Pinel Island

He came a-knocking on our door!Well Monday began with a shock. Pam jumped out of bed, all perky and ready to go BEFORE everyone else! It really woke me with a start! I thought there had to be a fire, or an earthquake… although the last time we were in an earthquake, Pam slept through that! So you can imagine, it was very disconcerting for me.

Pinel IslandAfter calling security to ensure all was ok, we decided we should try out Pinel Island. Most of the reviews we have read said that this a not-to-be-missed highlight. It’s a smallish island, fifteen minutes north of our condo, about five minutes across a small bay by water taxi.

The taxi was seven dollars each, for a round trip. Once on the island, the beaches are made of the same fine white powdery sand. There are numerous umbrellas, each with two attached chairs, for rent for fifteen dollars for the day. So that meant $29 for each of us.

A couple of ballyhoo There is a protected marine park, with bouys lining a “course” for you to swim and see a very nice assortment of coral. There were fish, but not as numerous, or as varied as we’ve come to expect. One highlight was certainly the schools of ballyhoo, who swam with us. In other places, they usually do not hang around, but move off. These guys just hung around and there were a lot of them!

Tim with the largest Sgt Major EVER!The current was quite strong, especially when the course left the protected edge of the island. It was a work out! We saw parrotfish, Sgt Majors, trumpetfish, assorted grunts, damselfish, wrasses, etc. The surprising thing is that we have not seen one of my favorite fishes – I call them “flat bottomed dudes” – the trunkfish, cowfish guys. Not one! Amazing.

Maggie waves at a passing ballyhooWe had lunch on Pinel Island, and wow, that was one pricey meal. A simple hamburger with fries was 16 Euros! That’s $24 Canadian folks! So my recommendation is that you pack a lunch if you’re heading to Pinel! A can of diet coke was a steal at 4.50 Canadian.

It was a tiring trip. The surf was strong and gave us all a good workout. We came back to the condo for Pam waves on Pinel Islanda quick change of clothes and a small nap. As the sun set, we thought we’d try the restaurant in the condo called Infinity, which overlooks the infinity pool.

It’s a very nice restaurant. Cloth tableclothes and napkins add to the sense of well being. The waiter was efficient and attentive. The food was spot on, from the “Classic Onion soup” to the coconut chocolate mousse and tiramisu for dessert. Tim had the daily special, a chicken scallopini served with a pasta in a light sauce, and pronounced it excellent. Pam and Maggie had the chicken stuffed with sweet sausage and were delighted with it. GruntsMy roast pork was very nice too. The presentation was on white square plates with a modern plating technique. All in all, it was a terrific end to a really swell day.

By 9:30, I was ready for bed! I might have got a little too much sun, (there is apparently something called sunscreen that can help with that, so I might have to see just what that is….) so tomorrow I think we’ll do some exploring of the towns of Phillipsburg (Dutch) and Marigot (French), maybe take in the forts, and the markets. Pam has wagered that I will be buying AT LEAST three new Hawaiian shirts… We shall see!

Pinel Island

He came a-knocking on our door!Well Monday began with a shock. Pam jumped out of bed, all perky and ready to go BEFORE everyone else! It really woke me with a start! I thought there had to be a fire, or an earthquake… although the last time we were in an earthquake, Pam slept through that! So you can imagine, it was very disconcerting for me.

Pinel IslandAfter calling security to ensure all was ok, we decided we should try out Pinel Island. Most of the reviews we have read said that this a not-to-be-missed highlight. It’s a smallish island, fifteen minutes north of our condo, about five minutes across a small bay by water taxi.

The taxi was seven dollars each, for a round trip. Once on the island, the beaches are made of the same fine white powdery sand. There are numerous umbrellas, each with two attached chairs, for rent for fifteen dollars for the day. So that meant $29 for each of us.

A couple of ballyhoo There is a protected marine park, with bouys lining a “course” for you to swim and see a very nice assortment of coral. There were fish, but not as numerous, or as varied as we’ve come to expect. One highlight was certainly the schools of ballyhoo, who swam with us. In other places, they usually do not hang around, but move off. These guys just hung around and there were a lot of them!

Tim with the largest Sgt Major EVER!The current was quite strong, especially when the course left the protected edge of the island. It was a work out! We saw parrotfish, Sgt Majors, trumpetfish, assorted grunts, damselfish, wrasses, etc. The surprising thing is that we have not seen one of my favorite fishes – I call them “flat bottomed dudes” – the trunkfish, cowfish guys. Not one! Amazing.

Maggie waves at a passing ballyhooWe had lunch on Pinel Island, and wow, that was one pricey meal. A simple hamburger with fries was 16 Euros! That’s $24 Canadian folks! So my recommendation is that you pack a lunch if you’re heading to Pinel! A can of diet coke was a steal at 4.50 Canadian.

