Nine signs it is time to come back to St. Martin

1. You don’t like the looks of that sky.

If you are lucky, there will be no rain, sleet, or snow coming out of those grey clouds. We specialize in blue skies and it rains mostly late at night here, if at all.

2. Vitamin D withdrawal (sunshine)

Ah, that brilliant golden orb, bathing your skin in warmth and natural vitamins. If you look outside and wonder where it went; look no further. We have it right here.

3. You are craving sand gravity

The term “sand gravity” is a well-known phrase with our regulars; that feeling you get when you settle into your beach chair and decide to cancel your plans for the rest of the day. Incidentally, wouldn’t that have made a great ending for the movie Gravity if Sandra Bullock crawled up onto the shores of Club Orient? Whoa! Is this earth?

4. Your friends at work just don’t understand

I’m referring to annoying your colleagues with stories from your last vacation to the point where they can't stand you anymore and hide when they see you coming.

5. You’re cold

Really cold. Always cold. Waking up cold. Going through your day cold. Going to bed cold. Wondering if your furnace thermostat is lying to you. Wearing so many layers of clothing, your laundry pile is doubled from the summer months. At least it’s warm by the dryer.

6. You can’t get off the internet

You belong to six St. Martin Facebook groups and follow thirty-five like pages. It may seem obsessive to some, but you quietly explain it keeps you from looking out your window.

7. Culinary frustration

Try as you might, you just can’t make the same croissants and baguettes you have come to love here at home, so you ask for them at the supermarket, where they look at you like you are nuts. You confirm this when you leave the place, screaming obscenities.

8. You engage in pirate fantasies

The bottle of rum you brought back home is empty. Anguish ensues. You look for a parrot that will perch on your shoulder in pet stores. They can’t stop laughing.

9. You are dreading the holidays

People ask what your menu for Thanksgiving and Christmas is going to be and you answer Johnny cakes, conch fritters, and grilled shrimp. They make other plans, believing you may be losing your mind.

If you are exhibiting at least three of these signs or symptoms, it is time to come back. Don’t delay! Book a trip now and get some relief!

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Post by Happy Bay Book Series happybaynovel.com.

February 14th: Just Another Hallmark Holiday

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On the last full day of their vacation, Laura awoke to an empty bed. She wasn’t sure if it was the sound of the front door closing that woke her, but it was apparent her husband Roger was no longer in the room. The bathroom was dark, and there was no sound, save the chirping of birds outside.

It was Valentine’s Day, and although Roger often dismissed days like these as “Hallmark Holidays”, she was hoping for at least a little special treatment, regardless.

“Maybe he is bringing me breakfast in bed!” she thought to herself. So she waited, enjoying the lack of urgency that was their day-to-day lives back home, and gave herself the luxury of settling back on her pillow.

When she heard someone outside struggling with the lock, she propped herself up, hoping for a tray of croissants and tropical fruit with coffee and juice. Much do her dismay though, Roger came in fully dressed and empty handed. He looked at her with surprise.

“You’re not up yet?” he asked. “Come on, we’re going to make it an early beach day.”

Why?” she asked. “Aren’t we even going to have breakfast?"

“We’ll grab something at the beach or on our way,” he replied. “I’m going golfing at two o’clock with those three people I was talking to last night at dinner. They need one more for a foursome.”

She knew who he was talking about. Roger had left her alone at their table in the restaurant to strike up a conversation with two men and a woman standing outside. Laura had been pretty angry about him not bringing them over to introduce her, but she didn’t want to make waves. It had been a wonderful trip, and he had been very attentive…at least up until now.

She noticed there was no greeting card on the dresser, no flowers, and no mention of this day at all as she quickly gathered their belongings for a short beach stay.

Later on at the beach, Roger seemed distracted. He frequently got up from his beach chair to make phone calls and never once asked her if she needed anything as he wandered about, talking.

