The "Musings From A Lonely Man: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about the annual Anguilla Salt Festival.   Anguilla is a small island off the coast of the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten (SXM) in the Caribbean.  Carol and I have visited the island several times on day trips when we were on vacation in SXM.  Made a visit with musician Bankie Banks on one visit, had a tour of a hydroponic farm with its developer Dr. Resh on another visit and visited the restaurant of Robert and Melinda Blanchard who were authors of "A Trip To The Beach and visited world-renown Shoal Bay East beach a few times.  But Anguilla is also known for it's annual salt festivals.  This years festival kicked off on Thursday, July 23 with an art, photo and product exhibit at the St. Gerald's Catholic Conference Centre in Wallblake, in the Valley.  Anguilla's salt ponds were once a major producer of salt and played a significant role in the island's livelihood.  Salt was harvested and exported throughout the Caribbean region with close to 90,000 barrels of salt exported from Anguilla in the 1700s and 1800s.  The Road Bay salt pond was the predominant source.  

Heading to the salt pond to harvest the salt.

Today it still produces salt though it is no longer harvested for expor- tation.  On July 25, beginning at 6:00 am, participants accom- panied a guide and they gathered their own salt.  The two-hour expedition was a valuable cultural experience and persons who participated left with not only a bucket of local salt, but an improved knowledge of Anguilla's first natural industry.  

Two of the participants display their salt.

It was much the same on the island of SXM.  The Arawaks named the island "Souliga" meaning Land of Salt.  In 1624 the Dutch moored on Sint Maarten for ship repairs discovered the Great Salt Pond.  It was an important discovery since now they had access to a supply of valuable goods.  In dry weather the salt yields were substantial.  The salt would be stored in locations in Philipsburg to protect it from the elements.  

Map shows the location of he salt pond on the right.

Another salt pond on the French side of the island in Grand Case was the largest producer on the French side.  The salt press, which was used to crush the salt, still stands along the street near the salt pond.  The pond would fill with salt water and when the sun would evaporate the water, salt crystals remained.  

The salt press sits along the road today.

Ships would pick up slaves in Africa, make passage to islands in the Caribbean and trade slaves for salt and sugar.  They would then head for the United States with their loads.  The production of salt on the Dutch side of the island stopped in 1949 with it being stopped on the French side in 1967.  The salt industry on both sides of the island preceded and outlived indigo, tobacco, sugar, cotton and every other effort undertaken on Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  The salt quantity and quality brought trade to the island and exchange with the outside world.  

The Great Bay salt pond can be seen on the right of this
photograph.  Part of the salt pond was turned into a dump.

