http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Netherlands Antilles , Sint Maarten en-us Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:09:51 BST Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:09:51 BST My travels thus farThere are still too many grey areas on the map don't you think The red areas are countries ive visited or will visit in the next day or twoVisited Countries Map http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-294453.html Well here it is the last night of heaven here at St. Martin. Apologies about the lack of blog the last 2 nights the internet at the Oyster Bay Beach Resort randomly quit working and we have been unable to access any websites. Nonetheless we've been fortunate to be able to spend our last night at the Westin which is actually on the same beach as the OBBRwe can see it from our hotel. The http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-293351.html 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 nonisland 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 w http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-292201.html Hello All we really appreciate all the comments and messages we've gotten from everyone. It's great to hear that you are all reading these and looking at our pictures and great most of all to hear from you guys in general.Well today was relaxing. There's really no other way to put it Becky and I didn't wake up until almost 1 PM island time 10 AM home time and here it is 930 here 630 http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-291782.html Ahhh what a day After worrying about the weather from reading a pessimistic review yesterday we had a beautiful sunny and hot day enjoying the beach and sleeping in LATE. After our late wake up we got ready and went into town to get some groceries. We found among a bunch of very dirty and run down shops a small grocery store. It seemed nicer than the rest of the dirty shops around it http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-291376.html Well we made it After the 5 hour layover in Charlotte and then the 4.5 hour flight here we have arrived and have already enjoyed our room and the restaurant here in St Martin. The island topograhy itself is gorgeous with huge green mountains white sandy beaches and beautiful forests. When we first got off the plane there was a woman holding a sign with our name on it from the rentacar pl http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-291032.html Love Marigot Bay. The French really know how to make you welcome. 5 Euro to check in...Didn't even look at our passports...Went for lunch at L'Armantine took Non Linear. This restaurant offers specials for lunch everyday. These particular day they had Carpaccio de Beouf for those of you that do not know French it is raw beef with a caper sauce topped with Parmesan cheese for 10 Euros per p http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-288425.html Carnival continues in Phillipsburg St. Martin http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-271582.html We went to the street party in Grand Case Sint Maarten last Tuesday. There was plenty of food drink and music. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-269737.html We sailed to the spa on Tintamarre island Sint Maartem Netherland Antilles with good our friends Steve and Ann Honea for a mud bath treatment. Our skin felt smooth and clean after we washed off the mud. Pictures are attached. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-268322.html After spending a month in Puerto Rico we made our way back through the Spanish U.S. and British Virgin Islands in order to be back in St. Martin by the first week of April. After returning to St. Martin we had guests from Fort Worth for a week. While they were here we traveled to the French side of St. Martin where we visited Marigot Grand Case Tintamarre and Orient Beach. We enjoyed the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-267833.html We are still in St Maarten. It has just been over two weeks since we arrived back from Mexico and time has flown. It has been two weeks of hard work getting Woodsia in ship shape for her voyage. Our days start at 8am and are lucky to finish by 6pm. It has been hot sweaty work but we are slowly getting there. Achievements to date includebull Install of a new hot water systembull Cradle for ou http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-257799.html We got in about 10.30pm to St Maarten. It was a long day. We got to out hotel at about 11 ish only to find no one at reception. Just as we had made other arrangements to stay at a hotel in Philipsburg someone showed up about 12.30am. The next day we got to Oyster Pond around 1pm. Woodsia was waiting for us. We reviewed all the work that had been done and found that a number of the hatches still http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-254029.html We arrived in St Maarten on the 1st Feb 2008 after being in transit for 50 hrs. We stayed on the beach outside of Marigot for three days allowing us the time to visit Woodsia and get some admin out of the way.Beautiful island though it is very much Europe meets 3rd world. On first inspection the mix didn't feel right. But like all things you become accustomed to the culture and after a few days y http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-251088.html We woke up this morning and we were docked in St. Maarten which is an island where one half belongs to the Dutch and the other half belongs to the French. Therefore the currency used here is the Euro. Depending on which side you are on the island is spelled differently. Sint Maarten on the Dutch side and Saint Martin on the French side. We docked in the town of Phillipsburg which is on the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-230905.html We did an overnight from Virgin Gorda along with Sea Schell Island time Perseverance 2 other boats joined in. Perseverance and us went directly to Marigot Bay the others went to Simpson Bay. We arrived to early we kept trying to slow boat down to no avail did a few 180s between Marigot and the island