DAY 9---ST MAARTEN

                                                       HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 

Background Info

        St Maarten is part of the Leeward islands in the northeast Caribbean Sea.  The island is divided about 60/40 by the countries of France and the Netherlands.  The larger part is French but the population is basically equal and total population of the island is 78,000.  We will be docking in Philipsburg which is on the Dutch side.  The island lies in the hurricane zone and in 2017 hurricane Emma caused significant damage to the tune of $3 billion.

        Tourism is the island’s main industry with around 1 million visitors annually.  85% of the workforce works in tourism.  The US dollar is accepted in most stores on the island.

        Arrow shows our location at St Maarten today.  Tomorrow we'll be in San Juan which is just due west of here and not very far.

        Unfortunately, it is a long walk from the terminal into town.  Pier is shown by arrow above the word "Pier" in this sentence.

LAST EVENING

        The orchestra guitar player is entertaining in the Mariner Lounge during cocktail hour.  He is from the Ukraine.

     I had this Alaska crab & avocado starter in a Bloody Mary sauce.  Rebecca had a shrimp cocktail.

                                  We both enjoyed the chicken parmesan with spaghetti.

                                                 Apple tart with ice cream for desert.

                                      We had our usual front row seats for Tenna's show.

She has a very powerful voice and very talented singer.  This is the first time we had seen her perform.

TODAY

        Jeff's Father's Day card which I brought along on the cruise and it has been on our door throughout the cruise so far.

        Sundays they have caviar and champagne at breakfast.  As you can see I really like caviar.  I usually don't have champagne but did today since it is Father's Day.

                                    Mario is our waiter when we dine in Compass Rose.

                                          I had some sausage with my eggs benedict.

            The two piers stick out into the bay.  We will be docking at the one on the left side.

                                           Our pier.  The above photos taken from deck 12.

                                               Terminal area taken from our balcony.

                                    A couple cargo ships across in the commercial post area.

        Every day she hits the treadmill for 2 miles (40 minutes).  Plus she walks around the hallway for 15 minutes twice each day.

                                            

                                                   My Yellow Submarine tour

                                                             Getting safety instructions

 Inside of sub.  Windows are below water.  The boat stays above water.  Very cramped quarters.

                                                            Three "nurse sharks"

                                         Forgot what she said this fish was but photogenic.

                                                  Wrecked fishing boat from hurricane

                                                                   nurse shark

                                                         The coral is alive

               Green sea turtle.  They can stay submerged 30 minutes before going up for air.

                                                                      Sea turtle

Lunch in La Veranda.  Usual starters.

                                                      They are carving turkey today

        I got a slice of the turkey then went out to the pool grill and got a bun and some mayo.  Also got potato salad.  Cranberry sauce too.

                This is the Compass Rose maitre'd, Momocilo.  He has us call him Chili.

                                     I rode to the terminal in this cart.  Gave him a buck.

                           They were lowering a couple life boats today.  More training.

                                                                    Trolley tour.                                                   

Statues remembering the early days of the island when exporting salt was the main economy driver.

                                                                You know who this is!!

                                                             Local crafts market

                                                                              A school

 Rooster and his 3 wives walking down the street.  Two had turned the corner.

          

                                              Another school with kids playing and waving at us.

        Old court house in middle of town.  They dumped us off here to shop for 35 minutes (turned into 45).  You can imagine how excited I was about this!!!

                 A block away was a beach.  For $20 you have 2 chairs, 2 drinks, & internet.

        From beach looking back toward Court House.  Lots of men (like these two in blue shirts) trying to sell tours.

                                                Looking back towards the cruise ships.

                                       The beach was sandy but there were some shells also.

                                                             Bars along the beach

                                                                   Local market 

         Finally back on the ship.   And this was leftover from this morning's crew emergency drill.

                                              This is tonight's Compass Rose menu.

        And this is the Sette Mari menu.  There is veal parmesan on tonight's menu.  Have not decided which restaurant we will be dining in yet.

        Another production company show at 9:30.  It is "Tuxedo".  We've seen this show on other ships but want to see this cast perform it.

        We will be sailing again at 7pm.  Next stop is San Juan which is 176nm away.  We should be docked there by 8am.  I was hoping we would be clearing US Immigration tomorrow in San Juan.  We have before on other cruises when returning to the US.  Seems the ship is not sure where we will be clearing.  Said there would be inspections of the ship tomorrow.  I guess US Health Department.