In 1839 a report was written which tells of the original harvest of salt in 1789 in Great Bay, Philipsburg.  That date happened to be the same date that St. Martin's Fort Louis was completed which was constructed to help in the defense of the island.  The report was commissioned by the Commander of the Netherlands side of the island, Abraham Cannegieter as well as Richard Richardson.  The report told of the opening of the salt pond with close to six or seven thousand islanders, many who were laborers, standing along the banks of the salt pond with flags and colored handkerciefs fixed to small poles waving in the air.  The national flag was heisted at the fort in honor of the occasion.  At a specific time a gun was fired from the fort announcing that the pond might be entered for the collection of the salt.  By the end of the salt collection, it was said that over three million barrels were reaped with a value of thirty thousand guilders.  St. Martin's salt was awarded the Diploma de Grand Prix as the Best Product in the Brusel's Universal Exposition of 1910.  Today the salt ponds of St. Martin are just pools of water reflecting the sun and moon.  They now provide an ecosystem for wildlife.  Today, what is now known as the Sanitary Landfill on Pond Island in the Dutch city of Philipsburg has become known as "The Dump".  It exceeded it's limitations years ago and burns on a daily basis.  What can be done to stop the practice of toxic smoke being emanated from the dump.  Some time ago I wrote a story about my friend Barbara Cannegieter who led the charge to stop the pollution.  At first it seemed to be promising, but as of today I'm not sure just how much has been done to stop the air pollution.  Oh, for the days of the old salt ponds in Sint Maarten/St. Martin  and the ships lined up in the harbor to collect the salt for transport to other countries of the World.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Musings From A Lonely Man: Part I" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The first week of August and I haven't had my vacation!  And, boy do I need it!  I missed my long awaited visit to the island of Sint Maarten after they closed the island to those of us who live in the United States.  Seems we couldn't control the spread of COVID-19, so they didn't want us to contaminate their island.  Really don't blame them, but I need a long swim in the crystal blue waters of Orient Beach and some time in the sun so I don't appear as a ghost.  My wife Carol and I have called Sint Maarten our second homeland for close to 20 years now.  We enjoy the lifestyle and the many friends we have met on what is known as the "Friendly Island." My wife has her own personal jeweler on Front Street in the Dutch capital city known as Philipsburg.  The town was named after Commander John Philips who had done a great job in advancing the economy of Sint Maarten in the mid-1700s.  He was responsible for removing the island from the administration of St. Eustatius and become self-governing.  He revitalized the salt industry and brought in new settlers and convinced the plantation owners to move away from a subsistence economy to an export economy.  Sounds like an outstanding guy, but...and that's a real big but...seems that the name of Philipsburg was forced on the capital of the Dutch side of the island known as Sint Maarten/St. Martin by the slave master John Philips.  It is said that John Philips, from all accounts, was no easy man to deal with.  I have read several accounts of dealings that involved Mr. Philips that were rather troublesome.  Today it is said that the grave of Commander John Philips, which is located at the first church on Sint Maarten and is a national monument, is hard to find since the graveyard is overgrown and some citizens don't even know where it is located.  The people of Sint Maarten are of an independent nature, and consequently carry along with them, a cheerful and independent spirit.  The island is more replete with natural resources than most other islands in the Caribbean.  Recently, many of the residents of Sint Maarten have decided to change the name of their Capital from Philipsburg to "Great Bay," since that is what it used to be ages ago.  I recently read that a petition that is circulating says: "Make Great Bay the official name of the Capital of St. Martin South."  Another petition is also circulating that reads in part: Great Bay is the traditional and historic name given to our capital by "Our" People.  Philipsburg is the name forced on our capital by the slave master John Philips.  To officially name Great Bay is to claim it as our own.  Actually, the name of Philipsburg appeared for the fist time in a letter from Philips himself directed to the board of the Dutch West India Company dated June 3, 1738.  I personally have already cast my vote online to change the name to Great Bay even though I'm not a resident of the island!  I read quite a few of the replies that accompanied votes and most said they were signing the petition because they believe our capital should not be named after an enslaver.  A few others said they are signing the petition because they feel they are slowly loosing not only their culture, but what we stand for as one people, one destiny and that includes our Sweet St. Maarten as well.  One more wrote that they were signing to honor our own and eliminate all portrayals of white privilege and dominance.  Perhaps if I ever have the chance to travel back to the island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin once again,  I will have the privilege of visiting Great Bay instead of Philipsburg.  I have added a few photographs that will give you an idea what the island of French St. Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten looked like in the past.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Click on images to enlarge them.

The empty land as it would have appeared in the days when John Phillips was alive.

Front Street in the town known as Philipsburg.

Mickel Deher overlooking the town named after Commander John Philips.

What the town looked like in 1955. 

The "Oranje School"

Front Street as it looked in the 1920s.

Parade down Front Street in 1951 celebrating 100 years of Methodism in St. Maarten.

An old Philipsburg 

What the Great House of the estate "Industry" looked like.

Former Agricultural lands in Rendez-Vous.

The "What I Missed Due To COVID-19" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Still upset that Carol and I missed our yearly trip to SXM, better known as St. Martin/Sint Maarten.  The island is the largest  island that is split by two countries; French on the St.Martin side and Dutch on the Sint Maarten side.  They are separated at several points on the island by border crossings that are normally just a plaque, but recently by large barricades to keep each side from crossing into the other and spreading the virus.  Being that Carol and I weren't able to travel in May, I have been reading a bit more on island websites as well as viewing some of the neatest photographs posted on the "We Are SXM" Facebook Page.  The photographs are posted by readers and contributors to the Facebook Page.  What follows are some of my favorites.  Some have an explanation as to what you may be viewing while others need nothing to appreciate the photograph.  Thank you to all who posted them on the Facebook Page.  You made waiting until our next trip a bit more bearable.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS: Click on photographs to enlarge them.