of Anguila. Which by the way is flat not like all the others with hills and mountains.We a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-204848.html St. Maarten is an island that is owned by the French and by the Dutch. St. Maarten is the Dutch side and St. Martin is the French side. Our ship docked on the Dutch side but we wanted to see both sides of the island. We decided to go on a bus tour that would take us all around the island. Our first stop on the tour was Orient Beach which is a nude beach because it is on the French side. Th http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-199155.html Folks I have to start with an apology. I know I said Iwas going to tell you all about my first day but I've decided against that. It went by in a whirl of jet lagged paper work and trying to learn an awful lot very quickly. So sufficeto say tired didn't listen got pissed had monumental hangover. Wished I was deadYesterday I had my first shoot in one of the ships dining rooms the Coral http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-161452.html Today was our last day in St. Maarten and I spent a good chunk of it on tour with three of my teens. We did the Americarsquos Cup Regatta where we went on actual racing sailboats ones that have competed in the Americarsquos Cup. We were each shown how to perform a certain task to help sail the boat. I was given the task of ldquoWinch Wenchrdquo and I loved it When I was assigned ldquoW http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-146884.html After my entry on what it is like to live and work on the ship I hope you all read this without thinking that what I told you was a complete lie. HAHAHA So as I previously mentioned that this would be our last time to the St. Islands I made to sure to try and make the most of what I could while I was there. I havent really taken a lot of time for me the past little while. And anyone who kno http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-146593.html 36c Fine Boarding the flight to St Maarten from New York I immediately knew I wouldnrsquot be your typical tourist on the island. All the other passengers were well to do elderly couples kitted out in the latest fashions from insert name of fashionable elderly store here and ready to sip Pina Coladas on the beach. Fair enough I just hoped Irsquod fit in somewhere on the island because it http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-143885.html Last month a tragedy occurred. My camera stopped working. Thatrsquos right the expensive investment I made in a digital camera only a year ago stopped working. The camera I take with me everywhere at home let along when I travel stopped working. The camera that has taken literally thousands of photos during the first half of my contract stopped working. In order to get it fixed I had to expr http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-141013.html Days 13 St. MaartenSt. MartinWhat can you say about a month out of the cold Wersquore good at being snowbirds How about we went sailing on a big boat err ship in the French West IndiesI think everyone has a little bit of a pirate spirit in them and sailing on a Windjammer ship is a good way to bring that out One thing Windjammer employees will tell you is that ldquothis ainrsquot no http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-140282.html Hello there all of you lovely brillant and fabulous people wherever you all are. The time has come to create a new website that will allow me to update my travel journals so no more bugbitten it appears it chewed me up and spat me out and ended up on this travel logging website instead. Well its been busy since January this year. From the sport fisher Gaycita I left to brighter bigger and s http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-140020.html Hyppsimme tnn tiistaina 27.2.2007 kuunari Helenan kyytiin Phillipsburgista St. Martinilta. Kuunari odotti lahdella kaupungin edustalla ja meidt kuljetettiin alukseen dingikumivenekyydill. Meidt vastaanotti laivan miehist. Saimme lyhyen alusesittelyn ja pikakoulutuksen vessojen toiminnasta 61514 Loppuosa porukasta saapui pivn aikana. Petipaikat valittiin periaatteella rdquonope http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-135691.html HeiJahas Karibialla ei tunneta skandinaavisia aakkosia joten tasta tekstista puuttuu nyt sitten skandit.23.2.2007 matkasimme Helsingista Pariisin kautta Martiniquen saarelle. Saari oli kohtalaisen iso vihrea vilkas ja aurinkoinen. Olimme siella yhden yon ja jatkoimme matkaamme kohti St. Martinin saarta 24.2. iltapaivalla. Lensimme pienehkolla potkurikoneella Martiniquelta Guadaloupen Pointe http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-133090.html I do not think it was sea sickness because it was coming out both ends but whatever it was it hit me good while we were in St. Maarten so I do not remember much andor can tell you much about our time there. I remember waking up in the middle of the night with an upset stomach. I got up early because I signed up to go deep sea fishing. I can not count the number of times I went to the bathroo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-131489.html Rocky seas February Crew Activities and preparing for a month of new adventures.Like previously mentioned we are heading to the Southern Caribbean. The Ocean is very rocky tonight and I am feeling very queasy. I am sure that some sea sickness pills and a few Malibu and Pineapples will take care of that. It is very easy to see how people onboard cruise ships develop alcohol problems. When one of http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-126372.html Our family of seven Mom Dad Aunt Uncle and three children rented a villa on the beach in St. Martin for the week. We elected to stay on the French side of the island. We thought the food would be better Not really the villa choices were better and allowed us a beautiful spot directly on Long Beach. Not a short drive from the airport but our villa representatives met us at the airport h http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Sint-Maarten/blog-126091.html