The "A Visit With Bernadine Ali: Part I" Story

The Creperie on Paradise View before Hurricane Irma.

It was an ordinary day.  Early Sunday morning and I told my wife I was heading to Paradise View to take a few photos.  Paradise View is a small outcropping of stony land overlooking world famous Orient Beach on the island of St. Martin, F.W.I.  During our yearly visits to the island while on vacation Carol and I always made a few stops at the Paradise View Creperie for breakfast or lunch.  

The view of the Orient area from Paradise View.  (Click to enlarge)

Not only did they have a fantastic menu, but the views of the surrounding area were outstanding.  But that all ended on September 6, 2017 when Hurricane Irma devastated the island.  

An entire row of brightly painted shops could be found on Paradise View.

Paradise View was totally demo- lished as well as a row of tropically painted tourist shacks leading up to the restaurant and a small shack where a beautiful island woman by the name of Bernadine Ali sold bottles of island rum. My mission this morning was to take photos of the devastation that still remains almost two years later and share the photos with you.  

Bernadine's rum shop on Paradise View.  It was destroyed!

We had heard that Bernadine had escaped the island after the storm, but weren't sure if she ever returned.   We found a "Go Fund Me Page" to try and get funds for her to return and try to get her life back to normal, but I wasn't sure if she had returned as of yet. I should tell you that Bernadine is somewhat of a savior for all the stray animals on the east coast of the island.  

Total destruction can be seen in this photograph.  The
Creperie can be seen in the right rear, totally destroyed.

Every year during our visit we would stop at a grocery store and buy a big bag of dog and cat food to drop off at her small abode that was close to her rum stand.  Every time we would arrive we would be greeted by her multitude of dogs and cats that she had rescued from harm and starvation.  Well today, after driving back the small desolate road past the totally demolished shops I saw a few dogs heading toward my car.  

The house on the right was at one time the home of Ms. Ali.

I knew right away Ms. Ali was back on St. Martin.  As I walked toward what used to be her rum shack, I saw an island man coming toward me.  I asked him if Bernadine was nearby.  After a positive response I asked him to tell her she has a visitor.  Wasn't long before I had a big hug and kiss from her as her 15 cats and 4 dogs gathered around.  We talked and then she showed me the place she called home until the storm struck.  

Bernadine is now living in this run-down house on the property.

Totally demolished!  Then she ushered me to her new residence and gave me a look at what she now calls home.  No running water or electricity!  She keeps items cold with the use of a cooler and must flush her toilet with buckets of water from nearby water supplies.  But, she seemed happy and her animals all loved her.  

Bernadine checks on some of her friends.

She told me it was a tough time at first after returning to the island a few months after the storm.  She was being robbed quite often so she found a fellow, Rasheed, in need of a place to stay who became her security force.  Seems to have worked out well for both of them.  I gave her a donation from Carol and myself and asked if there was anything I could do to help her.  After a minute or so she said, "Why yes!  Can you take me to the vet tomorrow with one of cats.  My car's tire is leaking air and the vet is on the other side of the island.  I have to be there tomorrow at 8:00 am.  If you could pick me up at 7:00 am I would appreciate it.  

B Ali is listed on her mailbox along the road.

I can be waiting for you at the bottom of the hill by that metal lounge chair down there."  Well, I had asked so I couldn't say no to someone who had suffered so much the past year or so.  I snapped a few photos and promised to return the following day to take her and her cat to the vet.  Another hug and I was on my way back to tell Carol what we were going to do tomorrow on our vacation.  Follow along tomorrow as I give you a rundown.  It was a another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.