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A few general comments on our trip: We had to remove all our electronic devices and cables from our carry on bags to get through security at SFO when we flew out at the beginning of our trip. We had to put the stuff in a separate tub; the screeners said this was a local requirement. The TSA’s blog says this practice has now been stopped. The comments are horrifically scathing about the TSA’s ignorance of its own practices and lack of standardized procedures. I had hoped with federalization of the screeners that we would have a federal standard, but TSA seems to be taking a leaf from the book of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security: ignorance is bliss.
One of our checked bags had rechargers, cables, and a multi-outlet strip. This bag was hand searched going and coming, and stuff was missing from the bag on both outbound and inbound flights. We have asked the screeners at SFO (Covenant Aviation Security, LLC) to look into the matter, as the first hand search was by them at SFO. The losses were minor items no one would steal; the issue is incompetent handling of my stuff. There is no reason I can’t get all my items back after they search the bag. Covenant has promised a return call on Friday after they’ve seen if there is a video tape of the search. We’ve had stuff missing from searched bags our last two trips, this time on both outbound and inbound flights.
We were subjected to the most scathing welcome I’ve ever experienced at Cap Est Resort Hotel when we went there for dinner during our vacation. On Sunday afternoon, we drove out to Cap Est during the day - it’s hard to find, and we wanted to be sure we had our directions straight. We buzzed at the gate for admission and went in to make our reservations in person. There were three women at the desk, and we made the reservation for dinner at Le Belem Restaurant with them in person in English. I have no idea which of the three actually handled the reservation, but it was for Tuesday eventing at 7:30.
When we arrived on Tuesday, we announced our name and reservation for dinner at the gate and were buzzed in. After we parked, we walked into the hotel’s reception area and hadn’t even gotten fully in before the attack began. I was truly shocked by the rage of our hostess, Madam Ajax. She began by yelling at us that we did not have a reservation, that the restaurant was fully booked, and that we could not eat there. I tried to ask for more information, assuming that my request for Tuesday was misunderstood and that our reservation had been put on a different day. I was not allowed to finish my question by Madam Ajax, identified to me as the assistant manager of Cap Est Resort. She yelled at me again that there was no reservation and that we could not eat there. This rage-filled ranting went on for some time, despite my efforts to make some progress in getting the matter straightened out.
I tried to ask a couple of times what exactly the problem was and whether we could arrange for a different night, but she interrupted every time, blaming us for the lack of a reservation, and assuring us that because we were outsiders (not registered guests of Cap Est) that we could not eat at Le Belem. Eventually, she told us that the reservation had only my name and the time, but not the date, and she demanded to know who had made the reservation. I can only imagine the abuse that person would get if I had any clue who it was.
After she told us again that we could not eat there, I turned to Louise to ask for suggestions on where to go for dinner, when Madam Ajax asked, “Would you prefer to start at the bar or the restaurant?” I couldn’t believe my ears; I couldn’t make sense of her question. I turned back to her and stuttered something like “What?” She smiled and asked again, “Would you like to start at the bar or the restaurant?” Louise, more aware than I was, said, “the restaurant.” Madam Ajax then had a staff person escort us downstairs to Le Belem for dinner.
Louise and I both noticed that the restaurant was not full, and the maitre d’ asked our name. I said, “Stripling,” and he smiled broadly and welcomed us to our table. I asked how it was we had a table, and he said when he heard they had our name and a time, he simply reserved a table for us Monday night and Tuesday night. If we hadn’t come on Tuesday, he would have reserved a table on Wednesday. “There is no problem,” he said.
I am sorry to say that I was in shock the whole meal and that I didn’t enjoy it at all after Madam Ajax’s attack on us and her assurances that the restaurant was fully booked. I got the name of the manager of Cap Est and called him later that week. I explained what happened. He assured me that he had worked with Madam Ajax for six years without a single complaint and that if we had gotten our dinner, there is no problem. I assured him that there was a problem and asked for the name of the owner, but he refused as this was not a matter for the owner to be bothered with.
Louise and I have eaten at Le Belem before and considered the food to be excellent, although the service was not. The management has finally gotten the staff settled in and service up to par with the food. But this attack by the assistant manager of Cap Est Resort has left a bitter taste.
See our Martinique page for updated links to our photos and other commentary.
5 months ago