Dan Jaime week 17 - St. Maarten island

 This past week, since we didn't have school on Friday or Monday, my family and I went to the Caribbean island of St. Maarten. St. Maarten is a half-dutch and half-french island, as it's separated into the Dutch and French sides. On the Dutch side, which is where we stayed, most people speak English and Dutch, as well as a good amount of Spanish speakers. On the French side though, it was purely French speakers, French restaurants, French everything. I found it very interesting because there is nothing separating the French and Dutch sides except for a sign, yet the sides are very different both physically and culturally. The French side appeared nicer and neater, with fancier restaurants and a more calm nightlife. The Dutch side, on the other hand, wasn't as physically appeasing, yet it was full of nightlife and cool restaurants with live music and nice hotels. My experience on the island of St. Maarten was awesome because we stayed at a villa on the Dutch side with my aunt and cousins (my dad's sister's family). I was able to see my cousin Sammy for the first time in a while, and it will also probably be the last time I saw him for a while as he's moving to Israel to continue his Yeshiva studies as he's become orthodox over the past couple years. 

I think my favorite part of St. Maarten was the beaches. They were so pretty and enjoyable. The ocean was the best water I've ever been in, hands down. It wasn't cold at all but it wasn't warm either, it was right in the middle at the perfect temperature, and the color of it was mesmerizing, it was a piercing bright turquoise. I normally don't like beaches as a whole that much, but the St. Maarten beach was on another level.

All in all, I had a great experience in St. Maarten and if I could I would definitely go back in the near future. Have you ever been to St. Maarten? Would you like to visit the Carribean?