sunseeker09 Posted December 15, 2009 #226 Share Posted December 15, 2009 I've often thought about it.Maybe some day. It would be specifically Photo Tours, though with coaching and pointers -not general island tours.. . That's a brilliant idea! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted December 24, 2009 Author #227 Share Posted December 24, 2009 looks like this.. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted December 27, 2009 Author #228 Share Posted December 27, 2009 . At the cruise ship pier, Philipsburg. Whizzing across Great Bay, Philipsburg, SXM. At the Water Taxi pier, in Philipsburg. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackdiamond Posted December 27, 2009 #229 Share Posted December 27, 2009 Alpmac. your photos are outstanding. When we go to this island, we usually visit Little Divi, but I am impressed with your pictures of Great Bay. A few years ago (apparently before the water taxi) we walked to Great Bay; and, we discovered that after venturing only a few feet in the water that there was a significant drop off. Additionally, we were advised that this area had a significant pollution problem. I would be most appreciative if anyone could enlighten me as to whether these two problems still exist. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jantoby Posted December 28, 2009 #230 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Haven't tried uploading photos before - fingers crossed I've got it right. Was at St.Maarten with Explorer of The Seas earlier this month. Here's the poof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted January 2, 2010 Author #231 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Haven't tried uploading photos before - fingers crossed I've got it right. Was at St.Maarten with Explorer of The Seas earlier this month. Here's the poof. That giant striped caterpillar in one of your photos...I've seen that one before -on Grenada so clearly this species can be found up and down the Lesser Antilles island chain although we do not have it, here on Barbados. I'm pretty sure it'll eventually become a giant moth -not a butterfly. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jantoby Posted January 10, 2010 #232 Share Posted January 10, 2010 You're spot on - it's a Frangipani caterpillar that turns into a very dull brown moth. I was disappointed as it's so spectacular as a 'pillar.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted January 10, 2010 Author #233 Share Posted January 10, 2010 You're spot on - it's a Frangipani caterpillar that turns into a very dull brown moth. I was disappointed as it's so spectacular as a 'pillar.... And if you interfere with them, on the treethey rear up at you in a rather aggressive manner! Keeps the kids away!! :D . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcl_cruiser Posted January 11, 2010 #234 Share Posted January 11, 2010 What is the best way to get from the ship to Maho Beach and back? My DH really wants to go watch those planes, so I want to make this happen for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted January 12, 2010 Author #235 Share Posted January 12, 2010 What is the best way to get from the ship to Maho Beach and back? My DH really wants to go watch those planes, so I want to make this happen for him. I would think taxi -probably with a whole bunch of other people all similarly inclined. They use those big 10-seater vans a lot, so you'll probably get mixed in with other cruisers from other ships. There may also be a bus service out to Maho, but can't say with certainty. Water taxi does not go that far. To the best of my knowledge, the Water Taxis do their thing within the big Philipsburg Bay taking cruisers from the base of the pier, over to two stops along the Philipsburg shoreline with a third stop soon to come. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted January 27, 2010 Author #236 Share Posted January 27, 2010 This is a very nice Mall with attractive Euro-goods in the many shops inside! Marigot is the big town over on the French side of the island. -and it's about 20 mins. by taxi from Philipsburg(on the Dutch side) where your ships docks. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted January 27, 2010 Author #237 Share Posted January 27, 2010 While we were browsing the street market in Marigot these two off-road vehicles passed us full of cruisers, on a jaunt somewhere...Off Roaders? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Booper Posted January 27, 2010 #238 Share Posted January 27, 2010 (edited) The Explorer OTS docked Dec 2009 Main building at the Wathey Pier complex Mercury floating in Great Bay after rough water snapped lines The new pier at Wathey Edited January 27, 2010 by The Big Booper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted January 27, 2010 Author #239 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Mercury floating in Great Bay after rough water snapped lines :eek: Now and again you hear stories about ships snapping mooring lines when a North Swell heaves them around, while docked. Have you had a close look at those mooring lines..? They're about 3-4 ins. dia. -and they're braided, not twisted like regular cheap rope. Can you imagine the tensions involved, to snap that stuff?? I'm told you don't want to