Island Love Affair - SXM Sint Maarten

Gil has been enjoying the pleasures of a thirty year romance.  It’s a romance that involves sunrises on the beach, lazy afternoons on the water and hot steamy nights.  Like any good romance, there have been highs and lows. It’s had moments of calm and moments of turbulence. There’s been a lot of change and growth in the romance as well. His romance is with the island of St. Maarten and is still going strong as he prepares to roll with the changes yet again.

Gil is originally from Montreal, Canada. He moved to Florida over fifty years ago, with his wife, and they started a business together. Their business was refurbishing private aircraft.

“It was a great business. We met so many interesting people from all over the world. A lot of our clients came from South America and the Caribbean, as well as the States. We handled everything from small planes – like a Piper Cub, to big jets – like Gulfstreams and Challengers.”

It was through one of their clients that St. Maarten was discovered.

“I first came here with my wife and daughter on a cruise, from a recommendation of a client. That was over 3O years ago. At the time my family enjoyed cruising, it was such a great way to see new places. When we arrived in St. Maarten, it was love at first sight. We quickly realized that one day was definitely not enough.”

Like many people who come to St. Maarten, Gil was hooked.

“Before we knew it, we were traveling down here more than just once a year. It became a couple times a year and for longer periods each time. First it was in hotels, in fact the first place we stayed was Mullet Bay. It was such a beautiful property. I’m still sad when I drive through there today. It was truly a paradise the way that property was designed and landscaped. The staff was great, always took great care of us. That’s when we really started falling in love with the people of St. Maarten. I finally looked at my wife one day and said, ‘What about a house of our own in St. Maarten?’ And that’s what we did.”

Gil and his family built their first home here in he early 8O’s, in Monte Vista – located in Pointe Blanche.

“It started as a vacation home, and all of our extended family enjoyed many holidays there. Christmas was always our favorite time of year. My wife would go crazy with the Christmas decorations, and we have a big house party and invite our St. Maarten family.”

In 1995, like so many people in St. Maarten, Gil and his family suffered property damage and loss due to hurricane Luis. Unable to come down and secure their home, they relied on the help of good friends to secure the property.

“It was hard. We were stateside and helpless. We just tried to work, while waiting for the phone to ring for any kind of news. When we got the first tidbits of news, it was heartbreaking. We knew our little island had suffered a major blow. We actually made arrangements and flew out of Florida 2 days later, on a private charter, and just barely made it to the island. We actually had to go by helicopter from St. Thomas and we landed at Belle Creole because the airport was closed. It took us two days just to get to the Dutch side. What we saw was beyond description. It was just catastrophic. I hope to never see that kind of destruction again.”

St. Maarten rallied, pulling itself from the muck left behind and began rebuilding. Soon the island was flourishing once again. Around the same time, Gil and his wife made the decision to retire to St. Maarten, making their vacation home a permanent home.

“It was such a simple decision. Our daughter was grown and living her own life. She supported our decision 1OO%. We have such great friends here. It was like coming home.”

Gil lost his wife in 2OO7, but still remains in St. Maarten.

“There was no decision to make. My wife loved this island. One of her last wishes was to spend her last days here. As for me, I can’t see myself living anywhere else. I’ve often been asked if I ever thought about returning to Canada, and I just have to laugh. It’s way to cold! I’ve got thin blood now. I like my sunshine!”

Through the years, Gil has seen St. Maarten face many challenges and over come many obstacles.

“It’s been a wonder to watch this island grow. I can remember when you got Chicklet gum as change instead of coins. I remember when all there was were Great Bay Hotel and Mullet Bay, nothing in between. When you drove over the hill, there were no lights. In low season you were lucky to spot another car on the road. The airport was a couple little buildings and all passengers got off their planes on the runway. It was really Caribbean.”

Gil just recently celebrated his 76^th birthday. He still leads an active life. He’s the caretaker of a house in Dawn Beach. When not working as caretaker, he focuses on his own home. It’s a busy household with 3 dogs and a cat. Gil also enjoys getting out and seeing the island almost every day. When asked about the upcoming 1O-1O-1O, Gil was thoughtful.

“I don’t know. It will be interesting to see what happens. I can understand why country status is needed and I’m sure St. Maarten will pull through like always. I think the government will learn quite a bit as they evolve into a stronger union. Some of the changes are a little hard. The construction out in Cupecoy is a little heartbreaking. So much cement. But, it’s bringing people to St. Maarten who will put money into the economy. Sometimes it’s a love/hate relationship. There are times when I’m sitting in traffic that’s not moving and curse the island to the heavens above! Other times I see the sunrise peeking over the hills, count my blessings and just fall in love all over again.”

