ST MARTIN / SINT MAARTEN for Christmas (2+ weeks)

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With an area of 37 square miles, this is the world's smallest land mass shared by 2 nations. There have been almost 350 years of friendly co-operation between the  Dutch and the French and each side has managed to retain much of the distinctiveness of its own national culture. Dutch Sint Maarten occupies 16sq miles on the southern side of the island and French St Martin occupies the larger portion north.

Fortunately, being Christmas, we are able to indulge in all the gourmet french delicacies without feeling too guilty! The local Patisserie is an easy dinghy ride away.

Colourful souvenir markets dockside
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We opted to anchor/dock at sheltered Simpson Bay Lagoon which is landlocked by the Dutch and French side and accessible from the ocean by drawbridge only with 3 to 4 openings daily.

"Dutch side" capital of Philipsburg is a short inexpensive bus trip over the hill from where we anchored. It is a bustling commercial district geared for the cruise ship market complete with casinos, tacky tourists, duty free and souvenir shops.

In total contrast, the "French side" has a  "Europe in the Caribbean" cosmopolitan atmosphere with fabulous cafes and restaurants aplenty.The capital, Marigot, is a speedy 5 klm dinghy trip across the lagoon from our anchorage.

Marigot Marketplace on the waterfront has homegrown produce, spices and freshly caught seafood.
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Boat chandlery supplies are exceptionally good here and both sides of the island are duty free, guaranteeing a steady supply of mariners willing to part with their money.

Our original focus was on the french cuisine, but we did manage to prioritize and attend to some necessary boat maintenance and some not so necessary but enjoyable sightseeing.

Great place to stock up on provisions. Selection in supermarkets is superb...we even managed to find vegemite on the shelf (very exciting).

Lunch on the run
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Lots of:  Mega yachts, Aeroplanes, Casinos, Restaurants, Nightlife, Boating Supplies, Markets, Duty Free Shopping, French & Dutch Spoken, Asian Shop Owners, Public Transport, Cruisers we had previously met in Dominican Republic & Boating Entertainment (see pics).

Very Little: cheap eats on "French side".

We anchored back left hand side of this photo on the Dutch side of Simpson Lagoon, a 5klm dinghy ride from Marigot.
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