St.Maarten

Good life

Plumeria (Frangipani)

Draw bridge

Big and little

Poinciana tree

Hiding behind fence

Separated

Forrest of masts

Thrown away

Of no use

Sheet metal and cement

Another day in paradise

We anchored in the clear water of the Simpson Baai, the Dutch side of the island. Anchoring close to the lagoon entrance, we had a short ride with the dinghy to all the boat services inside.The draw bridge entrance brings you into the lagoon, that is lined marinas and fancy condominiums with private docks in front. Both entrances, Simpson on Dutch and Marigot on French side are narrow, there is little water flow through the lagoon, that is quite polluted.

Behind the beautiful facade of the lagoon shore are scattered nobody's yards, where everybody dumps broken machinery, an old bath tub, a frame of a bike...

Better homes are walled or fenced in. Modest are for viewing, some with the laundry, that looks tired, passed on from one child to the next.

Years back we drove through the island and it has been built on since. Philisburg, a town before, is now a city with high rise buildings.

We only stopped at Simpson Baai anchorage, the noisy airport, that serves Dutch and French. next to it. In other bays we would more likely enjoy romantic sunsets.