When they returned to the room, Laura decided to read by the pool until her husband returned. Tiring of this after a couple of hours, she returned to the room and took her time getting dressed up for a nice dinner out.

Surely he is at least going to take me someplace elegant, she pondered as she put on the dress she had been saving for this particular evening. Should I remind him it’s Valentine’s Day, or just write it off to him forgetting and enjoy our final night in paradise?

When the room phone rang, she began to worry. He should have been back by now; it was approaching sunset.

“Honey, I’m pretty smashed,” her husband said on the phone when she answered. “I got dropped off in Grand Case and I need you to drive me and our car back to the room. I’m sending a taxi that should be there in a minute."

She heard the honk of a horn outside and grabbed her purse, now becoming furious. Not only did he forget, he got drunk, and I’m going to have to sober him up instead of enjoying a romantic dinner.

Instead of dropping her off, the driver parked and led her by the hand out of the taxi.

Great! He can’t even stand up long enough to meet me on the street.

They walked through the shallow hallway that led to the beach restaurant. She looked here and there; searching for Roger’s inebriated face in vain. He didn’t seem to be anywhere inside. When the deck of the restaurant gave way to sandy beach, she halted and turned around, but the driver beckoned her to keep walking. She reluctantly continued, struggling with her heels in the sand as they ventured out across the beach.

Laura finally caught sight of Roger, wearing a white suit with no shoes and not appearing to be drunk in the least. He was smiling ear-to-ear as he took her hand and led her towards a trellis adorned with tropical flowers. Under the trellis waited one of the men she had seen Roger with the previous night, and the other man and woman were few feet in front. Roger asked her to remove her shoes, and got down on one knee when she finished this task.

“Laura,” he said. “I love you even more than the day I met you. Even more than the day we married. If you would do me the honor of marrying me all over again, that man under the trellis is waiting to officiate over the renewal of our vows. Bertrand will walk you down the aisle, and our wedding planner Elise will be our flower girl and photographer.”

Tears streamed down her face as she stood under the trellis and listened to words of love from this man, regarding her with the same affection she had seen from him some 25 years earlier.

“Thank you for remembering,” was all she could muster, she was so caught up in the moment.

“This day is just another day to me,” Roger whispered in her ear as the reverend recited the vows she was supposed to repeat. “But I know it is special to you. Every single day I get to spend with you is a gift from God.”

The reverend interrupted the couple by clearing his throat.

“Miss Laura, it is time to say I do.”

T. Stelma is the author of Happy Bay, Cole Bay Band, and Sandy Ground; The Happy Bay Novel Trilogy. Happy Bay Romance Novel Trilogy

Take a trip over the border and explore French St. Martin

In responses to my Facebook posts from our island adventures, it became apparent to me that an old friend who has been to the island many more times than I had never really gotten out and explored everything “the rock” has to offer. She and her husband had never taken the hike to Happy Bay, never climbed to the top of Fort Louis to take in the spectacular view of Marigot, and never enjoyed the fine cuisine found in Marigot, Grand Case, and Orient Village. “You are missing out,” I told her. Although the Dutch side holds many attractions all its own, the French side experience is decidedly more European in its culture and “feel” (do I state the obvious?).

For us, a trip to Port de la Royale is mandatory for a late lunch after spending a beach day at Baie Rouge or Cupecoy. Just a short walk from a spacious parking area, it is tucked into the Simpson Bay Lagoon where Marigot “proper” begins. A three-sided boardwalk surrounds the end of the lagoon with a large number of restaurants. You have your choice of open-air dining or inside dining at most (if not all) establishments. A beautiful young lady or entertaining gentleman waits outside each one to draw you in to sample their respective cuisines.

Take a table near the docks and relax as the dinghies bring in folks from their yachts, or enjoy the people watching as others stroll the boardwalk. We like to debate whether the impeccably dressed woman casually walking by is a celebrity or famous model…you never know who may show up there.

