Two islands for the price of one!

[Aplmac, Barbados]

Sint Maarten may be schizophrenic? --there's two sides to the island!

The Dutch side looks like this..







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The French side (spelled St.Martin) is a 20 min. taxi ride away.
We've only ever been to Marigot, the capital of the French side
so scenic photos of the French side are limited, sorry.







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[Aplmac, Barbados]

Shopping on the Dutch side!

Philipsburg's the capital of Sint Maarten, the Dutch side of the island.



Front Street, where all the deals are!











That's my Mrs. about to visit The Belgian Chocolate Box.

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[Aplmac, Barbados]

Shopping on the French side!

We've been over to Marigot twice now...found it quite charming
-lots of cute little shops in the back streets




There are several fashionable French boutiques and shoe shops here and there
-the ladies will need to take extra Euros, for shopping!







This is part of the Craft Market
located near that blue bandstand you saw earlier..
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[Aplmac, Barbados]

Your ship will dock

..at Philipsburg, on the Dutch side







Dockside at Sint Maarten




That's the water taxi at extreme right.




Great view on the way back from Marigot, on the French side
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[Aplmac, Barbados]

Philipsburg

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Great Bay beach-side.



Philipsburg ..somewhere along Front Street
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[Aplmac, Barbados]

New Philipsburg dock just about finished?

When Caribbean Princess docked Dec. 3rd. alongside the new dock at St.Maarten
deepwater dredging was still going on, even at 0650 hrs. when this photo was taken..



..but the dock itself is largely (if not completely?) ready for action








- with all bollards, safety markings, lamp-posts in place ..and two brightly-painted huts
presumably used for shelter, administration, whatever..




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[Aplmac, Barbados]

Early morning approach to St.Maarten

On our way in it looked like this..











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[Aplmac, Barbados]

Near the pier!

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Whizzing across Great Bay, Philipsburg, SXM.




At the Water Taxi pier, in Philipsburg.


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[Aplmac, Barbados]

There's a really swanky Mall in Marigot

If you get over to the French side of the island to MARIGOT
you'll find this nice Mall, full of nice Euro-goods!



It's called The West Indies Mall.






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[lesanne, Manchester]

St Maarten

Great pictures, can you answer the following questions

cost of a taxi to get to Marigot or does the water taxi go there.
I understand that the market is on a Wednesday is that correct?

we Are there in April on the Sea Princess

thanks

Les

[Aplmac, Barbados]

Great pictures, can you answer the following questions

cost of a taxi to get to Marigot or does the water taxi go there.
I understand that the market is on a Wednesday is that correct? ===> Not sure

Cost of a taxi from P-burg to Marigot is around US$7 per person,
per direction
sometimes you'll get a taxi for four ppl going to Marigot
for around US$25-27. one way Depends on his mood.
And about the same thing making your way back to P-burg and the ship!

It's easy to do: there are taxis all over, in both towns.

Water taxi goes only from the cruise ship pier across Great Bay
to two stops along Pburg beach, with a third stop to come soon, I'm told.

Not sure about the craft market happening at Marigot
but both times we went(Apr. and Dec. '09) -both times on a Thurs. I'm fairly sure
it was happening!
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[ainhoa, castro urdiales (2)]

[Harry, Hastings]

America Cup sailing which can be done as an excursion. Fantastic fun.

[Aplmac, Barbados]

Offshore Sint Maarten!

America Cup sailing which can be done as an excursion.
Fantastic fun.

Yes, I believe there's two such yachts
and they 'race' against each other?

Feedback usually is like yours... very positive! ;)
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[Harry, Hastings]

Yes, I believe there's two such yachts
and they 'race' against each other?

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In fact there are 3 - Dennis Connor's America's Cup winning Stars & Stripes, Canada II and True North but usually it's 2 in a race.
You are allocated a job for the race (can decline and just go for the ride) - I was a 'Main sail trimmer' and the captain calls his instructions to each participent. The boats really race against each other including cutting across each others bows etc.
They have won 'Best shore excursion in the Caribbean' many times.