It’s BAAAAACK! August Monday – The Party of the Summer!

August Monday has arrived yet again! The island of Sint Maarten is getting prepared for the mass exodus that will occur on Monday, when a flotilla of boats will be spotted making their way across the Anguilla channel for the party of the summer. There’ll be big boats, little boats, sail boats, power boats, and ferries: a true armada heading over to Anguilla to attack the shores of Sandy Ground with coolers, music and revelers.

What is August Monday? In a nutshell it’s the celebration of the freeing of slaves. The first August Monday dates all the way back to 1834! It was also known as ‘Emancipation Day’. And these days, Anguilla’s August Monday is known worldwide for being one of the biggest beach parties that happens every year.

How can you get there? It’s pretty simple. The options range from private boats to ferries – or if you’re lucky enough you know someone with a boat! Travel time can be anywhere from twenty minutes to four hours, depending on the boat you’re on. The ferry from Marigot will get you there in less than 2O minutes for a pretty reasonable price. There are plenty of charter companies but if you haven’t booked by now, you may miss out!

What is there to do, you ask? Party, my dear friends, party in the most ideal setting one can imagine. Crystal clear blue waters, white sandy beach – a paradise that many dream about – that we got! For some it will be a first time – August Monday virgins so-to-speak. For others it will be as familiar as an old friend. Live music and boat racing are the highlights, as well as sponsored parties and private parties. Everything melts into one giant party! The pre-party starts on Friday as many people head over to spend the entire weekend on Anguilla, ending with the big blow out Monday night. A couple highlights to catch: Heineken is having it’s warm up boat race on Sunday at 2pm in Sandy Ground followed by a great Latin night of music at Landsome Bowl that will kick off around 8:3Opm. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can make your way to The Valley at 4am and participate in the J’ouvert Morning Parade. Dance your backside off as the sun rises over the island, kicking off another great day of partying. Monday afternoon will have the August Monday Boat Race at Sandy Ground starting at 3pm, followed by the big blow out party! If August Monday isn’t enough for you, there are more great times to be had! For the Anguilla locals, the party will start on August 2^nd and run through August 12^th as part of the Anguilla Summer Festival.  The festival includes parades for grown-up and kids, a beauty pageant, concerts and more!

I asked around with my friends to see what their plans were, as we reminisced about previous August Monday parties with lots of laughter. Memories ranging from lost swim trunks to sleeping on the beach due to missing the boat back! Some friends were as excited as a kid in a candy store about heading to Anguilla, others where planning a quiet day on Sint Maarten, away from the crowds. Some were even contemplating playing hooky from work…their names will be withheld to protect the not so innocent!

A few words of precaution for our August Monday Virgins: Sun block. Can’t have enough of it! Nothing like a bad sunburn to spoil the party. To virgins and non-virgins alike: Keep hydrated. Yes, yes…the plan is to “party ‘til you puke” but a couple of bottles of water here and there let you party for longer. Dehydration is no fun! And finally: Be responsible! Have fun, be safe and come back in relatively one piece! Plans have been made, boats will be prepared and the hoards of people will descend on Anguilla will party, party, party!

World Cup in St. Maarten

Here's an article I wrote while experiencing the World Cup of European Football in St. Maarten. It was insane and wild and so much fun.

I arrived at Marty’s early, having been warned that it would be a madhouse for the game. That was not an understatement! Having staked my claim on a small table and two bar stools, I settled back to watch the increasingly steady tide of Orange wash in from the parking lot. I was joined, shortly, by a good friend of mine from Holland, Jax, and we prepared to watch the game with a couple of drinks and an air of expectation.

As the kick off drew near, the atmosphere at Marty’s was increasingly anxious and excited. Soon I felt like I was bobbing along in an orange sea, with still more people pressing to get inside in wave after wave of orange. They wanted to get to the bar, to a drink and to a good spot to see the two big TVs Marty had set up. As for seating, if you came early enough you scored a chair or a bar stool. Late comers had their choice of places on the metal scaffolding set up for the game, though it was a little unforgiving to your backside. It was not a first time visit for many people, so I saw many pillows being carried in the direction of the scaffolding. I could hear the same questions floating through the crowd: How good was Uruguay, really? Could Holland really make it to the finals? Against whom? Germany? Spain? The questions were interrupted by the Netherland’s national anthem, which many sang at Marty’s with gusto. The anthem was followed by a roar from the crowd at the kick off of the game. People were already on their feet, applauding and cheering.

And then it happened.

