St Marteens -sun, swwimming, .....

St Maartens – best day!

This island is quite small but is divided into a French side and Dutch side and there is an agreement that both work together. The French side got hammered in last years hurricane but our port was on the Dutch side and was quite sheltered thank goodness.  There were 3 cruise ships in port so obviously the town was going to be busy. We wanted to go on a tour to the infamous Maho Bay, which is the bay where the planes lane and take off right behind you. (this was where a New Zealand lady go killed last year by the blast of a plane landing – it knocked her over and she hit her head  on some metal bars she was holding on to.). It is also known for some topless sunbathing – so obviously Dave was in his element – boobies and planes! However there was only  one seat left  on the tour so we took another one, much to our disappointment, but our fault for leaving it so late. The day was gorgeous and we got in a water –taxi to a bay which the beach was all covered in umbrellas. All for the tourists! We got two deckchairs and an umbrella right by the water (part of the tour but you normally pay for both). I was so excited – finally I got to go in the water and actually swim in the Caribbean  sea! The water was so warm – and actually quite deep quickly.  We were in and out, sunbathing, read a book for hours! This was what I envisaged right from the word go! You got waited on for drinks (the local beer was cold, cheap and not too bad!) I was ssossoooooo happy! We talked to a couple from Glaaasgoooo (very hard to understand) but they looked after our stuff while we swam and we did visa-versa. We hired a two-man jet-ski ($55 for half-an hour) and zoomed around the bay for 30 mins! Whheeeee! I was amazed they let just anyone ride these things but there were no questions asked except – have you driven one before? to Dave. (and no the jet-ski was not as flash as your’s Simon! Such fun!

Peace was blasted where a large group of Samoans (yes – Samoans – we know this cause they wore Samoan lava-lavas and spoke the language!) decided to have a game of water volleyball in amongst these sedate, some rather old and large tourists! Lots of yelling and laughing and splashing just what you would see on the beach at Samoa! The tourists quickly moved away from them in the water, as the ball was going everywhere with quite a smack! Dave and I thought – what on earth were a big bunch of youngish Samoans doing in the Caribbean? (drinking beer as well) We decided they must be workers from one of the ships as they got back on the water taxi with us  - laughing and drinking beer. I hope they didn’t have to work that evening!

All in all the best day! (even tho we both got a little burnt – had put on sunscreen heaps but I guess the water washes it off)

Now for some time (2 days) at sea doing nothing! More books to read, more cocktails to drink. Dave has discovered banana daiquiri – mine is Miami vice! Oh what a life!