Samedi 11 Mai

Heavy rains in the night - locals say it was very much needed. Lovely morning this morning, though, with abundant sunshine. We decided to walk down the hills to the little store where we purchased fresh pastries that were still warm from the oven. The plan was to bring them back to the room and consume them with fruit, coffee, and eggs or yogurt, but the key wouldn't work in the door. It had somehow demagnetized. Ergo we ate our pastries at a picnic table outside the office as the office personnel had not yet arrived for the day. Since they still weren't there when we finished the pastries around 7:15, we decided to walk back down the hills to Mr. Busby's beach bar where they serve breakfast. We had coffee and a breakfast sandwich with freshly fried johnny cake filled with two fried eggs and cheese. It was quite yummy and we sat at a table looking out over the sunshiny beach, watching the waves crash onto the shore. A delightful way to deal with the problem of being temporarily locked out of the room. We hiked back up the hill after breakfast and the office staff had come in. We were able to get them to take us up to the room and recharge our key. They aren't supposed to make extra keys because this is a privately-owned unit but apparently they contacted the owner and let him know that they needed to make extras so this didn't happen again. We still only have one in our possession, but now they have some spares that work. Dad has been cautioned to carry it in a pocket without metal keys or electronic devices that might affect the magnetization of the key card. The sandwich at Busby's was good, but I swear the coffee was instant even though they did pour the refills out of a pot. Either instant or made with water with a strong mineral taste, but I'm betting on the former. We made some better stuff with a mango for our fruit upon return to the room. Wow! It has already been another day in paradise, as the gentleman who served our breakfast suggested. We headed out a little later than usual this morning and stopped at a nearby, more rugged beach area that is actually a nature preserve. A gentleman who works the area showed us some of the local inhabitants by scooping up some sea urchins for us to safely hold, as well as a live sand dollar and sea starfish. He then showed us how to walk through a substantial bay in the shallows area out to a rocky point strewn with seashells and inhabited by all manner of urchins and other small critters. We had a great time poking around the area. Unfortunately our friend had left for lunch by the time we returned so we missed our chance to give him his well-deserved tip. We didn't feel comfortable leaving the money in the unattended tip jar. Afterward we headed a little up the road to a creperie that had been well-recommended by Bob and Mary Williams. It didn't look like much on the outside, but the food was outstanding. I had a buckwheat crepe with scallops and leek cream sauce inside and a couple of beautiful grilled shrimp w/veggies on top. A few greens with a horseradish dressing completed the plate. Dad's crepe was filled with goat cheese and artichokes. We shared a dessert crepe with pears, chocolate drizzle and ice cream. We finished our afternoon at Orient Beach, the premiere beach of St. Maarten. We both had a little rest in the sun, which I continued and Dad enjoyed a little foray of snorkeling in the immediate vicinity. I plan to utilize the blender here to mix a little of the mango rum with the coconut ice cream for a pre-dinner treat. Tonight I think we'll go back to Orient Village, possibly to the same place we enjoyed so much on Wed night or possibly to the place next door if their specials call our name. Aaah, life is good.