Beerman,
You have absolutely made my day. I suggest to all my first time visiting friends to do exactly what you've described and sadly, nine out of ten hit the first known named beach and/or beach bar they can find and few venture any further.
St. Maarten/St. Martin is such a wonderful diverse place and while obviously the beaches are what it's mostly all about, this island really is so very much more.
Grand Case by day used to be a sleepy little fishing village with just a couple of BBQ grills to grab a roadside lunch and not too very much more than that but over the years it has grown and expanded in style and offerings.
Marigot was the place you'd go for the ultimate in French shopping ops not to mention some great dining spots and wonderful old architecture along the beachfront but that was mostly redone years ago for the filming of a Sandra Bullock film and now it's beautiful but without the early natural charm it once offered, and this is the case of so much of the island.
Time passes, things change and building predominates all across the island. Philipsberg raises the scorn of many who couldn't be bothered to go to town, yet we love to head in early in the morning and have our breakfast there as we watch the bustling little city come alive - we love to see the shop workers enjoying their morning coffee along the Boardwalk, the workers setting out their wares in the market area and the school children doing their Phys. Ed on the beach. And then the hordes of cruise ship passengers descend on the town to buy their tee shirts and trinkets. Okay, enough people watching and by then it's time to head out of town and take in some of the other scenic areas of the island.
So much to see and experience and yet, so little time to do it all in. Sometimes I have to pinch myself and ask, "Can we really have been visiting here all these years and yet, each year we manage to find something new to fall in love with?"
Back in December, for the first time in the 40+ years we've been visiting we finally experienced a lovely Sunday lunch at Layla's - thank you very much Elaine for inviting us - and yet, you discovered this lovely spot in the early part of your first stay. Go figger!
I truly hope the rest of your trip is just as filled with all things St. Martin/St. Maarten and that the remainder of your trip lures you back to find the other hidden wonders she has to offer.... And then off to the near islands of Anguilla, St Bart's and my personal favorite, Saba. Each so unique and each so wonderful and yet, so very different from each other?
Enjoy the balance of your time and please do keep sharing as you see fit.
.
