A stop in St.Maarten

Having reached the port of Philipsburg, capital of the Dutch part of the island of St.Maarten, aboard the Costa Atlantica. Together with Dorina and a couple of friends we met on the cruise, we took a microbus-taxi to head for the French part of the island. There is no real border between the two parts, only a marble marker placed at the side of a hilly road marking the boundary. On the way back from the French side, just a sign welcomes you into the Dutch zone. Heading back towards Philipsburg it's possible to admire the great lagoon in some stretches from the top of a hill. The Dutch part of the island gained a certain independence thanks to the recent break-up of the Netherlands Antilles dominion. The capital, reached by taxi taken from the French area, is modern and touristy.

The central street is full of duty-free shops and particularly jewellers, while the seafront leading to the port where the cruise ships dock is more pleasant, with a few palms on the little beach. On the pavement in front of the tourist pier a marquetry reproduces the map of the whole island. It's striking to walk along the quays of the port where no fewer than six cruise ships are docked. From here we take our places again on our ship. It's worth noting that before reaching St.Maarten I had spotted from the ship, very close by, two other Dutch islands: tiny Saba with Mount Scenery and St.Eustathius.