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One Island, Three Themes by Thomas R. & Deborah A. Fletcher Discovered by Columbus on November 11, 1493, he named the island for Saint
Martin of Tours. St. Maarten is snugly tucked into the Caribbean just south of
Anguilla and east of St. Croix, USVI. The two countries have gotten along fairly The French side, well known for the fine French cuisine featured in the many
restaurants, is a sub-prefecture of Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France. Air
France makes daily flights to the island so there is always a good supply of
French wines and fresh ingredients for hard-working chefs of the island. The
market days of Wednesday and Saturday finds Market Square in Margot jammed with
shoppers. The colorful market is a cacophony of sounds as tourists seek bargains
and residents shop for the best prices on fruit, vegetables, and fresh fish. As
we meandered through the market, the aromas drifting out of the area restaurants
stirred hunger within us--never mind that we had eaten shortly beforehand.
Margot serves as the capital of French St. Martin and here is the place to catch
a ferry to one of the neighboring islands. The French side has a distinct
European-feel, while the Dutch side is more Caribbean in culture. The Netherlands Antilles which includes Curacao, St. Eustatius, Saba, and
Bonaire also takes in Dutch St. Maarten. The capital of Philipsburg is a popular
cruise ship port-of-call. When a ship is in, the downtown streets are gorged
with tourists looking for a shopping bargain--reason for some visitors to avoid
the area. Don't miss having a look at the Courthouse in the heart of
Philipsburg. The original structure was built in 1793. Since St. Maarten is a
true duty-free port, some of the best prices in the Caribbean are found here.
Along with the cruise ship stops, the Dutch side also has twelve
casinos--something one does not find on the French A popular outing in Philipsburg is the St. Maarten 12-metre Challenge. Using
three former America's Cup yachts, guests serve as crew and race these boats on
a shortened 12-metre course. Visitors choose a job, from grinding to time The hilly island is ringed with beautiful beaches--a total of 37, one for
each square mile of land area. Lovely wide stretches of white sand hemmed-in by
crystal-clear blue water describes the many beaches. The island is accommodating
for those who like to go for that all-over tan. Orient Beach is the only
official clothing-optional beach, however nudity isn't strictly ruled out on any
beach, but is more common on the French side. Outside Quarter d' Orleans, near Orient Bay is the Butterfly Farm. The Butterfly Farm, housed in the "butterfly sphere," features 45 species of tropical butterflies in all stages of growth from eggs through mature, breeding adults. One may see, as we did, a new butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Watch the new, soft, moist wings spread out, take shape and harden before your very eyes. Listen as guides explain the natural history of the order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). The farm is open year-round, seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Official languages of the island are French and Dutch--though English is
heard
Princess Juliana Airport has direct flights arriving from Atlanta, New York, Miami, Newark, Detroit, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and San Juan; making access to the island hassle-free. US citizens need only a passport or an official raised-seal US birth certificate and photo identification. There is a difference in the electrical voltage from one side of the island to the other. The Dutch side is 110 volts--the same as the US. The French side is 220 volts--the same as France. If you plan on staying on the French side and using electrical appliances, take an adapter. Stock photography by Thomas R. Fletcher at Alamy Text and Photos Copyright Thomas R. Fletcher/PROSE and PHOTOS
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