We have breakfast here using groceries we got yesterday from the Super U. Richard cooks eggs over easy, toast, and coffee. It may not look pretty but it tastes great!
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| Breakfast |
Today we intend to drive to Marigot for a bit of sightseeing. We are out the door and in the car by 9:30 am. Can't find a place to park in Marigot other than a spot quite a distance away. I guess walking is good exercise. As we walk we pass the old lighthouse. I remember this from our 1994 trip! First I want to browse through the market. Back in 1994 we visited this same market. It hasn't changed much. Lots of stands selling souvenir stuff like hats, T shirts, totes...........I do find a St. Maarten hat for my son-in-law Bill. I like it because it has the names of both the Dutch side and the French side on it. Cost $10.00 USD. I ask the same lady if she sells pins as I try to find/buy them on my trips. She doesn't have them but takes me over to a friend who does. There are 2 different kinds and I buy them both. Cost for the 2 pins $10.00 USD. I don't see anything else that interests me so it's time to head to our final stop-Ft. Louis. Before making the climb up to this fort I buy 2 bottles of water for $4.00 USD. It is a very hot, sunny day.
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| Old lighthouse |
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| Driving to Marigot |
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I buy my pins here
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| I buy my son-in-laws hat here |
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| Marigot market |
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| Marigot market |
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| I buy bottles of water here |
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| Hat I bought |
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| Pins I bought |
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This picture is from our 1994 visit to the Marigot market
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| 1994 visit to Marigot market |
FORT LOUIS. Built in the 18th century in honor of King Louis XVI of France. Originally built to defend the warehouses in Marigot which would have contained rum, sugarcane, coffee, salt for export. In the 1800s the fort fell into disuse and deteriorated. Then it was restored and used once again before falling into its current situation. Mostly ruins with a few canons lying about. The canons may be replicas. There are some plaques which explain a bit of the fort's history. Known in the present day for its panoramic views. Views of Ft. Louis Marina, Marigot town, Simpson Bay, Nettle Bay, and even at times Anguilla. We visited Ft. Louis back in 1994. Our legs were younger then! There is a set of steep steps to climb. It's not easy when you're in your 70s!! Luckily there's a railing to hold on to. In addition to this first set of steep steps it is very hot today with no shade on the way up. I did read that there's a parking area tucked up the hill bypassing this first set of steps by the Catholic Church. But I didn't know the street to turn into to get to this parking area. It cuts the climb in half. Need to be careful climbing the last set of steps-uneven. I am determined to get to the top but my husband isn't feeling like he wants to continue. He's 79 and has knee problems so he tells me he's going back down and will wait for me there. I feel so bad. It sucks getting old! I finally make it to the top. the views are incredible and remind me when we were here in 1994. However, I think the views were better back in 1994. Not as much weeds, bushes back then. I get some help navigating over to the flagpole by some really young guys. So sweet making sure I don't stumble. I should have packed my hiking poles which we used on our Peru trip back in 2017! I'm thinking to myself-coming down should be easier. But it is so so hot. I take a moment to rest. The tour bus exiting that upper parking area stops. A guy gets out, asks me if I'm ok, and then insists I ride with them to the bottom. Of course the road they go down is not where Richard will be waiting. They ask me about what color clothes he's wearing. We spot him! They let me off and I thank everyone profusely. It's great to know there are still kind people in the world. I don't think I can make that long trek back to where our car is parked. Richard tells me to stay put. he'll get the car and pick me up. I have the most wonderful husband! I had a few more sightseeing stops on the French side but I'm ready to head back to our resort and relax for the rest of the day. Richard agrees.
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| View |
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| French flag |
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| Where the entrance doors once were |
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View
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| Street sign |
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| View |
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| Plaque about the entrance doors |
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| Canon |
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| Think this is the highest point-flagpole with French flag |
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Little known parking lot for Ft. Louis
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| Lots of stairs |
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| View |
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| Entrance to the fort-doors missing |
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| View is amazing |
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| This shows what you're looking at |
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Can't believe I made it!
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View
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| Canon |
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| Canon |
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| View |
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| Panoramic views |
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| Stairs from the street |
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| Almost there |
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| My husband Richard 1994 |
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| I think we parked in this little known lot back in 1994 |
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| Ft. Louis from our 1994 trip |
Unfortunately back at the resort our beach is experiencing the effects of some big swells and the current is strong so I do not stay in the water. I'm really disappointed. Back to the lounger I go and remain.
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Not calm right now
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| Strong current, rough water |
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A bit too rough for me
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Iguana visitor by our loungers
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We decide to go to the Super U and pick up a few things. Some bottles or orange ginger rum for family, some ham, green pepper, tomatoes, pancake syrup, a box of crackers. Cost 24.27€/$25.66 USD. We can make French toast and omelets!! Back we get ready for dinner. I've made reservations for 6:00 pm. We run into a bit of a problem as the police are blocking access to the parking lot. Now what? We see another police officer/gendarme next to his car. I ask him where can we park? He says wait. He moves his car a bit and motions us to park behind him. How sweet! It's not as close to the restaurant as our old lot but......
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I bought 2 bottles of the orange ginger rum for family
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| Our check out order |
OCEAN 82. Dinner. I made these reservations a while ago and had requested a railing table to catch the sunset. We get a great table. In the corner, front row. Drinks-Richard has Mullet Bay beer and likes it so much he orders another but I go for the house special of vodka, raspberries, fresh mint, and some kind of flower liqueur. Yummy! We splurge and get oysters. Richard says but they're 32€. I say we're on vacation! Our server tells us we can get them 3 different ways but we decide to get the oysters on the half shell regular route. Richard does tuna tataki. I do filet mignon, cooked medium. For our side there are several choices. We both choose salad. Everything is delicious. Richard raves about his tuna. My filet is the bomb. The oysters are amazing. Service is exceptional. Do I have room for dessert?? Let me think. Yes! I have to try the Gran Marnier souffle per our server's recommendation. Dessert arrives with a sparkler! I may have mentioned this trip was to celebrate 54 years marriage when I was making the reservation on line. I'm so happy! What a great meal and that dessert......... Here come the complimentary shots of rum. This time it's the house's own concoction. It's so good I buy 2 bottles to take home. Cost for dinner 141.44€/$150.73 USD. Cash tip $35.00 USD. Cost 2 bottles skull rum 40€/$42.63 USD.
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| Ocean 82 |
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| Ocean 82 |
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Menu
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Menu
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| Menu |
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Menu
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Menu
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Menu
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Menu
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| Sunset |
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| Drinks |
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| Sunset |
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| Our table |
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| Drinks |
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| Sunset |
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Sunset
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| Sunset |
Sunset
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| Sunset |
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| Oysters and bread basket |
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Sunset
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Sunset
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| Our table |
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| View |
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| My filet mignon with dish of béarnaise sauce |
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| Richard's tuna tataki |
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| Sunset |
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| Sunset |
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Our table
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| Sunset |
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| Sunset |
Dessert-Gran Marnier soufflé with sparkler!
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| Love it! |
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Sunset
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For sale
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I bought 2 bottles of the skull rum
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Back home-that's what I'm going to call our place here at GCBC-we get our things ready for tomorrow's Boomerang tour! Looking forward to that but now it's time to get some shut eye. We're both tired.
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