Travel Agent - June 23, 2008 - (Page 199) ST. MAARTEN caribbean fun with A TOUCH OF DUTCH t. Maarten is the southern half of the smallest two-nation island in the world. Here, and on its nearby sister islands, Saba and St. Eustatius, Dutch is the official language, but visitors are equally likely to hear English, French and countless other languages. The Dutch influence, visible in island’s historic forts, architecture and windmills, also lives on in the open-trading, multilingual culture. Duty-free shopping combines with lovely white-sand beaches, to make St. Maarten a major cruise port. Lively casinos and nightclubs keep night owls happy, while sports, from golf and horseback riding to parasailing and yachting fill the days. Visitors also can cross the unmanned border to French St. Martin, and hop small planes or ferries to several neighboring islands. Accommo- S dations range from exclusive intimate hideaways to grand casino-resort complexes, timeshare villas, rental apartments and inexpensive guesthouses. CAPITAL SIGHTSEEING Philipsburg’s narrow main streets — Front Street and Back Street — parallel the waterfront, connected by tiny alleyways and flower-filled courtyards. Here, balconied, pastel-colored colonial buildings house shops offering electronics, leather goods and jewelry from around the world at duty free prices, along with tee shirts and other products. The landmark 1793 Courthouse is still in use, and visitors pour into the colorful 18th-century building of the Sint Maarten Guavaberry Company for samples and souvenirs. Sidewalk cafes and restaurants offer everything from a traditional Indonesian rijstaffel to ST. MAARTEN GEOGRAPHY: Dutch St. Maarten occupies the southern portion of the island it shares with French St. Martin, comprising 16 of the island’s total 37 square miles. The capital is Philipsburg. LANGUAGE: Dutch is the official language. English and Spanish are also spoken. POPULATION: St. Maarten (Dutch side): 48,000. CLIMATE: Mean temperature is 80ºF year-round; 45” of rainfall annually. TIME: Atlantic Standard Time: EST +1 hour 199
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