Comments on: A Caribbean Island Divided – Wandering Around St. Martin/Sint Maarten With Uncle Dave http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/ General interest observations and true web-log. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:18:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-1503708 John Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:53:57 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-1503708 St.Maarten sucks!! We were on a cruise Feb 2009 and one stop was St.Maarten. People are nice as long as you open your wallet other than that pretty un-friendly. My oldest daughter had her video camera recording a band and some of the street life and one locals approaced her yelling and screaming that she "could not tape his Island" and tried to grab her camera...and my son in law stepped bewteen her and this mainac. The guy took a swing and my son in law ducked it...the guy was just going off about his island and how we didn't belong there, one of the band members called for security but no one ever showed up and this went on for 10 to 15 minutes so fine I'll never spend another moment there or another dime. If we are ever on a ship stopping at that SH*THOLE we decided we would stay on the ship and be treated well. St.Maarten sucks!! We were on a cruise Feb 2009 and one stop was St.Maarten. People are nice as long as you open your wallet other than that pretty un-friendly. My oldest daughter had her video camera recording a band and some of the street life and one locals approaced her yelling and screaming that she “could not tape his Island” and tried to grab her camera…and my son in law stepped bewteen her and this mainac. The guy took a swing and my son in law ducked it…the guy was just going off about his island and how we didn’t belong there, one of the band members called for security but no one ever showed up and this went on for 10 to 15 minutes so fine I’ll never spend another moment there or another dime. If we are ever on a ship stopping at that SH*THOLE we decided we would stay on the ship and be treated well.

]]> By: St Martin island http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-1472122 St Martin island Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:20:10 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-1472122 St. Martin sounds good place,I greatly believe that every corner of this place is wonderful. -Sarah St. Martin sounds good place,I greatly believe that every corner of this place is wonderful.

-Sarah

]]> By: Sarah Parker http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-1418913 Sarah Parker Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:58:52 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-1418913 I have a tips for you guys, For people who’ve owned islands, land and run businesses in ST MARTIN ISLAND for a long time, have you thought about any kind of a longevity discount? Maybe lowering prices by 10% after a year or so because we’re dependable sources of income? I have a tips for you guys, For people who’ve owned islands, land and run businesses in ST MARTIN ISLAND for a long time, have you thought about any kind of a longevity discount? Maybe lowering prices by 10% after a year or so because we’re dependable sources of income?

]]> By: Alarman http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-1328158 Alarman Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:53:16 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-1328158 I am leaving for St Martin tonight. Staying at Oyster Bay for a week. Thanks for the good reads. I am leaving for St Martin tonight. Staying at Oyster Bay for a week. Thanks for the good reads.

]]> By: Koolio http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-986146 Koolio Sat, 02 Feb 2008 16:01:27 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-986146 Locals in St.Maarten are not rude, I would say it's the visitors that tend to be stuck up. I have vacationed in St.Maarten numerous times and have rarely had bad experiences with locals. i find that the locals are normally very freindly, compared to other caribbean isalnds. Concenring communications infrastructure, every beach I visited had wifi internet access, and if you have a blackbery, you can connect to Orange's network, a fech carrier and pretty much chat anywhere. My most loved thing about st.Maarten though is the restaurants, they are all exceptionaly great, you won't have a single bad meal. -Now concenring the trash, yes the place is a bit messy with trash, but where in the world isn't infested with trash? so i think to highlight this point is a bit misleading. their is no where in the world that is perefectly clean, well except singapore. Locals in St.Maarten are not rude, I would say it’s the visitors that tend to be stuck up. I have vacationed in St.Maarten numerous times and have rarely had bad experiences with locals. i find that the locals are normally very freindly, compared to other caribbean isalnds. Concenring communications infrastructure, every beach I visited had wifi internet access, and if you have a blackbery, you can connect to Orange’s network, a fech carrier and pretty much chat anywhere.
My most loved thing about st.Maarten though is the restaurants, they are all exceptionaly great, you won’t have a single bad meal.
-Now concenring the trash, yes the place is a bit messy with trash, but where in the world isn’t infested with trash? so i think to highlight this point is a bit misleading. their is no where in the world that is perefectly clean, well except singapore.