The town of Philipsburg, capital of the Dutch Side of SXM.

The old pier in Grand Case on the French side of the island.

Aerial view of the entire island.

The Courthouse in Philipsburg.

A marina in Marigot, the capital of the French side of the island.

The "Happy Sint Maarten Flag Day!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  June 13 and it's Sint Maarten Flag Day.  All began on November 11, 1985 when the Dutch side of the island known as St. Martin/Sint Maarten hoisted their new flag for the first time.  Shortly after that it was established by Island Degree that June 13 would be Sint Maarten Flag Day.  On the days leading up to the June 13 activities, persons and businesses in the community were asked to show their pride and patriotism by flying the Sint Maarten flag on vehicles and buildings, or wherever they deem appropriate.  

The Sint Maarten flag flying majestically above the island.

Over the years, Flag Day was marked as a Day of Observance where citizens should view the flag as the symbol that exemplifies the highest sense of patriotism.  The merging of Sint Maarten and Flag Day annually has the potential of bringing out the desired heightened sense and spirit of patriotism.  Sint Maarten is a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and occupies the southern half of the island of Saint Martin.  The flag was designed by 17 year old Roselle Richardson and was adopted on June 13, 1985.  The design features a horizontal bicolor of red and blue with the coat of arms of Sint Maarten on a white chevron, thus incorporating the colors of the Dutch flag.  

Sint Maarten Flag (click to enlrge)

The red symbolizes solidarity and courage, the blue symbolizes the environ- ment such as skies, beaches and seas while the white is for peace and friend- liness.  The Coat of Arms consists of an orange-bordered azure shield prominently displaying the white Court House in Philipsburg, as well as a bouquet of yellow sage (the national flower) in the upper left, and the silhouette of a Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; the shield is surmounted by a gold rising sun in front of which is a dune grey pelican in flight; a gold scroll below the shield bears the motto: SEMPER PRO GREDIENS (Always Progressing) in letters of azure.  All citizens are asked to engrave the motto that is in gold scrolled below the field in our hearts and minds and become the forward looking, thinking and aspiring people, while remaining respectful and mindful of the past, that our flag challenges us to be.  I would like to wish the citizens of Sint Maarten a memorable Flag Day today.  My wife and I consider the beautiful island as our second home!  Just love to visit the island and greet those whom we have met over the past 20 years of visits to the island.  We hope to return as soon as it is  physically and medically safe.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "The Artwork of Giselle Ayupova" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the blog of Giselle Ayupova.  A few years ago I made a visit to her website to examine a bit of her artwork that I had seen online on another site.  She was born in Russia, but currently lives in Hoboken, New Jersey with her husband Brian.  

Giselle Ayupova

She is a very talented artist and I enjoy making visits to her sight to view the artwork, much of which tells the tale of the island of St. Martin.  Giselle became interested in art in childhood while looking through her parents art magazines.  She enjoys the mediums of watercolor, acrylics and oil.  She studied at the National Academy School of Fine Arts and the Art Students League of New York.  She enjoys painting in abstract or a more realistic style.  You can fine her work at: www.gisellesyupova.com.  As much as I enjoy viewing her paintings, I also enjoy her blog where she tells about her visits to Saint Martin, Aruba, New York, Montreal and...Russian Candy!  

Russian sweets.

Now, that's what caught my eye!  It was back in January of 2015 that I wrote a story about a woman who was a resident at Beacon Place, a housing complex in Gaithers- burg, Maryland where my daughter was the property manager.  Seems a woman gave Brynn pieces of Russian chocolate candy quite often for being so nice to her.  Brynn passed along some of the candy, both chocolate as well as hard candy, which I had the chance to sample.  Well, today when I opened Giselle's blog, one of the entries was titled "Russian Candy and Chocolate.  

Alenka and Little Red Riding Hood.

