Hello All,
So we are back from a 10 day trip to OB, our first return in 2 years and I wanted to write an update to my last report.
Well...in a nutshell 🥥, not much has changed in the past two years. Now I can't speak about the rest of the island as we spent the entire trip ( for the most part ) in Orient village and beach with a few trips into Grand Case for dinner, strolling and the Tuesday night parade ( that was great! ).
There really hasn't been any significant change with OB in the past 2 years but I guess there are a few things worth a mention. Cedrick now has a little gift shop alongside tthe Perch Lite where there is a small ( emphasis on small ) gift shop. One cool thing is that he is selling tee shirts with the old Club Orient logo and style. There are also a lot more chairs and a bigger crowd than last year as well so it appears that people are starting to return. That's really all that comes to mind at the moment as far as the differences go. The Perch Lite is the same and still great, the food is fresh and really good! And the family that owns and runs it are such nice people!! The rubble that was Club O still remains and is changed only due to decay and weather, sad, very sad. To the best of my knowledge after speaking with Cedrick is that evrything is still in the courts and there is no visible end to that so.....
We did an around the island nude catamaran cruise ⛵️with Flagship II that was great, the best day of our trip ( and all our other days were great too). One thing to note, if you decide to do the nude catamaran there is one that parks right off the beach with the Adam and Eve logo ( same owners as Adam and Eve Hotel ). From others we spoke with on the beach we did not get a good report, they joked about wanting to jump off the boat and swim ashore to have it be over so....just an FYI. Our trip on Flagship II was just the opposite, we had a great day!! Having said that I do want to say that while their catamaran trip got poor reviews their hotel is great. We stayed at Adam and Eve hotel right before the pandemic and it was great, the husband and wife owners are such nice people and we had a very pleasant experience. So in fairness, hotel good, catamaran trip needs help!!
The Tuesday night mini-Mardi Gras in Grand Case was GREAT!! The guys on the drums are SICK!! 🥁🥁🥁I don't know how they keep up that level of drumming for a complete hour!! My arms hurt just watching them. So much fun!! Ate at the Lolo as always, great and cheap!! For upscale in GC we ate at Rainbow restaurant. Expensive but GREAT FOOD!! Hands down best sushi I ever had in my life. All the food is good. Back in the village we ate at 4 places, Favela, Trattoria, Le Piment ans Sao. Favela was terrible, 2 thumbs down 👎 👎 , looks like they bought premade food from the grocery store and dressed it up. Le Piment was very good as always, not as good as years past but very good ( more to follow ). Trattoria was unimpressive and Sao was great, our last and favorite dinner in the village this time, so much better than 2 years ago now that Sara ( formerly of Le Piment ) has taken over, huge improvement!! Le Piments loss was Sao's gain!!
What else....what else....
Ah, naked early morning walks alond the entire beach still seem acceptable, people I spoke with had no issues at all. I know people always ask about that. I don't do it myself as we sleep in. 😴
Sadly still no volleyball 🏐under order of the still owners of the property, even after tons and tons of requests. Why, I don't exactly know but I will continue to hope.
That's about all that comes to mind at the moment, SXM and OB are still FANTASTIC and I'm so glsd we went back. Sometimes between trips we think about trying a new location or a different island but very soon after we return I think 🤔 " OH Yeah, now I remember why we keep returning...good choice, good choice!!"
Be well and travel safely.

-Robb A.
One Life, One Love, One Island, SXM !!🏖🏝