Less than 2O minutes into the first half – Holland scored. Madness erupted all around me. People were jumping and cheering and hugging each other, screaming all the while. I was right along for the ride. I found myself in the very strong clutches of a young Dutch woman who was urging me to will Holland to a win. Her desire for the game was infectious and I couldn’t help but grin at her enthusiasm.

“I know you’re not from Holland, but will you cheer with me?” she asked. Who could say no? Besides, even though I’m not from Holland, I was definitely FOR Holland. I gave her a big squeeze and told her, “Holland will do just fine. I have a feeling. Just you wait and see.” I got a giant Cheshire Cat grin in return.

And then it happened.

Just a little over 2O minutes after Holland’s goal, Uruguay scored. A rather lightening fast goal that left the crowd saying, “What just happened?”  I looked over at Jax and frowned in confusion. I had literally looked down for 2 seconds to find something on the table and there was a goal. The game was tied. Back to square one and it was half time. Half time was spent in the usual manner of any big sporting events: The mad rush to the bar and bathrooms. I took a few moments to chat with the people around, smiling at all the people from different countries there to represent Holland. I had one group of women from Colombia who didn’t speak a word of Dutch but were cheering madly and decked out in Orange. “We love football! And Holland!” they happily told me. Just behind me was a lady from Belgium and in front of me were 2 German gentlemen. One of the Germans smiled at me and told me in a playfully scheming tone, “Just seeing what the competition for the final will be.” That made me laugh and clap him on the back.

At the kick off to the second half, the atmosphere was slightly different. There was a sense of urgency drifting around the crowd. Questions surfaced again: Can Holland do this? Sure enough, 7O minutes into the game, Holland scored, and the crowd at Marty’s became a wild melee. I found myself showered in Heineken and being slapped on the back and kissed by everyone in my general vicinity. Jax leaned towards me with a huge grin on her face. “Can you believe it? This is so amazing!” I grinned back, hoisting a Heineken in the air, although I’m not quite sure where it came from. It seemed to have magically materialized in my hand.  Three minutes later, another goal! Madness would be an understatement.  The crowd erupted into frenzied glee. The chant of Holland! Holland! Was being yelled out from every corner, followed by Ole, Ole, Ole. I smiled sheepishly at my friend and started singing: na,na,naa na, na na naa na, hey hey, hey Good bye. Soon the crowd was roaring that little tune as well. Jax and I found ourselves, once again, amidst a fountain of Heineken and miscellaneous other drinks as people around us were, seemingly, losing their minds.

Twenty minutes later, the crowd gave a collective gasp as Uruguay scored a goal in extra time for the second half. A brief look of panic washed across the sea of Orange. What was this…? Could it be possible? Could Uruguay make some sort of miraculous come back? Would there be extra time? A shoot out? The answer was NO. The final whistle blew and lunacy erupted once again. This time the orange sea surged through the front of Marty’s spilling out to swamp the main road. Traffic was stopped as people dance and cheered in the street. One young man was suddenly a toreador, challenging, playfully, the on coming traffic with a Dutch flag. No one seemed to mind, and many dubbed him the unofficial official mascot as horn honked, people cheered and hugged and buckets of ice water where being dumped on random revelers.

The crowd began thinning out around 6pm, nearly 2 hours after the end of the game. The orange tide was slowly dispersing, drifting away from Marty’s or back into Marty’s. I briefly spoke to Marty, who looked exhausted but content. The unofficial beer tally was 1O5 cases of beer in 2 hours. Astounding!

I bid a weary farewell to Jax and to my new friends, promising I would see them again this Sunday. Same time, same place, and hopefully the same outcome. Go Holland!

The Iconic Coconut Palm

When people think of the Caribbean the first thing that usually pops into their head is a vision of crystal clear blue waters, white sandy beaches…and coconut palms. Almost anywhere you go in the world, the image of a coconut tree is synonymous with paradise: from post cards to TV commercials. The coconut palm isn’t exclusive to the Caribbean. It can be found all over the world, from Fiji to Florida. But where did it come from and how did it get to where it is today?

Well, let’s get the scientific stuff out of the way. The coconut palm is botanically referred to as the 'Cocos nucifera'. It is a member of the Arecaceae or palm family. In fact, the coconut palm is the only member of the genus Cocos. Native to the tropics, the palm has now found its way across the continents, with the help of the dedicated efforts of seafarers. The palm bears fruit that is light and buoyant and hence, does not rule out the possibility of finding its own course across the globe with the help of marine currents.