Knew I just had to read it to see what I may have eaten five years ago.  She tells in her blog story that when she goes to Russia to visit her family, she drinks tea several times a day and when you drink tea, you have to eat candy.  She said that practically nobody drinks tea without sweets.  Sometimes it cake, sometimes it's cookies, sometimes both and candy is almost always present on the table.  

The Babaevsky Confectionery.

She can still remember the packaging design of the candy from her childhood.  Alenka and Little Red Riding Hood were some of the chocolates she remem- bered.  In villages on a market day you can find a variety of candy. Today you can fine more chocolate bars that have cocoa content such as the famous Babaevsky confectionery.  

The Korovka (little cow) milky cream candy.

Another favorite is a milky cream candy called Korovka (little cow) which has an image of a cow on the package.

A table setting in her home in Russia.

Another favorite is the Iriski which is a chewy caramel candy.  Now, if you know me, you probably figure I am heading to the candy drawer for one of my favorite chocolate covered caramels with sea salt on top.  Giselle uses some of the table settings of candy and tea cups as models for her paintings.  Below you can view a few of her paintings.  If you care to see more, visit her website at the above address and perhaps buy one of her paintings.  You now know the story behind most of her paintings that you will see on her website.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This photograph and the two beneath it are samples of her artwork of candy.

The "An Accomplished Artist And Author Known As Lawrence Bohme" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Came across a very interesting post on the "WE ARE ST.MAARTEN" Facebook page that was posted by my friend Barbara.  She asks readers if anyone remembers a boutique owned by Lawrence Bohme back in the late seventies in St. Martin or St. Barths?  She didn't, but did know that he had drawn many pen and ink postcards of which she has a few.  The post cards were amazing and featured scenes from Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  I enjoyed them so much that I thought I would check out other sites to see if he had made pen and ink postcards of other islands where Carol and I had visited in the past.  On Barbara's original post, she did give a link which tells the story about Lawrence, but I also found a few other sites that told a bit more about the artist.  Lawrence Bohme, (originally spelled Böhme) was born in 1942 in London.  His father was a German war refugee while his mother was a Welsh woman.  The family emigrated to Vancouver, Canada as soon as WWII ended.  His mother was an abstract artist who decided to take her son with her on a series of adventures throughout Mexico, Jamaica and Greenwich Village, New York where Lawrence graduated from the Charles Evans Hughes High School.  Soon after, he became a student in Madrid, where he acquired the second name of "Lorenzo." He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris as well as "the University of the World, Faculty of Life."  

Lawrence Bohme, click on images to enlarge them.

After a few years he set out on a 10-year exploration of South America and the Caribbean, setting up his one-man custom crafts boutique in various locations, St. Martin being one of those sites.  In 1981 he returned to Europe and became a translator for Unesco in Paris and eventually found his way to southern Spain where he settled in the olive-farming town of Montefrio.  Eventually his father bestowed on him part of a payment that had been granted to him by the German government years before.  He then traveled to Rio where he met his wife Paula and conceived a daughter named Nina.  Lawrence became not only an illustrator, specializing in pen-and-ink images, but an author who illustrated his own books for the next 30 years.  He did so on three different continents.  His original drawings have been sold in book and card shops in New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro, as well as published in his own travel books.  

His postcards show a line across the bottom such as this one.

One of those books features over 100 postcards of the life and scenes of famous cities and little-known villages.  The book features drawings and how the artist's nomadic life led him to travel to it.  

His book which I recently purchased.

For the past ten years he has been working on his memoir, "Lorenzo, The Story of a Very Long Youth", and has thus far completed seven volumes "each one the length of a normal-sized novel", which are published separately on Amazon.   I found an Internet site that features his books which I can purchase for my Kindle!  "The Postcard Maker" is an art book reflecting the work of a self-taught "drawer" as Lawrence called himself, or as the free-wheeling adventure story of a curious and restless man who couldn't see enough of the world.  His other books feature tales of travel with many being illustrated with his artwork.  Google his name and you will find the site to order his books if you are so inclined.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Postcard illustrating Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. This card and
the following three are from the collection of Barbara. Click to enlarge them.

Postcard illustrating Town Hall in Philipsburg.

Postcard showing Marigot in St. Martin

Postcard illustrating Grand Case in St. Martin.