St Maarten, Phillipsburg and Marigot

Again excitement approaching what looked like a large cluster of islands in a beautiful morning light as dawn was breaking.  A different feeling however  approaching St Maarten at 6.00am. 

I could see what looked like industrial smoke curling upwards and  surprisingly, high rise flats? 

At first wasn’t sure if this was indeed our destination as there seemed to be lots and lots of islands but yes it was. 

We passed by the French side of the island before docking in Phillipsburg on the Dutch side.

We could have arranged our own taxis etc but took the easy route and booked via the ship. 

We did have a very handsome 6.6ft guide (somewhat ADHD) from Houston Texas, formerly a basketball player, but who now opted to live on the island having given up his six  figure salary in USA. He was a bit hyper but indeed gave us plenty background history as we drove along.

There has been lots of fighting over the years between the Dutch and the French re who owns what bits of the island. There is of course a border and we are led to believe that the Dutch side is considerably more laid back than the French side. 
 

We stopped of in Marigot on the French side but to be honest we have found anyone we have spoken to, to be warm and friendly wherever we have gone.



There are so many interesting  and beautiful people on these islands and I would love to spend time just taking pictures of faces but I would prefer to ask folks bu the occasional sneaky pictures. This woman carried herself so elegantly and her hair pleated all the way down her back!

As an island I was not impressed with enough to want to bring me back here………a first so far!