It was a tiring trip. The surf was strong and gave us all a good workout. We came back to the condo for Pam waves on Pinel Islanda quick change of clothes and a small nap. As the sun set, we thought we’d try the restaurant in the condo called Infinity, which overlooks the infinity pool.

It’s a very nice restaurant. Cloth tableclothes and napkins add to the sense of well being. The waiter was efficient and attentive. The food was spot on, from the “Classic Onion soup” to the coconut chocolate mousse and tiramisu for dessert. Tim had the daily special, a chicken scallopini served with a pasta in a light sauce, and pronounced it excellent. Pam and Maggie had the chicken stuffed with sweet sausage and were delighted with it. GruntsMy roast pork was very nice too. The presentation was on white square plates with a modern plating technique. All in all, it was a terrific end to a really swell day.

By 9:30, I was ready for bed! I might have got a little too much sun, (there is apparently something called sunscreen that can help with that, so I might have to see just what that is….) so tomorrow I think we’ll do some exploring of the towns of Phillipsburg (Dutch) and Marigot (French), maybe take in the forts, and the markets. Pam has wagered that I will be buying AT LEAST three new Hawaiian shirts… We shall see!

Pinel Island

He came a-knocking on our door!Well Monday began with a shock. Pam jumped out of bed, all perky and ready to go BEFORE everyone else! It really woke me with a start! I thought there had to be a fire, or an earthquake… although the last time we were in an earthquake, Pam slept through that! So you can imagine, it was very disconcerting for me.

Pinel IslandAfter calling security to ensure all was ok, we decided we should try out Pinel Island. Most of the reviews we have read said that this a not-to-be-missed highlight. It’s a smallish island, fifteen minutes north of our condo, about five minutes across a small bay by water taxi.

The taxi was seven dollars each, for a round trip. Once on the island, the beaches are made of the same fine white powdery sand. There are numerous umbrellas, each with two attached chairs, for rent for fifteen dollars for the day. So that meant $29 for each of us.

A couple of ballyhoo There is a protected marine park, with bouys lining a “course” for you to swim and see a very nice assortment of coral. There were fish, but not as numerous, or as varied as we’ve come to expect. One highlight was certainly the schools of ballyhoo, who swam with us. In other places, they usually do not hang around, but move off. These guys just hung around and there were a lot of them!

Tim with the largest Sgt Major EVER!The current was quite strong, especially when the course left the protected edge of the island. It was a work out! We saw parrotfish, Sgt Majors, trumpetfish, assorted grunts, damselfish, wrasses, etc. The surprising thing is that we have not seen one of my favorite fishes – I call them “flat bottomed dudes” – the trunkfish, cowfish guys. Not one! Amazing.

Maggie waves at a passing ballyhooWe had lunch on Pinel Island, and wow, that was one pricey meal. A simple hamburger with fries was 16 Euros! That’s $24 Canadian folks! So my recommendation is that you pack a lunch if you’re heading to Pinel! A can of diet coke was a steal at 4.50 Canadian.

It was a tiring trip. The surf was strong and gave us all a good workout. We came back to the condo for Pam waves on Pinel Islanda quick change of clothes and a small nap. As the sun set, we thought we’d try the restaurant in the condo called Infinity, which overlooks the infinity pool.

It’s a very nice restaurant. Cloth tableclothes and napkins add to the sense of well being. The waiter was efficient and attentive. The food was spot on, from the “Classic Onion soup” to the coconut chocolate mousse and tiramisu for dessert. Tim had the daily special, a chicken scallopini served with a pasta in a light sauce, and pronounced it excellent. Pam and Maggie had the chicken stuffed with sweet sausage and were delighted with it. GruntsMy roast pork was very nice too. The presentation was on white square plates with a modern plating technique. All in all, it was a terrific end to a really swell day.

By 9:30, I was ready for bed! I might have got a little too much sun, (there is apparently something called sunscreen that can help with that, so I might have to see just what that is….) so tomorrow I think we’ll do some exploring of the towns of Phillipsburg (Dutch) and Marigot (French), maybe take in the forts, and the markets. Pam has wagered that I will be buying AT LEAST three new Hawaiian shirts… We shall see!

Pinel Island

He came a-knocking on our door!Well Monday began with a shock. Pam jumped out of bed, all perky and ready to go BEFORE everyone else! It really woke me with a start! I thought there had to be a fire, or an earthquake… although the last time we were in an earthquake, Pam slept through that! So you can imagine, it was very disconcerting for me.

