Saturday 17th January 2015- Arrive in St Maarten

We pulled in to the Cruise Port and already there were three very large cruise ships in port, so much for planning. We had breakfast on our balcony which was great until another huge ship the MSC Musica tied up across from ueaalready there were three very large cruise ships in port, so much for planning. We had breas and bang went our view.

Noel had thought of trying to watch the Chelsea game but the TV reception had gone haywire so no chance, Oh dear will just have to tour

We left the ship around 0900 and walked through the main port entrance which was crowded with shops and also the passengers of six large cruise ships, why they all arrive on the same day beats me. But we walked around down town and came across a yoghurt parlour with Wi-Fi which enables us both to catch up with emails etc. Continuing our walk through the town we decided to jump a bus going to the French side of the Island hoping that it would be quieter than where we were in Philipsburg.

So after a bumpy and hot bus ride along with the locals we arrived in the French part at a town called Marigot. At least we could also find an ATM that worked and had some money in it. To be frank there was little difference in the two parts of town to look at and after a short walk it looked like rain so we found a little café and had a coffee whilst the heavens opened. We chatted to a couple of Canadians who had rented a place on the internet but when they came to check in they found it was on the airport runway just about and so it was rather noisy. Oh dear why not check Google Earth?

After the rain stopped we walked around the Port area wondering whether to go to the beach where the planes fly low and risk getting very wet and perhaps late back to the ship so we decided to go back to the same café as before and we both enjoyed an excellent Salad Nicoise which tasted so good. We then phoned both Joanne and Michael to catch up with their activities and it was great to hear that Katherine is great and putting weight on nicely and that Michael and Becky had a wonderful holiday in Mexico.

We then jointly shared a taxi with an American couple from New York back to the cruise port and then go back about 15.00 in ample time but had we gone to the aeroplane beach there is strong chance we could have been late back so pleased with our decision to have a nice lunch and get back on time.

We then showered again after the walk in 28 degrees and a slightly high humidity and had a little relax before heading up for the Caribbean dinner but only after we had a glass of the Kirkland Bordeaux Superior which lay opened in the fridge and together with the crab canapé’s we got dressed for dinner.

We both ate lightly and then went out on the rear deck and listen to the piped music which was good and enjoyed the evening warm temperature. We did not attempt the show but went back the cabin and watched Colin Firth in a film called ‘A Single Man’ which was almost as depressing as last night’s film. It’s about a gay British School Professor living in California who decides to commit suicide because his long standing boyfriend has died in a car accident. But on the last night when he ready to kill himself with a gun to the mouth which he has practised he meets a new younger man which he likes only to have a heart attack and die at home next to his new boyfriend. I suppose there is moral to this story but somehow I am not sure what it is. Oh dear will Jennifer choose the next film so I can blame her if we don’t like it.