The "Katie Travels To St. Martin" Story

The view from the Royal Palm.  All photos were taken by Katie.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting with Katie, the wife of my nephew Matt, talking to her about her recent trip to St. Martin.  A few months ago Katie told me that she and four of her girlfriends who were roommates in college were going to take a trip to St. Martin.  

Stormy sky on one day that Hurricane
Erika was passing.

One of the girl's parents had a timeshare at a resort known as the Royal Palm and were going to allow the five of them to use it for a week.  Carol and I sat with Katie during a few pool parties that my brother and sister-in-law had and tried to give her an idea of what to expect and visit while on the island.  I gave Katie a very large fold-up map of the island and marked the locations of places that we recommended they give a try while on the island.  The week the girls made the trip happened to be the week that Hurricane Erika passed over the island.  She said they didn't feel threatened, but did have to spend a day in their room until the weather cleared.  

Pinel Island.  This was one of their favorite sites to visit.

While I sat with her she showed me the photos she had placed on her iPad from her phone which she had used to take the photos.  Great shots of many of the locations we had talked about.  She told me that she mentioned quite a few times to her friends that Uncle Larry said we should try this or Uncle Larry told us to watch out for this.  Well, her favorite day was a day spent on the nearby French island known as Pinel.  

Some of the many iguanas that are on the island.

They had to take a ferry to the island and as they approached the uninhabited island in their ferry, they all agreed that this is how they pictured the Caribbean to be.  Beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear aqua water with beach umbrellas and lounge chairs lining the edge of the beach.  They even took the time to explore the small island and see the huge iguanas that I had told them about.  For breakfast one morning they traveled a few blocks to a small restaurant called Zee Best.  I told her they would love the food, but beware that if they eat the French croissants that are on the table they will have to pay for them.  

Nice shot of Orient Beach which is nearly empty.  She did say that they experienced a brief shower and ventured to a beach bar until the sky cleared.

She told her friends of the warning which Uncle Larry had told her.  On my first visit a few years ago I thought they were complimentary until after I got the bill and realized I had to pay for the four croissants I had consumed.  

A view of Philipsburg.  I noticed the flags at half-staff
and told her there had been a policeman killed the week
before they traveled there and the flags were probably
lowered in his memory.

They took the advice of Carol and me and spent a day on Orient Beach which is considered the French Riviera of the Caribbean and is ranked as one of the best beaches in the world.  They enjoyed the beach, but enjoyed the bartender at one of the beach bars even more.  They made trips to the Dutch side capital of Philipsburg for shopping as well as a trip to the French side capital of Marigot for shopping and to climb to the top of Fort Marigot.  On their final evening they traveled to the culinary capital of the Caribbean, Grand Case, for their evening meal.  They parked in the public parking lot and when they got out of the car a fellow approached another person whom had just parked, asking for money for the parking.  

A view of the French capital of Marigot from Fort Marigot.

She told me she told her friends, "My Uncle Larry told me to watch out for the guy and that we don't have to pay to park here."  He did walk away without collecting any money.  We finished looking at her photos and I popped the question about a return trip sometime and she said they were already planning something for the future.  I just knew they would love the island that has been a second home for Carol and myself.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.