Pinel IslandAfter calling security to ensure all was ok, we decided we should try out Pinel Island. Most of the reviews we have read said that this a not-to-be-missed highlight. It’s a smallish island, fifteen minutes north of our condo, about five minutes across a small bay by water taxi.

The taxi was seven dollars each, for a round trip. Once on the island, the beaches are made of the same fine white powdery sand. There are numerous umbrellas, each with two attached chairs, for rent for fifteen dollars for the day. So that meant $29 for each of us.

A couple of ballyhoo There is a protected marine park, with bouys lining a “course” for you to swim and see a very nice assortment of coral. There were fish, but not as numerous, or as varied as we’ve come to expect. One highlight was certainly the schools of ballyhoo, who swam with us. In other places, they usually do not hang around, but move off. These guys just hung around and there were a lot of them!

Tim with the largest Sgt Major EVER!The current was quite strong, especially when the course left the protected edge of the island. It was a work out! We saw parrotfish, Sgt Majors, trumpetfish, assorted grunts, damselfish, wrasses, etc. The surprising thing is that we have not seen one of my favorite fishes – I call them “flat bottomed dudes” – the trunkfish, cowfish guys. Not one! Amazing.

Maggie waves at a passing ballyhooWe had lunch on Pinel Island, and wow, that was one pricey meal. A simple hamburger with fries was 16 Euros! That’s $24 Canadian folks! So my recommendation is that you pack a lunch if you’re heading to Pinel! A can of diet coke was a steal at 4.50 Canadian.

It was a tiring trip. The surf was strong and gave us all a good workout. We came back to the condo for Pam waves on Pinel Islanda quick change of clothes and a small nap. As the sun set, we thought we’d try the restaurant in the condo called Infinity, which overlooks the infinity pool.

It’s a very nice restaurant. Cloth tableclothes and napkins add to the sense of well being. The waiter was efficient and attentive. The food was spot on, from the “Classic Onion soup” to the coconut chocolate mousse and tiramisu for dessert. Tim had the daily special, a chicken scallopini served with a pasta in a light sauce, and pronounced it excellent. Pam and Maggie had the chicken stuffed with sweet sausage and were delighted with it. GruntsMy roast pork was very nice too. The presentation was on white square plates with a modern plating technique. All in all, it was a terrific end to a really swell day.

By 9:30, I was ready for bed! I might have got a little too much sun, (there is apparently something called sunscreen that can help with that, so I might have to see just what that is….) so tomorrow I think we’ll do some exploring of the towns of Phillipsburg (Dutch) and Marigot (French), maybe take in the forts, and the markets. Pam has wagered that I will be buying AT LEAST three new Hawaiian shirts… We shall see!

Pinel Island

He came a-knocking on our door!Well Monday began with a shock. Pam jumped out of bed, all perky and ready to go BEFORE everyone else! It really woke me with a start! I thought there had to be a fire, or an earthquake… although the last time we were in an earthquake, Pam slept through that! So you can imagine, it was very disconcerting for me.

Pinel Island After calling security to ensure all was ok, we decided we should try out Pinel Island. Most of the reviews we have read said that this a not-to-be-missed highlight. It’s a smallish island, fifteen minutes north of our condo, about five minutes across a small bay by water taxi.

The taxi was seven dollars each, for a round trip. Once on the island, the beaches are made of the same fine white powdery sand. There are numerous umbrellas, each with two attached chairs, for rent for fifteen dollars for the day. So that meant $29 for each of us.

A couple of ballyhoo       There is a protected marine park, with bouys lining a “course” for you to swim and see a very nice assortment of coral. There were fish, but not as numerous, or as varied as we’ve come to expect. One highlight was certainly the schools of ballyhoo, who swam with us. In other places, they usually do not hang around, but move off. These guys just hung around and there were a lot of them!

Tim with the largest Sgt Major EVER!The current was quite strong, especially when the course left the protected edge of the island. It was a work out! We saw parrotfish, Sgt Majors, trumpetfish, assorted grunts, damselfish, wrasses, etc. The surprising thing is that we have not seen one of my favorite fishes – I call them “flat bottomed dudes” – the trunkfish, cowfish guys. Not one! Amazing.

Maggie waves at a passing ballyhooWe had lunch on Pinel Island, and wow, that was one pricey meal. A simple hamburger with fries was 16 Euros! That’s $24 Canadian folks! So my recommendation is that you pack a lunch if you’re heading to Pinel! A can of diet coke was a steal at 4.50 Canadian.

It was a tiring trip. The surf was strong and gave us all a good workout. We came back to the condo for Pam waves on Pinel Islanda quick change of clothes and a small nap. As the sun set, we thought we’d try the restaurant in the condo called Infinity, which overlooks the infinity pool.

