Same On Both Sides, Mon

Ah the Carribbean. 

For me, it's love at first sight and it's all good. So finding myself back there is no surprise to me, even if it is a makeup trip, the first of which my lovely wife missed.  You see, a long time and several jobs ago, I had a business assignment to Sint Maarten for a week and at the last minute, our daughter got sick and she had to stay home.  Meanwhile, I still had a job to do.

Work sucks but you know, someone has to do it so I soldiered on and suffered working for a whole week in the Carrib.

Seventeen short years later, she (my very lovely wife) booked another trip.  This time I didn't have to work and since there are no kids, pets, lawns or anything else needing constant attention, she could go too. Yay!

The view from our terrace was spectacular, this is the view we woke up to, every morning there.

There's only one road around the island and since I like bikes (in this case scooters) was encouraged to rent one and take a spin around.  So I did.

The rental place I used was in Phillipsburg and like much of the island, tucked under as much shade as possible and the proprieter was very nice, cordial.  Seemingly, the island norm.

We struck a deal and I asked about laws to make sure which side of the road to drive on and he said "same on both sides, mon" repeatedly, until I figured out that whether Dutch or French, road laws are the same. 

Ok then, off we go!

It's lush, green and visually rich.  Looking to the interior of the island from the perimeter road.

Oyster Pond, where Catamarans are the norm.

Do you think this boat has enough horsepower?

My scoot for the day.

St. Barts

How I'm feeling today.  Life's good.

But, it's not all idyllic perfection

"Be sure to chain the scooter when you stop", he said.  Security you know.

I think the chain came from here, only, it was used to hold sea anchors before being recycled to anchor the scooter.

Me stopping for lunch in Grand Case, where the derelict pipe layer from the previous pic, rusted just offshore.

Lunch was island fare.  In a sea of sunwashed drab, this restaurant was bathed in color and drew me in.  Yum!

Peaceful water

Marigot has this fountain and a cannon with a plaque that I didn't read but imagine it's a tribute to the 18th century pirates both mooored and asail???

Front Street, Phillipsburg, a one-way street

Back home again

I can't wait to go again only this time, explore the island's interior!  Or maybe go to Antigua or Anguilla, or...