Ok, now for a little insight as to where it came from….there is actually quite a bit of friendly ‘debate’ on the topic, seeing as fossils of coconuts have been found dating back more than 15 million years ago in New Zealand. Some believe the coconut fruit and palm are believed to have their roots on South Asian soil. Research reveals that the palm is native to the Ganges Delta, in Asia. There are a number of studies that also claim that the fruit has its origin in the northwestern region of South America. There are a number of fossil records that are being researched upon. The oldest mention in text of the fruit is a special mention in the Mahawamsa texts of Sri Lanka too, dating back to the 1st century BC. It truly is a universal plant! A little bit of trivia: Hawaii and Florida are the only two states in the U.S. where the plant can be grown.

Did you know the coconut palm rates higher than the family cow to one third of the world's population? Considered the most useful tree in the world, the coconut palm provides food, drink, clothing, shelter, heirloom history, and financial security. Hardly an inch of the coconut palm goes to waste in countries such as the Philippines where families rely on the coconut palm for survival and refer to it as the "tree of life." The Indonesians say, "There are as many uses for the coconut as there are days in the year." The coconut meat, the white portion of the nut, offers more than just food. The coconut is thought of as a highly nutritious food. The white meat also has coconut oil the tropical natives use for cooking. The shell, husk, roots of the tree, fronds, flowers, and wood of the trunk also become useful products. Charcoal filters used in gas masks and cigarettes are made from coconut shells that are burned, leaving pure carbon behind. Charcoal has the ability to trap microscopic particles and impurities and prevent absorption. Charcoal made from coconut shells produces filters of exceptional high performance.
In Zanzibar, coconut oil provides diesel fuel and is also used for lighting and candle making. It’s the truest form of bio-fuel! Coconut shells are made into buttons, form a base for decorative carvings, and are burned for fuel. Indonesian women use coconut oil as hairdressing and as a lotion for the body. They also cook with coconut oil. Coconut oil has proved itself useful in many household products. Soap made from coconut oil lathers exceptionally well. Soap making produces byproducts that are used by processors to make fatty acids and glycerin. Finally, when the tree is no longer producing coconuts, it can be cut down and its attractive wood, called "porcupine wood" can be used to make furniture.

The coconut even has a few taboos and folklore attached to it in many countries. Until the early 1900's, a whole coconut was the accepted form of currency in the Nicobar Islands, just north of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. In the South Pacific, pieces of coconut shell carved into coin-like spheres served as currency. In Northern India, coconuts were valued as fertility symbols. When a woman wanted to conceive, she would go to a priest to receive her special coconut. Samoans believe that a coconut lying on the ground is not free for the taking but that it belongs to someone who knows it is there. If you should claim the taboo coconut when no one is looking, the tapui, a magical spirit, will taunt you. This unseen force may strike you by lightening or punish you with a painful, incurable illness. The first solid food eaten by a Thai baby is three spoonfuls of the custard-like flesh of young coconut fed to him or her by a Buddhist priest. Natives of New Guinea have their own version of the coconut's origins. They believed that when the first man died on the island, a coconut palm sprouted from his head. In Bali, women are forbidden to even touch the coconut tree. Because females and coconut trees both share the ability to reproduce, men fear that a woman's touch may drain the fertility of the coconut tree into her own fertility.

The next time you head to the beach and set up your blanket under a nice shady coconut palm, take a minute and let your imagination roam. The tree you sit under could be from a far away land or just the next island.

How Secure is Security? SXM Sint Maarten

Ok…so Another question crossed my mind as I drove around the island late Thursday night: How secure is it to have security guards? This question popped into my mind as I drove by one of the International Banks and spotted the security guard out front. A man of about 50 years of age, extremely over weight and walked with a very noticeable limp. My next question is this: Who picks these guys and is there a physical they have to pass? I mean, seriously, what would this guy do when confronted with…shall we call it an incident? Is this man expected to chase after a criminal? Run the criminal down? This guy was clearly winded just from crossing the parking lot! What kind of investment is it to have security that can’t really keep your place secure? Again, I ask, who picks these people? Not just the guy at the bank. Many, MANY security are overweight and out of shape. And many, MANY places with security guards still get robbed. Which prompts the next line of thought: What guarantee is there that the security hired by a company is secure? How is it proven that the security guard is not a formal criminal? Just asking some questions here, people. Questions that no one else seemed to ask. There are several Security Companies on the island….who started them? What are their credentials? Who trains them? Where does the trainer get HIS training from? Any one else seem to think a little looking into this matter wouldn’t hurt? I’m just asking. That’s what I do.