It’s a very nice restaurant. Cloth tableclothes and napkins add to the sense of well being. The waiter was efficient and attentive. The food was spot on, from the “Classic Onion soup” to the coconut chocolate mousse and tiramisu for dessert. Tim had the daily special, a chicken scallopini served with a pasta in a light sauce, and pronounced it excellent. Pam and Maggie had the chicken stuffed with sweet sausage and were delighted with it. Grunts My roast pork was very nice too. The presentation was on white square plates with a modern plating technique. All in all, it was a terrific end to a really swell day.

By 9:30, I was ready for bed! I might have got a little too much sun, (there is apparently something called sunscreen that can help with that, so I might have to see just what that is….) so tomorrow I think we’ll do some exploring of the towns of Phillipsburg (Dutch) and Marigot (French), maybe take in the forts, and the markets. Pam has wagered that I will be buying AT LEAST three new Hawaiian shirts… We shall see!

Friar's Beach

The reef at Oyster BayOur first dive into the ocean out front of our hotel was a bit disappointing. The entry to the water is fantastic, with some unbelievably soft sand. It is exceptionally fine sand, but there is quite a bit of seaweed in spots.

Queen AngelsThe water is lovely and warm. There are no fish over the sandy bits, and when we finally got out to some reef, the waves were really too strong to make it enjoyable. We stayed for a bit, but decided to try another beach.

After a nice lunch at Busby’s by the Beach, we piled in the car and risked the potholes. We headed over to the French side, and picked a beach called Friar’s Bay. There were a lot of locals there, and only a couple topless bathers.

The fish were the usual suspects – Sgt Majors, wrasses, parrot fish, etc. But we did see a trio of Queen Angels who were hanging around with a bunch of yellowtail snapper.

Friar's Bay beach as seen from the ocean.Most stores were closed, since it was Sunday. We drove around the entire island, and it looks like it’s going to be a fun place to explore.
There are a couple of forts, and lots of pretty flowers. It seems a lot more lush than Aruba, that’s for sure.

Dinner was at Daniel’s, the restaurant that Busby’s by the Beach turns into at night. It specializes in Italian food, so naturally we had fish! Pam, Maggie and I all had the special of the day, Snapper in a black pepper sauce. We were all very satisfied with it. Service was attentive and efficient. It was great fun to watch the waiters head to the fresh lobster tank and Infinity pool fish out people’s dinner. They would grab them by the antennae, set them on the floor, then scoop out the next one. One time, the guy needed four, so by the time he had the fourth one, one had scampered away!
We ended the evening in the infinity pool, and hot tub, which was most relaxing. The island you can see in the background is St. Bart’s. There is a hot tub here, but it wasn’t hot enough for us! The staff was most attentive tho, and turned up the temperature as soon as we mentioned it. We’re hoping for smoking hot tomorrow night!

Friar’s Beach

The reef at Oyster BayOur first dive into the ocean out front of our hotel was a bit disappointing. The entry to the water is fantastic, with some unbelievably soft sand. It is exceptionally fine sand, but there is quite a bit of seaweed in spots. The water is lovely and warm. There are no fish over the sandy bits, and when we finally got out to some reef, the waves were really too strong to make it enjoyable. We stayed for a bit, but decided to try another beach.

Queen Angels After a nice lunch at Busby’s by the Beach, we piled in the car and risked the potholes. We headed over to the French side, and picked a beach called Friar’s Bay. There were a lot of locals there, and only a couple topless bathers.

The fish were the usual suspects – Sgt Majors, wrasses, parrot fish, etc. But we did see a trio of Queen Angels who were hanging around with a bunch of yellowtail snapper.

Most stores were closed, since it was Sunday. We drove around the entire island, and it looks like it’s going to be a fun place to explore.
Friar's Bay beach as seen from the ocean.There are a couple of forts, and lots of pretty flowers. It seems a lot more lush than Aruba, that’s for sure.

Dinner was at Daniel’s, the restaurant that Busby’s by the Beach turns into at night. It specializes in Italian food, so naturally we had fish! Pam, Maggie and I all had the special of the day, Snapper in a black pepper sauce. We were all very satisfied with it. Service was attentive and efficient. It was great fun to watch the waiters head to the fresh lobster tank and fish out people’s dinner. They would grab them by the antennae, set them on the floor, then scoop out the next one. One time, the guy needed four, so by the time he had the fourth one, one had scampered away!
Infinity pool  We ended the evening in the infinity pool, and hot tub, which was most relaxing. The island you can see in the background is St. Bart’s. There is a hot tub here, but it wasn’t hot enough for us! The staff was most attentive tho, and turned up the temperature as soon as we mentioned it. We’re hoping for smoking hot tomorrow night!