December 5,2025
We woke to this view, and at first I didn’t realize that we were at anchor.
Breakfast on the balcony…then we tendered to Marigot. Marigot is so special to us, because we honeymooned here… and have visited several times since…another land vacation and multiple cruise ship stops.
As soon as we popped off the tender, we set out for the once glorious Mall of the West Indies. When the West Indies Mall opened in Marigot in the early 2000s, it truly was the island’s crown jewel…a glittering, marble-lined showcase of French Caribbean glamour…beyond stunning…Its waterfront setting…atrium, and mix of luxury boutiques made it feel like a slice of St. Barth dropped into Saint Martin. Shops included Chanel, Cartier, Gucci, and Dior…with Diesel, Lacoste, and Ray Ban and so many more. For years it was vibrant…a go-to stop for cruise passengers and anyone, really, who wanted a taste of duty-free luxury. Hurricane Irma in 2017 changed everything. Though the building survived, the economic shock that followed wiped out most of the high-end retail stores, leaving the mall quiet…a shell of its vibrant, elegant self…
…however one very special shop survived…. “La Maison de Fanni” …I freaking love this shop. Claudette, who helped me twice in 2023 (see those blog posts for details)…was still there! …she made Timmy comfortable and then ably helped me break my no shopping vow. I l o v e her ♥️
After my spree with Claudette …I parked Timmy and took a quick spin around the mall. Sadly there are even less stores than there were in 2023.
Exiting the mall, we walked for a bit, but decided not to stay ashore for lunch. Honestly it is depressing to note that this port still has so far to go to return to what it once was.
I took this photo to send to our neighbors, Tom and Maureen…every few years they trade up their boat…so we are hoping their next move will be a vessel along these lines.
So getting back on the tender involved security like we haven’t seen since St. Petersburg, Russia…like really crazy…buzz you into the (nicely appointed and air conditioned) guard house…keep you captive in the guard house until the next tender arrives…buzz you out.
C r a z y stuff.
Literally captive.
.
…whatever…after a sporty 15 minute or so tender ride we had a super lunch in Marketplace…”Churrascaria &Latin Specialties”
So delicious and sooooo much food…really, ….probably too much…
After lunch we enjoyed the absolutely delightful breeze on our balcony…I read my book…Timmy napped.
I might have fallen asleep too…because next thing we knew…it was sunset.
After our obligatory selfie…we met Pam and Tom in the Cove before dinner.
Butternut squash soup.
Blackened salmon salad
French Onion soup
Passion fruit sorbet…
Mint chocolate trifle.
Classic Spanish Vanilla cake with cocoa ice cream.
We loved the new Crystal production show: “Club Nights”…it was super…Daniel Allain is a new (to us) lead vocalist and his vocals are pure and beautiful.
The entire show was very enjoyable…the Showband was beyond spectacular…and we had another great day…the best part was sharing dinner with Pamela and Tom. Thanks for following along. 🩵🩵🩵
