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St Martin -The northern part of this twin-nation island is 20 square
miles of French territory with a strikingly French way of life. The two
parts of this popular resort island have some things in common – the weather
is excellent, as are the beaches, hotels and restaurants. In St Martin
visitors know at once that they are in the Gallic Caribbean. The currency,
the language, the goods in the shops, the escargots and frog's legs in the
restaurants and the pastries and breads in the bakeries, the cars, the
fashions and the sheer style – it’s all unashamedly French. Sint Maarten is the smaller, Dutch part of a beautiful and
lively Caribbean island shared peacefully with France. The Dutch section of
the island – only 17 square miles (44 sq km), of which five lie under the
waters of lagoons and salt
In Philipsburg, the capital, there are more than 500 stores in pastel-coloured,
clapboard Dutch-style buildings. For truly local shopping with a Caribbean
flavour, do not miss Philipsburg’s Saturday market.
For rest and relaxation after shopping expeditions, sight-seeing trips
and nights on the town, there are superb beaches offering safe swimming, the
full range of water sports from surfing and scuba-diving to parasailing and
jet-skiing, and fine ocean-side restaurants.
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* Canadian's require a valid passport
or a birth certificate along with official photo ID
* Capital city: Philipsburg/Marigot
* Gateway airport: Philipsburg (SXM)
* Departure tax: $20* Language:
French but English widely spoken Dutch; English, Spanish, Papiamentu
* Currency: Netherlands Antilles Florin (Dutch), Euro (French)
* Electricity: 110/220V
Goods to buy: Perfumes, oil/water color paintings, guavaberry
liqueur |
The sporting highlight of Sint Maarten’s year is the Heineken Regatta in
March, which draws yacht crews from across the world and provides an excuse
for parties and steel band shows on both Dutch and French sides of the
island.
Grown-ups in search of a turn at the tables can try their luck at the 12
casinos in Dutch Sint Maarten – there are none on the French side – or
sample the island’s lively nightclubs. The excellent cuisine in Sint Maarten
is cosmopolitan.
The island’s fascinating history – although owned by the Netherlands and
France since 1648 it has also been occupied by Spain and Britain – can be
glimpsed in Philipsburg’s museum and at the ruins of colonial forts, one of
which, at Great Bay Harbour, was the first military base built by the Dutch
in the Caribbean. |
