September 7, 2016
The island of St. Martin, which is half French and still part of France and as such a member of the EU (European Union), and the other half – Dutch Sint Maarten, which is now independent, but used to be a Dutch colony, is a melting pot, not only of people and languages (by the way - everybody speaks English in addition), but also of architecture and the hustle and bustle of the picturesque street scenes. French St. Martin with its narrow streets and colorful markets, chic bistros and boutiques reminds of coastal towns in the Southern part of France like Cassis and St. Tropez – just Caribbean style. Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint Martin both are popular for their harbors with luxury international yachts on massive piers, modern speedboats and colorful fishing boats tied to small wooden jetties.