be nearby when the snap comes! ;) Sounds like a rifle-shot -feels like a deadly whip-lash!! Not cute.. :cool: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Booper Posted January 27, 2010 #240 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Now and again you hear stories about ships snapping mooring lines when a North Swell heaves them around, while docked. Have you had a close look at those mooring lines..? They're about 3-4 ins. dia. -and they're braided, not twisted like regular cheap rope. Can you imagine the tensions involved, to snap that stuff?? I'm told you don't want to be nearby when the snap comes! ;) Sounds like a rifle-shot -feels like a deadly whip-lash!! Not cute.. :cool: . Yes. The Explorer snapped two of it's lines the day we were there. The ship placed metal cages around each mooring line to prevent people from getting too close. We were told the Mercury snapped so many lines that they moved the ship out into the bay and tendered, just like the old days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kikkycat Posted January 27, 2010 #241 Share Posted January 27, 2010 aplmac, the pictures of sunrise over St. Maarten from the Caribbean Princess are so intoxicating I can almost taste the sweet, tropical, humid air in my mouth. I'm thankful that I'll be able to do that for real in just a matter of days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted January 28, 2010 Author #242 Share Posted January 28, 2010 aplmac, the pictures of sunrise over St. Maarten from the Caribbean Princess are so intoxicating I can almost taste the sweet, tropical, humid air in my mouth. I'm thankful that I'll be able to do that for real in just a matter of days! Glad you like the early morning ambiance! Here's another one, same scene but maybe a minute later? Hey... Bon Voyage!! :) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kikkycat Posted January 28, 2010 #243 Share Posted January 28, 2010 :D I'm the early riser in the family. Hubby slept thru arriving (or, rather, he tried to, with me ooh-ing and ahh-ing on the balcony). Did you get any pictures of Saba? I got one last year, most of the island shrouded by clouds. I wondered in what language "saba" means "straight up and straight down". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newt98 Posted January 31, 2010 #244 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Glad you like the early morning ambiance! Here's another one, same scene but maybe a minute later? Hey... Bon Voyage!! :) . hey taxi driver! we will be in barbados in a few weeks, want to give us a tour? lol!;) seriously though, thanks for all the great pics, they have helped me decide what i'm doing in st maarten. i'm not 100% sure yet, but i have some pretty good ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted January 31, 2010 Author #245 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Did you get any pictures of Saba? I got one last year, most of the island shrouded by clouds. ===> Usual situation! You want SABA small? SABA medium..? or SABA Big? Ummmm...that's the airstrip, that darkish area at right -along the shoreline (just to the left of an eroded reddish area) Said to be the most dangerous airstrip in the Lesser Antilles island chain! :eek: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kikkycat Posted March 9, 2010 #246 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I'm pretty stoked. One of my pictures from our January 30, 2010 cruise on Serenade taken in St. Maarten is featured on Webshots as a picture of the day (in entertainment, not travel - dunno why). The link is probably only good today (March 9, 2010), but here it is: http://entertainment.webshots.com/ For those reading this another time, this is the pic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tps58 Posted March 11, 2010 #247 Share Posted March 11, 2010 A few from Philipsburg in February..see like ages ago already :( I want to go back. Tezza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miss meow Posted March 12, 2010 #248 Share Posted March 12, 2010 A few from Philipsburg in February..see like ages ago already :( I want to go back. Tezza We'll be there in a month - - these pictures are GREAT and have me even more anxious to return to St. Maarten!! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelbyjane56 Posted March 14, 2010 #249 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Your pics are wonderful!! Thanks so much for sharing. A question for you, is Big Bay right by where the water taxi comes in in Phillipsburg? We want to do a bit of shopping as we will be involved with our sons wedding when we are in st thomas, would like to be able to find a beach closeby?? thanks for your help and your pics!!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted March 16, 2010 Author #250 Share Posted March 16, 2010 A question for you, is Great Bay right by where the water taxi comes in in Phillipsburg? Yes, it is. The water taxi will drop you right by the beach -unless he does the stop near Bobby's Marina first (no beach) -in which case you should stay on board and let the guys know you want to get off at the beachy MIDTOWN pier where the beach will be very obvious! . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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