]]> By: Danny http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-615481 Danny Thu, 03 May 2007 06:34:44 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-615481 St. Maarten is not so great. In fact, I think it kinda sucks. I spent 4 months there and found that the locals are NOT so friendly unless you go out of your way to show respect to them. I went to the island with the attitude that St. Maarten was not my home and I needed to respect the customs of the island and I still felt like native people were rude. In addition to the complete lack of a reliable communications infrastucture, the prices of doing normal chores like laundry are EXORBITANT. The beaches are nice, but they are often dirty. There must be better islands in the Caribbean, if not then go to Hawaii. This is an OK place to go for a week or two, but that is it. I'm not surprised that most of the nice houses on the French side are usualy empty. St. Maarten is not so great. In fact, I think it kinda sucks. I spent 4 months there and found that the locals are NOT so friendly unless you go out of your way to show respect to them. I went to the island with the attitude that St. Maarten was not my home and I needed to respect the customs of the island and I still felt like native people were rude. In addition to the complete lack of a reliable communications infrastucture, the prices of doing normal chores like laundry are EXORBITANT. The beaches are nice, but they are often dirty. There must be better islands in the Caribbean, if not then go to Hawaii. This is an OK place to go for a week or two, but that is it. I’m not surprised that most of the nice houses on the French side are usualy empty.

]]> By: bronwen lichtenstein http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-429200 bronwen lichtenstein Mon, 08 Jan 2007 13:37:51 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-429200 Small island, surly locals, big mosquitoes (dengue fever), bad roads, hellish tourism. Small island, surly locals, big mosquitoes (dengue fever), bad roads, hellish tourism.

]]> By: Dugger http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-420701 Dugger Mon, 01 Jan 2007 14:44:18 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-420701 I arrived for just a day on a cruise ship. Orient beach has the most famous European / Mediterranian style beachs with topless and full nudity common. I was on a catamarran excursion to Tintimar - a deserted island retreat to the Northeast. I saw a half dozen folks on their expensive yachts nude sunbathing on the beach as well as running their boat. I arrived for just a day on a cruise ship. Orient beach has the most famous European / Mediterranian style beachs with topless and full nudity common. I was on a catamarran excursion to Tintimar – a deserted island retreat to the Northeast. I saw a half dozen folks on their expensive yachts nude sunbathing on the beach as well as running their boat.

]]> By: pedro http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-420659 pedro Mon, 01 Jan 2007 13:44:25 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-420659 #5 sadi:"Everyone knows everyone else and things like that affected the entire island. Makes me wish our own small towns could achieve the type of social interaction this entire nation has." Are you acquainted with the phrase "Samll Town, Big Hell"? #5 sadi:”Everyone knows everyone else and things like that affected the entire island. Makes me wish our own small towns could achieve the type of social interaction this entire nation has.”

Are you acquainted with the phrase “Samll Town, Big Hell”?

]]> By: Uncle Dave http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-420638 Uncle Dave Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:53:05 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-420638 #9: I saw the guilder mentioned on that website I linked to which is why I mentioned it, although I don't remember seeing anything other than dollars and US coins exchanged anywhere. #9: I saw the guilder mentioned on that website I linked to which is why I mentioned it, although I don’t remember seeing anything other than dollars and US coins exchanged anywhere.

]]> By: Frank http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-420616 Frank Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:04:42 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-420616 The Dutch guilder doesn't exist anymore, we also use euros. There are two kind of guilders used on the Antilles, Aruba has its own guilder and the rest of the other Antilles (five islands) share a common currency. The Dutch guilder doesn’t exist anymore, we also use euros. There are two kind of guilders used on the Antilles, Aruba has its own guilder and the rest of the other Antilles (five islands) share a common currency.

]]> By: Billabong http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-420493 Billabong Mon, 01 Jan 2007 06:17:26 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-420493 Dave tell us more. Dave tell us more.

