Visitor Highlight: Tips from a Teacher
Adriettas Beach Conversations
For todays visitor highlight we invited Adrietta from the Netherlands. She is a teacher, director of a elementary school group and mother of two. She visited St. Maarten three times; once she even planned an entire family reunion on island. With a sister living on St. Maarten and a brother on Aruba, hub St. Maarten was a great international crossroads to meet on for the dispersed family.
Her fondest St. Maarten memories are spending entire days on a beach without people in sight, but in togetherness with loved ones. She does not remember which beaches they chose for those days of relaxation over the years – but with 37 beaches to choose from, that is a common challenge for St. Maarten visitors. “We spent so many days just picking up sunscreen, towels, bathing suits, some drinks and snacks only to decide later where we end up… Skip the planning on St. Maarten, and relax – there is always a beach for your mood half an hour away. In all cases they are a great decor for in-depth conversations that might not be had in busy daily life”.
Daily Dilemma: Beaches with Amenities versus Bring Your Own
Names that did stick were Little Bay Beach where many water activities like jetskiing and snorkeling were explored, Pinel island, a day trip must visit for Adrietta when on island and Petite Plage next to Grand Case Beach Club.The same counts for spending a Great Bay Beach Day at Dutch Blonde Beach Bar. She reflects smilingly on why she chose intimate beaches whose names no longer linger the one day, and more lively ones with restaurants on the other. “So the tranquil ones are great for starting off, but you are still on vacation. The beaches I remembered also provide a holiday feel, but now with amenities at hand. Beaches entirely for yourself are nice to plunge in the Caribbean experience, but as you are on holidays, indulging in service on a beach with a restaurant close by is also nice”. She smiles and demonstratively raises her freshly served Aperol Spritz cocktail to that, indicating the pleasure of being catered to by others on holidays.
Grand Case Beach club memories include one of the best sundowns she has seen in her life. She laughs: “We spent all evening looking for the supposed “green flash” that some people say would occur right before the sun goes down. We did not see that, but we did see a sunset like no other”. When it comes to restaurants on the beach, Mezza e Luna in Nettle Bay on the way back to their base in the Little Bay Area was very much enjoyed too.
Hobbies: On Zipping lines & Unzipping Shopping Bags
When it pertains to activities, Adrietta liked the Flying Dutchman zipline a lot. Contrary to her brave daughter she herself had some hesitance going down from this steepest zipline in the world, but she recommends people to go up Sentry hill regardless of choosing this thrill or not. “This attraction is great because of the view too. With a panorama over all surrounding islands and explanatory signs next to it, you learn instantly about the Caribbean”. (For those inspired by Adrietta, know that chairlift only tickets for the Soualiga Sky Explorer can be purchased too.)
A cherished hobby of the former teacher on St. Maarten is shopping. In conjunction Adrietta, her sister and daughter spent multiple days bargain hunting around Philipsburgs famed Front Street and Back Street shopping areas, with the shops in the town center of Marigot as a dessert. A favorite store of hers sticking out amongst many others is Delmar, a store in Simpson Bay owned and run by two fashion experts. “Michael and Eddy welcome their clients as guests, or even friends rather. Great shopping experience and clothing advice from the best: I unintendedly spent half a day there, and still wear all those St. Maarten purchases!”.
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