Sunday, December 3, 2023

Exploring Marigot

Exploring Marigot 

Thursday November 29, 2023


After breakfast and engine running (to cool the fridge), we headed to the dinghy dock to start exploring Marigot.  We soon stumbled across a patisserie.  In short order we were seating on their balcony enjoying the view of the bay and coffee and croissants!  Some might say it had to be done.  After second breakfast, we were a bit lethargic but set off up the hill to the ruins of Fort Louis.  What remains of the fort sits atop a hill overlooking the bay.  There are a few outer walls and fragments of gun emplacements.  The fort is a nice breezy location with a few bits of shade.  I took advantage of the shade while Mike spent time photographing iguanas.  These reptiles seemed quite relaxed with visitors.  Occasionally they would tear off in some direction, usually chasing one of their own kind.


Returning to sea level we found a restaurant called Creole Creations (I think). Mike ate creole shrimp with rice and beans, fried plantains, and salad.  Remembering the double dose of breakfast, I had a salad with chicken.  After lunch we elected to walk along to where we might be able to see into the lagoon.  A fairly warm walk took us to the swing bridge that crosses the canal into the lagoon.  We did stumble across a marine store, where we purchased a zinc for our propeller. Although St. Martin is a duty free island, we found the prices in the marine store quiet staggering. We continued walking along the main road.  At this point, we were obviously a long way from the up-market shops of downtown.  The area seemed quite run down.  Increasingly I felt that we probably appeared like gawking tourists, we decided to turn around and walk back.  


Gloria





The croissants and french pastries are amazing!


Best meal so far in St Martin ... creole shrimp with plantains, peas and rice, and salad


Colorful characters ...


... and colorful street art


Wall paintings


I love to see this message on the walls


This wall painting was in Philipsburg on the Dutch side, Sint Marteen


We took a local bus out to Philipsburg for $2 each (compared to $25 + for a taxi). We didn't like the town as much as Marigot, but walking out to Fort Amsterdam ave spectacular views back towards the town and offshore


This looks like an old America's Cup boat to me ... sailing off Fort Amsterdam








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