A very popular entry point for an Eastern Caribbean cruise itinerary is the culturally unique island of St. Maarten / Saint Martin. Half French and half Dutch, this small island dominated by only 37 square miles is more than 300 restaurants, 36 sugar-sand beaches, luxurious hotels and resorts and a mixture of four languages: Dutch, French, English and Papiamento.
St. Maarten has a history dating back to 550 BC. Tool and ceramic artifacts from the Indians were excavatedin an archaeological excavation on the Dutch side. Although Christopher Columbus landed in St. Maarten in 1493 and claimed the island for Spain, due to the fierce and cannibalistic Carib Indians, the Spanish never developed on the island. In the early 1600s, the Dutch their flag, the French. Legend has it that a Frenchman and a Dutchman finally a continuous battle for territorial rights pacing their shares followed. The French got the bigger slice, but the Dutch ended with the more valuable spaceReal Estate, the Salt Pond and the Harbor.
If you buy Phillipsburg in Dutch St. Maarten, like fabulous duty-free for shopping. In fact, prices in St. Maarten are as good if not better than in St. Thomas, long rumored that the best place to shop for jewelry, cameras and electronics in the Caribbean. When you disembark in St. Maarten, you'll be pleasantly surprised if you see the new vibrantly colored buildings on the harbor. It is a mini-shopping destination. Pricing for theseShops are only as good as in Phillipsburg, the largest city in St. Maarten. The bustling town of Phillipsburg is worth and get the water taxi, there is right on the pier. The last time I visited St. Maarten, the water taxi to pay $ 6 per person each way for the quick trip across the harbor. Since it runs every 30 minutes, you can easily measure your time in the city to you is thrown back to your ship at the gangway. Once in Phillipsburg, there are many ways to eat around theFront Street; from standard fare to excellent curry and island cuisine. Of course, Heineken is the Dutch beer of choice and it is locally brewed.
To distinguish their half of the island, the French renamed their side St. Martin. Marigot is the capital and is the largest town on the island. Marigot is very charming and very French. Bistros and cafes line the walkway along the harbor. Trendy French boutiques with designer clothes are a bit pricier than the island style of dress in St. Maarten. Less hectic than Phillipsburg, Marigot is a lovely little town to go around, browse the galleries and stop in for a cappuccino on the pier.
St. Martin is known known for its beautiful beaches and the warm, calm water. Since many of the beaches are more secluded, they attract visitors looking for rest relaxation. The most popular beach is the Orient Beach. ... Be warned, there are areas of Orient Beach, the clothing optional. But nobody seems to reallycare.
From the port there is a 15 minutes by taxi to Orient Beach. I have the driver drop me off at the Bikini Beach section of Orient Beach. It is family friendly and there are water toys to rent. My favorite place is the French open-air, on-the-beach restaurant, cocoa. You can easily find cocoa, as it is in the field of blue umbrellas. My favorite dish is the steamed mussels with garlic and wine, accompanied by a glass of cold, crisp Chardonnay. This place is very popularwith the Europeans and French is widely spoken. The seats are on rustic wooden benches and furnishings include artifacts destroyed or sunken boats. If mussels are not your thing, there are other French dishes, plus steaks, burgers and pizza. Cocoa is very family friendly and not as boisterous as Kon Tiki next door. After lunch, you can use the beach on a very small incision in the shopping area. Actually, the shop is there for the benefit of the guests who are staying in one of the many hundredsRentals. The small French grocery has wonderful French pastries and a selection of breads and croissants. A must do for a walk-away truly decadent dessert.
If you are on tour, take a taxi to the Grand Case on the northwest corner of the island. Known as the gastronomic capital, Grand Case is a small fishing village with small wooden pastel-colored houses and over 30 sidewalk cafes, brasseries and bistros along the main road. If you have placed your beach gear, afterlunch you can stretch out and relax on Grand Case Beach.
Heading back to the ship means saying good-bye to a unique and special island. If you are taking a taxi back to the ship, be sure to allow extra time for traffic jams along the way. And don't forget to buy a wheel of Gouda cheese. Yes, you can buy the same cheese at Winn-Dixie and Publix, but the fun is trying to cram a ten-pound wheel of cheese into the mini-fridge in your stateroom!
You'll be amazed at how different the Cultures in only 30 minutes by taxi. As you cross the French, you see, "Bienvenue en Partie Française" and the return of the border sign greets you with "Welcome to the Dutch Sint Maarten, NA" So the next time you choose a cruise with an Eastern Caribbean itinerary find one that includes St. Maarten. It is an island worth over and over again.
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