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Today, for once, we didn't feel like enjoying the blessings of Belmond cuisine, so we asked for a recommendation for the evening. We were recommended the Veya. Actually, they also ordered us a cab, but we didn't need it. After a good 15 minute drive, we arrived at the restaurant.
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The restaurant consisted of a closable room in the center, with most of the tables on a wrap-around terrace.
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The interesting menu.
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We started with the fish soup
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and Lobster Fritters.
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I had imagined the fritters a little differently, but they tasted good. The soup did not look special, but it was tasty.
For the main course we had once the grilled lobster with passionfruit mustard auce, baby spinach and gingered sweet patato.
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A delicious dish that I enjoyed.
Second we took grilles jerk tuna, caramelized pineapple, rum, coffee glaze and fried plantains.
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Also a good and interesting dish.
For dessert we had a key lime pie.
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Not the classic kind, but delicious.
Overall a good meal, I can recommend the restaurant. Cheap it was not, but better than in the hotel.
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Westend Cemetery

Webster Mausoleum

Since I was unhappy with the snorkeling at the hotel, we looked for alternatives. In the guidebook we had read that Shoal Bay is known for its underwater gardens. Further, the hotel had reported that Shoal Bay had been voted the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean. So it was our destination.
In advance I had written to a recommended beach restaurant and asked for table and deck chair reservations, but they did not think it necessary to answer us.
When we arrived at the beach, there was a parking lot. In front of it stood a guy and told us it was his parking space. We could use it if we rented deck chairs from him for $10. I doubt it was actually "his" parking lot, I think anyone can park there. But then we rented a deck chair from him and decided to save the lunch we didn't need anyway.
We chose a deck chair, after a short time we wanted to change. Although they were all mixed up, but they did not all belong to the same guy. We noticed that when we wanted to take another, we were namely immediately driven away by the restaurant owner. In the end, you could recognize the deck chairs of our rental company by the fact that they were a bit shabbier. In the end, however, all the deck chairs on the beach were rather simple.
The beach itself is quite nice, but I did not find it outstanding. Anyway, there is no reason to leave the Belmond and live the simple life here.
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There is a large apartment complex on the beach, seen here from the water.
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How was the snorkeling now. Well, that was unique. In any case, you don't need that a second time.
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You really saw almost nothing. Even if it may have been partly due to the somewhat rough sea, you will never find an underwater paradise here in my opinion. I was approached by people on the beach and they seemed to have had the same experience. A woman said they told the tourists as a marketing ploy how great you can snorkel, but in the end it is nothing. I think she was right.

Bethel Methodist Church

On the way to our last sight on Anguilla another sign (the lower one) very fitting to the cemetery. Also interesting that here a funeral home apparently shares the building with a boutique.
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The Facebook page (Rey´s funeral home) is also well worth seeing, it's a different way of dealing with death.

Ebenezer Methodist Church

Ferry to St. Martin

On the way to the ferry I wanted to fill up the car because I had been told that otherwise I would have to pay a fee. Arrived at the gas station I found a sign, it was closed today. Great, so I drove with an empty tank to the ferry port. Once there, I looked for the announced employee of the rental car company, but there was no one there. Also the not exactly motivated on site employee of Cap Juluca could not help me. A man said I should just leave the key in the car, that was no problem on Anguilla. Since I could not reach anyone from the rental car company, I did it later and wrote a mail. Funnily enough, the next day they asked where the car was, they wanted to pick it up sometime. After that, they never contacted me again, and I never received an invoice for the gasoline. That is then also relaxed again....
By the way, I had already asked for transfer possibilities when booking, but at first it was nicely ignored. When I was then shortly before the start of the trip written to one wanted to organize my transfer I had already booked the rental car and had helped myself. Also such an anecdote.....
The ferry terminal is small. At a counter we bought the tickets for the public ferry. If I remember correctly, it was $30 each. Then we had to pay a departure fee, for whatever, we had not yet left enough money on Anguilla. That was another $28 per person. After that we had to show our passports again, went through the pseudo-security and went to the waiting area.
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First a view of the harbor.
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Now we waited nicely for now, private boats were dispatched in front of us (we had seen the people at the Belmond), a group and whoever. At the end finally came our ferry.
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With our 3 heavy suitcases plus hand luggage we were allowed now first all the way down, a real dream. Although I suspect that I would have paid at least the new price of half the boat with a transfer organized by Belmond, but it would probably have been a little more comfortable. At the ferry we put our suitcases, it was then loaded.
The crossing itself is quite short, the ferry anything but luxurious, but sufficient.
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Once we arrived in St. Martin, our bags were the last to be unloaded and we were at the end of the line for immigration. For this, this was very short, there was only a short look at our passport. Welcome back to the European Union.
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Our rental car was waiting in front of the exit. I thought we would pick it up right away, but they took us to the rental car company first. I hardly have to explain that it was not really comfortable to share the back seat with some of the luggage. In addition, especially on the Dutch side there was traffic jam almost everywhere, the drive took an eternity.
In addition, the cell phone connection on the French side where the ferry port is located was initially good (I could use my German contract), with change to the Dutch side, the network was virtually non-existent and you need an international travel package. In general, almost everything on the Dutch side is at least one step worse than on the French side, but more on that later.

As usual, I am enjoying the scenery pics as well as the food pics. But every time I see the food pics, I want to get a snack. :D

Keep up the great reports!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamphs (Post 35234482)

But every time I see the food pics, I want to get a snack. :D

That's a problem I unfortunately know very well.....

Hyundai Sonata VIP

There are major car rental companies on St. Martin. But I wanted a company where I can pick up the car at the ferry and return it at the airport. My choice ultimately fell on Unitycar, where I booked a Hyundai Sonata VIP.
The pickup at the ferry worked, also they brought us to the airport door at the end. So basically rental car with driver on the last meters.
The handover was then quite fast. It was good that I was sold a liability, but they immediately said, because of my Amex I probably do not need comprehensive insurance. Absolutely right. But now the car:
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It was in decent condition, although not too old it had some quirks on the outside (don't be gentle to the rental). But what I do not know for the life of me is what was VIP about it. Cheap cloth seats, a plastic steering wheel and everything else quite cheaply designed. Reminds me a little of "Trabant de Luxe". Was also everything but luxury.....
Otherwise, I would actually have to pay quite a bit to drive a Hyundai. Poor suspension, uncomfortable and a horrible engine. However, I paid $483.84 for 6 days.
I didn't have any problems with scratches or anything when I returned it, it was OK.
As expected, the car did not have a sat nav. So I wanted to navigate with the cell phone. Doof only if you start in the Dutch part and the mobile network does not let you in first. In the end, we wandered once over the island until we finally had network and could navigate to the hotel.

I can't help but notice that that car is not a Hyundai Sonata....