St Maarten by born2travel.it

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27 March Philipsburg (ST MAARTEN)

For hundreds of years, the Caribbean was an exotic battlefield for the colonial powers, busy enriching themselves by transporting rum, slaves and gold from the New to the Old World.

A few cannon shots were enough to transform the political geography of the area from one day to the next and, after centuries of this Risk played among sand, sea and coconut palms, only one of the 7,000 Caribbean islands remained divided between two Nations that preferred to split it rather than lose it entirely.

It is easy to understand why this place: Saint Martin for the French and Sint Maarten for the Dutch, was so sought after.

The political division has given this island two distinct personalities, almost as if they were Siamese twins with very different characters.

The "French" cling to their European roots, as shown by the attention to cuisine, the attachment to the traditions of beyond the Alps, the French number plates and hearing yourself told, in Marigot, that the capital is in Europe, in Paris, and that Marigot is only the largest town on the island!

The "Dutch" prefer to emphasise their sociability, especially through music, the relaxed life on the beach etc.

According to legend, the division of the island originated from a sort of running race. The French headed north, the Dutch south. While the former, along the way, quenched their thirst with good wine, the latter resorted to cheap gin and were forced to a long stop to shake off the effects. This would explain why the French grabbed a larger share of territory.

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