]]> By: Uncle Dave http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-420350 Uncle Dave Sun, 31 Dec 2006 23:12:03 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-420350 Several of us were going to take the boat trip one Sunday to St Barths (the French spelling), only to discover they only went on two other days of the week. So, we went to the other side of the airport (what an huge place that is -- not the sort of airport one would expect here). Ate at the exceptional Sopranos Pizza (yes, they use Tony in their ad, although it's doubtful he gets paid for -- or knows about -- the usage) across from Casino Royale. Several of us were going to take the boat trip one Sunday to St Barths (the French spelling), only to discover they only went on two other days of the week. So, we went to the other side of the airport (what an huge place that is — not the sort of airport one would expect here). Ate at the exceptional Sopranos Pizza (yes, they use Tony in their ad, although it’s doubtful he gets paid for — or knows about — the usage) across from Casino Royale.

]]> By: Mark http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-420294 Mark Sun, 31 Dec 2006 21:22:09 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-420294 Next time, if you can, saunter on over to St. Barts. Another French territory without any of the commercialism of St. Martin. Funny thing about St. Barts (30 miles away) is there are almost 0 West Indians living there, its almost totally French expats and long time Frenchies inhabiting. So you do miss a little of the local color so to speak. But you will most likely see your topless movie star types there. Next time, if you can, saunter on over to St. Barts. Another French territory without any of the commercialism of St. Martin. Funny thing about St. Barts (30 miles away) is there are almost 0 West Indians living there, its almost totally French expats and long time Frenchies inhabiting. So you do miss a little of the local color so to speak. But you will most likely see your topless movie star types there.

]]> By: Dirtboy http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/12/31/a-caribbean-island-divided-%e2%80%93-wandering-around-st-martinsint-maarten-with-uncle-dave/comment-page-1/#comment-420278 Dirtboy Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:40:22 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=8895#comment-420278 I also did some work in St. Maarten installing and training on a telecom billing system for prepaid cards. I went in the off season and the place was dirty. The island was covered in cactus and trash would blow across the island and catch on the plants. It looked like a garbage Christmas tree. I asked some of the locals and they told me that right before the tourist season opened they had an island wide cleanup and put all the trash on a barge. It makes sense; there really isn't any room to put in a landfill and cleaning up more than once a year can get costly for such a poor nation. The buildings on the dutch side were a beautiful pastel, and thats where most of the shopping was located. The french side was mostly casinos and houses of the rich and famous. The island locals were extremely friendly and I had a great time. The food was excellent and exotic. We stayed at the Atrium just inside the dutch border in the south. The island is so small that nearly all of the local news affected everyone. A murder had taken place shortly before I arrived and it was in the paper the day I started. Everyone in the office knew the boy who was killed. I asked about it and I was told that on the island there is a tradition of camaraderie amongst the people and they are like one big family. Its like that with every bit of news. Everyone knows everyone else and things like that affected the entire island. Makes me wish our own small towns could achieve the type of social interaction this entire nation has. I also did some work in St. Maarten installing and training on a telecom billing system for prepaid cards.

I went in the off season and the place was dirty. The island was covered in cactus and trash would blow across the island and catch on the plants. It looked like a garbage Christmas tree. I asked some of the locals and they told me that right before the tourist season opened they had an island wide cleanup and put all the trash on a barge. It makes sense; there really isn’t any room to put in a landfill and cleaning up more than once a year can get costly for such a poor nation.

The buildings on the dutch side were a beautiful pastel, and thats where most of the shopping was located. The french side was mostly casinos and houses of the rich and famous.

The island locals were extremely friendly and I had a great time. The food was excellent and exotic. We stayed at the Atrium just inside the dutch border in the south.

The island is so small that nearly all of the local news affected everyone. A murder had taken place shortly before I arrived and it was in the paper the day I started. Everyone in the office knew the boy who was killed. I asked about it and I was told that on the island there is a tradition of camaraderie amongst the people and they are like one big family. Its like that with every bit of news. Everyone knows everyone else and things like that affected the entire island. Makes me wish our own small towns could achieve the type of social interaction this entire nation has.

]]>