Dutch Treat Or French Flavor - St. Maarten
The water is so clear its fifty shades of aquamarine!
April 25, 2014
Saint Martin, Saint Martin
St. Maarten and St. Martin have a great deal of history. It passed back and forth between France, the Netherlands, and Spain 16 times. To date, it is one of the smallest Caribbean islands occupied by two sovereign nations. Though snuggled together in a scant 37 square miles of mountainous terrain, these two countries could not be more different.
Our ship docked in Phillipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, St. Maarten. It has large resorts/casinos, bustling beaches and tons of get-it-cheap duty-free shopping. The French side, St. Martin, has quaint bed & breakfasts and luxurious resorts, laid-back beaches and the charm of local artisans at the waterfront market.
A group of our friends took an island tour which gave them the opportunity to experience the charm and romance of both the French and Dutch sides of the island. A taxi cost them US$25.00 per person for a three hour island- tour including a stop at the butterfly park.
From the picturesque countryside, clothing-optional Orient Beach; to the duty-free shops of Phillipsburg, and the historic Salt Ponds, the three-hour tour gave them the highlights of this unique two-flag island and still gave them plenty of time to explore Marigot on their own.
One major draw for this island, is the shopping. There are bargains to be found, and St. Martin is duty-free for the most part. Marigot also attracts those who seek couture and upscale imports from France. Boutiques there fit the bill, reminding many of a more down-to-earth version of St. Barth's.
St. Martin also has lots of cafes, bistros, and brasseries; most serving up tasty creations with Gallic flavors and panache. St. Martin has some of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean, with assets to please everyone.
For the more adventurous, one attraction is to go to Queen Juliana International airport, hang onto the fence by the beach, and wait for the jet plane blast when they take off.
Whether it's a family, or for those with nothing but the radio on with a pair of sunglasses, and SPF 50 sun cream; St. Maarten and St. Martin have
a lot to offer!
P.S.
We're still having technical problems with our laptop computer and the satellite link, (sometimes I would like to throw it in the ocean). We apologize for the delay on our port updates. Please don't be alarmed if we publish only photographs for now. As soon as we are able to upload our write ups, we'll send you the update. We appreciate your patience! Thank you.