The variety of dining choices is near endless, from lobster-stuffed chicken filet to submarine sandwiches (on banquette of course); we have never been disappointed on our visits to this port.

Once you exit the Marigot area, you will encounter rolling hills and pastures with grazing cows, along with goats and chickens carefully navigating the edge of the roads. Look for a left turn just past the small airport to arrive in Grand Case, a wonderful area with a lively street scene. There is parking available in a large lot and the narrow avenue is resplendent with restaurants and shops; again, an excellent opportunity to stroll and take in the French Island culture. The variety of epicurean delights is far greater than you might expect, with fine French cuisine to simple, yet tasty (and completely affordable) grilled fish, chicken, and ribs found at the outdoor Lolos that overlook the Grand Case beach.

Any establishment on the water offers a spectacular sunset; it is a good opportunity to take photos of your significant others with a breathtaking backdrop. Some places are energetic and crowded with locals, while others are quietly sophisticated. You can peruse the menus on signs posted outside most restaurants to decide what you are in the mood for while browsing the merchandise in an artist’s studio or learning to make your own perfume. Grand Case is a must-do every time we visit St. Martin.

Another area we favor is Orient Village, where we always feel we have been transported to a small town somewhere in France. The large courtyard behind the Orient Beach resorts features just a few restaurants with a great variety of cultural specialties and some of the friendliest staff you will ever encounter anywhere. Sit back and enjoy the open-air dining while watching the progress of a game of Pétanque on the gravel quad or listening to live music (not loud) on a stage in the center of this square. A completely relaxing and delightful “old world” experience.

I have since convinced my friend to stray from their timeshare on the Dutch side and get out and enjoy everything French St. Martin has to offer. There is much more to explore than simply Orient Beach for a day trip. Bon Appétit my friends!

Tim Stelma, contributing writer and author of the Happy Bay Novel series.

 click here to find out more about the Happy Bay book series

Kindle is King

Kindle is still the king of eBooks and Amazon is the place to find the Happy Bay Book Trilogy. You can locate all three on my Amazon Author Page:amazon.com/author/tstelma

International Review

Here is a nice review from a St. Martin resident on the Happy Bay Book Series.
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Available worldwide online. All formats of eBook and softcover.
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This is not a paid celebrity endorsement

Another satisfied customer. Thanks Kim!

Today at 6:32pm
Just finished the third and final book in the Happy Bay Series. Here is the absolute truth. I first bought all of them because T. Stelma is my best friend's cousin and I wanted to support his efforts. But when I started the first book, I was hooked. I'm a very diligent reader and read many books a week. These books have everything you could want. Suspense, murder, fashion, sex and rock and roll! And at such a reasonable price (underpriced if you ask me). So, go out and buy these books! You'll be glad you did. And you'll be impatiently waiting for him to write more. I'm not gonna lie, I was happily surprised. I don't know why since I know Tim is a creative guy, but I was. Make these books part of your summer reading. Don't miss out!

Links to eBooks and paperback

Great local video.

Happy in SXM

Happy Bay book series

A review of Sandy Ground from a trusted source.

Here's a review from St. Maarten and St. Martin Weekly News:

"Ilene may be the most avid reader you might ever hope to meet. She devours 300-page books in a day. When we asked her some time ago to be our official reader of author Tim Stelma's trilogy of St. Maarten-related books, she quickly agreed.
After reading the climactic third book in the series, titled Sandy Ground, Ilene said she loved it and looks forward to his next books.
"I couldn't put it down," she said. "It's a follow-up to his second book, Cole Bay, incorporating the same characters. It's a mystery loaded with twists and turns that you will never expect, making it riveting. Any reader will love it."
You can find it available on Amazon (and everywhere else online).

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Beach reads

I know what a lot of folks in St. Martin are going to be reading on the beach next week. Sandy Ground. If you can't make it to the beach just yet, lose yourself in this trio of island adventures from the comfort of your home. $8.97 gets you all three eBooks. www.happybaynovel.com has all the links for whatever tablet you might have.

