We’d been to Saint Martin on many occasions prior to discovering Loterie Farm. It was May 2014, and my wife and I had recently left our jobs at US Airways — where we’d each worked for well over 10 years — in favor of pursuing the unknown.
Our first objective was to travel. Together, with our two sons — ages two and eight months — we set out on a three month adventure of a lifetime, not knowing what it would yield but excited at the prospect. The first stop was a week on Saint Martin — our favorite tropical island where we’d spent countless sunny days — and we’d stay in Grand Case at one of our favorite beaches on the island.
For our two-year-old son, it was his second trip to Saint Martin, and the first time for our youngest. We stayed at a small residence style hotel in Grand Case called Bleu Emeraude, a wonderful place on Grand Case Beach with just a few rooms, all facing the island of Anguilla overlooking the Bay of Grand Case.
Since we’d been to the island many times before, we didn’t need much time to get oriented to the area. We spent the afternoons on the beach, walking, running, or simply lounging. Our favorite beach bar, Calmos Café, was where we’d spend the late afternoon, taking in the sunset and dipping our toes in the warm water while enjoying an ice-cold beverage.
Since we had plenty of time, and it was our first time staying in Grand Case — we’d only stayed in Dutch Sint Maarten on previous visits — we decided to try and find something new that we’d never done before. Our hosts at the hotel told us about Loterie Farm, a lush organic oasis on Pic Paradis a mere five-minute drive from Grand Case. We were sold, so headed out, kids in tow, to explore this wonderful place.
When we arrived, it reminded us of a big treehouse, but this one is for adults…mostly. When you first enter the place there is a small restaurant, a bar, and a sitting area set in, and shaded by, large dramatic trees. A regular jungle. One look at the enormous, beautiful swimming pool, with its large shallow step that’s perfect for small kids, and we were all in.
That was a wonderful day, filled with peace and quiet, surrounded by nature and a calm that’s not easily attained in our loud, sometimes crazy urban world. A perfect start to our epic adventure and one we’ll cherish for all our lives.
As you can tell, we have a special bond with Loterie Farm, one we look forward to renewing someday soon. So when I came across this video, featuring the founder of Loterie Farm, William ‘BJ’ Welch, sharing his passion and emotion about this special place, I had to share it with you. It’s a wonderful tribute to what once was and what will be again soon.
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Here’s the full text from the post on Facebook:
Almost exactly a month ago, Loterie Farm changed. We had been working on a video clip prior to hurricane Irma and as we can’t really use it for what it was intended, we’d like to share it with you now and we hope that you’ll share it with as many people that you know, and that they’ll share with as many people that they know, and so on and so on… Our goal, is to reach the world and show and share how beautiful the nature side of Saint Martin was, and will be again, with your support.
Starring Seyleen Mlle Sey-C Travel Story and voice over by William Jordan Welch Directed by Laetitia Gentil Nozin# IO TV Song by Moby – Love of strings
Behind the scenes Pierre Robert Lenoci and Sam Niang Mike Iron Christophe Moreau Abdoul Aziz Tanguy Iamokone Bhanicia Bryan Maika Benet Destination Saint Martin – Caraïbes Kate Richardson Daniel Gibbs Valerie Damaseau Yana Gibbs Rolando Brison Inès Bouchaut-choisy Iltt Sxm Fabian Kijzer Dj ClassY D The Cut Creator DJ Outkast Leviticus Lifestyle & Travel Sidra Smith Bart Welch Deanna Di Carlo Joga
#AtouchOfHandz #LoterieFarm #sxmstrong
