Hi there everyone, it has been a while since my last report around the world. Been traveling extensively and still am, gathering as much information and experiences as possible to share with all of you. This time, about two weeks ago, I flew from New York to Saint Martin to explore the island. I must say right from the beginning that other than St Barth, I have never been a huge fan of The Caribbean, but it is quite exciting to be able to discover this little gem and be proven wrong sometimes. Perfect destination for a quick getaway, to have it combined with St Barth.
For such a small island, St Martin or St Marteen depending on which side of the island you are staying – French or Dutch – has a wonderful mix of cultures and people. Over a total approx. populations of 75,000 inhabitants, you will find over 120 different nationalities. Because of this, the island is unique for its cosmopolitan nature, all living in harmony with each other, and where the word hospitality plays a big role.
One of the smallest landmasses divided by two nations, a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the French Collectivity. The island has two capitals, Philipsburg on the Dutch side, and Marigot on the French side. Although French and Dutch are the official languages, on their respective sides, English and Spanish is widely spoken, among many other languages, including Creole and Papiamento.
The official currency of the island is the Euro in St Martin and the Netherlands Antilles Guilder in St Marteen. Now the great news are, that the local exchange between the Euro and the US Dollar is 1 = 1.
The heritage of the island is marked by the salt industry. Dutch and Spanish were attracted to this shores, driven by the profitable salt ponds in the island. Then the French came along. The legend tells that a Frenchman and a Dutchman, who stood back to back to claim each others territory and borderlines. They walk in opposite directions, and where they met up again was to be the dividing line. Apparently the story tells that the Dutchman got a little lazy, tipsy and lay in the sun for a few hours while the Frenchman got on to it.
That is how nowadays most of the island belongs to the French Collectivity. There is no such and issue to cross from one side to the other, more than a big sign welcoming you to each side. I have only experienced such a feeling before, in Istanbul when crossing the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia.
Authored By Carlos Melia – See the Full Story at the Carlos Melia Blog
Click here for gay travel resources in Saint Martin / Snt Maarten.