The "SXM: The New Bikini Beach" Story

Orient Beach as it appeared long before anything was ever built
on it.  Today it looks fairly similar after Hurricane Irma struck.

It was an ordinary day.  Talking with Castro at the new Bikini Beach Bar on Baie Oriental, or what to most is known as Orient Beach in St. Martin.  Bikini Beach Bar is located on the 1.32 mile long beach which runs north to south.  The original Bikini Beach was one of "The Five Stars Of Orient Beach" along with Waikiki Beach Bar, Kakao Beach Bar, Coco Beach Bar and Kontiki Beach Bar.  In 2013 the owner of Bikini, Elise, was evicted from her property.  

Original Bikini Beach Bar on Orient Beach.

Seems Mr. Norbert Luftman, the owner of Sindextour and alleged owner of Orient Beach, evicted Elise and Kon Tiki operator Phillipe since they had stopped paying him for he use of the land.  But, Elise and Phillipe had found out that in 2011 Luftman lost the right to Orient Beach, but told no one and continued to collect rent on the land.  Elise and Phillipe  refused to pay him anymore and began to pay the French Government instead.  

Castro who runs the new Bikini Beach Bar.

Well, eventually Luftman was awarded the land and set up a new Bikini Beach Bar right next to the original Bikini.  Nice guy!  Well, last year when Hurricane Irma hit the island, the dispute was still going on.  Didn't matter since both places were blown off the beach as well as the other beach bars.  Who owns the property rights and land now I have no idea, but Castro seems to be in charge today.  What interested me was the neat t-shirt he was wearing.  Black shirt with a new logo printed in lime fluorescence ink.  We talked about his beautiful new beach bar and all of a sudden he looked at me and had me turn around.  

The back of the t-shirt.

Asked when I got the shirt I was wearing.  Then it struck me.  I had on my Bikini Beach Bar shirt I had purchased in the early 2000s.  He liked it, but it wasn't for sale.  Then I asked him where I could buy one of his shirts.  Not for sale, either!  Maybe someday, on another trip to the island, I will buy myself a new Bikini Beach Bar shirt.  Like I need another t-shirt.  Must have close to 50 from islands all over the world.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The rear of my t-shirt.

The new Bikini Beach ready for cruise ship passengers to arrive 

Seating area of the new Bikini Beach.