Life on the island in the Caribbean: The average temperature for the fall is 30˚C, the feel like temperature is close to 35-38˚C. Still very warm. I think its the perfect temperature.
We have been living in the Caribbean for 7 months now, so we have learned a lot concerning how the locals live. They say good morning, good afternoon, and goodnight instead of hi or hello. Im still trying to get use to saying good night when you greet them. It just doesn't make sense to me...
Driving on the island- lets just say its different. For example, since all of the roads are only 1 lane each way, when there is a lot of traffic (and sometimes when there isn't a lot of traffic), if someone is attempting a left turn it is courteous to stop and let them turn. It is also courteous to let people merge from off the road in front of you, even if you have to slow down almost to a complete stop to let them in. Although this is the courtesy, it doesn't always happen and sometimes you have to "push" your way in and force people to give you the "courtesy". If you are a timid driver, you might have to wait for an hour before anyone lets you in, but with a little "push" people will show you the courtesy. The bottom line: drive like a local. Also since the police don't do much as far as traffic violations go, the best enforcer of speed limits is the trusty speed bump. They're everywhere! Just when you think you have a clear patch of highway, BUMP! They don't really paint them either so you always have to watch out for them. And don't ever drive between 4:00 and 6:00 (+/- 1 hour) going towards Phillipsburg. Since it's only a 1 lane road, traffic is awful. It's backed up for miles. We attempted it one day a drive that usually takes 10 mins took 1 hour, lets just say we learned our lesson. Also almost no one uses there signal lights....We've learned you need to drive like a local here. Normal Canadian driving doesn't work here and we now understand why immigrates can't drive in Canada.
Let the Tour of the Island begin: The area we live in is called Cole Bay. It's more of the run down part of the St Maarten, to me its similar to St Eustatius. I've heard people call it the industrial part of the island. To me it's how the locals live, nothing fancy. We live in a gated community so it doesn't even feel like we are in Cole Bay which I love. The following pictures are snapped around Cole Bay.
Haircut, anyone? We see a tone of these barber shops/ hair salons that look like run down shacks.There are barber shops/ hair salon on every street in these little shacks. They are sure schetchy looking. There are more americanized salons but you have to be willing to pay $67 for a women's hair cut. I'm on the hunt for something cheaper... so lets just say I'm letting my hair grow out until I do, it's been 7 months and I'm needing a hair cut but I will wait.
You see lady's sitting on the side of the road selling fruit. I have yet bought any from them. I will stick to the grocery stores.
A very typical island house.
Art and Frame Shop
A typical residential neighbourhood and typical means of island transportation.
This is one of the road we take to get to our place.
This is a Chinese Super Market. A lot of the locals by their food here.
The local bakery which we love. It's the only place on the island where you can buy true American style doughnuts ( Lincoln loves he's sprinkle doughnuts) and their bread is amazing, better then the imported American bread and at a factions of the price.
Island public transit. It costs a dollar and they will take you any where you want to go on the island.
Robbie Lottery shops are found everywhere, there are couple down most streets.
Our church building where we meet every sunday.
Another market.
This is a road going into Cay Bay. Cay Bay is just south of Cole Bay.
This is a look out going over the hill towards “Town” (which means Philipsburg). This is a photo looking back from where I’d just come… Colebay in the foreground (the movie theater is the large blueish block building on the left),you can also see Simpson Bay in the middle with all the yachts, and in the way background on the upper left is Cupecoy. The runway juts into the lagoon in the middle right, and the new bridge extends out of the frame.
This picture is taken just to the left of the one above. This is the GEBE power plant, the Dutch sides very unreliable source of power.
Now we are on to Marigot, it's on the French side, just north of Cole Bay.
Here's the road that cuts accross the middle of the island between Cole Bay and the French town of Marigot. It's by far the nicest road on the island.
Sheep beside the road.
Going into Marigot.
Marigot's market
Here's a looking at Simpson Bay. Simpson Bay is more touristy part of the island.
The only movie theatre on the island. It's actually a really nice place. And going to the movie with popcorn and pop is just about the OLNY thing that is less expensive then the states. I haven't gone yet but Josh has once with some of his class mates.
The Carousel and Geleateria Bar.
Simpson Bay Bridge. During high season, getting stuck behind the bridge when it goes up means turning off the car and watching the yachts go by.
Simpson Bay… a collection of restaurants hotels and businesses that all cater to tourists. Ok, we spend a fair amount of time and money here as well.
American restaurants.
One of the dutch jails.
7...alive?
A Restaurant on Simpson Bay Road.
During high season (winter), the lagoon fills up with huge, private yachts.
At the end of the runway, where the lagoon is narrow, they are building a bridge which should help ease some of the terrible traffic congestion.
Loooong stretch of road that runs parallel to the airport runway.
The airport is small (way bigger then St. Eustatius airport) but its nice.
We are now onto Maho Beach area.
The "Welcome to St. Maarten" sign by which the tourists love to take pictures by.
Maho Village ia a popular strip full of night clubs, shops, restaurants, medical clinic that we go to and a casino.
Night picture of Maho village.
Driving through the golf course at mullet beach. This rickety two lane road, barely wide enough for two cars, is part of the main road that circles the island.
Entrance to Maho Beach... the famous beach where jumbo jets fly in just over head, and take off only yards away from the tourists who love getting blown into the ocean by the jet blasts.
Yeah, nobody really pays much attention to this sign.
This little shack selling cold drinks is on the side of the beach.
... and this much larger Sunset Bar is not he other side.
Everyday Sunset Bar posts all the incoming big jets fights so the tourists know when to have their cameras ready.
Tourists come in all shapes and sizes.
Now on to Cupe Coy. This area is very touristy, very Americanized. It's one of the most expensive place to live on the island. The other medical school is locales in Cupe Coy.
The Blue mall in Cupe Coy. It's very americanized.
I know thats not the whole island but that the tour of the main area we see in a week here.
