Thursday, December 11, 2014

St Maarten Is An Interesting Place To Go On A Vacation

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By Claudine Hodges


There are many place is this world one would love seeing, but some are more than others. St Maarten has two different spellings, the first comes from Dutch and Saint Martin is from the French but it is generally referred to as The Friendly Island. This little island is divided between the French which is about fifty three square meters wide and the Kingdom of Netherlands which is about thirty four square kilometers wide. The population from both sides are very much the same.

This airport serves Dutch speaking parts of this island and on the French side, there is another called L'Esperance Airport. It is known for its very low height flyover landings as the end of the runway is very close to the Maho Beach. Many tourists make their way there just to see the airplanes land and take off. If standing behind the aircraft while it is revving its engines to take off, one has to really hold on to the fence as the force of the wind is tremendous.

The airport started in 1942 as an armed forces strip and in 1943 was changed into a national one. In 1964 it was relocated and remodeled with a new control tower and terminal building. The last time it was upgraded was in 2001. Due to the high traffic and expected growth the Princess Julian Airport has been modernized with a three phased master plan.

Another attraction is taking a pirate day cruise. One will get to sail a tall ship on the clear waters while being told about swashbuckling tales just like a real pirate. A lunch with unlimited drinks will be provided and there will be time to go swimming to enjoy the cool waters. Just like a real pirate ship there will be a plank where one can walk, jump or even flip off. There are only twenty five people at a time allowed so the group is small and many friendships can be made.

During ones stay there will be an opportunity to kite surf. Lessons will be given by experienced instructors where they will show one how to lift and steer as well as to body drag. Once given the all clear standing on the board with the wind taking you away one can feel totally free. As each lesson is personalized to give undivided attention they are limited to two people at a time.

If one is more into the sitting on the beach and soaking up the sun while people watching there are some fantastic beaches to visit. The Orient Beach has lots of different restaurants and vendors and if one wishes hiring umbrellas and chairs for the day is common. As it is one of the main beaches it can become a bit crowded at times.

In order to visit all passengers must have a completed an immigration form which is handed to each person while still in the air. They need to be filled out truthfully with an exact address where one will be staying. Each visitor will need to have a valid passport as well as a return ticket.

The Dutch side of the island is well known for the beaches, nightlife and jewellery. The drinks are made from rum based guava-berries and their casinos are always thriving. On the French side it is known for the nude beaches, the shopping which includes the outside markets as well as the different styles of clothing.




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