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<\/a><\/p>\nThis is the second time I’ve been to St. Martin\/St. Maarten and both times have been on cruises, so unfortunately I’ve never had more than a day there. St. Martin (I’m going to use this spelling most because the Dutch language confuses me) is an island owned by two different nations, half Dutch and half French.\u00a0 Each side has its own personality and there is certainly much to explore.\u00a0 It would be great to be able to spend at least a weekend and really get in there, but here are a few things you can see on both sides of the Island in a day.<\/p>\n
~Sint Maarten~<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The Dutch side of the island, part of the lesser Netherlands Antilles, is where the cruise port is located and where most cruise passengers spend their time.\u00a0 Like any cruise port (that I’ve been to at least), you’re immediately bombarded with people trying to sell you over priced tours and taxi rides and women offering to braid your hair for money.\u00a0 I’m still confused as to why anyone says yes to this!\u00a0 However, if you trudge on you’ll find the charming town of Philipsburg.\u00a0 If lazing on the beach is your thing this is a great port because a gorgeous beach is walkable from the port and right in town.<\/p>\n I live in Florida and have plenty of beach access, so I’d rather see cultural attractions while at port, but I get it if you live somewhere where lounging on the beach in February is the ultimate.\u00a0 Look no further.\u00a0 Of course, I was also on a Disney Cruise<\/a> and knew I would be stopping at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, in a few days where there would be nothing to do but have beach time.<\/p>\n Instead we chose to walk to Fort Amsterdam.\u00a0 I won’t lie, it is a bit of a hike, especially for someone full of cruise food<\/a>, but it’s worth it for the view from the top.\u00a0 It offers and excellent view of the port and the turquoise waters.\u00a0 You also may meet some feathered friends.<\/p>\n Seeing what is sort of two countries in only a few hours leaves little time to linger, so it was on to the French side!<\/p>\n ~Saint Martin~<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n We took a cab from Fort Amsterdam to Marigot, the capital of the French side of the island.\u00a0 Beware, the cab drivers thrive on the ignorance of tourist, you have to play a little hard ball.\u00a0 They also charge per person in the car, which seems a bit ridiculous.\u00a0 I’m glad we made it over to Marigot however.\u00a0 I think the French side of the island is my favorite.<\/p>\n I can’t leave a location without trying the local cuisine, so we stopped by Rosemary’s for lunch.\u00a0 One of many “lolos” near the ferry port at Marigot clamoring for our business.\u00a0 Perhaps they were the most aggressive, perhaps we were impressed by the Anthony Bordain endorsement on the menu, but I think the most likely reason we landed on Rosemary’s is that none of us could play the “I don’t know.\u00a0 What do you want?” game anymore.<\/p>\n \u00a0 Anyway, we settled on Rosemary’s where they promptly hustled another guest out, offering him a plastic cup to carry is half full glass of wine because they needed the table.\u00a0 Rosemary herself also came by the introduce herself and offer us a free round of drinks for our wait.\u00a0 So the service was great! (For us, not for that guy with the wine.)\u00a0 The drink left a little to be desired, but the food was great.\u00a0 Reasonably priced and huge portions.\u00a0 Most of the people in my party ordered a conch creole since they had never had conch.\u00a0 I had a goat curry as that was billed as a “local specialty” and I live in Florida so I’m up to my eyeballs in conch.<\/p>\n The flavor was good, but the goat was a bit fatty.\u00a0 Still glad I did it and it felt like a very local experience.\u00a0 It’s also pretty cool that the owner still works there and interacts with the guests.<\/p>\n After our bellies were full we wandered around town for a bit and headed to the Bikini Beach (I was out-voted).\u00a0 Bikini Beach was lovely though.\u00a0 I sat and enjoyed some beachy cocktails while others swam like it wasn’t February.\u00a0 It was a picturesque beach to walk around and take pictures and just a short hike to the nude beach next door if you’re so inclined.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n