Entry 5: Busy Day at St Martin

Well another day winding up here, it's hard to believe. What's even more hard to believe is that we'll be flying back in about 3 days now! Ugh it's going to be tough adjusting back to "non-island time", but both Becky and I are getting eager and ready to get back into life and into seeing everyone at home. There's still some of the wedding stuff to take care of (opening presents mostly:), and we're missing the condo and Washington life very much.

We slept in again today, just like everyday, until almost noon, a guilty pleasure we're quite happy to take part of. After some quick breakfast we got all gussied up in our goin to town clothes, and hopped in the almost empty "Daihatsu Charade" rental car (which we finally took pictures of for Michael). Luckily we made it without running out of gas to a Shell station in town, and got a chance to fill up. When the car was rented to us, it only had a little over a quarter tank of gasoline (I wasn't happy) and so that's about how it will be returned! Anyways today we went to the shopping center and wandered around the town, going in and out of little shops in the "Maho Beach" area near the airport, taking pictures and we even went to a Subway and Baskin and Robbins. Very nice and relaxing! Maho beach is the famous beach right outside the airport where the planes fly only about 25 feet over your head (including 747's), and many people, despite the posted warnings, gather on it to watch planes both take off and land so close that you can feel the wind and see the rivets on the plane hull. Becky and I were able to walk over there, and although only a few prop planes landed, it was still really amazing to see those machines land on the runway. Not only that, but the beach itself was soooo beautiful.

After a drive home we took a very short excursion to the beach at the hotel, as we were waiting for a 7:00 movie at the Carribbean cinema in town, and had the best time. Becky stayed on shore snapping pictures while I went swimming with my goggles. The weather, although always being posted as "showers" on the forecast, was beautiful again. I was able to use the goggles to look at some small rock formations, and I saw some amazing tropical fish that were brilliant yellow, and even a little crab that was none to happy I was bothering him in his sandy home.

The time eventually came, after many a picture, for us to return to the hotel room and get ready to go into town. We got all cute and ready for a night out on the town and faught traffic to the Carribean Cinema to see "Wanted". The theatre is huge and so nice inside. It's strange because even though there are a ton of empty seats around you, the natives will just come right up and sit next you. After the movie, we drove on home. It was the first time we'd driven at night, and it was nuts. I think the main activity for the locals is to stand in groups along, or in the middle of, the road. It's very scary, and the trafic just rolls in and out without much care, and there are scooters and motorcycles that drive at least 40 mph in the middle of both directions. Whenever I drive here I think of Michael, who would LOVE driving here, everyone is always rallying their cars, and the winding roads make you feel like its a continual rally race. Very FUN! Plus our little car is a little car feels more like a glorified go-cart! It's a bit like playing the Wii MarioKart but without coconut mall. :) Later we thought about going to Beau Beau's for a quick salad and drinks but they were closed. We did, however, get to watch "Da Party Bus" roll in with it's drunkin' passengers...amusing. And that was just about our day...It's getting real fun just cruisin' around town now that we're more comfortable with the mentality here (aka super lazy and if you want it take it haha).

Well thanks for reading this long one all the way to the end! We hope you read it and maybe say hi if you get the chance! We miss everyone and can't wait to see them when we get home!

Love

Nick + Beck

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