Day 5 (November 11, 2019):
It's amazing how quickly a routine develops when you're on vacation. At breakfast before 8AM, on the beach before 9AM, in and out of the waves -- which were quite strong today on our beach -- and on and on it goes.
The "goal" for today, which is St. Martin's Day )recognizing the discovery of the island by Columbus in 1493), was twofold: to visit Islet Pinel on the northeast coast, and to be at Maho Beach for the 2:50PM arrival of the largest aircraft servicing the island: Air France's flight 499 from Paris.
At noon, we left for the northeast. The national celebration resulted in some heavy traffic, which slowed us somewhat. Driving through Marigot, the capital of the French side, we saw many street BBQs and some live music. The residents seemed to be having a great time. Cars were decorated with the Flag of the Collectivity, and blue, red and white was everywhere.
We had hoped to rent a double kayak to do an exploration of the Cul-de-Sac Bay, and to snorkel at Petit Clef (Little Key), next to Islet Pinel. But we could not find the kayak rental place. Instead, we hopped on the small blue boat shuttling people back and forth from Cul-de-Sac to Pinel. Arriving on Pinel, there was an informal beach club set up, renting lounge chairs and the like, and a younger crowd drinking the day away. We found a quiet spot away from all that, donned our snorkel gear, and set out. Unfortunately, the water was too rough to swim to Petit Clef, which is supposed to have the best snorkeling on St. Martin, and the shallow waters just off Islet Pinel didn't reveal much in the way of sealife. We soon packed up again and took the blue boat back to Cul-de-Sac and just enjoyed the scenie drive back to the Airport.
To our disappointment, the Air France airplane was already parked at the terminal when we arrived - it had been half an hour early getting in. In lieu of that, we got in place for the arrival of Delta Airlines' flight from Atlanta. That in itself was an amazing thing to experience: lying on the sand as that huge Boeing belly flew low overhead, just a few seconds before it touched down.
The rest of the day was spent back on the beach, followed by a romantic dinner at the restaurant on the hotel's point, and enjoying some of the entertainment by the hotel's show team - a special treat for St. Martin's Day.
The "goal" for today, which is St. Martin's Day )recognizing the discovery of the island by Columbus in 1493), was twofold: to visit Islet Pinel on the northeast coast, and to be at Maho Beach for the 2:50PM arrival of the largest aircraft servicing the island: Air France's flight 499 from Paris.
At noon, we left for the northeast. The national celebration resulted in some heavy traffic, which slowed us somewhat. Driving through Marigot, the capital of the French side, we saw many street BBQs and some live music. The residents seemed to be having a great time. Cars were decorated with the Flag of the Collectivity, and blue, red and white was everywhere.
We had hoped to rent a double kayak to do an exploration of the Cul-de-Sac Bay, and to snorkel at Petit Clef (Little Key), next to Islet Pinel. But we could not find the kayak rental place. Instead, we hopped on the small blue boat shuttling people back and forth from Cul-de-Sac to Pinel. Arriving on Pinel, there was an informal beach club set up, renting lounge chairs and the like, and a younger crowd drinking the day away. We found a quiet spot away from all that, donned our snorkel gear, and set out. Unfortunately, the water was too rough to swim to Petit Clef, which is supposed to have the best snorkeling on St. Martin, and the shallow waters just off Islet Pinel didn't reveal much in the way of sealife. We soon packed up again and took the blue boat back to Cul-de-Sac and just enjoyed the scenie drive back to the Airport.
To our disappointment, the Air France airplane was already parked at the terminal when we arrived - it had been half an hour early getting in. In lieu of that, we got in place for the arrival of Delta Airlines' flight from Atlanta. That in itself was an amazing thing to experience: lying on the sand as that huge Boeing belly flew low overhead, just a few seconds before it touched down.
The rest of the day was spent back on the beach, followed by a romantic dinner at the restaurant on the hotel's point, and enjoying some of the entertainment by the hotel's show team - a special treat for St. Martin's Day.
On the little blue “ferry” boat from Cul-de-Sac to Islet Pinel.
The scenery of Cul-de-Sac Bay.
Pulling into Islet Pinel.
Sand crab.
Leaving Islet Pinel, heading back across the Bay to Cul-de-Sac.
Arriving at the Cul-de-Sac “ferry” landing.
Unexpected to see the Maple Leaf and the Stars-and-Stripes, alongside the French Tricolour, at a roadside establishment.
The view of the bay at Grand Case.
The crowds gathering on Maho Beach, at the end of the runway, for the arrival of the Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta at 3PM.
Delta's Boeing 737 flying over. What a thrill!
Dinner on the point, under a full moon.
The hotel's Show Team, putting on a beach-side display for St. Martin's Day.
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