New Buildings...no new parking - SXM Sint Maarten

Why is parking so difficult to come by on this little rock of ours? I see so many new buildings but no new parking. Heck there isn’t even any OLD parking to speak of. Yes, yes, Philipsburg has had a wonderful makeover. I’m sure all the store employees are happy with their new parking. They are the ONLY ones. Excuse me, but how can I shop at your store if I can’t GET to your store. If I have to park on POND FILL to get to Back Street, do you think I’m going shopping? To the employees…stop being so LAZY! Park yourselves on Pond fill and walk into work, leaving the spaces in front of the shops for SHOPPERS. More customers mean more money. These are bad economic times as it is…help yourselves! Make space for people to actually GET into your store. A very simple concept, but one that is utterly lost on employees AND store owners here. Might I suggest Parking Meters? I’m sure it would be considered by government, since making money is involved. And what about the parking in the center of town? When will that be fixed? Honestly, the entrance is the exit and vice versa? It has been like this for years, causing congestion in the streets and in the lot. And when the lot is FULL the attendant still allows people to drive in. Why? So that they can get pinned in and horns start honking by frustrated people. Lazy Attendant! And it is not just Philipsburg. Simpson Bay is just as ridiculous. I went to one of my favorite locations for happy-hour. This location is right next to the bridge and I enjoy watching the yachts come in, along with my friends. I recently went there on a weekend with a van of SIX people. To my dismay, there was no parking. The lot was filled to capacity, but the bar was empty. Come to find out the lot was filled by cars of people who had gone sailing for the day. I beg your pardon? How can this be? I want to go to this establishment, spend my good money, enjoy myself, but I can’t get in because others had used the lot to store their cars for the day? How could the property owner allow this? And then sit and look at an empty establishment. I don’t know why they even bothered to open. No one could get in. Does this make sense? It’s ridiculous! Parking is a sorely needed commodity on this little rock of ours. You spend hours in traffic only to arrive at your destination with no where to park!

County Status…then what? SXM Sint Maarten

The Brooks Tower Accord fiasco has brought up some questions in regards to St. Maarten gaining country status. What will happen once St. Maarten is its own country? How will immigration be handled? Will there be an immigration check point at the French border? Why not? How will the influx of foreigners be handled? French St. Martin is France, right? France is EU, which is a different country, correct? Then won’t the borders have to be patrolled?  Not just the borders. What about all the trails crisscrossing the island from one side to the other? What about the border in the lagoon? Who will be responsible for patrolling these areas? Where will the money come from to fund the necessary manpower? What about the cruise ship passengers? Will they have to clear a customs check point to go to the French side beaches? Will the same apply for any and all visitors to the island? Will passports be mandatory to cross to and from French St. Martin and back again? If a visitor wants to go shopping on the French side, will they need proof of a return ticket back to Sint Maarten and vice versa? Sounds rather ridiculous, doesn’t? But rest assured, some one is thinking about all this. Don’t be surprised to wake up one day and there is a concrete wall around Sint Maarten. And who is to say the French side will follow suit, not even allowing any resident of Sint Maarten across their borders? Repercussions are something to take seriously. What about the French taxi drivers and bus drivers? Will they need visas to come into St. Maarten? If St. Maarten decides to patrol borders, stop people from coming and going at their leisure, do you thing people from Sint Maarten will be permitted into the French side? Tit-for-tat people. You reap what you sow. If you hassle people, they will return the favor. If Sint Maarten doesn’t want to play nicely with people and maintain basic human rights, people will not want to play with Sint Maarten. Keep in mind what’s happening in the world, dear Sint Maarten. In the United States, President Obama is looking to lift embargos to Cuba. This won’t happen over night, but it WILL happen. Sint Maarten has only recently enjoyed its glory days. Cuba was not always closed to Americans. It’s only been in the last 30 years or so. And Sint Maarten is not the only destination for people such as Jamaicans, Haitians, Dominicans, etc. etc. They’ll go somewhere else, work somewhere else, and put their money into another economy. Where will that leave the people of Sint Maarten? I say the people because the government officials won’t give a damn. They’re currently padding their pockets off the backs of others, so regardless the outcome, they’ll be just fine. What happens in March? Does Sint Maarten honestly expect to deport several THOUSAND illegal immigrants in a matter of days or weeks? Is Sint Maarten so desperate to rid itself of foreign people and influences? When the foreigners are leaving, should they take all their foreign stuff with them? What stuff? Well, how about foreign cars for starters? Or how about cell phones, TV, home appliances, building supplies, satellite dishes, cable TV, fuel, and an endless list of other foreign items. Last time I check Sint Maarten doesn’t produce anything for itself, except a bad reputation from the treatment of foreigners. Beware, Sint Maarten, you are falling out of favor with tourism and people are always looking for a new playground.