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smallest island in the world ever to be partitioned between two different
countries, St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the
Dutch in a spirit of neighborly cooperation and mutual respect for almost
350 years. Daily, the people cross and recross the nearly iinvisible border. |
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St Maarten occupies the
southern sector, an area of wooded mountains rising from white sandy beaches.
The most prominent physical feature in St Maarten is Mount Flagstaff, an
extinct volcano, but the most important for visitors is the excellent beach
that follows the south and west coasts. The capital of Philipsburg is situated
on a sand bar that separates Great Salt Pond, an étang or salt marsh,
from the ocean. |
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| Between the two different
cultures in St. Martin and St. Maarten, vacationers will be able to find
just about every kind of activity they might want for a perfect holiday
in the sun. Duty-free shopping has turned the island into a virtual mall,
and Philipsburg is often bustling with cruise-ship hordes. The nightlife
is among the best in the Caribbean, with lively happy hours and casinos
galore. Sunshine is guaranteed year-round, creating the perfect ambiance
for fishing, swimming, snorkeling and sailing. |
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The island's 36 white sand
beaches remain unspoiled, and the clear turquoise waters are even more
enticing. The French side of the island has a slightly different character,
emphasizing comfort and elegance. The beaches are secluded and the luxury
resorts provide lavish accommodations. The latest French fashions can be
found in many of the shops, and the smell of fresh croissants and pastries
mixes everywhere with the spicy aromas of West Indian cooking. Small cafés
and charming bistros add a decidedly Gaelic and cosmopolitan flair to the
place. The capital, Marigot, boasts some of the best cuisine in the Caribbean,
with an extraordinary number of good restaurants.
Marigot is not quite the
same size as its counterpart, Philipsburg. It has none of the frenzied
pace of Philipsburg - no dazzling sights, no spectacular nightlife. |
| Just beyond Marigot is Grand-Case,
a small fishing village that's the final outpost of French civilization.
Most people come to St. Martin just to relax on its many white-sand beaches.
They come to sample "France in the tropics" and when they tire of it, they
wander a few miles away to sample a bit of Holland at the same time. |
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