After marvelling over the parallel parking of a 952 foot vessel, we took a short and interesting cab ride (converted Ford F150 pickups with benches and canopies in the back) the main downtown area, and found it to be literally jammed with jewellery and electronics stores catering to the whims of duty free shoppers.
OK, so we did buy a nice digital camera, for less than half of what it would cost at home.....but otherwise found the "culture" a little lacking. Of course, to be fair, we did not venture outside the main area to enjoy any of the optional (i.e. expensive) shore excursions....we just walked around and soaked up the atmosphere.
The next day saw us in St. Maarten in the Dutch Antilles, an island belonging half to the Netherlands, and half to France. We docked in Philipsburg on the Dutch side, as scenic a tropical paradise as we could envision. Clear blue skies, rugged green hills, sandy white beaches....we took a water taxi from the dock area to the downtown and wandered around. After enquiring about cab fares to take us to the French side of the island, we opted for the public transportation and took an old diesel bus up over the mountain and down the other side. Not only was it a fraction of the cost of the cab, but the cultural experience was definitely far more rewarding.
After spending part of the day in Marigot on the French side, we caught another bus and returned to Philipsburg, where we found one of many lovely oceanside establishment serving cold beverages.....at a price far cheaper than those sold on the ship. After soaking up some more local atmosphere, we boarded the ship and continued our assault on the many buffets and formal dinners, where we sampled many dishes ordinarily well beyond our price range.
After a few more days of general merriment at sea, we entered the harbour at Port Canaveral in Florida. Some preparation and quick observations resulted in a remarkably quick disembarkation and US Customs process, and out of a ship of 3000 guests and 1000 crew members, we were literally the first car out of the parking garage!
The drive home was relatively uneventful.....we chose to take Interstate 77, slightly out of the way but taking us through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. In order not to miss the mountains in the dark, we spent the night in Wytheville, VA, an area worth checking out on its own merit sometime. Heading out the next morning through the tunnel under the mountain that IS the VA/WV state line, we carried on northward and finally hit "winter" again just south of Cleveland, Ohio. We managed to make the remaining trek without difficulty, stopping only at the border duty free shop for $17 cases of Alexander Keith's. Canadian Customs was mercifully brief, and soon we were home again.....
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Beachside - Philipsburg, St. Maarten
My kind of economics....
St. Maarten
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1 comment:
What a treat to read of your adventures! I hadn't checked in over a week and found the visit rewarding :) Only I expect that I may have to way an impossibly long time again for more...
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