon SD 870 as I did not have time to buy a new one, but I sure thought of Amy with her fab food pix..I have some as soon as I figure out how to post them. They currently sit in the My Pictures file.
Will try to write more as time goes on...it is late..oh yeah, went by L'Oasis, picked up a few little French bath/shampoo product goodies (I am a confirmed junkie..don't even ask how anything gets home..) and more importantly, found a bottle of Rhum Vanille from Albert! Haven't tried it yet..did I say that they gave us Rhum Vanille at La Plage?? Oh, I just loved those people there..DD might end up having lunch again tomorrow there..the Manager David (not really sure if that is his position, but he seemed in charge) told me to call him and he would arrange a bday celebration..did I say that the drinks were amazing?? Better go to bed..I haven't had that many drinks in a year..
Oh, and best wishes to all who are on their way..14 hours of flying/sitting were worth it!!
Safe travels..I am sending the luggage karma to you. Oh, and the weather got a bit better today..still windy but lovely temp and warm but not hot..DD saw a mosquito on the deck and came in but the Guanahani has provided everything you can think of: Cutter advanced sport, Baygon, converter plugs, umbrellas (don't need it!), beach umbrellas (will need it)..hairdryers (good thing because my very heavy, rather expensive converter wouldn't make my T3 hairdryer go..found out that it can't be used for any 3 prong (grounded) plug..hope I don't have to buy a new one..those T3s are pricey..
Bonne nuit, tout le monde!!
A mercredi,
DM
