Friday
17 January – St Maarten
25°C
E
Force 3
I arrived
out on deck to see Celebrity Eclipse already docked. Azura was just arriving followed by Adventure
of the Seas and finally Pacific Princess who berthed behind us. Many of the crew were excited that Azura was in port and were hoping to see their friends on board. We would also meet up with again tomorrow in Tortola.
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| Azura |
 |
| Adventure of the Seas |
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| Pacific Princess |
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| L-r: Celebrity Eclipse, Oceana, Azura, Adventure of the Seas |
This was the only
other port we had booked a private tour so we walked off the ship to the Tourist
Information Centre by 8.45pm as requested. A despatcher met us and asked us to
wait with a delightful American couple from Celebrity Eclipse. Our guide and driver
Jose, met us and walked us to a minibus which already had three other couples
in – it was a very tight squeeze to get between the seats!
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| Many roundabouts had statues to celebrate ordinary working en and women |
We drove through
Phillipsburg up to a viewpoint where we had views over the town – and a
spectacular rainbow! Then we drove through the countryside to the French part
of the island and Marigot where we had an hour free time. Unfortunately as we
got there the heavens opened and barely stopped the whole time.
Caryll bought a
cover-up and I contented myself with some delicious cashew nuts from a street
vendor. Next was Orient Beach, dropping Caryll and myself off at a butterfly farm
first.
The compound was filled with beautiful butterflies and moths, plus
Bruno, the ex-feral cat, who allowed me to cuddle him! As I sat with him,
Bananaquits and humming birds were feeding.
Half an hour later Jose came back
to collect us and take us to the beach where we had 45 minutes to paddle etc.
Back on the bus we had a free Carib beer
and returned to Phillipsburg. On the way Jose told us to look out for large orange objects in the trees - they were male iguanas and huge! Sadly my only photo was taken through the opposite coach window so very poor but he is just visible!
We pottered round the duty free area,
then and I returned to the ship and sat on deck watching
Celebrity Eclipse. First dozens of motorcyclists turned up hooting etc and then
drove onto the ship, then Customs arrived and took off someone in handcuffs,
then they were delayed half an hour to evacuate a medical emergency. It was all happening!!
We were staying here until midnight to give crew time to meet us with Azura friends. They left at 10pm to much shouting and waving etc.
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