A stop in St. Martin

Having arrived in the French part of the island of St. Martin, with my travel companion and a couple we met on the cruise, from the symbolic border with the Dutch part thanks to a taxi that took us through the hills of the interior to Orient Beach. The border between the two parts is marked by a marble obelisk at the side of the country road. Orient Beach is a bay of white sand with a few palms and plenty of tourist facilities on the beach and in the sea. From here, with another taxi, we head to the capital of the French part of the island, Marigot, where to our surprise we find the little main street decked out for a very colourful Caribbean carnival. A short stroll through the centre of Marigot, then by taxi towards the Dutch part, announced by a simple sign. The French part of St.

Martin recently gained a certain autonomy from Guadeloupe while still remaining within the Overseas Department.