Think about it, one very small island with two distinct cultures and no, I am not talking about our St. Georges Island, but rather the Caribbean Island of St. Maarten/Martin.
Pam and I visited there last week and had a great time staying on the French side but checking out the entire Two-for-One island. (I know that this Buzzyblog trip report is a poor man’s version of the authentic Tripadvisor reviews so (click here) for a better overview of St. M&M.)
Friday morning we toured around the entire 37 mile island with our guide Dennis. He explained how the two countries developed and how today everyone gets along despite their differences. He noted that there are the overall personal differences, such as the French being considered a little more aloof while the Dutch are viewed as more carefree. (Note how this is clearly shown to be the case in their Welcome signs.)
Dennis also told us how there are everyday differences between the two. For example, as an ambulance passed us, he pointed out how the French ambulance sirens have that donkey-braying European sound while the Dutch ambulances have the American sounding sirens. He also noted that the French electrical supply is European while the Dutch is U.S. compatible. Fortunately for us, Pam knew this beforehand, and had packed the European power converters with her.
I have here a couple other photos to demonstrate the claim that the Dutch side is more happening, while the French side is more laid back.
First the French side:
After checking out their must-see Orient Beach (above) we then stopped at the more interesting “Iguana Ranch.” I say “more interesting” because beach-wise, my take is like Buzzy and his opinion of museums, once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ’em all. Then again, since I live on a beach, I am probably beached out to begin with. (Always better to be beached out, than bitched at right?)
The Iguana dude fed them and then directed us to look over to the side where he had another larger, orange iguana named appropriately enough Donald Trump.
Well, take that back, because obviously the Donald wasn’t interested in mingling with his fellow iquanas nor any chciken.
Our guide noted that Donald did not like hanging out with the other iguanas and preferred to stay by himself. These reptilian creatures are funny aren’t they?
On to the Dutch side of the island, things kicked up a notch or two – literally! We visited Maho Beach where I took these photos watching the planes land at the adjacent Princess Juliana airport.
Prior to 2016, the 747’s would blow people away into the water as they took off. Someone even died doing this. Drunks standing behind a plane revving up for a 500 mph take off, what could go wrong?
In 2016 the 747’s stopped flying into St. Maarten (click here for related story.)
Music-wise, I never did know what this song was all about, but thought of it just now. (Changing the lyrics from “How does it feel when you got no herb?” does clarify things some though.)