Sandy Ground now available on Kindle!

Click for Kindle version

Coming soon!

My muse.www.happybaynovel.com

Here is a live webcam link to the world famous clothing optional Orient Beach, setting for the novel Happy Bay.

Orient Beach Webcam

Amazon author page

Kindle editions of Happy Bay and Cole Bay Band are $2.99@

@Amazon

Click to find out more about Happy Bay and Cole Bay Band novels

On MSN Today

naked destinations

Orient Beach, the setting for Happy Bay did not make the cut. Odd.
click to order Happy Bay and Cole Bay Band

Book Excerpt Cole Bay Band

From a personal standpoint, Lori was disappointed in the lack of camaraderie offstage with Jimmy’s musical group. Although their love for performing together was obvious and infectious to the audience, the quintet divided into factions during the day. Jimmy partnered with Junior nearly every day in his song writing sessions and Cici was spending most of her time at her home rather than the villa. This left Sam, who Lori was welcome to tag along with on day trips around the island. She was relieved Sam had gotten over her failed advances towards her.

Sam had little problem taking it in stride, as she made new friends every day on Orient beach. She would walk the length, clad only in a G-string or tiny wrap, armed with postcard-sized promotional band pictures to hand out to tourists. This was an excellent tactic, as it brought customers to their performances in droves. Sam’s propensity towards hooking up with single guys and couples during the day left Lori frequently stranded, though, so she eventually limited her time with Sam to the car ride there and back.

Although she was lonely, Lori found comfort via a ferry boat that carried her to Pinel Island. The conversations she would have with tourists on the short trip were enough pedestrian interaction for her. She would hike around the tiny landmass, exploring the nearly deserted beaches in favor of the largest one at the ferry’s dock. In was in these places that she could enjoy body freedom without recognition or interruption, contemplating her future and reflecting on her past. She found solace in the peaceful rhythm of the surf and the tranquil sky above. She was a regular for lunch at one of the two restaurants on the main beach. The wait staff all knew her by name, but was not aware of her growing island fame. Lori was grateful for the anonymity; she was glad she had proven Jimmy wrong, but attributed her personal success to being just another cog in the wheel that was the Cole Bay Band. Plus there was always the fact she was really only a big fish in a small pond.

Cole Bay Band and Happy Bay @Amazon

Book excerpt from Cole Bay Band

“Give him your shoes,” Jimmy said.

“Are they going to be here when I get back?” she asked warily.

Both of the men laughed. Lori reluctantly handed over her hundred and fifty dollar designer running shoes and looked up to see Jimmy already trotting towards the shoreline. She set off after him, but he was a good ten yards ahead of her by the time she got there.

The beach arced in a broad crescent. It looked to be at least a mile in length, at least as far as she could see. There appeared to be beach umbrellas far off in the distance past a slightly imposing rock jetty. She hoped that would be the extent of their run; the sand was not particularly soft, but it did give way under her feet as she trod along, trying to lessen the distance between them.

She was sweating profusely by the time she reached the jetty and understood the shoe removal request/order when she watched Jimmy run into the water to get around it. She glanced at the small Plage Naturiste sign as she ran by it. Lori knew what plage meant; it was obviously a beach. But a natural beach? Aren’t they all natural?

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Chapter One

Jimmy turned from his eighty-eight key music synthesizer and squinted through the sunlight pouring from the screen door of his Echo Park apartment. He had chosen this neighborhood in haste, and it had seemed like a good idea at the time. The area was renowned for its history of creative residents, and the current inhabitants took great pride in maintaining a positive image for Los Angeles as well as the rest of civilization. Of course, criminality was a factor, as it is in any urban area, but Jimmy felt relatively safe most times. He hoped the spirits of Steve McQueen, Art Pepper, and Frank Zappa would guide him in this new environment and spur him on to success.

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